Discussions

Fishin Guy said "    Ladybug said "So you have to deal with the expenses that come along with it. Why not look for other parents and trade child care? Take turns on the 1/2 day in-services?   I work in the school division and I'm happy for these in-services. I am offered in-services on these days to do my job better. How fantastic is that? Plus I can opt out and spend the half days with my children. I think instead of looking at All the negatives....look at how you can positively handle these situations....i chose to attend a few pd days and stay home with my kids...how lucky are we to get these extra days with our kids? " During those days that you opt out of PD days to spend this lucky time with your kids are you paid for it? I think the struggle here is parents and non parents are taxed to death here in Manitoba and read about someone in the division opting out of PD days so they can stay home with their little kiddies. But we have to look at it as how lucky we are that when you feel like attending a PD day it should give everyone a warm fuzzy feeling that what you learn will totally benefit the teaching of the students? OMG we are so lucky as a society for that. Common people what are we complaining about here then? So we can't have these workshops on a spring break or christmas shut down why? "

Here are some facts:  
The province of Manitoba sets the work year for teachers.  
The province also says how many PD days are required.  
 
No teachers didn''t stay home with their kids and staying home with their kids isn''t in the collective agreement..  
 
No teachers don''t set the dates for PD days.  
 
Yes, I''m sure many teachers feel the same about the timing the school division picked for them.  
 
Yes, bitching about teachers in front of your children makes our children more likely to drop out of school..  
 
Edited by loeog, 2017-11-03 17:21:15

Usually only the October PD is a choice for teachers. They pay to go, minimum of $50. The rest of the PD's are mostly school-based meetings to discuss the needs of each school and it's students.

So your telling me teachers can opt out of these PD days?! Wtf!! So you inconvenience everyone and teachers don’t even go?! Now I am even more pissed!  
 
I know teachers work hard and deserve their breaks, that they spend a lot of extra time on lessons, etc, but come on! You have way more holidays than most people ever can dream about then you don’t even attend these PD days because you opt out! This is exactly why the school division changed it. They don’t want teachers opting out on the full day’s on Friday’s that they have the PD day because how “lucky for you” to get an extra long weekend. The division wants you to attend these PD days. It is costing them money to arrange them and you opt out just because you want more time at home. Now we know the real story. Unreal

Only support staff are sometimes given a choice to attend PD's. If they don't attend, then they are not paid. PD days are mandatory for teachers.

The October PD day isn't a choice! The poster meant that teachers have a choice which session they attend. They are required to attend a PD that day. Other PD days throughout the year are dictated.

Teachers do not have an option to opt out of pds.

I was really ticked about that but thanks for clarifying

I never said I was a teacher. I said I worked for the division....and I'm.not paid for pd days I do not attend! Boy...tiu guys

The school year dates are set by the government, not MTS. The collective bargaining agreements are found on the union site and the legislated items are found on the government website.  
 
http://www.edu.gov.mb.ca/k12/schools/schooldiv.html  
 
This year teachers must attend 196 days during the regular school year. The days, weeks and evenings required to be prepared for the 196 days are up to individual teachers to figure out.  
 
Edited by Livewell1970, 2017-11-03 22:18:17

I don't get to decide my 196 days?!? What on earth???

tryinghard said "I don't get to decide my 196 days?!? What on earth??? "

Are you actually asking a question or? As days of the school year are mandated by the Minister if Education, no there is no deciding.