Discussions

I am just thankful the stopped that half day nonsense!  
 
My stepkids went to school in a different province and had a week off in November in place of teacher PD days. Kids were off and teachers did what they do on PD days. They also had early dismissal 1 Friday of the month where teachers still stayed to have meetings etc. It was more of a private type school design where school fees were $600 a year type thing. I can’t really remember for sure.

Then the teachers would have to put up with your brutal pesky annoying kids for that many more days though.

I am quite happy having small breaks through out the year to also give my child an extra down day.  
 
I believe that taking a PD day here or there throughout the year to help implement strategies to better help students is beneficial. I know the field that I work in it would not benefit staff or customers if we had all our training in 5 days once every 365 days. It makes and keeps ideas fresh in your mind when you could spread those days out over the course of a year.

Totally agree they should do it outside the school days. Starting a few days early to do this so called training for the students should take place before the school days start. Same with when a new semester starts there is usually a PD following. Like said do during a Christmas break, spring break, etc. Is it written in the contract to provide X amount of days off for these holiday periods? If not why can't it be changed? The line of "Think of the students" always comes up. Well I am sure this would benefit them as it isn't another sub day or missed school day. Wouldn't that put the students first like we are conditioned to believe?

I agree. I’ve been saying for years that teachers don’t need 2 months off in the summer and 2 weeks at Xmas and a week in the spring. What other career gets that many holidays? There’s no reason all the PD days can’t be during those times. I have the utmost respect for teachers and what they do....and yes I know that they do a lot outside school hours. We have many friends that are teachers. But I still think 10 days less holidays in the summer wouldn’t be so bad.

Teachers and EAs already have a few PD days at the beginning of the school year.  
 
No one would go to one during Christmas break or spring break, many go away during those breaks because it’s the only time during the school year one can get away for vacations. Unless it was an extra day at the beginning or end of the break.  
 
PD sessions are for the benefit of the students, why complain?

They're a freaking joke!  
 
In my hometown, the science/gym teacher spent the day painting a portrait of her dog. Please tell me how painting is going to make you a better science teacher?  
 
I'm all for teachers getting to recharge and relax, but they get weekends, holidays and school breaks for that.  
 
If they're not focusing on things that are going to help the kids, then it's a giant waste of time.

That PD days were when the teachers go to seminars and classes to refresh and learn new ideas to teach their students, as well as to discuss the events that have happened during the school year so far as well as address any issues the teachers may have. I don't think they are a "day off" for teachers as some might think. As for teachers having 2 months off during summer months, 2 weeks at Christmas and so on.....those teachers DESERVE those days off just like the kids do! Those teachers work EXTREAMLY HARD teaching our children and even the kids with disabilities have to learn from someone, and those people work HARD to learn HOW to teach those children PROPERLY. So, if the teachers need a few extra days each year to brush up on their teachink skills then LET THEM. All our children will benefit from those extra days in the long run.....BUT I AM glad they quit with the half days and went back to full days.

some of you needed to go to University, have student loans and became teachers.  
 
If you had done that, you would get all the time off they do too and that they deserve.  
 
I don't even have a child in the school system and I am not a teacher, but I can understand the PD days.

There are many many careers that require a university degree and student loans and provide an essential service to the community....nurses, social workers, etc....all work hard and deserve respect, but none get the “days off” to recharge like teachers. And like I said in my earlier post...I’m not saying teachers don’t work hard and have an important job. I’m the first one to say they do, but basically 3 months off each year... who else gets that ??!!

Who else gets lots off time off each year, and provide an essential service. Seasonal construction workers......

PD days, at least in my division (not Brandon) are usually for teachers to attend workshops on how to do their jobs better, which is taking care of children, essentially rearing the next generation.  
Apart from the PD day issue, the “days off” issue is dumb. Babysitters get paid $5 per hour per kid. If you paid a teacher that, they would earn $600 PER DAY.... oh and p.s. I can do the math because I had a teacher... not just a babysitter. Teachers are worth their weight in gold. They come early, stay late, raise up future citizens, sometimes teach life skills that the parents should have taught... they deserve all the time off they want!

The purpose of spacing them out is so we can be learning throughout the year and slowly implementing new ideas into our classrooms. I'm not even going to go into the "teachers get too many holidays" realm, but I assure you that PD days are not days off.

Of course PD days are not days off....I never said that. All I’m saying is that the PD days could be incorporated into the 3 months off that teachers already get.

Giddyup said "Of course PD days are not days off....I never said that. All I’m saying is that the PD days could be incorporated into the 3 months off that teachers already get. "

Many teachers do attend PD during the summer. A lot of the PD that is put on during the year are things that divisions want everyone to be involved in, which is hard to plan for over the summer.  
 
Also, most teachers I know do not take "3 months off". I myself spend most of my spring break and summer at the school planning and marking.

Giddyup said "There are many many careers that require a university degree and student loans and provide an essential service to the community....nurses, social workers, etc....all work hard and deserve respect, but none get the “days off” to recharge like teachers. And like I said in my earlier post...I’m not saying teachers don’t work hard and have an important job. I’m the first one to say they do, but basically 3 months off each year... who else gets that ??!! "

When people go to University and chose their career, I am positive they know what their work hours will be like.  
 
So, doctors, nurses work all sorts of days and shifts, that is what they would have known before they became one.  
 
Teachers, we all know they get the summer off, Christmas. etc.  
 
I also know that teachers buy a lot of stuff out of their own pockets for their classrooms these days, as extra funding is not there.  
 
