It is traditional at this time of year for all those with children of their own to decide to have an afternoon off to watch their child perform in a nativity play, whilst somebody else does their work for them. There will be no financial penalty for the play watcher or reward for the lesson coverer.
Those of you without children should think of it as an opportunity to say thank you for being allowed to cover for them during the year when they have been off because their children are ill.
For a change this year, I would like to ask that all those of you who are childless go into the Heads office waving an Ocean's 13 DVD and confidently inform them that you need the afternoon off to watch the film in the comfort of your own home with some friends. You need to leave school by about half twelve because you've got to pop in to the supermarket to get some wine and crisps...
Oh, do not under any circumstances complain in front of teachers whom you have covered for; as they have a well practiced but baffling argument along the lines that they are producing the workers of tomorrow and we should be grateful etc...
17 comments:
When I get this nonsense from parents, I remind tham that they are also producing the paedophiles, mass murdrerers and estate agents of tomorrow.
Thank God someone's said this at last. I wouldn't even mind covering for teachers who are off because of their kids so much if I got something in return.
Fat Chance of that!
So you don't expect the parents of your pupils to attend functions or meetings during the working day then?
Education must be like Health when it comes to "family friendly" policy.
Those of us who don't have kids get all the crap shifts and work all the holidays, weekends, lates and nights to cover for those who do.
It's a well known fact that, as far as the NHS is concerned, if you don't have children, you don't have a family.
I have to keep reminding my husband, brother, sister, grandparents, aunties, uncles, cousins, in-laws, mum and dad of that when Christmas comes round and I'm working again...
I think everyone should stop having kids. Why should those without kids have to cover those who do? Just think of the positive effects on our class sizes if everyone stops having kids.
Oh, wait...
By the way, I don't take time off to see my kids' school plays. I do take time off if they are sick.
Back in the mists of time when I was a mere slip of a school hoodlum, we used to get an annual day off at this time of year, known as "Christmas shopping day". I'm not sure how the school wangled this, or whether it was actually a training day in disguise, but why don't secondary schools instigate this and make sure it coincides with the primary school's nativity play? (Okay, so all primaries would have to choose the same day for their nativity plays - why not "national nativity play or other non-culturally-specific winter celebration day"?) That way those with kids can indulge their nativity play urges, whilst the rest of us can bugger off down the pub.
Surely teachers who want to watch their kids in a nativity play take unpaid leave?
In my school district here in the USA if we want to take any time off at all it all has to be accounted for. Last period free - you can't just head off to a doctor's appointment carefully made months in advance so that you won't inconvenience anyone. Noo - you have to take HALF a DAY off work, officially requested, and then deducted from your annual allowance. Make sure to leave lesson plans for the supply teacher of course.
God forbid you think of leaving one minute before your contractual leaving time each day (5 minutes after the last bus has left, even if the last bus was late because it broke down on the WAY to school.) The union will have a fit.
Going to see the kid in a performance at school? (Well, it certainly WON'T be a Nativity play!)Deduct that from your personal day allowance. Only need to take an hour off to do so? Sorry, you have to take a minimum of half a day. The good thing is , the sick and personal day allowances are exactly the same for parents and non-parents alike. A childless colleague recently took a personal day because her dog died. (Had it been a human family member, she would have been entitled to take a bereavement day which would not have counted against her allowance.)
I rush out the door the second I can every afternooon so I can spend some time with my own kids after school and then stay up late every evening doing schoolwork. The childless, OTOH, stay at school until 5 or 6 p.m. and accuse me of slacking.
Scrooge Chalk doesn't sound half as nice as Frank
What a bunch of whinging, miserable tossers!
No wonder education is in a state today with such sympathetic and critical idiots working in school!
What goes around, comes around and I hope you bastards get yours...
To be honest it's always been like this.
Private Sector = Accountable and paid by your ability
Public Sector = Unsackable and paid the same whether you are any good or not.
Absence rates in the public sector are twice that of the private simply because nobody cares whether you turn up or not.
How's your Advent Calendar this year Frank ?
Well said, Frank! No one forces people to have kids - it is their lifestyle choice. Equally, no one else should have to pay because they exercise that choice. It is completely unfair that they should have any special privileges.
If no-one had kids wouldn't all you whingers have no jobs at all?
Those who can, do.
Those who can't, teach.
Those who can't teach, teach teachers.
Those who can't teach teachers, inspect them.
You've opened a can of worms there - for what it's worth, I vaguely agree with you - although you have neglected to mention those unfortunate parents whose kids were a horrible unplanned accident - I think they deserve our sympathy ;-)
Please take a look at my humble ramblings on the Nativity on EDUCATION, EDUCATION, EDU...
You firing blanks, Frank?
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