Teacher Training days........

[joeluke]

............What I want to know is what do teachers actually do on the increasing number of 'teacher training days' that tend to pop up each term?

Yes, I know the obvious answer is 'teacher training' but why can't these days be incorporated into the quarter of a years hoilidays teachers get each year?

Working parents have a hard enough job arranging childcare during the aforementioned quarter of a year school holidays without having to arrange more for these days

[B00]

Totally agree- why they can't venture into school a couple of times during the 6 weeks summer holiday or 2 weeks Christmas etc, is beyond me.

[joeluke]

Exactly Boo, they have more time off than most folk anyway

[another-view]

They managed ok without these "training" days when I was at school.

[hippyhoppy]

I think they use the days to do planning, observations and at this time of the year writing up 30 reports for the end of term..

[ummmm]

Do they though? Haven't they got loads of prep to do for the year ahead?

[B00]

I'm already sweating about the summer hols ahead of me joe. I work on Thursdays (also weekends, but thats not a problem) and finding childcare for that one day was a 'mare. I costed it up for the holiday club- amost £30 per day, hardly worth me working! Whilst this obviously has nothing to do with INSET days, it just goes to show that if you work, these one off days really throw you in a tizzy!

[rowanwitch]

Very annoying elsewhere when you have to cover for colleagues suddenly taking time off for childcare

[joeluke]

They've got the next 6+ weeks to prepare for the next school year

[ummmm]

Exactly....they might need that.

[B00]

Exactly Rowan, so it's also a PITA for folk who don't even have kids too!

[Mosaic]

Your child's education is about much more than free childminding.
What you need to do is qualify as a teacher and then teach a full timetable with all associated duties, from marking work (in your 'own time'), having to supervise children at break times, being the first point of contact for issues ranging from chaotic parenting to personal injuries, dealing with bleating parents who want their child minded for free but not to take any responsibility for it's behaviour, attitude or lack of homework.
Then you might get an insight into why the UK school year is as it is. The pace both for teachers and pupils could not be kept up for 52 weeks of the year. The holidays are part of an agreed pattern. Five additional training were forced into the holiday provision by the Tories in the 1980's, but even they could see a dangerous precedent. The teaching profession would drop them tomorrow if given the chance.

Tell you what, send junior to a private school. Oh my! They have EVEN LONGER holidays. Move to Europe. Yes - you got it - far longer school holidays.

I agree that having to pay for childcare is a burden, but that is not the creation of schools and teachers.

[Mosaic]

Hey eddie, tell me more about where these teachers work. I want some of that.

£30,000 for NQT? - wrong
9-4 day? - wrong
90 min lunch? - wrong
enrolled as helpers in the summer? - begger off, I'll be recovering from teaching

[Old_Geezer]

I thought they were supposed to do planning etc outside of the hours the school-kids were there. Or are those core hours all they do after all ?

If a day or so is needed for something, then where are the temporary supply teachers to take over ? Aren't the local authorities failing in their duty if your little tykes are not to attend ?

[B00]

Mosiac- if what Eddie states is true, and ive no reason to believe it isnt. I find it very hard to feel any kind of sympathy towards the "hard done by" teachers you mention.

I don't expect free childcare during holidays, i accept that if i choose to work and have children, the responsiility to both is mine. I do however object to these 'one off days' that are sprung on me.

[Mosaic]

OG - here's the dichotomy. Someone says teachers work 9-4. Someone else says they should mark and plan outside of school hours. Which one of you is an actual teacher?
Got to leg it to a class soon (year 11 have left and yes, a little cyberslacking going on) but for crime's sake get your facts from someone doing the job.

[B00]

ok Mosiac- as a teacher then. Can I ask you, would you object to using any part of those holidays during the term for training days? Or do you agree that INSET days are a necessity and if so- why?

[Mosaic]

I think state education needs a radical shake-up from the choices of what is taught down to how it is taught. I believe providing it free is no longer viable as it undervalues an incredibly valuable process. I believe state schools have been ruined by behavioural inclusion. And I do not believe a contracted and stated number of working hours should be altered for reasons of political whim, in teaching or any other job.