I graduated in 1980 (yes, a very long time ago) and I remember lots of in service days then. But things were different back then, I also remember being scared of my teacher and my parents if I did something wrong. Not these days...(a whole different topic). I am sure teachers could use some mental health days too. The respect for them is not there anymore.  
 
Edited by Brenda.., 2018-10-24 20:05:03

For everyone whining about teachers getting 2 months off in the summer, 2 weeks at Christmas and spring break off and comparing them to other jobs who don’t get that much vacation time are you even thinking about how the kids need and deserve a break from school? I remember being a kid and needing those breaks to rest my brain. Kids need a break and to have fun being a kid before they grow up and have to work. As for professional development days those are workshops for the teachers & EA’s to better educate your children....

Teachers absolutely do not get EI in the summer.  
 
I think like many professions there are those who take those days seriously and those who do not. Some of those days are for school planning, and some are for divisions to pull all their staff together to receive the same training. Teachers can’t leave their classroom of kids on their own so they can all get together and meet and do training.

I love PD days. I call them my break from packing lunches days. I treasure those days. I think kids enjoy and need the days off too. Teachers also get less time off than you are thinking and I may be wrong but I don't think they get paid for summer break. I love my kids teachers. I love PD days. I don't think anything needs to change.

I work in the school division and love the opportunity we get to update skills, learn new skills, connect with other ea’s and be refreshed to go back to work.  
I also love the days I don’t have to attend a Pd and stay home with my kids. These are great days for us to catch up and be together! Enjoy these days, make them special and quit complaining!!!

This is so silly. Yet once again discussion of "days off" for school staff. PD Days are set each year by the Division office upper Administration and Public School Trustees. Let me remind all the grumblers that the students are not at school during Christmas or Spring Break. Teachers have no control over this. This is Provincially mandated. No teachers cannot collect U.I. over the summer months. Support staff can, if they are laid off from the jobs just like any other job lay-off in Canada. Teachers provide a public service just as any other profession. Many professional workers will easily accrue 8-10 weeks paid holiday time over the course of their employment.

If it was that critical other professions would get PD days.

Whatever happened to the good old days when parents appreciated teachers, valued and respected how important their role in the world is? (No I'm not a teacher, just old enough to appreciate them)

Many other jobs do have paid training days, I think most, in fact. The difference is that nobody says anything because those days don't impact them. Everyone thinks they are an expert in education just because they went to school at one point or another.  
 
Teaching is without a doubt one of the fastest evolving jobs over time and needs to be trained as such.

Having just left Brandon recently and moved to Edmonton. The kids here get a Fall break in November. Each month, there is one day where the kids are dismissed early so the school can have a staff meeting plus there are PD days. Teachers definitely have training to attend. There is alot to keep up with when it comes to technology, new ideas in learning plus other areas. My hat goes off to those that choose this profession.

Should have just simply said:  
 
Another eBrandon Teacher Bashing "discussion"  
 
It is getting so old reading this garbage.

Is this what is offered on PD days for courses?  
 
http://www.btateach.com/_literature_205025/NEW_-_2018_Lift_Brochure  
 
Momtotwo....It is too bad nobody can handle change. The post starts off by having a reasonable conversation about ideas to still have PD days but without additional cost to the division and interrupting the students schedules. I was looking up year round schooling with smaller breaks between semesters. Literacy rates were high along with other categories. We want to train future generations to enter the workplace and such. What job when coming out of school has the same work schedule as a school division? When we pay for the facilities and there are a lot of open time available why can't it be spent learning? WE don't NEED post THAT keep CAPS on to SHOW how HARD a teacher TEACHES. Yes they are with students all day. Police deal with violence, drugs, kids, adults, etc. Homecare workers deal with elderly people that can be worse than kids plus potential to crap their pants. What wages do they make to care for your elderly family? It isn't like there is a shortage of teachers. The division gets a lot more applications than it needs. You cannot tell me there is not room for opportunity to improve. Isn't that what their whole Continuous Improvement is all about? Yet someone throws out a suggestion and all hell breaks loose.

No question about that, yes they deserve their breaks but why not look at other options?  
 
I mentioned and so did misswater how Alberta handles their PD days- a week off in November for students and early dismissal once a month. It’s consistent and it works well, minimal disruption for all. I don’t mind the PD schedule this year, it was the half day garbage that drove me nuts. I am so glad they switched back.  
 
There are other options to try but either way I am ok with the new schedule.

People don't seem to realize that teachers don't get paid for the 2 months off in the summer. They are paid for a 10 months contract. Also, who else gets told when to take your holidays. Teachers have no choice of holidays for Christmas or spring break. I would assume most people would want the children to be taught by teacher that are receiving ongoing training. So tired of teacher bashing. And no, I'm not a teacher but I know many that work extremely hard for their students.

I know some teachers very well. I can say that in their jobs they don’t all get regular breaks because they have to supervise others children. How many of you negative Nancy’s can say you have to take your work home with you to finish it ? How many of you are constantly belittled for your efforts to positively impact the youth? How many of you put in over time and don’t get paid ? If you can say yes to most of that go stick your opinions where the sun don’t shine. Because that’s a teachers life, the fact that many of you won’t realize some teachers are still taking more classes on their own time with little assistance to help be a better professional doesn’t compute to you . Also yes some teachers do get a sort of EI in the summer depending on hours, but than that’s a right they have as does anyone else. But if you think that’s too hard please home school your children and get back to us on how that went