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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:
clam · 30/03/2009 19:35

But weddings are notoriously difficult to timetable, particularly if you want to get married within, say the next 6 months. Venues/churches/family abroad etc.. all have to be dove-tailed. Plus the spouse's work schedule. It's not always as simple as that.

The OP's priority in life is her DD. The teacher's, presumably, is her marriage. The kids will not suffer unduly for missing a couple of lessons in the last week of term. Presumably the Head and Governors (who would have had to sanction the absence) don't have a major problem with it.

Get over it. YABU. And certainly so to complain.

TheFallenMadonna · 30/03/2009 19:35

Do you teach DSM?

ScummyMummy · 30/03/2009 19:36

Big boobs rock. Especvially in combo with big brains and loads of commitment. it's probably this special combo that is behind the lightbulb moments for some kids.

katiestar · 30/03/2009 19:36

The wedding was probably planned before term dates had been decided.YABU

twinsetandpearls · 30/03/2009 19:37

Blacking out parts of the calendar has been the case for atleast 3 of the 4 schools I taught in. It clearly is not the case at all schools then.

I have noticed that of course senior leaders sometimes have to be absent at blocked out time and they tend to be the only people who only have a level.

BradfordMum · 30/03/2009 19:38

I wonder if his parents will receive a fine?!

abbierhodes · 30/03/2009 19:38

DSM, do you teach? Are you aware of how tight most curriculums are for time? There is barely enough time to cover everything.
I would love to teach in an ideal world which had a couple of months to just study! Unfortunately I teach in the real one.

Hulababy · 30/03/2009 19:38

Just be careful and look after yourself twinset. Working every hour was the end of me in the end with regards teaching. Took a long time to recover, and school really never did anything to help in the end. Sometimes it is better to know when to take a break. So long as you remember that ultimately YOU come first. Everything else can and ill look after itself - your health won't.

abbierhodes · 30/03/2009 19:40

BradfordMum I don't know anyone who has recieved a fine for one week off. You have to have about a third of the year off before they'll take you to court.

nigglewiggle · 30/03/2009 19:41

OP - have you ever taken your children out of school in term-time to take a cheaper holiday?

angrypixie · 30/03/2009 19:43

Like many on here I am both mother and teacher and I wouldn't be having a fit about it. Agree that school have made good provision for the GCSE class with HOD.

It is for the school/governors to sanction any additional leave and you have to trust that they make informed decisions. It is not reasonable to expect them to explain themselves to you. If you don't trust your governing body that is a separate issue.

katz · 30/03/2009 19:44

niggle - the exact point i made further up, how many threads have their been mumsnet AIBU i want to take my child out of school in term time.

Original poster
janegrey · 30/03/2009 19:45

No, I've never taken the children out of school for a cheaper holiday. I value education very highly and do my best to ensure that they do too.

OP posts:
herbietea · 30/03/2009 19:45

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn

Heated · 30/03/2009 19:47

At the discretion of the head and as long as proper arrangements are made to provide teaching /cover (like subbing with the HoD) then it's fairly common. It's how INSET courses, paternity leave, planned medical absence eg operations, are covered and, in exceptional circumstances, honeymoons.

Given he is a new member of staff I would guess that the honeymoon date would have come up at the time of appointment (since weddings are planned a long distance ahead) and permission granted then. Easter holidays, as we know, move around a bit and vary from LEA to LEA.

purepurple · 30/03/2009 19:47

herbietea, we never had a honeymoon either. DH was in the RAF on a training course at RAF Halton so we got married at Easter, for the long weekend. then it was straight into married quarters.

Hulababy · 30/03/2009 19:48

But herbietea - we have no idea WHY he has been allowed this week off school. There could be lots of reasons which make it perfectly valid.

As explained below - I nearly had to have a week off for my own wedding. Wasn't planned but was sanctioned by my headteacher.

Hulababy · 30/03/2009 19:50

So, is he a new teacher then? Has that been confirmed?

If so then it is very very likely it is a pre planned wedding, planned before he started at the school but which has to be honoured.

twinsetandpearls · 30/03/2009 19:50

Hula I have a partner who is very good at keeping an eye on me and saying when to stop as I am quite robot like and will just work until I drop.

Thanks

Hulababy · 30/03/2009 19:51

Good to hear twinset

God, I sound like my mum!!! lol

twinsetandpearls · 30/03/2009 19:51

Last year I books flights to america in the 25th June rather than July and then went into work boasting about my cheap flights. Luckily I could rebook.

twinsetandpearls · 30/03/2009 19:52

Nothing wrong with sounding like your mum

Heated · 30/03/2009 19:53

Just to add, all teachers I know plan their lives around the holidays. Heck, I even timed when my dcs would be born to have minimum impact! Saw my GCSE and A level classes off and gave birth the following week. So imo, his honeymoon would have been pre-arranged before taking the job.

HolidaysQueen · 30/03/2009 19:54

YABU. It's not like your DDs have this teacher for the whole week is it? What have they missed - about 2 hours, maybe 3 of teaching? And nobody does serious work in the last week of term anyway so it's no wonder your DD said they did nothing - I bet they are doing close to nothing in most of their other classes as well!

I also really don't see why the problems with marking are at all relevant? Are you saying that because your DD has had problems with this teacher then this teacher shouldn't be entitled to unpaid leave (the implication being that if the marking was fine then he could?) It's completely irrelevant to the question of him taking leave.

I really hope I'm not this self-centred when my DS is grown up!

Simplysally · 30/03/2009 19:56

Abbierhodes - my LEA has fined parents in my school for taking a week's holiday from primary school. The school itself has a zero tolerance policy. It doesn't stop parents though as the fine (used to be) is still cheaper than waiting til peak time. The fines are aimed at the wrong people....