Nice people thread 2 - now even nicer

lemonjelly

LydiaJ wrote: »

Where's the rolling eyes smilie when you want it?

In my experience, the hours in the classroom are less than half the total hours worked. Admittedly, teachers don't generally work the kind of insane hours that investment bankers work, for example, but then we're not paid the insane salaries of investment bankers either.

Yes, the holidays are a big bonus, especially if you have kids yourself, and I personally am exceedingly grateful for them. However, they're not entirely without their drawbacks. I remember being on the discussion forum of a teachers' website and somebody who'd just begun a second career as a teacher innocently asked "There's something happening next month that I want to take time off for. What are the arrangements for taking annual leave in term time?" She wasn't very happy with the answer "You don't get any".

I'm not a teacher, but started working (luckily) in the education sector 2 years ago. I was made redundant, & was fortunate to find a decent job in a college. Though the pay etc was less, I was just happy to have a job.

I remember on my induction being told by my manager that annual leave was to be taken whilst the students were off, as I am in a supporting students role, & it doesn't make sense to be absent whilst they are here, & be here whilst they're not.

Honestly, although it is obvious, I hadn't even considered it.

Previously, I had always taken time off outside of the holidays. I don't have kids etc, so preferred to take time off when they were at school still.

I have no objection to it in principle, after all, I am here to support students, so it is fair enough. I do know a lot of other staff moan about the fact that it means their holidays are more expensive blah blah, but it is the nature of the business.

It has helped me structure taking annual leave. I generally used to get to 2 months of the year left with the majority of my leave to take. At least now I spread it out, and plan breaks, which is good.

The one criticism I do have, is that during the holidays (which equates to approx 13 weeks a year, so that does restrict when you can take leave to a quarter of the weeks of the year) they often run events, open days, & of course, enrolment. Our college does a lot of early enrolment, & we can't take leave during this time either, which further restricts the avaialble time to take time off.

My second job is a bank staff job. The only downside is there is a greater demand for me in the school hols, which used to be fine, but now that is my time off, so is a (minor) source of conflict.

GDB2222

You have to love today's news headlines: "Angry mob protest at Rooney's home" - this is over his leaving his football club. I can't remember. Were there angry mobs when it turned out he was unfaithful to his wife?

Sorry, back to debating house prices ....

PasturesNew

GDB2222 wrote: »

You have to love today's news headlines: "Angry mob protest at Rooney's home" - this is over his leaving his football club. I can't remember. Were there angry mobs when it turned out he was unfaithful to his wife?

Sorry, back to debating house prices ....

It'll certainly bring down the house prices in his road.

Nobody wants this kind of activity going on outside their home.

pinkteapot

GDB2222 wrote: »

You have to love today's news headlines: "Angry mob protest at Rooney's home" - this is over his leaving his football club. I can't remember. Were there angry mobs when it turned out he was unfaithful to his wife?

Sorry, back to debating house prices ....

The best thing about this is the disparity in the journalism.

BBC News - Protest Outside Rooney's Mansion
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-manchester-11604098

The Sun - Roo's Home Stormed By Mob
http://www.thesun.co.uk/sol/homepage/news/3191868/Mob-of-Man-United-fans-storms-Wayne-Rooneys-home.html

I love the way The Sun plays these things up. How terrifying does this sound:

"Arriving in a convoy of cars, they buzzed repeatedly on the footballer's intercom - telling him to come out and face them."

GDB2222

The protesters - from Manchester United's notorious Men In Black "firm"
Do they sing country and western on the terraces? Besides, some of them were wearing dark blue.

Malcolm.

GDB2222 wrote: »

You have to love today's news headlines: "Angry mob protest at Rooney's home" - this is over his leaving his football club. I can't remember. Were there angry mobs when it turned out he was unfaithful to his wife?

Sorry, back to debating house prices ....

I don't know what's more dissapointing. That people have nothing better to do with their time than protest outside a footballers home or that some people buy shoddy newspapers to read about it.

vivatifosi

GDB2222 wrote: »

The protesters - from Manchester United's notorious Men In Black "firm"
Do they sing country and western on the terraces? Besides, some of them were wearing dark blue.

I wondered if they had some special pen-shaped device that they flashed at each other so they forget when they lose.

vivatifosi

GDB2222 wrote: »

The protesters - from Manchester United's notorious Men In Black "firm"
Do they sing country and western on the terraces? Besides, some of them were wearing dark blue.

Or possibly that they are local fans, distinguishing themselves from those from Galaxies Far Far Away that typify the rest of the fanbase...

As you can see, my mind has been fascinated by this over lunch.

Oh well, back to work.

silvercar

PasturesNew wrote: »

It'll certainly bring down the house prices in his road.

Nobody wants this kind of activity going on outside their home.

Don't worry, his house will be on the market soon.

GDB2222

silvercar wrote: »

Don't worry, his house will be on the market soon.

Au contraire! Latest news is that he's just signed a new 5 year deal with United. Sounds like it was all a ploy to get more money - not the straying with prostitutes bit, the other bit about leaving the club was a ploy. It sooooo exciting!!!!