Teachers - are you allowed time off to see your childrens' christmas shows?

[puddle]

A bit of a rant really.

This is the second year that dp (a teacher) hasn't been allowed to have a couple of hours off so that he can see ds performing in his christmas show.

many teachers would say that the thing that makes the difference with children is parental support at school. It makes me so cross that dp who spends his time supporting and teaching other children, isn't allowed to support his own child once a year. DS is very sad he can't make it this year - he has a speaking part.

Are you allowed time off? Is it pretty much the norm that all teachers miss this sort of thing in their childrens'lives?

B&W cat. I teach 6th form as well, but dc nativity plays are always in the last week of term, and TBH 6th form not over keen on doing any work at that time of the year!

I don't think they suffer from missing one lesson!

B&W cat. I teach 6th form as well, but dc nativity plays are always in the last week of term, and TBH 6th form not over keen on doing any work at that time of the year!

I don't think they suffer from missing one lesson!

My students are working harder than they've ever worked in their lives. No quizzes or vids for them. They have exams the week after they come back which are worth over 30% of their AS exams. If they mess up they will have to re-sit next May and they will have to therefore revise 2 modules instead of 1 and have to pay for their re-sit. Part of my salary is dependent on my being able to prove that I have added value to my students not to mention the importance of students' results for their self-esteem, university entry and for OFSTED. So yes, every lesson counts! In these circumstances if teachers can't put their needs of their 100+ students over their desire to see their children perform in a play then they shouldn't really be teaching though obviously if you're in a school where you are able to watch vids, do quizzes etc (which may mean where your students aren't working towards pressing and important exams) then it's different.

My salary is the same, also dependent on results, but my subject is highest achieving subject in extremely high achieving school. So, no they don't seem to suffer from missing one lesson. Don't think Senior Management would support time for nativity plays etc if staff weren't working socks off for rest of year.

Ah, but I ONLY teach 6th form so all our classes are exam classes. As I said it might be different if you were teaching other areas of the school or if you didn't have January modules. Realistically I can't expect my students to do as much revision over Xmas as I would like them to and as they would do over a different time. I feel and senior management feel that for OUR STUDENTS at THIS TIME every lesson counts. Loads. As a parent if my dds were in exam years I'd feel the same if their teachers missed a lesson to watch a show. If things are different for you that's fine. Hope you enjoy the xmas plays!

I am a T.A at my daughters school I am always allowed to go and watch it officially with other parents although i will see a rough draft of it at some point.The agreement is if i am needed back in class for any reason I will head back.My dd is in a swimming gala on tuesday I cannot go to that as the baths is too far away and sometimes I am called upon for personal care issues so my mum will go instead.