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Post by christine58 on Jun 20, 2016 18:17:59 GMT
Yeah that wouldn't fly in my district at all. I'd have no issue with your DH going but using paid days?? That's just so morally wrong in my eyes. So I will agree to disagree with you. I don't understand what you mean by morally wrong. Did the individual not earn the paid days? SaveSaveMorally wrong because we all KNOW what our calendar looks like. I have accumulated 250 paid SICK days in my 34 years of teaching..does that mean I can just take a vacation whenever I want?? NOPE. Now if someone wants to take unpaid days to go to Disney on the off time..have at it. In some states, teachers do get paid vacation days----here in NYS we do not. Administrators do, we don't. So in my eyes, it's morally wrong. MY opinion...
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Post by christine58 on Jun 20, 2016 18:18:57 GMT
I can't see how that could possibly be immoral. He doesn't lie about it and the principal approves it because *by contract* the days CAN be used this way. Then your DH is very lucky...most of us CANNOT.
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Post by myshelly on Jun 20, 2016 18:20:59 GMT
I can't see how that could possibly be immoral. He doesn't lie about it and the principal approves it because *by contract* the days CAN be used this way. Then your DH is very lucky...most of us CANNOT. And as I said I know contracts vary by district. But I have a HUGE problem when you try to make a moral judgment about using days he *earned* to take a vacation that is *approved* by admin. In no way is that immoral.
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Post by christine58 on Jun 20, 2016 18:23:23 GMT
Also, many teachers DO get paid over the summer if they opt for it and the district allows it. However, the money was taken out of our paychecks during the school year and is given to us during the summer do we don't have to go without a paycheck. So yes, we may get a paycheck during the summer but we didn't earn that money by working in the summer. It's already earned money. Some of our teachers do that but they get a check in June that is "bigger". Rumors here are that that might stop because the IRS has their panties in a bunch over it.
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katybee
Drama Llama
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Jun 25, 2014 23:25:39 GMT
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Post by katybee on Jun 20, 2016 18:31:28 GMT
In my district, it would be a principal decision whether or not to approve personal days for such a trip. My principal would most likely do it – especially if you, otherwise, do not abuse your personal/sick days. AND as long as you have all your ducks in a row – grades turned in, paperwork done, etc.
Would I do it? Tough call. The last week is pretty much babysitting. Truly. But I enjoy spending that fun time with my kids. Then again, I haven't had a real vacation in years.. it would be hard to turn down an all expense paid trip.
Let me say this, though. My personal days are part of my compensation package. They are part of my salary. And they are PERSONAL days. As long as I give the required notice and they are not on day where we're not allowed to take them-- I can do whatever I want. I can go to the doctor or take a 3 day weekend or stay home and watch Netflix. It's nobody's business. I used to leave several of my personal days unused every gear. But then I figured out that I was essentially giving the district MY money.
I EARN those days. I'm going to use them. (I bank my sick days as those roll over).
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katybee
Drama Llama
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Jun 25, 2014 23:25:39 GMT
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Post by katybee on Jun 20, 2016 18:33:28 GMT
I don't think a teacher should miss the first and last few weeks of school other than for extenuating circumstances - DS' AP Gov teacher missed the first week of school when DS was a sophomore due to the birth of his twins. It really set the class back, but for the birth of a child, totally understandable. For a vacation? No. In the middle of the school year? Sure, why not. The first and last weeks are chaotic and busy and it is odd for a teacher not to be there for that. I think the middle of the year when you're actually teaching prime material is more critical than the last week when you're just trying to manage chaos...
