School Training Days.

cathorio

As we didn't take two Snow days out of our Summer Holidays,,,,, our Principal announced today that we are to come in for two staff training days during our Easter break. My question is, can she do this???? 12 hours in all.

2011abc

Dunno...different school years ?Outrageous power/ego trip by sounds of it .

happywithlife

Are they different school yrs? If so I can't see how or why they were 'held over'? Surely you should redress lost days in the relevant school year.
Question for the union perhaps?

cathorio

Nothing held over....... We were asked if we wanted to take the two snow days out of our Summer holidays. Of course we said NO!!!
We were then informed that if the school had to close because of Snow we would have to surrender two days out of our Easter Holidays. Sounds reasonable. ..... In the history of our school we have NEVER!!! closed due to the prevailing weather conditions. You can imagine out HORROR!!!! when it was announced at a Staff Meeting that we had to work 12 hours. During our Easter Break......Agh!!!! The Unions????? I'm afraid they are a JOKE! ����

2011abc

Unfortunately you're right .Principals need have no fear of Union head office officials for moderately serious issues .If you are in trouble they will NOT be visiting your school like knights in shining armour ,their phone advice will be mediocre at best and YOU will have to do all the footwork/heavy lifting including waiting for them to call you back .By far the best weapon to defend teachers in a school is a strong steward with staff behind them . But of course it's divide and conquer at every level of society today ...

RH149

So you didn't close for two snow days but the Principal is still expecting you in for two days over Easter?? How is that justified?
We've been told for the past two years to be careful about booking holidays at Easter as in the event we have to close for snow days they will have to be made up out of the Easter Holidays....never any talk of taking them out of the Summer Holidays....but since that announcement we haven't had any snow, or at least not enough to close the school so we've never had to recoup any days.

teacherhead

Are you primary or post primary?

Either way, to the best of my knowledge, the circular letter states that the Feb mid term and the Easter holidays can be shortened to make up for lost days.

The lost days are tuition days so if you are openyoh should have kids in. If days are not lost days are not due.

167 days at second level, 183 at primary. Only other days are maybe where you have a day for croke park.

Did the principal mess up the calendar and leave ye two days short? Even if this was the case it's teaching days the department are worried about.

cathorio

My sincere appreciation to all who responded to my query. I feel much better now knowing that this is Not!!!! allowed. Much respect to one and all.

Delphi91

As I understand it, if a school is forced to close due to snow, the days have to be made up e.g. shorter Easter Holidays. This is to preserve the 167 (I'm assuming Second level) teaching days.

Does your calendar already have 167 teaching days in it without those two days over Easter - and I mean 167 days on which the students are in school? If so, then it's a non runner. Are the students being asked to come in for those two day also?

You only have to make up the "snow days" if you've actually had to close over the winter period due to snow. I'm fairly certain that we haven't had snow yet this year, at least not in sufficient levels to close schools (I did drive through slushy stuff last Friday night!).

Contact your union as a staff.