Schools and money

[fattt]

I really need advice.

I work in a school that prides itself on pastoral care and it has regular tutor time competitions.

We never win but the thing is I can't afford to. They involve dressing up or having mascots or house colours - our house is red, I own nothing red but apparently I have to wear red on Monday. Payday isn't until Monday either.

I know it sounds stupid but it's really shit.

Actually we don't have a textile department but I am not just talking about the red here. Plus, there's a time cost. I have 3 hours of PPA a week, I can't be charging round the school sewing and ruining my already paltry school wardrobe.

Just tell them you have red pants on!

I’ve never thought about this from a teacher point of view. I get so angry at having to buy world book day and Roald Dahl costumes and red, green, blue tops for sports day or whatever but haven’t thought about the fact that teachers might struggle too.

Any red paper at school? Cut some circles out of that and stick/pin them to your top, or fashion some into a crown or wrist band.

Over the years I have started to build up a selection of 'school event day' costumes and clothes - Christmas t shirts and dresses (I find the jumpers too warm), some accessories that are not year dependant (CiN earrings, poppy day pin, sports relief socks, etc) and the odd fancy dress item - its amazing how often you can get away with wearing the same thing for all the events - I have my own cloak so I become a wizard for almost every event! For the charity ones I use the same items each year but add a separate donation rather than buying new each time.

It's so annoying moon

And you look like a twat.

People are getting annoyed because you haven't said what you want people to suggest but jump down the throats of anyone who tries to help. Just tell SLT it's a no no!

I've explained I can't really do that. I haven't jumped down anybody throat apart from someone who snapped at me for asking school advice in the staffroom.

I would either make something red e.g. a paper chain, crown or necklace out of school resources or ask a colleague/friend. I don't see why anyone would say no to you borrowing a red top for 1 day.

It sounds more like the added work load of being a form tutor is your problem. Can you track how much time you spend on form related activities for a while and raise that with SLT?
Often the people who dream up all the fun competitions don’t think about the work they are creating!

Try being the parents of twins in a family which earns just enough to not get any financial help when these things come up...

That said; you know what your school is like and you've said these things happen on a regular basis. Therefore some forward planning on your part is required for the future - can't help for Monday but it will help you for the future. Eg come comic/sports relief, there will be an abundance of red tops in the sale afterwards. They will do for red days, comic relief days, Xmas and so on.

If you are U.K. based, look on places like freecycle for clothes and items which you can utilise.

But further on from that, I get the impression that actually you don't want to be joining in with all the frivolity and dressing up. And there's nothing wrong with that per say, some people just don't enjoy that kind of thing.

What is the impact on you and your career if you just don't dress up? How would your class feel if Miss was the only teacher whose class didn't participate?

Whilst I might find the occasions frustrating when thrust upon me at short notice, I know my kids get a lot out of these types of days so I plan ahead so that the financial impact doesn't mean my children are excluded.

Mini, sigh, no, that's not the point.

It's not forward planning. These are weekly competitions.

Every week we have to make something or bring something in or wear something or - SOMETHING.

This usually costs resource money. Paper, card, glitter, glue, colours. It really isn't my shit organisation.

Given at least 3 members of my class could fight for their country, if they are traumatised by their teacher not wearing red I think the snowflake generation might have a point.

I assume the school pays for coloured paper, scissors, glue and coloured pens? Could you make a big badge using these, or a crown as others have said? It can be done really quick the morning of, just add a few swiggles and swirls with coloured pens and voila! No cost to you. If the school demands it weekly and for this particular week you dont own anything suitable then this would be a great compromise.

Every week we have to make something or bring something in or wear something or - SOMETHING.

Where on earth do you work? I cannot imagine it really is every week that they are holding competitions for forms in a secondary school? Sometimes it might feel that way but surely it isn't really a weekly occurrence?

Plus no matter how often it happens its not exactly part of your job so why cant you say no and not take part?

No gigis

In theory yes in practice no. It vanishes within minutes. Therefore to do a halfway decent job on any of these things you have to bring in your own shit. If not you look like you don't give a shit. I don't give a shit as it happens but like I say PM and all the rest of it. And if I sound grouchy I am, but with the situation not anybodyhere.

No it is smile

Some of them form part of a bigger competition so we have to put on a play soon and provide costumes, posters and stuff and each of those are done over the week.

Speak to your rep

Some of them form part of a bigger competition so we have to put on a play soon and provide costumes, posters and stuff and each of those are done over the week.

Seriously where on earth is your school around here even the primary schools don't require this level of staff participation.

Think rationally nothing at all would happen if you didn't participate and I doubt every staff member joins in. I would recommend you stop caring what SLT would say and just concentrate on doing your job, the part they are paying you for. Take it from someone who has been there you cannot please everyone so stop trying and just please yourself.

Weekly is insane! And tbh I think I'd approach along the lines of it's taking your time away from other things that you need to be doing in order to meet the teaching requirements of the class.

Otherwise it sounds like something you should be doing with and in your class in order that they participate.

What is the school's theory behind the competitions? Could you divert them towards more academic aims?

I'm presuming as being a tutor is a PM target, that you are possibly quite new to teaching. Some PP's have hit on what most teachers do and over a length of time you will learn to collect a wardrobe of 'dress up clothes' or trinkets you can wear.
You also need to go to your HOY or HOH who organises these events and ask for a calendar of the events arising so that you can start getting creative with your tutor group during tutor time. Start a week beforehand and get them up cycling or recycling to make the class stand out in an original manner. This will also hit your PM objects beautifully. Remember to take photos for your evidence file. Become 'that' tutor group that stands out.

How about a red scarf, red tights, red shoes?
I understand that buying something that fits from a charity shop etc isn’t always that easy if you need a plus size.

Nope not new to teaching. 17 years in.

There is no calendar.

I've no intention of being the tutor group who stands out. I can't keep on top of things as it is.

I am looking for another job. In the interim though do I have any legal way of saying this is unreasonable or do I have to suxk it up?

Primark have red tops/ scarves/ earrings/ belts for under £5

What happens if you say "I don't have anything red to wear, sorry"?

Just don't do it and face the consequences. You won't be happy with any of the advice given so suck it up.