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katybee
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Post by katybee on Jun 20, 2016 18:38:07 GMT
Also, many teachers DO get paid over the summer if they opt for it and the district allows it. However, the money was taken out of our paychecks during the school year and is given to us during the summer do we don't have to go without a paycheck. So yes, we may get a paycheck during the summer but we didn't earn that money by working in the summer. It's already earned money. In my district, we do not get a choice. We get paid over 12 months. Even though I have already earned all of my money for the year, my district gets to keep a chunk and dole it out to me slowly over the next three months. In other words, they get to earn interest on it – I do not. I would much rather have my money as earn it. I am a grown-up. I can handle my own finances. And I would like to earn interest on the money, thank you very much…
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Post by ihaveonly1l on Jun 20, 2016 18:49:19 GMT
I don't understand what you mean by morally wrong. Did the individual not earn the paid days? SaveSaveMorally wrong because we all KNOW what our calendar looks like. I have accumulated 250 paid SICK days in my 34 years of teaching..does that mean I can just take a vacation whenever I want?? NOPE. Now if someone wants to take unpaid days to go to Disney on the off time..have at it. In some states, teachers do get paid vacation days----here in NYS we do not. Administrators do, we don't. So in my eyes, it's morally wrong. MY opinion...
But don't most people know their schedule? Like Monday-Friday 8:00-6:00. Why because my days are put on a calendar does it make it different? My husband works Monday-Friday, should he never make plans to do something during a Monday-Friday because he knows his work days.
I agree that using sick time when you (or someone that falls under the definitions of your contract) aren't sick is wrong, but personal time or unpaid time that is APPROVED is fine. I know of a teacher this year that requested unpaid time and it wasn't approved because our district has a cap on the number of people who can be off for "discretionary" leave at one time. If the district doesn't like the way it works, that would be something they would negotiate.
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Deleted
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May 14, 2024 10:41:20 GMT
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Post by Deleted on Jun 20, 2016 18:56:49 GMT
I don't think a teacher should miss the first and last few weeks of school other than for extenuating circumstances - DS' AP Gov teacher missed the first week of school when DS was a sophomore due to the birth of his twins. It really set the class back, but for the birth of a child, totally understandable. For a vacation? No. In the middle of the school year? Sure, why not. The first and last weeks are chaotic and busy and it is odd for a teacher not to be there for that. But there's no real learning that takes place in the chaos of the last 2 weeks...my eighth grade son reported several classes watched movies during this time. The school schedules field trips and field days during this period. On the last Tuesday of school this year the band went to six flags...which meant that only 50 students (the non-band students) of more than 200 were left at school. They had a blast w popcorn and movies and playing hoops in the gym.
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moodyblue
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Jun 26, 2014 21:07:23 GMT
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Post by moodyblue on Jun 20, 2016 20:11:02 GMT
I find it really interesting how contracts vary from district to district. In my district teachers don't get paid time off/vacation days so that is a totally alien concept to me. If it's a negotiated part of the contract then I would expect teachers to use that time, but I'm kind of amazed that any school board would include that in a contract for teachers.
We only get two Personal Days a year, and until this next year and our new contract, they were "use them or lose them" for many years or, more recently, converted to sick leave if you didn't use them.
Starting next year we will be able to accumulate up to four personal days, but using all four in a row requires approval by the superintendent. That still isn't enough to take a full week off, because most of the time you can't use a personal day to extend a break from school. Teachers who want a full week off would have to take at least one day as a "dock day" - no pay.
We have had a couple teachers take a week off to go on a trip. One went with her husband to Japan when he was going on business; that was kind of a "once in a lifetime" trip, so I understand that. She did have to use dock days. One took a week in January, right as we were coming back from Winter Break; she wanted to celebrate her 50th birthday someplace.
I have to say, honestly, I could never have done that for a birthday trip or anything like that because I just don't think it's right. We have lots of time outside of when school is in session for planning vacations. I admit that I am influenced by the fact that I'm a "specials" teacher (reading specialist) and my district does NOT get a sub for me. So if I'm gone for any reason, there are no extra reading services for my students, and yes, I feel guilty about missing too much time with the kids. I miss some for attending conferences and use sick days when I have to for myself or another family member so I don't like to be gone any more than those. I may have an overly developed work ethic or something because I am uncomfortable with the idea of a teacher, sub or no sub, going on a vacation while school is in session.
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Post by myshelly on Jun 20, 2016 20:42:14 GMT
I really don't understand the attitude of some peas toward paid time off whether it's in the form of of personal days or vacation days or sick days.
