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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To complain about a teacher having honeymoon leave before the end of term?

168 replies

janegrey · 30/03/2009 19:01

DDs are both in secondary school, DD1 doing GCSE.

One of their teachers, who teaches both of them, has been allowed to take leave to go on honeymoon this week even though it is still term time.

DD1 has already had issues about this particular teacher, whose marking has been inconsistent...fortunately her class is being taken by the subject head while he is away...and the subject head has helped her sort out the problems she had because of the inconsistent marking.

But DD2's class was supervised today by a teacher of a completely different subject. They had no work set, and in DD2's words they did "nothing".

I'm seething - I just cannot comprehend that the school/education authority has authorised leave in term-time for a non-essential reason...why couldn't he have gone on leave over the Easter holidays?

Do others agree? And if so, what's the most effective way to complain?

OP posts:
nametaken · 30/03/2009 19:08

Maybe his fiance hasn't got long to live so they have to marry quickly.

fleurlechaunte · 30/03/2009 19:08

Really? This is not a joke? I think anyone who had an issue with this must be really uptight and in fact a bit me, me, me. Other people have lives as well.

YABU.

Like nametaken said you should address the quality of his teaching separately.

twinsetandpearls · 30/03/2009 19:09

DSM theywill fall back if they are about to sit GCSEs.

purepurple · 30/03/2009 19:09

YABU

teachers get sick and have time off
what's the difference?

robinpud · 30/03/2009 19:09

Would you complain if the teacher were ill? Or if they were granted leave to nurse a sick spouse?

Ask yourself what your real issues is, is it the discretionary leave or the quality of the teaching.
Our head sanctions leave in term times in extenuating circumstances; it's massively motivating for staff who work at least 60 hours a week .

Hulababy · 30/03/2009 19:09

I nearly had to take unpaid leave for my wedding for last week of term. I got married in Kenya and booked the holiday a year in advance. The airline twice changed their dates, the second change moving the date to the beginning of the last week of term. Fortunately the travel company then changed our airline so we could travel a bit later - we ended up going day after school finished - phew.

But my headmaster did say he would allow me leave, and I had a big group of teachers wh were very willing to cover my lessons that week for me to enable me to go and get married.

oxocube · 30/03/2009 19:09

BTW janegrey said the teacher was a 'she'. Just thought I'd point it out as everyone is assuming otherwise!!

twinsetandpearls · 30/03/2009 19:09

The quality of teaching is a separate issue but it is ridiculous to take time off in term time for a holiday.

Thunderduck · 30/03/2009 19:09

The only possibly valid point I can see is that they should have had some work to do, however they could have studied by themselves.
They are certainly old enough to have the initiative to do so, speaking of the class as a whole here. It isn't detrimental to have to do that occasionally.

BitOfFunnyBunny · 30/03/2009 19:10

PMSL @ nametaken...even so, she might last till Easter

twinsetandpearls · 30/03/2009 19:10

being sick is not the same as going on holiday. You cant help being sick you can help going on holiday.

Beetroot · 30/03/2009 19:10

we do have plenty on holiday in which to take honeymoons imo

katz · 30/03/2009 19:10

so you guys don't like it when the boots on the other foot then. You want to be able to take your children out of school as and when it suits you but for one teacher to take a week off to GET MARRIED then thats unreasonable. I'd hazard a guess that he has had to set work for all his classes before going.

I'd just like to point out that teachers are people with real lives and are entitled to take unpaid leave within reason.

fleurlechaunte · 30/03/2009 19:11

She said she at first and then it was he further down. Who knows.

DSM · 30/03/2009 19:11

Twinset - they are not going to fall back from missing a few lessons in the last week of term.

Janegrey said the teacher was a he.

purepurple · 30/03/2009 19:12

oxocube

the Op twice refers to the teacher as a he

Original poster
janegrey · 30/03/2009 19:12

No, it's not a joke. DD1 has sorted out the problems with the marking by speaking to the subject head - I encouraged her to do that without my intervention.

Why is it uptight to think that with the 12 or 13 weeks holiday that he would already get during school holidays, that an additional week is unreasonable?

I'm not sure how long he's been there - I'll check with the girls - but presumably even if it's his first year he would have been training as a teacher last year and have some idea of when Easter holidays were going to be.

OP posts:
hatwoman · 30/03/2009 19:12

he/she appears as both in the OP.

abbierhodes · 30/03/2009 19:12

Oxo, the OP definitely says He.

TheFallenMadonna · 30/03/2009 19:12

OP definitely says teacher is a man BTW.

herbietea · 30/03/2009 19:12

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn

twinsetandpearls · 30/03/2009 19:13

My child is never off during term time unless they are ill. I would never allow my child to have a holiday in term time although as a teacher it would be difficult. Katz I have a real life and have 12 weeks plus in which to live it.

nametaken · 30/03/2009 19:13

makes no difference whether it's a man or woman - also the OP can't complain if she has ever taken her dcs out of school during term time (not saying she has though)

DSM · 30/03/2009 19:13

But maybe his wife was unable to take time off any other time?

How long is his honeymoon?

abbierhodes · 30/03/2009 19:13

What do you mean by 'problems' with marking?