Why Some Schools Shut Next Tuesday For Teacher Training Day?

[dave50]

When I was a lad there was no thing as a teacher training day, a teacher tossing it off day more like.

[bednobs]

they were introduced about 35 years ago.
do the teachers get together to toss it off, or is that a solo activity?

[Canary42]

When I was a lad there was no thing as a teacher training day, and by God it showed.

[Barsel]

Dave, do you know any teachers or teaching assistants?
Perhaps you should find out what they do on training days.
I can assure you, they don't treat it like a day off.

[Hopkirk]

A Baker day. (one for the oldies there)

[Buenchico]

The school year for pupils has always consisted of 190 days. Nothing has changed since people on this thread were at school.

However, since 1988, teachers are now required to attend their school premises (or alternative training sites) on five EXTRA days per year for INSET (In-Service Education & Training) days.

So, rather than 'tossing it off' (as Dave50 so quaintly puts it), teachers are actually putting in extra working hours.

[Canary42]

Working extra hours ! ! !

Wow, I can't think of any other jobs where that happens :0))

[Buenchico]

^^^ There aren't that many jobs, Canary42, where staff are often expected to undergo training in their own time and unpaid.

For example, as there was no qualified first-aider in the school that I taught in, I was pressured go on the training course (which was spread over several weeks, with one evening session per week). Not only was I not paid for my time but the education authority billed me for the tuition! (I eventually managed to get that debt written off after the intervention of my union).

Similarly, as the only teacher qualified to assess students on a GCSE-equivalent course was on maternity leave, I was informed that I'd have to cancel my holiday abroad (losing the deposit) and spend the half-term week on a course to get the relevant qualification. Again, I was offered no extra pay.

[nicebloke1]

If my memory serves me well theres always been teacher training in or outside the classroom. Back in the 60/70s I'm sure we sometimes had trainee teachers making observations in the classroom along with the regular teacher, and sometimes take over while the regular teacher would be away on other training. Very much like medical students attending in a daily doctors surgery to observe different problems. Training is a must for many jobs is it not?

[Countrylover]

I'll keep fairly quiet about this. I'm not a teacher but was a senior member of administration and as I remember the teachers always moaned and groaned about training days and had an extended lunch break down the pub. I used it to catch up on a pile of administrative stuff. Some of the training which I was asked to attend was pretty basic knowledge and nothing to do with teaching.

But then most teachers in secondary schools moan about everything and think they are hard done by. I'm sure there must be some great teachers though.

Working in schools opened my mind. I packed my job up!

[maggiebee]

Scottish schools had no pupils in on the first day of the new term. It was an "in service" day for teachers, teaching assistants etc. As