Teachers' union says cutting school holidays a 'recipe for chaos'

Arthurgray50@blu · 03-06-2016, 22:25

http://www.itv.com/news/2016-06-03/c...to-five-weeks/

I cannot believe that this hasn't been thought of before. I personally feel that school Summer holidays are to long anyway.

When l was at school, yes 40 years ago, we had five weeks, and my parents felt this far too long.

And you get half term as well, teachers say that they need there breaks as well.

I know several teachers, that actually go into school during the holidays, to do work - they volunteer, they are not forced to by the Head teacher.

I think that One Month for the Summer holidays, is Ok. Don't forget, after a few weeks, the kids get bored.

Know l agree totally, One month for Summer, and add it during the year

jb66 · 03-06-2016, 22:27

Having more time off in cold and dark october, no thanks

**Damien** · 03-06-2016, 22:29

I think parents should be allowed to pick a week of school (outside of exam time or critical weeks as defined by the school) to take their children out if they want a holiday outside of peak times. Could help with the issue of having prices spike in the school holidays, although you could have to careful not to have massive spikes of children off at the same time around May/June/September....

Ignitionnet · 03-06-2016, 22:37

Quote:

Originally Posted by Arthurgray50@blu

I know several teachers, that actually go into school during the holidays, to do work - they volunteer, they are not forced to by the Head teacher.

I call BS on this.

I know of no teachers who go into school because they feel like it. They go in because they have to in order to do what is demanded of them by the government and, in turn, the school.

You're implying that people are working their regular job, unpaid, for fun. One that already carries working weeks well above average, well above average rates of attrition and well above average stress levels for a salary that frankly sucks for post-graduate level employment.

**Paul** · 04-06-2016, 01:04

Quote:

Originally Posted by jb66

Having more time off in cold and dark october, no thanks

I like to go away to the sun in October, so would not mind it too much as it would mean less rushing about.

However, I suspect adding a week to the current (May) holiday would be a better choice for most.

You could split it, and add a few days to both, making them a week and a half, but I cannot see that being popular.

Gary L · 04-06-2016, 10:04

The thing that gets me is when a pupil or pupils lose an unofficial day off school. it's bad. it's the end of the world. the school says it's irresponsible to the childs education.

then the same school says no school tomorrow. teacher training day! again!

no problem.

nomadking · 04-06-2016, 10:11

Quote:

Originally Posted by Gary L

The thing that gets me is when a pupil or pupils lose an unofficial day off school. it's bad. it's the end of the world. the school says it's irresponsible to the childs education.

then the same school says no school tomorrow. teacher training day! again!

no problem.

What about the obvious matter of them being able to arrange the teaching around that KNOWN date? No point in planning to teach topic X one day if some children are not there. Then a different bunch of children are off when topic Y is taught. You end up having to go over the topics several times over to make sure that all the children have been taught all the topics.

04-06-2016, 10:12

Maybe if teachers didn't get 13 weeks a year holiday (way above any other profession) they wouldn't need to have 'training days' in term time and they wouldn't need to do so much work after school hours.Reducing school holidays would solve a lot of problems for teachers and parents but suggesting anything like that just sends the unions into apoplectic rage .

nomadking · 04-06-2016, 10:15

Quote:

Originally Posted by martyh

Maybe if teachers didn't get 13 weeks a year holiday (way above any other profession) they wouldn't need to have 'training days' in term time and they wouldn't need to do so much work after school hours.Reducing school holidays would solve a lot of problems for teachers and parents but suggesting anything like that just sends the unions into apoplectic rage .

They're not reducing the holidays, just moving them around.

04-06-2016, 10:25

Quote:

Originally Posted by nomadking

They're not reducing the holidays, just moving them around.

I know,i was suggesting reducing the holidays.

heero_yuy · 04-06-2016, 10:37

If you had six weeks off at the height of summer you'd be upset if somebody suggested that the time off be in November for example.

Ignitionnet · 04-06-2016, 10:48

Quote:

Originally Posted by martyh

Maybe if teachers didn't get 13 weeks a year holiday (way above any other profession) they wouldn't need to have 'training days' in term time and they wouldn't need to do so much work after school hours.Reducing school holidays would solve a lot of problems for teachers and parents but suggesting anything like that just sends the unions into apoplectic rage .

It's unpaid.

nomadking · 04-06-2016, 10:50

Quote:

Originally Posted by martyh

I know,i was suggesting reducing the holidays.

Your post include "parents but suggesting anything like that just sends the unions into apoplectic rage". That was suggesting that a proposal had been made and the unions had actually reacted to it. If you had said, "if anybody suggested reducing holidays, then the unions would object", that would be a hypothetical argument.

devilincarnate · 04-06-2016, 10:56

I live in Barnsley and as a parent of 3 I think that this is a good idea? Also I have a son that and think that goes to a special Autistic school in Wakefield and think that this would be good for them as well.

04-06-2016, 11:29

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ignitionnet

It's unpaid.

So what ? i haven't questioned whether they get paid or not for the holidays ,i questioned the practicalities of long Easter/Christmas and summer breaks .If teachers where contracted for more than 195 days a year then they could justify better pay scales and not have to do so much work outside of contracted hours.We are not in Dickensian Britain anymore ,it is the 21st century where education is the key to everything and imo the whole system of pay and holidays for teachers needs re inventing and bringing into line with the rest of reality

---------- Post added at 11:29 ---------- Previous post was at 11:27 ----------

Quote:

Originally Posted by nomadking

Your post include "parents but suggesting anything like that just sends the unions into apoplectic rage". That was suggesting that a proposal had been made and the unions had actually reacted to it. If you had said, "if anybody suggested reducing holidays, then the unions would object", that would be a hypothetical argument.

You just read it bizarrely,in no way did i suggest that a proposal to reduce holidays had been made