Teachers don't have 15 weeks off, they have 12 and most would spend at least a couple of these weeks over the year on planning and preparation. As for those 'pupil free days' there are 4 per year or 1 per term. These days are for professional development and all the mandatory training-CPR, first-aid, anaphalaxis training, asthma training. These need to be certified. Just because there are no children on these days they are still work days! Am I to assume that most professions that aren't surrounded by 30 children aren't working??
Many of my friends are teachers and I used to teach and it's certainly not a 4 hour day. It is mandatory to arrive half an hour before school begins with most arriving 1-1 1/2 hours early and leaving well past the bell (some arrive very early and others stay back late depending on circumstance).
Speaking of meetings, these are part of the school week and teachers are not given 'special time off' for these. Where my friend teaches as well as at my daughters school, (both public) every week there is a 1 hour staff meeting, 1/2 hour communication meeting and 1/2 hour stage meeting=2 hours per week outside of school hours. These are on 3 different days before school (some schools hold their meetings after school).
Recess is usually 20 minutes and lunch 45 minutes=65 minutes/day or 325 minutes per week. Teachers generally however do 3-4 duties per week=70-90 minutes per week. Therefore time off in the school week for lunch & recess is approximately 245 minutes/week or 50 minutes per day. There are 2 hours/week (primary school) RFF but this is NOT 'time off', it's simply being able to do planning and preparation without 30 kids at the desk-a similar work environment that most office jobs would enjoy all day.
So the school day in actual fact is an 8am arrival for the majority (I do know teachers who arrive at 7am as they have commitments with their own children in the afternoon and can't stay back late) and a 3.30 minimum finish-which is 7 1/2 hours. Add to this at least 1 1/2 -2 hours per day for planning, preparation and marking. Most of you would realise that this would be impossible to do with 30 kids in your room-and class time is teaching time of course..so must be done outside of school hours. This does not include report writing and ILP's (individual learning programmes) for the children with special needs- ADHD, aspergis/autism etc
So most teachers, contrary to the ridiculous statement of 4 hours per day, actually work a 9-10 hour day. It is an extremely stressful and demanding job. One of the teachers I know changed from the police force. He said if he'd realised how demanding and stressful teaching was he would have stayed in the force-but he does love working with the kids and feels he is making a positive contribution to their lives. I would love to see some of the knockers teach in a classroom, most would not survive the day!
By the way, the curriculum is mandatory. It should be online for the public to read-go to the DET website and have a read of the content actually taught before making foolish statements about what you think is being taught!!
