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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:
Original poster
janegrey · 30/03/2009 19:13

The teacher who took leave is a he, the head of subject, who has taught DD1 today is a she.

OP posts:
spicemonster · 30/03/2009 19:14

I'd be annoyed if I had to pay for additional childcare but unless it was a GCSE year, then no. Although having said that, I have a lot of friends who are teachers, 3 of whom are getting married in the next 18 months and they have all arranged their weddings/honeymoons for the school holidays. I don't think it's massively unreasonable to expect someone who has 12 weeks holiday at fixed times of the year to take their holiday during those weeks ...

twinsetandpearls · 30/03/2009 19:14

As a teacher DSM I can say that my year 11s and 12s will miss out if they are not in class this week or if I am out.

I work my classes until the end of term, as should any teacher.

TheFallenMadonna · 30/03/2009 19:14

Actually, I started work unexpectedly after five years off in November. If I had been the kind of parent who takes a child out of school for holidays I might well have booked a holiday for term time. I wasn't training last year.

oxocube · 30/03/2009 19:14

I teach but wouldn't take time off unless unavoidable. Need to do so soon as SIL is getting married on a Friday but as I team teach, my colleague and I have simply switched days so kids don't suffer at all. Still feel the OP is being a little harsh though, maybe without knowing the ful story.

MillyR · 30/03/2009 19:14

The complaint is really with the school, not the teacher, I think. There should have been adequate cover. Why the teacher wasn't there isn't really relevant. Independent study is nonsense. If they're not being taught by anyone then there is no reason to be there.

StewieGriffinsMom · 30/03/2009 19:15

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn

TheProfiteroleThief · 30/03/2009 19:15

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

DSM · 30/03/2009 19:15

twinset - no pupil is seriously going to fail an exam they have been studying for two years because they missed a few classes at the end of term.

Come on.

Original poster
janegrey · 30/03/2009 19:15

Problems with marking were telling dd1 to change elements of her coursework, then marking her down when she did.

A friend of hers was told to change her essay, left it exactly the same, and was given a better mark for the identical essay the next time.

As I said, DD1 sorted out the issues this caused caused with another teacher though before submitting the final essay for GCSE.

OP posts:
nametaken · 30/03/2009 19:15

maybe his fiance is a teacher in a different local authority and their holidays don't co-incide so to be fair, they took one weeks leave in each local authority

Maybe it's a shotgun wedding and they have to get married sharpish.

oxocube · 30/03/2009 19:16

Oh sorry Purple, the 'she' refers to the OP's DD

morningpaper · 30/03/2009 19:17

It is a bit annoying but he probably planned it well before he took up the teaching post, particularly if he is new! I wouldn't make a formal complaint although I might have a quiet word. Formal complaint will make you look like a heartless bastard though

Hulababy · 30/03/2009 19:17

twinset - many teachers do take some of their allowed days - I have known many to have time off when moving house for example, and I have definitely taken time off to look after DD when ill in the past.

nametaken · 30/03/2009 19:17

Oh i see, he give your daughters friend a higher mark than he gave your dd.

In that case, definately complain.

Original poster
janegrey · 30/03/2009 19:17

Of course I'd have no problem with sickness/paternity leave - those are unavoidable.

OP posts:
twinsetandpearls · 30/03/2009 19:18

DSM they are not going to seriously fail but it could mean missing something they need that makes a difference between an A OR A* or C/D which could mean a college place.

This is such a crucial part of the school calandar , it seems madness.

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

Nametaken - no, the friend submitted the same essay (her own), twice. And was given a higher mark for the identical essay the second time it was submitted.

OP posts:
twinsetandpearls · 30/03/2009 19:20

I am sure they take some, I have had a day off for moviing before and a day off for a funeral. But I never think I have ten days to play with this year I will use them for a holiday- which is what a honeymoon is.

purepurple · 30/03/2009 19:20

but, if it was cheaper this week than next, who can blame him?

economic downturn and all that

DSM · 30/03/2009 19:21

I am sure the teacher will have made sure they will know all they need to know by now, given that he knew he would be absent this week.
And this isn't the last day before the exam, they have plenty of time to study.

Pupils don't pay that much attention in the last week of term anyway, they are preoccupied with going on holiday.

I really don't think missing 3 or 4 lessons in a 2 year course is going to cause an otherwise perfectly capable student to fail.

oxocube · 30/03/2009 19:21

"Of course I'd have no problem with sickness/paternity leave - those are unavoidable. "
Unless of course, his wife deliberately plans conception and birth to tie in with school holidays

Am joking, of course. Who knows the full story.

nickytwotimes · 30/03/2009 19:21

Generally, there is no way the school would allow a honeymoon to be taken during term time.

There must be some reason it has been allowed - ill health of the fiance, arranged before the contract began, etc as suggested above.

cascade · 30/03/2009 19:21

Twinsetandpearls - the school have taken the appropriate action, the HOD covered the GCSE lesson. The teacher more than likely was allowed to go as the school could cover the GCSE class appropriately.

mosschops30 · 30/03/2009 19:22

YABU, its a week fgs. If your child is so reliant on that one teacher (which from your OP it sounds not) that they will fail if they go away for a week then you do have a problem!
Why shouldnt teachers have a life too, its not a regular occurance, its his honeymoon, and should be able to take it when he wants.
If he got sick he'd have a week or maybe more off!