A lot of teachers are up in arms about MP Andrew Laming’s comments that teachers get too many holidays and should be made to work the same hours as other professions.
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A lot of people in the education profession are saying that Laming is out of touch and has no idea of the realities of our job.
But I think my colleagues might be too quick to take offence. I think Laming’s suggestion has merit and deserves to be explored more thoroughly.
A 38-hour week means 7 hours and 36 minutes per day across 5 days. This means that I can arrive at work at 8am and leave at 3.36pm every day. There’s no need to factor in lunch breaks or recess, since I work though lunch and recess every day - either directing music ensemble rehearsals, mentoring students, supervising yard duty, or sitting at my desk trying to catch up.
According to Laming I should be able to leave my job at 3.36pm. This is a huge improvement over my current work conditions, as that never happens now. Furthermore, Laming says there should be no marking, preparation, reporting or planning to do at home. I am hugely in favour of this. When I get home every afternoon my time will be my own, I will be able to pursue my hobbies and enjoy time with my family without the need to do any extra work after dinner. Brilliant!
Of course, under the Laming scheme there will be no school commitments in the evenings or on weekends. Parent/teacher interviews will happen during office hours, as will all school concerts, performances and other meetings that currently occur in the evenings.
It’s a huge relief to know I’ll never again be required for a Sunday rehearsal or a weekend camp. I’ll also no longer be required to take students to public holiday events such as Anzac Day services. We will get our lives back. Thank you Andrew Laming!
The trade-off, of course, is fewer holidays, but I don’t mind. Having weekends and evenings to myself every week of the year more than makes up for it. And in keeping with Laming’s desire to make teachers’ work conditions the same as other professions, I’ll now be able to take my four weeks of holiday at any time of the year - no longer bound to take my holidays during the non-teaching period. This will work out brilliantly.
Those teachers who have derided Laming for not knowing what he is talking about should maybe consider further his proposal to see just how much better off they’ll be.