It doesn't matter that we are talking about teachers.
We are talking about employees who *earn* paid time off as part of their *compensation* packages from their employer. Would you say "no thanks, I don't need my October paycheck"? Would you say "you know what, you can keep my Februaury health coverage"? I'm guessing no. So why say, you know what, keep my paid time off, I earned it, but I don't feel like I should take it?
That's bizarre to me.
There's nothing honorable or special or moral about not taking it. You're just purposely losing something that you are entitled to because you *worked* to *earn* it.
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artbabe
Pearl Clutcher
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Jun 26, 2014 1:59:10 GMT
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Post by artbabe on Jun 20, 2016 21:09:38 GMT
I agree with myshelly on this. It isn't a moral issue. The district gives me days off as part of my contract and to not use them would be foolish.
I've accumulated 130 sick days in my 22 years teaching. When I need them, I use them. I get 3 personal days that I can use for anything I want. I can carry 2 and convert the other to a sick day if I want. Or I can get paid for the personal days that I didn't use, but it isn't very much.
These are part of my compensation package. It would be stupid to not use them. I bank the sick days because you never know what the future holds but I see no reason to sit on personal days.
My district would probably not approve missing the last week but if they did I would certainly choose to take advantage of a rare event.
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katybee
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Jun 25, 2014 23:25:39 GMT
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Post by katybee on Jun 20, 2016 21:13:36 GMT
I find it really interesting how contracts vary from district to district. In my district teachers don't get paid time off/vacation days so that is a totally alien concept to me. If it's a negotiated part of the contract then I would expect teachers to use that time, but I'm kind of amazed that any school board would include that in a contract for teachers. Why? Why is it unreasonable to think that a teacher may need a day off between the months of August and June? Like I said--it's part of our compensation package. We get 5 days-- but not all at once. We earn them as the year progresses. A district decides what it wants to pay for a teacher. The cost of a teacher includes salary, whatever the district pays for insurance, whatever the district has to pay to cover sick days and whatever a district has to pay to cover personal days. I would imagine districts that do not offer personal days make it up in other ways-- possibly higher base pay. When I do not take my sick days, it does NOT save the district/state money, because I will get paid for unused sick days when I retire. I will not get reimbursed for personal days, so I'm taking them.
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Post by christine58 on Jun 20, 2016 21:25:24 GMT
When I do not take my sick days, it does NOT save the district/state money, because I will get paid for unused sick days when I retire. I will not get reimbursed for personal days, so I'm taking them. Ours turn into sick days
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AmeliaBloomer
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Post by AmeliaBloomer on Jun 20, 2016 22:47:03 GMT
There's nothing honorable or special or moral about not taking it. No, of course not. A couple people are claiming ethics/morality, but I think what many are saying - and I'll add myself - is that it would be considered very bad form FOR US to take a week vacation outside of the 14 weeks we have off every year, so we attach different meaning to it than you do. It's organizational culture, bolstered by the fact that most teacher contracts only allow two-three personal days...and explicitly disallow using a personal day before-or-after a holiday or school break...and/or explicitly disallow using the days consecutively...and dock employees who ask for time off for vacations. So the employment rules help create the culture, and then many of us internalize the strictures of the culture to form our own professional ethos. Cause/effect. And it becomes tradition and it bleeds into community/parent attitudes. If there are teachers out there who can use five personal days in a row and go on vacation, they should surely go for it - especially if it is sanctioned within the organizational culture. If I worked in a district like that, I would have developed a different ethos... ...and gone on vacations that would have been a hell of a lot cheaper.
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Post by refugeepea on Jun 20, 2016 22:50:51 GMT
Oh, she is coming back. She has taken so many days off this year it is ridiculous, but admin thinks she walks on water. It is incredibly frustrating. I'm just happy I don't have to deal with her next year. For a once in a lifetime trip (free cruise) I could understand because I don't get to travel. This further information, yes, it would bother me.
