When did parent teacher conference days become teacher vacation days?

[Anonymous]

What's the matter, OP. Did the teacher not check in with you before adjusting hours?

[Anonymous]

I’ve heard teachers complaining about the opposite issue - they makes themselves available for PTC but the parents schedule 4 day mini vacations and then ask for the teachers to accommodate them on a different day. Which is super shitty in my opinion.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I’ve heard teachers complaining about the opposite issue - they makes themselves available for PTC but the parents schedule 4 day mini vacations and then ask for the teachers to accommodate them on a different day. Which is super shitty in my opinion.

Former teacher here. I agree with this. But since I’ve been a parent, I haven’t gone on vacations during teacher workdays. I have noticed a trend. Most teachers now don’t schedule conferences on the actual teacher workdays and tend to do them before or after school. I find this more inconvenient for parents. Before school is tough - who is watching my kids that early in the am and getting them ready to go to school if I’m at the conference? After school again doesn’t work. Who is watching my kids or getting them from the bus stop? I am a SAHM with no outside childcare help. The teacher workdays are much easier for me to utilize for conferences. I can leave my kids at home because their Dad works from home. But early mornings on a school day with him working? Won’t work.

I notice the teachers who get all their conferences done before the workdays aren’t at school on those workdays. Classroom is dark and their doors are locked. They are taking the day off without using leave of course.

[Anonymous]

Every decision a teacher makes is criticized and micromanaged. They can’t win.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:We don't have this issue in FCC. The teachers publish a calendar with meeting times every 15 minutes (or shorter if it's HS/middle school) and parents sign up for the time slot they want.

It seems that a lot of people on DCUM like to find reasons to view FCC negatively but I find that despite the flaws, and there definitely are some, FCC is better than pretty much every other local school division in almost every way.

That’s what my APS school and my son’s APS school does

Ditto. We’re in APS, there’s a sign-up sheet, and official conference days are included, plus additional times. This is school specific.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:What's the matter, OP. Did the teacher not check in with you before adjusting hours?

OP think she’s the boss.

Sit TF, OP. Know your place.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I’ve heard teachers complaining about the opposite issue - they makes themselves available for PTC but the parents schedule 4 day mini vacations and then ask for the teachers to accommodate them on a different day. Which is super shitty in my opinion.

Former teacher here. I agree with this. But since I’ve been a parent, I haven’t gone on vacations during teacher workdays. I have noticed a trend. Most teachers now don’t schedule conferences on the actual teacher workdays and tend to do them before or after school. I find this more inconvenient for parents. Before school is tough - who is watching my kids that early in the am and getting them ready to go to school if I’m at the conference? After school again doesn’t work. Who is watching my kids or getting them from the bus stop? I am a SAHM with no outside childcare help. The teacher workdays are much easier for me to utilize for conferences. I can leave my kids at home because their Dad works from home. But early mornings on a school day with him working? Won’t work.

I notice the teachers who get all their conferences done before the workdays aren’t at school on those workdays. Classroom is dark and their doors are locked. They are taking the day off without using leave of course.

Get a job and stop peering into classroom windows.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I’ve heard teachers complaining about the opposite issue - they makes themselves available for PTC but the parents schedule 4 day mini vacations and then ask for the teachers to accommodate them on a different day. Which is super shitty in my opinion.

Former teacher here. I agree with this. But since I’ve been a parent, I haven’t gone on vacations during teacher workdays. I have noticed a trend. Most teachers now don’t schedule conferences on the actual teacher workdays and tend to do them before or after school. I find this more inconvenient for parents. Before school is tough - who is watching my kids that early in the am and getting them ready to go to school if I’m at the conference? After school again doesn’t work. Who is watching my kids or getting them from the bus stop? I am a SAHM with no outside childcare help. The teacher workdays are much easier for me to utilize for conferences. I can leave my kids at home because their Dad works from home. But early mornings on a school day with him working? Won’t work.

I notice the teachers who get all their conferences done before the workdays aren’t at school on those workdays. Classroom is dark and their doors are locked. They are taking the day off without using leave of course.

How do you know they are taking the day off without using leave? That’s a pretty mean assumption.
I see in your post that you are mostly concerned about what’s most convenient for you. Sure. Who isn’t? Well, the teacher has to accommodate more families than just you. I’ve held conferences on the PT conference days as well as before school and after school. I bend over backwards to accommodate families, yours AND all the others. Perhaps before school is tough for you, but there are plenty of families who prefer that.

[Anonymous]

We have had teachers take off PTC days. It is not the norm, but it happens. None of those teachers take the day without using a leave day. They have to get permission from their principal and central office and it absolutely comes out of their leave bank. You stated that you are a SAHM with no help. Have you considered asking for a video conference?

[Anonymous]

I’m not the OP, but I just have to thrown in- I love virtual, evening conferences. Means my spouse and I can both attend, don’t have to worry about child care. If the teacher is at home, and then flexes that time to take out of the two official conference days, I care not. It works for me, why can’t it work for them??

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I’m not the OP, but I just have to thrown in- I love virtual, evening conferences. Means my spouse and I can both attend, don’t have to worry about child care. If the teacher is at home, and then flexes that time to take out of the two official conference days, I care not. It works for me, why can’t it work for them??

Thanks for posting this. It totally makes sense to have flexibility. But negative poster’s intent is to trash teachers. If someone can only have a conference during the school day and the teacher is not accommodating it then talk to the principal. Stop generalizations that are so damaging. And stop vilifying teachers!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Consider them flex days. They don’t owe you that time before / after.

Don't they owe us the PTC days? Wouldn't it be part of the contract?

