Some teachers may get a duty free lunch

most teachers do not have time to eat their lunches

What percentage of teachers do not get a lunch break? And how many of those do not get one every day?

Is this an occasional thing because of rotating responsibilities, or are we truly starving teachers?

Sorry to be so unsympathetic, but I think when you actually break it down you will find teachers do far better than most workers with their 15 minute breaks for every 4 hours worked.

I didn't get a 30 minute lunch as a student. I frequently had school activities during my lunch hour. I didn't get a "planning period" and was expected to use the restroom between classes or before/after school. And my school "day" sometimes started at 5:30 am and ended at 6 (with non-teacher coaches or teachers paid extra), not the 7:30-2:30 described.

My teachers never had a problem using their planning periods for a variety of things.

And some teachers do not have a problem eating during regular classes based on what I am hearing from some local students.

I have no idea what the numbers are; maybe we can hear from some teachers or spouses of teachers. I do have some first hand information...and lunch is not a "free time" for those I know about. I had lunch with my granddaughter yesterday and believe me the teachers on "lunch duty" have their hands full.

No, I do not think we are "starving teachers," but to be responsible for teaching 18-25 students for an entire day without a break to clear one's head, is too much in my experience. I believe everyone needs a few minutes during the day to get away from the students and the work. IMO both the students and the teacher benefit. Comparing classroom teachers to workers who get 15 minute breaks is not a valid comparison...it takes a different kind of energy to teach a class...than it does to do most anything else.
Obviously, from the news item, it is a local issue, but I have no idea how much of one.

I agree they need a break - which is why they have a planning period - often used for smoke breaks, coffee, you name it.

I was comparing it to other workers' breaks because you did.

according to WZEP News, the local teachers' union is bargaining for teachers to have 30 minutes each day duty free (no students to watch) for lunch. Some do not have that now.



So, who thinks this is fair labor activity? How would you like to spend from 7:30a.m. to 2:30 pm. with a room full of 7 or 8 year olds...and no time for lunch or the restroom? Maybe a planning period, but that is not down time, but work.

Not what most of us think of when we think of work rules, I bet.

Rediculous. What a waste of time a resources. Do we need to wipe their butts after they go to the potty too?

What percentage of teachers do not get a lunch break? And how many of those do not get one every day?

Is this an occasional thing because of rotating responsibilities, or are we truly starving teachers?

Sorry to be so unsympathetic, but I think when you actually break it down you will find teachers do far better than most workers with their 15 minute breaks for every 4 hours worked.

I didn't get a 30 minute lunch as a student. I frequently had school activities during my lunch hour. I didn't get a "planning period" and was expected to use the restroom between classes or before/after school. And my school "day" sometimes started at 5:30 am and ended at 6 (with non-teacher coaches or teachers paid extra), not the 7:30-2:30 described.

My teachers never had a problem using their planning periods for a variety of things.

And some teachers do not have a problem eating during regular classes based on what I am hearing from some local students.

are you a teacher?

Rediculous. What a waste of time a resources. Do we need to wipe their butts after they go to the potty too?

may you in a most sensitive, gentle manner, blow your uninformed opinion out andy a's arse.

are you a teacher?

No, I am not.

But since I pay their salaries, I am still allowed to have an opinion.

No, I am not.

But since I pay their salaries, I am still allowed to have an opinion.

yes, and you don't have a clue

Rediculous. What a waste of time a resources. Do we need to wipe their butts after they go to the potty too?

If you can spell thank a teacher ;-)

may you in a most sensitive, gentle manner, blow your uninformed opinion out andy a's arse.

:lolabove:

"Teacher"

"Well the dawn was coming,
heard him ringing on my bell.
He said, ``My name's the teacher,
that is what I call myself.
And I have a lesson
that I must impart to you.
It's an old expression
but I must insist it's true.

Jump up, look around,
find yourself some fun,
no sense in sitting there hating everyone.
No man's an island and his castle isn't home,
the nest is full of nothing when the bird has flown.''