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cougarjo
Junior Member
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Jul 12, 2015 15:49:42 GMT
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Post by cougarjo on Jun 21, 2016 0:10:22 GMT
Here in England we would not be able to take vacations in school time. If we are sick we take time off but we don't get an allocated number of days per year. So for example 4 years ago I took 4 weeks off for sickness but the past three years I've not taken any. If we are genuinely sick we take time off snd get paid. If not then we don't bank any days etc.
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Post by monklady123 on Jun 21, 2016 0:26:27 GMT
I find it really interesting how contracts vary from district to district. In my district teachers don't get paid time off/vacation days so that is a totally alien concept to me. If it's a negotiated part of the contract then I would expect teachers to use that time, but I'm kind of amazed that any school board would include that in a contract for teachers. We only get two Personal Days a year, and until this next year and our new contract, they were "use them or lose them" for many years or, more recently, converted to sick leave if you didn't use them. Starting next year we will be able to accumulate up to four personal days, but using all four in a row requires approval by the superintendent. That still isn't enough to take a full week off, because most of the time you can't use a personal day to extend a break from school. Teachers who want a full week off would have to take at least one day as a "dock day" - no pay. We have had a couple teachers take a week off to go on a trip. One went with her husband to Japan when he was going on business; that was kind of a "once in a lifetime" trip, so I understand that. She did have to use dock days. One took a week in January, right as we were coming back from Winter Break; she wanted to celebrate her 50th birthday someplace. I have to say, honestly, I could never have done that for a birthday trip or anything like that because I just don't think it's right. We have lots of time outside of when school is in session for planning vacations. I admit that I am influenced by the fact that I'm a "specials" teacher (reading specialist) and my district does NOT get a sub for me. So if I'm gone for any reason, there are no extra reading services for my students, and yes, I feel guilty about missing too much time with the kids. I miss some for attending conferences and use sick days when I have to for myself or another family member so I don't like to be gone any more than those. I may have an overly developed work ethic or something because I am uncomfortable with the idea of a teacher, sub or no sub, going on a vacation while school is in session. A bit off-topic... but really? No subs for reading teachers? Thankfully our district allows subs for any position. I love subbing for the reading teachers because I like doing different things during the day. Our elementary reading teachers usually do "push in" (going into a lower grade (K and 1 usually) to help with language arts rotations) in the morning, some sort of "intervention" mid-day (with maybe 2 or 3 older kids who are really struggling), and then pull-out in the afternoon (usually a group of 3rd, 4th and/or 5th). If the teacher is out then the classroom teachers are stuck with kids who have no lesson plan in place for them. The reading groups for the push-in classes can just look at a book independently and anyway the time is short. But the afternoon pull-out kids are pulled out for two hours and that's a large chunk of time for the classroom teacher to come up with lessons for them. However, even though they're allowed to get subs those subs are, unfortunately, the first to get pulled if a classroom didn't get a sub and there's no one else to cover. Like when the norovirus went around ... omg! One day at the school where I do all of my subbing there were 15 subs in the building! All reading teacher subs were pulled, and all classroom assistant subs were pulled if they were certified to sub for a regular teacher. It was kind of a crazy day. lol. I was pulled and given a choice of 1st or 5th. I grabbed up the 5th grade because I figured I was a bit safer from germs up there since it's the littler kids who get sick more often. Anyway, sorry for the tangent.