Teachers don’t owe you anything! There is this horrifying trend of trying to “catch teachers” not doing their job. This job is hard and every teacher I know, including myself, is busting their butt to get everything done. I can’t remember the last time I didn’t do work after putting my own children to bed. The demand from parents is constant, not to mention the added pressures of the pandemic.

Plenty of people are working weekends and after their kids are in bed.

And there are plenty of people making more than teachers. Plenty of people who earn overtime. Plenty of teachers who work off the clock. And plenty of entitled folks who feel the need to micromanage everyone else’s job. Are you the same way with your dentist? Favorite cashier? Doctor? Hairstylist? Do you try to dictate how they use their time off? What’s your point? No need to wonder why there’s a teacher shortage.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I’ve heard teachers complaining about the opposite issue - they makes themselves available for PTC but the parents schedule 4 day mini vacations and then ask for the teachers to accommodate them on a different day. Which is super shitty in my opinion.

Former teacher here. I agree with this. But since I’ve been a parent, I haven’t gone on vacations during teacher workdays. I have noticed a trend. Most teachers now don’t schedule conferences on the actual teacher workdays and tend to do them before or after school. I find this more inconvenient for parents. Before school is tough - who is watching my kids that early in the am and getting them ready to go to school if I’m at the conference? After school again doesn’t work. Who is watching my kids or getting them from the bus stop? I am a SAHM with no outside childcare help. The teacher workdays are much easier for me to utilize for conferences. I can leave my kids at home because their Dad works from home. But early mornings on a school day with him working? Won’t work.

I notice the teachers who get all their conferences done before the workdays aren’t at school on those workdays. Classroom is dark and their doors are locked. They are taking the day off without using leave of course.

How do you know they are taking the day off without using leave? That’s a pretty mean assumption.
I see in your post that you are mostly concerned about what’s most convenient for you. Sure. Who isn’t? Well, the teacher has to accommodate more families than just you. I’ve held conferences on the PT conference days as well as before school and after school. I bend over backwards to accommodate families, yours AND all the others. Perhaps before school is tough for you, but there are plenty of families who prefer that.

Because that’s how it works. I used to teach for FCPS and you don’t have to take leave on a teacher workday. Principal usually gives “flex” time. Meaning you can “work from home.” Yeah right. The reality is teachers go out to lunch and take off the rest of the day.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I’ve heard teachers complaining about the opposite issue - they makes themselves available for PTC but the parents schedule 4 day mini vacations and then ask for the teachers to accommodate them on a different day. Which is super shitty in my opinion.

Former teacher here. I agree with this. But since I’ve been a parent, I haven’t gone on vacations during teacher workdays. I have noticed a trend. Most teachers now don’t schedule conferences on the actual teacher workdays and tend to do them before or after school. I find this more inconvenient for parents. Before school is tough - who is watching my kids that early in the am and getting them ready to go to school if I’m at the conference? After school again doesn’t work. Who is watching my kids or getting them from the bus stop? I am a SAHM with no outside childcare help. The teacher workdays are much easier for me to utilize for conferences. I can leave my kids at home because their Dad works from home. But early mornings on a school day with him working? Won’t work.

I notice the teachers who get all their conferences done before the workdays aren’t at school on those workdays. Classroom is dark and their doors are locked. They are taking the day off without using leave of course.

How do you know they are taking the day off without using leave? That’s a pretty mean assumption.
I see in your post that you are mostly concerned about what’s most convenient for you. Sure. Who isn’t? Well, the teacher has to accommodate more families than just you. I’ve held conferences on the PT conference days as well as before school and after school. I bend over backwards to accommodate families, yours AND all the others. Perhaps before school is tough for you, but there are plenty of families who prefer that.

Because that’s how it works. I used to teach for FCPS and you don’t have to take leave on a teacher workday. Principal usually gives “flex” time. Meaning you can “work from home.” Yeah right. The reality is teachers go out to lunch and take off the rest of the day.

Wow, that’s weird that you don’t work there any more. Sounds like a great gig.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I’ve heard teachers complaining about the opposite issue - they makes themselves available for PTC but the parents schedule 4 day mini vacations and then ask for the teachers to accommodate them on a different day. Which is super shitty in my opinion.

Former teacher here. I agree with this. But since I’ve been a parent, I haven’t gone on vacations during teacher workdays. I have noticed a trend. Most teachers now don’t schedule conferences on the actual teacher workdays and tend to do them before or after school. I find this more inconvenient for parents. Before school is tough - who is watching my kids that early in the am and getting them ready to go to school if I’m at the conference? After school again doesn’t work. Who is watching my kids or getting them from the bus stop? I am a SAHM with no outside childcare help. The teacher workdays are much easier for me to utilize for conferences. I can leave my kids at home because their Dad works from home. But early mornings on a school day with him working? Won’t work.

I notice the teachers who get all their conferences done before the workdays aren’t at school on those workdays. Classroom is dark and their doors are locked. They are taking the day off without using leave of course.

How do you know they are taking the day off without using leave? That’s a pretty mean assumption.
I see in your post that you are mostly concerned about what’s most convenient for you. Sure. Who isn’t? Well, the teacher has to accommodate more families than just you. I’ve held conferences on the PT conference days as well as before school and after school. I bend over backwards to accommodate families, yours AND all the others. Perhaps before school is tough for you, but there are plenty of families who prefer that.

Because that’s how it works. I used to teach for FCPS and you don’t have to take leave on a teacher workday. Principal usually gives “flex” time. Meaning you can “work from home.” Yeah right. The reality is teachers go out to lunch and take off the rest of the day.

Wow, that’s weird that you don’t work there any more. Sounds like a great gig.

+1. I’ve never had a principal who would let me get away with that.