staff days in term time or holidays?

There was an article in SMH a few weeks ago that was written by a frustrated mother. She was annoyed that one of the days at the end of the year that she'd thought was a school day was in fact a pupil free staff day. Her major gripe was the she had booked her leave from work and now was unsure how to look after her kids on that day because she hadn't known she needed to cover that day. This then turned into a massive dialogue complaining that teachers have too many holidays and why can't we have staff days in the holidays instead of term time.

There we many many comments on the article, some of which made sense, others who were just trying to jump on the bandwagon. In general I was too frustrated to read them because they were speaking out of ignorance.

I think there is a valid discussion about teacher's holidays. However, the whole article was basically complaining that staff days were classified as term time rather than holidays (and that she hadn't checked the school calendar carefully enough)

the main complaint that those commenting were making is that teachers get too many holidays. Many were working mothers who also find it hard to look after their kids in the holidays. As a teacher who is currently lying on her couch with the cricket on in the background on holidays, I have to admit, teachers are pretty lucky in terms of our holidays. I could talk about how teachers work more than just school hours during the term, I could talk about how teaching is an emotionally draining job, I could talk about how stressful teaching is, how 50% of new teachers will burn out within in their first 3 years of teaching. I could talk about all of these things, but what actually matters, what actually should determine the school holidays is the kids.

If you are a parent, you will know how much of childhood is being lost, how much kids are being forced to grow up early. You will also know how important the summer holidays are for kids to be kids! Time to spend days playing backyard cricket, building cubby houses, having tea parties, teddy bears picnics... There aren't many parents who would wish their kids to have less holidays. The problem does not lie within the education system. The problem is that of families where both the parents work (or the only parent). Households where there is no one who is a stay at home parent. The problem is with other jobs, not schools.

And, for the record, teachers use staff days for very valid and necessary things like updating first aid training, training in the current syllabus etc. We do spend time when the kids aren't there to make sure we are professionally competent. We use those days for useful training, but our job is so focused on the kids, that when they aren't there, there isn't a lot else we can do! We may as well be refreshed, and have time to spend with our kids, because we've chosen a family friendly career.

maybe instead of complaining about our jobs, its time to have a look at yours? Otherwise, you're more than welcome do join us, there are plenty of teaching jobs that need to be filled.

poor little bloggy

it has been AGES since I blogged.

I have now completed my first full year of teaching. It is funny to think that this blog, at its earliest stages, followed me through my HSC exams, and now I have gone through Uni, to be the one teaching other chilluns for the HSC (well I haven't quite had year 12 yet... but still)

I often wonder if I should have gotten out of the education system for a year or so. lets face it, since I was 5 (the past 18 years) I have spent 5 days a week at either a school or a university. and it's not like school or uni now, where there is an end in sight. it is for the foreseeable future. I could very well spend the next 50 years in a school.

I sometimes wonder about being a teacher so young. Advantages are that my training (both in education and in Science) is very up to date and that I'm close in age to the kids so I can relate to them. Disadvantages are that I have no other real world experience and I'm close in age to the kids so its sometimes hard to keep the professional relationship. Matt's principal once told him that the best teachers are the ones who have been out there in the world. I'm at the moment undecided...

what are your thoughts?

hmmm... really don't feel like I have much to blog. back at work. same old same old.

holidays

so I've already had a week of holidays, and it seems like it's flying by. Last week seems to have been spent mostly getting the house in order, errands that can't be done out of business hours, getting Benji's windscreen replaced and getting our camping trip for this weekend organised.

This week is looking interesting. Was supposed to help out at a holiday kids club this morning but didn't make it. I hope to tomorrow. But trying to catch up with a couple of friends this week. It's really hard to know how much and when I should be marking/planning lessons. I don't want to spoil the holidays, I really want to relax, but I don't want to get stressed in the days leading up to going back to work cause I've left everything too late.

I'm massively looking forward to going camping this weekend. I've never actually been camping, so it shall be a new experience. I really hope its relaxing for all involved.

I don't remember ever feeling this sick. If I sit still (like I did waiting for an hour and a half for the doctor) it's not too bad, but as soon as I start moving at all I loose my breath and if I don't stop immediately I start coughing. man this sucks.

Finally finished reports. man, it was a hard slog. 124 reports in the past month or so. on top of the 204 essays I marked. now I have a whole lot of topic tests to mark that have been put to the side for a week or two :( Can't wait for holidays, not long now!

so sick of marking. and I'm really over some of my students. I'm desperately in need of a holiday.

sad birthday...