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moodyblue
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Location: Western Illinois
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Jun 26, 2014 21:07:23 GMT
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Post by moodyblue on Jun 21, 2016 0:48:21 GMT
I find it really interesting how contracts vary from district to district. In my district teachers don't get paid time off/vacation days so that is a totally alien concept to me. If it's a negotiated part of the contract then I would expect teachers to use that time, but I'm kind of amazed that any school board would include that in a contract for teachers. Why? Why is it unreasonable to think that a teacher may need a day off between the months of August and June? Like I said--it's part of our compensation package. We get 5 days-- but not all at once. We earn them as the year progresses. A district decides what it wants to pay for a teacher. The cost of a teacher includes salary, whatever the district pays for insurance, whatever the district has to pay to cover sick days and whatever a district has to pay to cover personal days. I would imagine districts that do not offer personal days make it up in other ways-- possibly higher base pay. When I do not take my sick days, it does NOT save the district/state money, because I will get paid for unused sick days when I retire. I will not get reimbursed for personal days, so I'm taking them. We only get two personal days a year. We fought for years trying to get more than that. Our new contract still only allows two per year but we can now accumulate them up to four days. But, there is no guarantee that you can use all four together or after a holiday or break; that's up to the superintendent to approve. So yes, we can take a day for any reason (and don't have to specify a reason), but that's different than taking a whole week off for vacation. Many people use personal days to attend school events for their own children. I agree with another poster who said that it's part of the culture of a building/district - in some places the norm is such that no one thinks twice about having/using time off. In other places, it's not so common and yes, it would be considered unprofessional or "bad form" to take off on a vacation while school is in session. And, it's not a case of teachers not being allowed to go on vacation - but many people figure teachers have fourteen weeks of the year when we are able to schedule vacations and unless it's truly a special trip, there is not a good reason to plan them for school days. We are on an extended year calendar, so we have two weeks off in October and again in March. I happen to work in a district which has traditionally had VERY generous sick leave, and in Illinois you can use the equivalent of two full years of sick leave to retire early or to count towards your pension, but I will only get paid for a small number beyond what I might use for pension credit. (I have over 500 days of accumulated sick leave.) Our personal days turn into sick days if not used, so they don't necessarily get "wasted" if you don't take them.
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Deleted
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May 14, 2024 10:41:20 GMT
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Post by Deleted on Jun 21, 2016 1:13:10 GMT
I don't think there is anything wrong with using any paid days in your contract...that is what is it meant for BUT I do think the teacher should consider the time where school is not in session and try to minimize the impact on students for absences more than a day or two unless it is due to medical issues.
Personally, in my job, I have to be at work every other Monday and every 14/15 and last/first day of the month and the first of any new quarter for most of the first week. A few years ago, that gave me exactly 1 choice to take a longer than normal vacation while my kids were out of school. So it was truly the only choice I had.
I think part of the perspective issue is that most people don't get a 8-12 week block off work (paid or unpaid) each year. I try to tell my teacher friends that is a huge perq. And to most people it would be pretty easy to plan a larger vacation within that time frame. My employer would fire me if I wanted that much (paid or unpaid) time off once much less each year for anything but FMLA-related protected leave. It would be impossible to get my job done. There is no "sub" for me. I do sometimes envy that "break" from work. I understand it is unpaid most of the time (or paid from previously earned income). That's virtually unheard of in the business world or if you own your own business.
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Dani-Mani
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Jun 28, 2014 17:36:35 GMT
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Post by Dani-Mani on Jun 21, 2016 1:23:39 GMT
I think part of the perspective issue is that most people don't get a 8-12 week block off work (paid or unpaid) each year. I try to tell my teacher friends that is a huge perq. And to most people it would be pretty easy to plan a larger vacation within that time frame. My employer would fire me if I wanted that much (paid or unpaid) time off once much less each year for anything but FMLA-related protected leave. It would be impossible to get my job done. There is no "sub" for me. I do sometimes envy that "break" from work. I understand it is unpaid most of the time (or paid from previously earned income). That's virtually unheard of in the business world or if you own your own business. See, I hate this. Just because I have UNPAID time off doesn't mean my life squarely fits in that unpaid time. I took a week off this year to visit my grandfather in the middle of the school year. He has Alzheimer's. When I go back in two weeks, he probably won't know who I am because, since I took the paid time off, he has regressed considerably and is basically in the final stages of his life. My mother is a teacher who used to take time off whenever because my father was in the military. In all of the jobs in America, Uncle Sam doesn't decide to send people for R&R only during periods that are convenient to their spouses UNPAID time off. Part of the problem with the education system is America is that we don't even allow teachers to take care of themselves. Apparently educators are expected to be at work every day the entire school year. No wonder burnout is as bad as it is now. Back when my mom started teaching more than 30 years ago nobody gave a crap what days you took off and when you took it off. If you are in the time, you took the time.
