teaching and sick children

[mrsmbuble]

I am thinking of going into teaching but apart from the two years of hell I am expecting when training, there are other practical issues like what happens when your own children are unwell; can you ever take time off during term time (I have other family commitments outside of kids).

Current work is really flexible and part time but just not stimulating enough and no real progression available. The flexibility keeps me there but not sure I can do it forever.

The govt puts a real gloss on teaching not sure what the reality is like.

Teachers children are rarely ill. You start to see how many parents take children off for no real reason.

Probably you can legally take an odd day off but it is very bad form. It costs £250 a day to replace you (more than you are paid) and so even if it's unpaid the school loses out.

If this is your major thought when considering teaching then I think it's not for you . Sorry that seems hard.

How will you do a minimum 60 hour week?

How will you work at weekends?

How will you manage never seeing you one childs assembly, pmays, sports days?

Teaching is the least flexible job i can think of.

Plays not pmays

If it's an emergency then of course time off is ok but you would be expected to have a contingency plan.

Thanks for that. This isn't my only my concern but it is good to know how the nitty gritty stuff works as you are never told this at teaching events and when you talk to teachers outside of MN!

This is as I expected and I am trying to get my head around it. Everyone says the first two years are really really intense and then although still full on, it does get easier as the years go by.

My children are nearly at secondary school now and although in the past, it hasn't been an option, it is definitely a better time for us as a family to make the move.

Any other teachers out there with any views welcome.

My head allows 5 days per year paid leave for looking after sick children, any others are at her discretion. In 5 years of teaching and being a mother I've had a total of 3 days off to look after my kids when ill. They are not allowed to be ill! Taking time off is a complete pita too, you have to set cover, which often isn't done properly and your room is left in a mess!

As jetgirl says, you quickly learn that the work doesn't stop if you have a day off in term time - and that applies if you're ill yourself. You will need to email your lesson plans to school for whoever is covering your classes, you'll need to mark that work afterwards, and deal with any fall out, behaviour issues etc.

Many heads are quite reasonable about these things, and may allow a certain number of days off for looking after sick children (though 5 seems generous). Or you take unpaid leave. Obviously in an emergency you'd need to just take the time and go.

Your point about other family commitments sounds as though it could be a problem, because as someone else said, teaching is probably the least family friendly job in that respect - you just can't take days off for family events etc

The problem with teaching is that the work can't be done at home later or caught up the next day. 8.55 comes, the children are in and they wait for no one...

There is no ability to be a bit late or nip off early in an emergency.

Any time you are physically absent from your classroom it costs the school money, time and trouble. Cover for special events has to be arranged well in advance and is a real 'favour'.

Thanks all. It is really helpful to get these insights.

Violethill - we are lucky to have a headteacher like that. It does mean we are grateful and I don't know of any colleagues who take the piss for time off. My head let me have an hour off for dd's first day at school so I could drop her off. However, I am missing dd's assembly this Friday, and missed her first sports day. You just don't feel you can ask for time off for those sorts of things. DH's job allows him to be more flexible so he cn do the things I can't. In teaching there is no room for such flexibility.

My Head is very understanding about days off for major events and sickness, she trusts we won't take the piss and we don't. I am shocked to hear jetgirl etc work in a culture of such emotional suppression. Shame on the Heads and their budgets that create this...

I don't feel I work in a culture of emotional suppression! My head is understanding, but I honestly don't think I m in a position to ask to go to every little thing DD may be involved in. I work part time and sometimes my days do allow me to attend events. I took a day off last Thursday because I had received some very bad news. I didn't for a moment question the validity of taking that time off, and received a lovely email from my boss supporting my decision.
IME it is the teachers who are parents who take the least time off too!