Wasting our time with teachers "meetings"

amother

OP ↓

Wed, Aug 28 2024, 8:22 pm

Wondering what others think.
At the school I teach, teachers' meetings started yesterday.
We were asked to come in from 9-4.
They provided both breakfast and lunch.
They also provided entertainment. They brought in a mentalist, I assume as a way to show teacher appreciation?

They also had a 2 hour meeting about insurance, where they had everyone sit through it, despite the fact that it didn't apply to about half the teachers there.

I don't know how others feel but I did not appreciate it.
I understand that, due to my job, I need to leave the kids home with a babysitter (on one of their last days off) to attend important meetings. But I feel like my time was wasted. Who needs a mentalist? I would rather be home with my kids.

amother

Crocus

Wed, Aug 28 2024, 8:29 pm

I abhorr teacher meetings of nothing. They make us come in for a whole day and 3/4 of it is a shiur and entertainment plus time for Meals.
The new school I work at, I just told my husband-they really respect my time and I so appreciate it. It's high school and they ask us to come in for *1* hour (and really even less) and they provide us with like a muffin and salad or something.
I so appreciate that more than a mentalist or a speech. Don't do that to me.

oohlala

Wed, Aug 28 2024, 8:42 pm

Our school has one short speech at the beginning by the head of school to give chizuk and then it’s department and grade level meetings for two days. I think they use the time effectively.

amother

Aconite ↓

Wed, Aug 28 2024, 8:44 pm

amother Crocus wrote:

I work at a daycare. One of my biggest pet peeves with these meetings or "trainings" is that if we finish before three there is "classroom setup" im going to get the same class same kids I had all summer what on earth is there to set up!

amother

Ghostwhite

Wed, Aug 28 2024, 9:07 pm

Yes!!! A complete waste of time!!! But it's required by the bureaucratic government, isn't it?

amother

SandyBrown ↓

Wed, Aug 28 2024, 9:21 pm

My biggest issue with in service week is that I teach from 8-12:30, those are the hours that I work because that's what my family can handle. I can't come to school from 8-4 for a week. I have a nursing baby, my kids can't handle it. There's a reason my working hours are 8-12:30!

amother

Honey ↓

Wed, Aug 28 2024, 10:10 pm

Haha, I'm also a teacher at the school that had the mentalist and the two hrs of insurance meetings!

amother

↑ OP ↓

Wed, Aug 28 2024, 10:26 pm

amother Nutmeg wrote:

Sorry but you had the whole summer off, this is part of your job.

I spent a good part of my summer preparing for my new curriculum.
I don't think it's a fair argument to insist teachers come in to waste their day just because "it's your job". At least if the teachers come in, they should use the time effectively.

(As a total aside, the school is always short on money, to the point of paying teachers late. I am not sure how they justify spending on a mentalist and fancy spreads. But, that's a side point. )

amother

↑ OP

Wed, Aug 28 2024, 10:27 pm

amother Honey wrote:

Haha, I'm also a teacher at the school that had the mentalist and the two hrs of insurance meetings!

And did you like the show?

cnc

Wed, Aug 28 2024, 10:29 pm

amother OP wrote:

They probably use Title/ professional development money that can't be used for payroll regardless...

amother

↑ SandyBrown

Wed, Aug 28 2024, 10:35 pm

amother Nutmeg wrote:

Sorry but you had the whole summer off, this is part of your job.

I knew this was coming. I just knew it.

amother

↑ Honey

Wed, Aug 28 2024, 10:49 pm

amother OP wrote:

And did you like the show?

I agree that it's hard, I also paid for a babysitter, and I know exactly what you're talking about re: the money issues. I feel like "he" - meaning the new director is really trying to improve staff morale. We might have a different view of how to best do that, but I do appreciate the effort. This was a weird summer for our school though, huh? 😁

amother

Aqua

Wed, Aug 28 2024, 11:15 pm

amother Nutmeg wrote:

Sorry but you had the whole summer off, this is part of your job.

Thing is we're not paid for it... at least in my school.
And it's different hours than we usually work.
This year Sunday too.
But also least by us it's not entertainment. Can't Believe It

I would literally be fuming.

amother

Tangerine

Wed, Aug 28 2024, 11:17 pm

amother Nutmeg wrote:

Sorry but you had the whole summer off, this is part of your job.

Teachers are off all summer because they don’t get paid all summer. What does that have to do with anything???

amother

Oleander

Wed, Aug 28 2024, 11:20 pm

Would you rather be put to work? I think you are looking at this all wrong. You had the whole summer off you get paid to work. These 2 days are paid days be thankful they werent stressful and enjoy. Of course we would all rather be home with our kids than work. But im assuming you are in the category where that isnt an option.

amother

Rainbow

Wed, Aug 28 2024, 11:21 pm

I work in a Bklyn HS. B"H Our orientation next week is approx 10-1. I think that's fair. and it usually includes a dvar torah from the rosh yeshiva....

amother

↑ Aster

Wed, Aug 28 2024, 11:35 pm

amother Nutmeg wrote:

Sorry but you had the whole summer off, this is part of your job.

I have no problem that I had to work to prepare for school today. What I have an issue with is that I spent hours learning about technicalities that don't actually help me teach when I could have spent the time networking with my colleagues or actually setting up my classroom or preparing my materials for the first week. So instead of using today effectively I'm going to have to go into school (unpaid) on Monday when the rest of the world is off to do those things.

(And in case you're wondering, I work all summer to be able to send my kids to local camp since my teacher pay doesn't cover it)

amother

Crimson

Wed, Aug 28 2024, 11:39 pm

amother Oleander wrote:

These meetings and trainings are mandatory but unpaid in my school…