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seaexplore
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Apr 25, 2015 23:57:30 GMT
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Post by seaexplore on Jun 21, 2016 2:03:11 GMT
I view it as ethically wrong. The kids count on you being there everyday to do your job. I managed to take ZERO days off last school year until maternity leave starting March 7. Most years I have perfect attendance. I just feel that a sub cannot do the job of the regular teacher. Ethically, I cannot leave my kids with a sub unless absolutely necessary. I do not view off peak vacation as necessary. For some people, it is. For me, it is not. yes, the last week of elementary is usually a wash and full of "non academic" stuff but learning still happens. It's just not graded or specifically on a standard.
I don't view taking either paid or unpaid leave that fits the guidelines of the contract something that deserves a judgement on.
It quickly turns into: "Teacher A gets here at 7:00 and stays to 5:00-They must be more dedicated".
I don't think this, but if you judge other people's APPROVED use of leave, then wouldn't you plan to have your baby in the summer? Please understand that I don't think you should have to do that- but what I'm saying is that it seems harsh to judge APPROVED leave of someone else, but justify why you are being absent. Know what I mean?
I actually tried to have a summer baby but when you've been trying for 3 years, you take what you get. If someone is out for maternity/paternity, health issues, I get it. Life happens. Vacation? Not for me or my family. School is important. You miss a day, you miss out. School does not wait for absent people. Learning goes on. When I have to be out for a day, it kills me. I have to write sub plans to continue the education. I can't say, "put on a movie" or do art all day. My kids have to do real curriculum, in my case math and science. To take a week? Omg! The prep work that goes into that! I did have to take a week off, ectopic pregnancy, and the amount of planning I had to do! And it was during testing. Yeah, not ideal. I won't go badmouthing a teach who takes a day here and there, we all need them from time to time. But a week off for vacation during the year, not cool in my book. If admin approves it, fine. It's still not something I would do.
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seaexplore
Prolific Pea
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Apr 25, 2015 23:57:30 GMT
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Post by seaexplore on Jun 21, 2016 2:09:07 GMT
I really don't understand the attitude of some peas toward paid time off whether it's in the form of of personal days or vacation days or sick days. It doesn't matter that we are talking about teachers. We are talking about employees who *earn* paid time off as part of their *compensation* packages from their employer. Would you say "no thanks, I don't need my October paycheck"? Would you say "you know what, you can keep my Februaury health coverage"? I'm guessing no. So why say, you know what, keep my paid time off, I earned it, but I don't feel like I should take it? That's bizarre to me. There's nothing honorable or special or moral about not taking it. You're just purposely losing something that you are entitled to because you *worked* to *earn* it. I don't lose mine. It will accrue until I retire. It's why I was able to take 48 days when I had my daughter and 59 days when I had my son. So, for me, I will continue not taking days here and there unless necessary and will save my days to cash out when I retire.
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Post by Merge on Jun 21, 2016 2:23:35 GMT
I think part of the perspective issue is that most people don't get a 8-12 week block off work (paid or unpaid) each year. I try to tell my teacher friends that is a huge perq. And to most people it would be pretty easy to plan a larger vacation within that time frame. My employer would fire me if I wanted that much (paid or unpaid) time off once much less each year for anything but FMLA-related protected leave. It would be impossible to get my job done. There is no "sub" for me. I do sometimes envy that "break" from work. I understand it is unpaid most of the time (or paid from previously earned income). That's virtually unheard of in the business world or if you own your own business. See, I hate this. Just because I have UNPAID time off doesn't mean my life squarely fits in that unpaid time. I took a week off this year to visit my grandfather in the middle of the school year. He has Alzheimer's. When I go back in two weeks, he probably won't know who I am because, since I took the paid time off, he has regressed considerably and is basically in the final stages of his life. My mother is a teacher who used to take time off whenever because my father was in the military. In all of the jobs in America, Uncle Sam doesn't decide to send people for R&R only during periods that are convenient to their spouses UNPAID time off. Part of the problem with the education system is America is that we don't even allow teachers to take care of themselves. Apparently educators are expected to be at work every day the entire school year. No wonder burnout is as bad as it is now. Back when my mom started teaching more than 30 years