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My contract covers 185 days. Weekends, breaks, all of July, and most of June and August are all part of the other 180. This week I got a zoom invite for a meeting occurring during Christmas break scheduled by an outside agency. I didn’t have to tell my principal “no.”He told me I wouldn’t be attending. Just for kicks and giggles, offered to meet with that parent at 8 o’clock on a Sunday morning and see what their reaction is.
No response needed. Enjoy your break!
I’d give the parent a piece of coal and say merry Christmas… See you in the new year. 😎
If you could call her employer and tell them she needs to work Christmas Day. Since you have to work on your break so should she. A little perspective
Oh my. Something is bothering you and it isn’t this parent.
Her comment shows a lack of respect for your time, and it deserves no comment, action, or reaction from you whatsoever. Have a happy, peaceful, restful, and schoolwork-free holiday break!
Those are your vacation days. No one can dictate what you do on your off time. In my 30 years of teaching, I never did any grading over Christmas break and everything always turned out fine. Some parents are very self centered and say asinine things.
First, I'd be looking at Admin who obviously told you this to then say that 'yeah, we told her that is not something that we would expect our staff to do on their vacation" and resolved it, but if they said it in any other way, sometimes the only way to get people to realize what they are actually saying out of their mouths, simply chuckle and turn and walk away. All people are not deserving of an explanation all of the time. I really really really can't wait for my last couple of years where my pension is not going to be affected, parents and admin, and other teachers too perhaps are going to get the unfettered truth, in a professional manner of course :)
I hear you! I'm getting really close to retirement and it is very freeing.
Perhaps she is simply wondering why the students have to turn in work before the break when you have no intentions of grading it then. I’ve already told my students there is no reason to submit anything before January 2nd because I’m not looking at anything until the 3rd.
Tell the parent that you respect her opinion, and since you already put in unpaid overtime most of the regular school year that you are entitled to a break during the holiday break when there are no classes and the school is essentially closed . You may ask the parent if she wants you to make an exception for her child and if so to let you know however the student/ child knew the parameters and may have to get used to limits and learn how to respect them
I let the students know that I don’t assign work over holidays and I won’t be grading over the holidays; that it’s for family and resting to get reinvigorated for coming back. If a parent doesn’t like that, I let them know that I respect your POV but I need my family time and teachers do have “office hours” even though some teachers like to disrespect themselves and work 24-7. I’m “weaker” and need a break like the kids do. I post in the Stream of Google Classroom about when to turn in stuff w/upcoming holidays or they have to wait for grading. More teachers need to refuse to disrespect themselves and make it tougher for their peers.
Absolutely agree with you! We actually had department discussions about boundaries. Two departments (roughly 30 teachers or so) have decided to turn on vacation responder in email and to not answer any emails after the work day ends. I’ve been a teacher 30+ years. I’ve had email and 24/7 access to grades for 26 of those years. It is only in the last 5 years or so that people have become so ridiculously demanding. I think it’s a different generation of parenting coupled with the “customer service” model that districts are adopting. Nobody wants to tell them “no,” so we have to do so.
When parents email me, I only respond if they actually ask a question. If it's an accusatory email or something where they say "You should (do this)"... there's no need to respond.
Just delete the email and move on with your life. You don’t work for parents.
Talk with your union rep. They should be able to help you clear this up if your principal does not agree with you
If she complained to admin, you would be sending her an email out of the blue justifying what you already are planning to do. It looks like guilt.
When parents make comments to me ( "oh, I guess you work banker hours!", "You should grade/do by ..." Type stuff) I accidentally discovered that a "I know, right??" Response is super infuriating to the other person. Cause you're agreeing w them, but still not gonna do anything about it.
I am so sorry that your admin even bothered to tell you this. The Admin should have handled it politely and not bothered you at all! Enjoy your vacation; you earned it!
Yes, I agree. The administrators have time off too and shouldn’t be on their email greasing the squeaky wheels. All this can be addressed in January.
Just grade her child's assignment and make that parent happy just to make them leave you alone. I do not do any grading during the holiday break unless I feel like it. Don't take what parents say too personally.
No, do not give in. Bullies and entitled people get rewarded for that behavior when others pacify them.
Ask the parent if they work during their vacations?
That’s how I felt about writing letters of recommendation for students who asked at the last minute or after the cut off date for requesting. Do you really want that letter now?
I got an earful from a parent right after break one year because she was checking grades over Christmas and New Years and they never changed! She was incredulous that I took time off to spend with my actual family. And for the record, that was the first year I ever did that. And I had a full house with guests. She was so entitled, and it made me realize I need to prioritize my family because people like that aren’t going to.
Give her your daily rate and tell her you will complete the tasks during your days off after payment has been received.
I try to have everything scored and entered prior to the break, but I use a learning management system so technically a student could submit something during the break. They will not expect that I will see it until we return. When the last work day before break ends I turn on my email vacation responder. I do not assign things over weekends or holidays and I emphasize that to both students and families. Everyone needs to take a break. I've worked over the last few years to streamline things and that has provided me more time and peace.