Dear Editor,
From time to time I hear people in the media, especially talk-show hosts, lament the "fact" that our teachers get too much time off. I heard one recently lamenting the "unreasonably" long leave privileges that teachers get. After four years teachers are entitled to four months' leave, and after eight years they are entitled to eight months' leave. The discussion extends to the summer, Christmas and Easter breaks that they get every year, in addition to the extra days off for most of the other holidays.
As a former high school teacher myself, when I hear discussions like these, I usually get a good laugh. It is true that there are teachers who don't do their work. However, there are workers in every category who don't do their work. I am still of the view that the better portion of our teachers are hard-working.
Unfortunately, many people are of the very mistaken view that when the typical school day ends at around 2:30 pm, teachers pack their bags and go through the school gate. This is not true. At most of the schools that I work teachers typically put in long hours.
Contrary to the view of many, teachers don't just teach. Lessons don't just fall from the sky, they have to be prepared. Assignments and examinations have to be set and marked. Many times they have to be supervising children outside of the classroom. There are several other tasks teachers perform.
Take the summer break for example. While students usually go off in early July, that is the month when many teachers work the hardest; marking examination papers, assessing students, preparing report cards, and updating records. Then, by mid-August, they have to help with the reopening of school. During the Christmas break they are either marking term exams or are preparing for them in January. Imagine one teacher marking exam papers for 300 students; sometimes two papers per pupil.
These days, I have to hand it to these teachers. Many of them take on the additional role of peacemakers, especially in our high schools. It certainly is a riskier profession than when I was in the classroom.
When teachers go through all of this stress, don't you think they deserve a good rest? Even though, truth be told they only end up with around four weeks per year, when all is tallied.
Michael A Dingwall,
michael_a_dingwall@hotmail.com
Teachers don't get long holidays
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From time to time I hear people in the media, especially talk-show hosts, lament the "fact" that our teachers get too much time off. I heard one recently lamenting the "unreasonably" long leave privileges that teachers get. After four years teachers are entitled to four months' leave, and after eight years they are entitled to eight months' leave. The discussion extends to the summer, Christmas and Easter breaks that they get every year, in addition to the extra days off for most of the other holidays.
As a former high school teacher myself, when I hear discussions like these, I usually get a good laugh. It is true that there are teachers who don't do their work. However, there are workers in every category who don't do their work. I am still of the view that the better portion of our teachers are hard-working.
Unfortunately, many people are of the very mistaken view that when the typical school day ends at around 2:30 pm, teachers pack their bags and go through the school gate. This is not true. At most of the schools that I work teachers typically put in long hours.
Contrary to the view of many, teachers don't just teach. Lessons don't just fall from the sky, they have to be prepared. Assignments and examinations have to be set and marked. Many times they have to be supervising children outside of the classroom. There are several other tasks teachers perform.
Take the summer break for example. While students usually go off in early July, that is the month when many teachers work the hardest; marking examination papers, assessing students, preparing report cards, and updating records. Then, by mid-August, they have to help with the reopening of school. During the Christmas break they are either marking term exams or are preparing for them in January. Imagine one teacher marking exam papers for 300 students; sometimes two papers per pupil.
These days, I have to hand it to these teachers. Many of them take on the additional role of peacemakers, especially in our high schools. It certainly is a riskier profession than when I was in the classroom.
When teachers go through all of this stress, don't you think they deserve a good rest? Even though, truth be told they only end up with around four weeks per year, when all is tallied.
Michael A Dingwall,
michael_a_dingwall@hotmail.com
Teachers don't get long holidays
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