ago nobody gave a crap what days you took off and when you took it off. If you are in the time, you took the time. To be fair, there's a long way between "not taking care of yourself" at all and planning a mid-year, week-long trip to WDW or Bermuda or Greece or wherever. Everybody understands that things come up. Visiting your terminally ill grandfather, like in your case, is an emergency and not something that can be put off until summer. Like most teachers, my hackles go up when people start talking about all the free time we get off in the summer, because I know (as I think most do) that we don't get paid for that time. But it is still a perk and a big one, and in fact, I'd have to think long and hard about whether I was going to continue in this career if we went to year-round school. I kind of feel like if I'm going to have to work year-round, I ought to get paid more and get to spend my days sitting at a desk, KWIM? The ten weeks in summer and two in December are payment for the fact that I make a crappy salary compared to non-teaching-people with my level of education and experience, and the fact that I am a degreed professional who spends her days standing on her feet on concrete floors, basically herding cats for a living. To my way of thinking, PTO days are for the days here and there when you need to engage in some self-care - whether it's a doctor's appointment, a day running errands you just haven't had time for or a day spent with a friend who's visiting from out of town. They're also for emergencies, like very sick relatives and funerals. They're not for extended vacations. We have plenty of time for those in June and July, December and March. And it wouldn't matter, except that a week with a sub is a week of lost instruction, generally speaking, and may end up being a week where your colleagues end up having to watch your students as well as their own because subs are in short supply. Districts like ours have certain restrictions in place about days where personal time cannot be used because, unfortunately, staff have abused those days in the past, to the detriment of students and other teachers. Everybody would love to have an extra day after Thanksgiving break, for example. Travel is so much easier if you can do it on Monday instead of Sunday when everyone else is traveling. But if 15-20 teachers in each school are out because they wanted to extend their break, and you multiply that times 283 schools across the district, you now have far more absences than you have subs to cover them. And the day is now a loss because every staff member who came to work that day is now either warehousing students who are not theirs, or scrambling to back up subs struggling with difficult classes (because if subs are in short supply in our district, capable subs who can handle challenging classes are like hen's teeth). I'm sure there are districts out there with an ample supply of capable subs who are readily available, and I'm sure there are places where subs are never pulled from one class to cover another class, but I haven't worked in one of those districts, so my responses/feelings on this subject are based on my own experience. It's hard enough to have extras in your class for one day, but understandable for those days here and there. Stuff comes up. But I've also been the teacher stuck with five extra kids in every class all week because someone decided to take an off-season vacation, and I would never do that to another teacher. So that colors my response. Treat people how you want to be treated. ETA: Instructional time is lost even with a good sub - it just is. And in the case of my subject, music, it's really lost. I've never had a trained music sub, ever. And the last week of school being a wash? Huh. We teach right up until the last day, because otherwise we have chaos. Kids need order and routine. If your kids are spending the last week of school watching movies, shame on their teachers.
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Post by tidegirl on Jun 21, 2016 2:25:56 GMT
Rationally as a teacher I have no problem with other teachers taking off time during the year. Teachers are people with real lives. My building has traditionally made up of experienced aka "older" teachers." In the past subs were for sick days. However, as an earlier poster mentioned that younger teachers seem to have no problem taking off on a regular basis. We have a newer teacher who extends all long breaks/weekends, and has taken off week during the middle of the year to vacation. It does make me pause as to where her commitment is but at the end of the day it isn't my business. She teaches kindergarten.
Truthfully I think what swayed my feelings is that she tore her room down 2 weeks before school ended. Like there was nothing left up on the walls, furniture removed etc. If my kid was in that class I would have been truly peeved. Luckily, they are not and I will get over it.
At the end of the day it is up to administration to oversee teachers. If they have no problem with the vacation then it is okay. It would be in your best interest to let it go.
Now (regarding original post), the regular classroom teacher is responsible for her report cards and the closure of her room. You should politely email her that you are unable to do her work and leave it at that. Sorry, enjoy the end of your school year.
