Anonymous wrote:Yes, but she doesn't get winter break, spring break, federal holidays and summer vacation!

Our kids' teachers have taken so many vacations this year. They have had subs for so many reasons and for so many days. I think it is irresponsible for teachers to be allowed to take planned vacations (as opposed to emergencies, family illness...) during school days.

Elementary school principal here. How do you know a teacher is taking a "vacation" during school days. Teachers at my school have 3 personal days a year. If there is a special life event like a wedding, I can be flexible. But if someone wants to go on a cruise in the middle of February for a week, it's not getting approved.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:But the students aren't suppose to miss school for an uncle's wedding or cousin's college graduation.

Dumbass, students and teachers aren't the same. Teaching is a job like any other job. Home school if you don't like it.

Former teacher here and daughter of a teacher.

It is not the same.

Teachers get many additional vacation days: spring break, winter break, thanksgiving and 8-12 weeks of summer vacation depending on the state.

Yes, they work very hard but to act like they are indentured servants for the 40 ish weeks out of 52 that they actually do work is quite dramatic to say the least.

I don't work that many less days as a teacher than I did in consulting. Then I had 5 weeks vacation + 13 holidays + 1 floating holiday, so basically 8 weeks off. So yes, as a teacher I go into work for 4 less weeks.

This is an interesting thread:

http://www.city-data.com/forum/work-employment/2132238-how-much-vacation-sick-time-do.html

It looks like a good number of people in a variety of careers receive a fair amount of vacation time.

I have been teaching for over 15 years at the same private school and it only know one teacher in all of that time who took a week off to go on a vacation. Her husband was going somewhere exceptional for work and she tagged along. Other than that no one has ever taken a vacation during the school year. A day or two here and there, sure. We only have two personal days a year and they don't roll over, nor do our sick days. Every year is a new contract. With that said, we are pathetically paid and no one teaches for the money. Everyone is there because they are passionate about what they do. And by the way, if your kid can't survive the year with a sub every once in a while, then that is a problem. Subs really don't teach but it's possible to leave a great plan that ensures the kids are still learning.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I heard they have approximately 2 weeks off during school year officially, is that true? My DD complained about substitute teacher and the room teacher was off for vacation.

Sick days rollover, so it is possible for a teacher to have more than 2 weeks.
Sick leave is also used for maternity leave. So you can only imagine how much one must have accumulated.

Many schools don't let you roll over your sick leave. When I adopted my child, I got 7.5 days of paid leave, because the school I was at allowed 8 sick days a year with no roll over, and I had taken a half day to get homestudy requirements done. The same school offered 6 weeks at partial pay under short term disability, but only if you gave birth.

I should note that I had been at that school for 4 years, and had never taken a sick day except for that one half day.

did you get 12 weeks fmla leave, unpaid?

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Does your physician get a vacation?

Sure, but she works more than 185 days a year.....

It's 194 days in FCPS, not 185. Many districts in VA have 200 day contracts. I don't know any who have 185.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:But the students aren't suppose to miss school for an uncle's wedding or cousin's college graduation.

Dumbass, students and teachers aren't the same. Teaching is a job like any other job. Home school if you don't like it.

Former teacher here and daughter of a teacher.

It is not the same.

Teachers get many additional vacation days: spring break, winter break, thanksgiving and 8-12 weeks of summer vacation depending on the state.

Yes, they work very hard but to act like they are indentured servants for the 40 ish weeks out of 52 that they actually do work is quite dramatic to say the least.

I don't work that many less days as a teacher than I did in consulting. Then I had 5 weeks vacation + 13 holidays + 1 floating holiday, so basically 8 weeks off. So yes, as a teacher I go into work for 4 less weeks.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:
Our kids' teachers have taken so many vacations this year. They have had subs for so many reasons and for so many days. I think it is irresponsible for teachers to be allowed to take planned vacations (as opposed to emergencies, family illness...) during school days.

Teachers work darn hard for a pittance of a salary. If you treat them like indentured servants then you are just trying to guarantee that no one with decent teaching skills will want to teach school. If they were paid a reasonable salary, this might not be such an issue, but they are one of the lowest paid professions and your attitude is toxic for retaining decent skilled teachers.

Thank you!

-Signed,
a teacher

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:You guys need to switch doctors!

