What's the educational argument for so many holidays?

[TinTinsSexySister]

Just that really.

Are there any educational benefits to frequent school holidays or are they just an historical hangover? Educationally speaking, would we be worse or better off adopting the US system?

we already do update our schemes of work during this gained time, not sure what you do

there is a limit to how much detailled planning i can do for the following year, i typically get my timetable about a week before we break up

in terms of crunch points, i have enough time to do my job and support my students, and yes, even wee . i do not have time to chuck on an extra 2-3 hours supervising students in mandatory afterschool sessions during which i cannot do othrr work, and which i must plan in any case

'I don't pay my doctor's salary, and he doesn't pay mine - the City council do.'

Via taxes.

Doctors, like teachers, are public servants. We are paid by the public and that is who we work for. I don't think that should ever be forgotten.

and doctors like teachers pay taxes

I guess it depends partly on the particular school where you work and your position in it. I have management responsibility so there really is never any end.

Subject, Fivecandles?

I don't want to reveal my subject. I don't want to out myself. I've already revealed enough details for it to be worked out.

I think we should start taking bets on it......

Quite obviously not maths.

Why does it make a difference out of interest?

Why, are you the only private school teacher in the country who teaches it? Must be something quite unusual then........

Not unusual. Don't want to be outed though. Why does it matter?

Well, 1)because people have asked you and 2)you have some very unusual standpoints and 3)you don't seem to know what makes a good lesson - or rather, what definitely makes a bad lesson.

No, it's a person with a life who sets homework with a reasonable time frame in which to complete it. The children are welcome to see me any time before, during or after school and they know I am willing to help them. But it can hardly be compared to a real emergency.

Arranged marriages are of course tragic, but you are again blaming teachers for a problem that clearly goes beyond the remit of a school.

So you teach a subject with lots of grammar, then? Which subject is it, again?

That's not fair, Feenie. It's many years since I've been into a maths lesson is all.

I think that is part of the problem five, that you see your job as having no end, I also have a senior management post but there has to be an end to what you do, or you will send yourself mad.

Why on earth would you be outed if your subject isn't something like Tarantula Grooming, or Topiary?

Bad practice is bad practice, fivecandles, whatever subject it's in.

Given some of the graffiti in some of my old textbooks, I would love to see how the topiary turned out...

No whereare, I am saying, once again, that the school year and teachers' hours are not designed with the child's interests at heart.

If you were going to design a school year now you would never choose the model we currently have.

Maybe general working patterns and the cost of living do not suit children's interests.

'ut there has to be an end to what you do, or you will send yourself mad.'

I'm genuinely interested in how you manage that personally. When and how do you feel that you've finished your working day? I never do and often wake up at night planning or lessons or thinking of ideas or whatever.

I think the internet makes it harder. When I'm not at work I'm always available online.

'Maybe general working patterns and the cost of living do not suit children's interests.'

Well, no, but that really is beyond our remit.

Well, I see my students at the end of the Autumn term, particularly the year 11s, and they are utterly shattered. I think a proper rest is really what they need.

Do your proposals have childrens' interests at heart, or those of working parents?

Sorry, apologies for crap possessive plural, before I get flamed.