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Post by bosoxbeth on Jun 21, 2016 2:29:51 GMT
I would never take off the last week of school. Wow. No no no no. Wrong.
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katybee
Drama Llama
Posts: 5,378
Jun 25, 2014 23:25:39 GMT
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Post by katybee on Jun 21, 2016 2:50:34 GMT
I love having my summers "off. " But let's be clear… It's not nearly as awesome as you think it is. This is week three of my summer. Last week I worked two full days doing curriculum work (Monday and Wednesday). On Thursday, I went into school for three hours (with 2 of my teammates) to do interviews for a new position on our team. Tomorrow and Wednesday, I have training. Along with 100 of my fellow kinder teachers.
Almost every other free minute I've had this summer has been spent working on stuff for Teachers Pay Teachers. Not for fun money. But because I cannot survive on my salary alone. Those cushy summers off are one of the reasons for our low salaries. I'd rather work.
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Post by Kymberlee on Jun 21, 2016 11:13:19 GMT
Well, this thread went a little sideways. I want to be clear that I have ZERO problem with teachers taking time off during the school year. As a professional, you do what needs to be done before and after you leave for a vacation. I am totally down with taking time to do things that don't happen during summer/spring break/winter break, etc... I've done it as have most of my colleagues. Well, I've never taken a week off but I have taken a day here and there. My big heartburn is that Miss Tutti Fruity didn't finish her crap before she left and instead of planning that report cards aren't going to be printed and ready, she sends an email asking me if I could "help out" and sign/stuff report card envelopes. Ummm, no. She asked me as if I am her personal assistant or her classroom IA not a veteran teacher of 23 years that has her own job to do. I think it is just rude as hell to put more work onto your team at the end of the year when we ALL have a crap ton of EOY stuff to finish. She left several things undone that the reading specialist is now trying to finish and record. Seriously??? Oh, this isn't a "once in a lifetime" trip, btw. She travels a lot (awesome for her!) so this was just a nice vaca with a buddy. It really isn't a war stopper but it has been a very long year, and I have had my little run-ins with this teacher all year so this was just another irritation. I did want to point out that no, typically instruction is non existant the last few days of school, but since the kids are wilder than normal, putting a sub in the classroom makes it SO MUCH HARDER on everyone else and the kids need structure and routine more so than normal. Even the good kids were little buttheads yesterday. Three more days...
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TankTop
Pearl Clutcher
Refupea #1,871
Posts: 4,774
Location: On the couch...
Jun 28, 2014 1:52:46 GMT
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Post by TankTop on Jun 21, 2016 11:21:33 GMT
I really think it depends on the culture of your school and school district.
At my school it would be no big deal. Our contract is written as such.
I would not intentionally plan a trip during the school year, but I would not pass on a free trip.
We have many teachers who go on short reward trips with their spouse. Heck, I went on a 2 day trip last year with my dh for his job. A few years ago we were gone for 4 days for his work. I would never leave during state testing or expect others to pick up my slack. I prepare well for my days out. Considering I am consistently evaluated at our highest level, I don't think my admin has an issue with it.
TBH.... Dh makes a lot more than I do. My school corporation does not give raises or bonuses. We have not had a cost of living raise in years. The culture of dh's job is such that spouses are expected to help entertain clients. It would not look favorably on him or his position of I did not attend these events. He would not be considered for promotions. It is what it is.
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Post by christine58 on Jun 21, 2016 20:20:41 GMT
Also, many teachers DO get paid over the summer if they opt for it and the district allows it. However, the money was taken out of our paychecks during the school year and is given to us during the summer do we don't have to go without a paycheck. So yes, we may get a paycheck during the summer but we didn't earn that money by working in the summer. It's already earned money. In my district, we do not get a choice. We get paid over 12 months. Even though I have already earned all of my money for the year, my district gets to keep a chunk and dole it out to me slowly over the next three months. In other words, they get to earn interest on it – I do not. I would much rather have my money as earn it. I am a grown-up. I can handle my own finances. And I would like to earn interest on the money, thank you very much… FYI..this might be illegal with the IRS...
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