Why would I switch doctors? Their vacation time is blacked out. Therefore, they simply don't schedule patients during those times. It's not as if I go for my appointment and find a "Gone Fishing" sign on the door. In the event of unforeseen emergencies, you can see another doctor. That's never happened to me, but my pediatrician has sent his patients to a different doctor during his vacation times.

Well, that's not a problem, then, is it? Nor is it the same as having an unqualified person (most subs are not trained teachers and they do not teach) teach our kids because the real teacher is going to Mexico for the week.

Teacher here. I couldn't go to Mexico for the week, even if I wanted to. I get 3 personal days a year. Any more than that requires a doctor's note. Teachers generally use those days one at a time.

It's so. Much. Work. To write sub plans, get a decent sub, and follow up with post sub behavior issues that the event has to be really important to justify a day off.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:But the students aren't suppose to miss school for an uncle's wedding or cousin's college graduation.

Dumbass, students and teachers aren't the same. Teaching is a job like any other job. Home school if you don't like it.

Former teacher here and daughter of a teacher.

It is not the same.

Teachers get many additional vacation days: spring break, winter break, thanksgiving and 8-12 weeks of summer vacation depending on the state.

Yes, they work very hard but to act like they are indentured servants for the 40 ish weeks out of 52 that they actually do work is quite dramatic to say the least.

Yes, I'm sure teachers are very successful telling family members that they have to schedule weddings, funerals, special anniversaries and such during Spring break or summer. "No Mom, you can't have your 50th wedding anniversary party on the day you were married. Can't you move it to July?" "Why couldn't Dad have died during Spring break instead of during a regular school week?"

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Does your physician get a vacation?

Sure, but she works more than 185 days a year.....

Maybe not. You don't know what kind of vacation time they have.

And I'm sure they get paid as of they work more than 185 days too.

Anonymous wrote:Does your physician get a vacation?

Sure, but she works more than 185 days a year.....

All right, another let's bash the teachers thread!

Get a life people,,teachers try to.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:You guys need to switch doctors!

Why would I switch doctors? Their vacation time is blacked out. Therefore, they simply don't schedule patients during those times. It's not as if I go for my appointment and find a "Gone Fishing" sign on the door. In the event of unforeseen emergencies, you can see another doctor. That's never happened to me, but my pediatrician has sent his patients to a different doctor during his vacation times.

Well, that's not a problem, then, is it? Nor is it the same as having an unqualified person (most subs are not trained teachers and they do not teach) teach our kids because the real teacher is going to Mexico for the week.

1. Substitutes do not teach. They simply manage the class and ensure the teacher's work is assigned and completed.

2. What school approves a weeklong vacation in Mexico? And if a kid can take such a trip and still bounce back--despite misses ALL subjects for a week--then surely they'll be fine not having a teacher in ONE subject for the week. Many schools are on block schedules now so most kids are just missing out on 2 or 3 days without the teacher.

3. Thank you for conceding that professionals having time off in addition to the regularly scheduled "stuff" is okay.

4. Why lose sleep over it? Teachers always have and always will take whatever time off they need. And they don't need parent permission to do so. That is the one complaint admin cannot and will not back parents up on. Teachers are entitled to use whatever leave they have. Admin wouldn't even try to fight that one. Legally it's a losing battle.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:You guys need to switch doctors!

Why would I switch doctors? Their vacation time is blacked out. Therefore, they simply don't schedule patients during those times. It's not as if I go for my appointment and find a "Gone Fishing" sign on the door. In the event of unforeseen emergencies, you can see another doctor. That's never happened to me, but my pediatrician has sent his patients to a different doctor during his vacation times.

Well, that's not a problem, then, is it? Nor is it the same as having an unqualified person (most subs are not trained teachers and they do not teach) teach our kids because the real teacher is going to Mexico for the week.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:But the students aren't suppose to miss school for an uncle's wedding or cousin's college graduation.

Dumbass, students and teachers aren't the same. Teaching is a job like any other job. Home school if you don't like it.

Former teacher here and daughter of a teacher.

It is not the same.

Teachers get many additional vacation days: spring break, winter break, thanksgiving and 8-12 weeks of summer vacation depending on the state.

Yes, they work very hard but to act like they are indentured servants for the 40 ish weeks out of 52 that they actually do work is quite dramatic to say the least.