I couldn't imagine them not getting one. You have to be able to eat in peace. That's ridiculous. Also I never before heard of a student who didn't get at least a 30 minute lunch break and occasional study hall which was of course a break. That's immaterial anyway, because students aren't working for a living. I always thought it was mandated by law that all workers get lunch breaks. If it's not, it of course should be.

Go sub for a day

Anyone who disagrees with duty free lunches, take the time to spend one full day in a classroom and try to tell me this extra time is undeserved.

A teacher gets one planning period - 50 minutes maybe - to prepare lessons, grade papers, contact parents, straighten up the classroom, etc. and maybe hour after school is out. The rest they do on their own time. Can't they eat in peace????

My sister is the fastest eater I know. I always tell her to slow down, it's not healthy to eat so fast and she tells me she's used to eating her meals in about 10 minutes at school. That's all the time she has.

Those of you who think teachers have it made haven't been in a classroom for a very long time.

This is simply offensive to all teachers.

I'm astounded at the lack of respect for the educators in this country. It's appalling.

Rediculous. What a waste of time a resources. Do we need to wipe their butts after they go to the potty too?

What percentage of teachers do not get a lunch break? And how many of those do not get one every day?

Is this an occasional thing because of rotating responsibilities, or are we truly starving teachers?

Sorry to be so unsympathetic, but I think when you actually break it down you will find teachers do far better than most workers with their 15 minute breaks for every 4 hours worked.

I didn't get a 30 minute lunch as a student. I frequently had school activities during my lunch hour. I didn't get a "planning period" and was expected to use the restroom between classes or before/after school. And my school "day" sometimes started at 5:30 am and ended at 6 (with non-teacher coaches or teachers paid extra), not the 7:30-2:30 described.

My teachers never had a problem using their planning periods for a variety of things.

And some teachers do not have a problem eating during regular classes based on what I am hearing from some local students.

My suggestion SB, is rather than being unsympathetic, attempt to be empathetic and think about how you or one of your family members would feel without the opportunity to eat or take a break. As to whether they rotate lunch room duty or if the have a planning period, but because of class sizes there are some instructors that are giving up their planning period to teach more classes. So my opinion which may not be in line with yours, which I apologize for in advance, teachers should have the opportunity for a kid free lunch and should have their planning periods, which may be used for parent teacher conferences. They are not compensated near enoughfor the hours they work after school, the continuing education they must complete and the total disregard parents seem to have about a teachers time. That is just my opinion and because I pay their salaries I will gladly say so and will be willing to pay more and I have no kids in school.

I seriously wish that those of you who think that teachers have it made would sub in the schools for one week. Just a week. Talk to the parents who spend a lot of time volunteering in the schools - they respect the teachers.

My father was a beat policeman for 35 years in a good sized midwestern city, and my husband taught middle school for years. My father told my husband, "Man, you've got guts. I wouldn't do that for a million dollars."

I can't get over the bizarre resentment over degreed professionals who devote themselves to the future of the country being able to earn a professional salary and be treated like human beings. To advance in education, you have to have a Masters or PhD. You have to have years of experience. You work 5-6 hours a day dealing with 25 distinct little personalities that may have problems that would daunt an adult. You work another 2-3 hours a day preparing, answering calls, having conferences. If you care enough to be a coach or sponsor the yearbook, you work another 3-5 hours a day at that, for a whopping extra $500-$1,000 a year. Your reward, after getting an edvanced degree and working for 20 years, is a job that pays about what a department manager at Target makes, and being made to feel that you should be grateful you're not still paid in eggs and tomatoes that the parents bring in from their garden.

If you think that the pension system is not right, then remember that ALL state employees are under this system, including the judges and commissioners of whatever, and lobby to get it changed. Don't blame it all on the teachers.

So, all they are asking is for a lunch break. Seriously, that's too much to ask?

/*rant off*/

Not getting a full lunch break during a day's work (often in the private sector this is a completely voluntary act) is common. This is just silly. Plus why do teachers need a union to negotiate something like this? I mean, jeez, just sit down with the school administration and work something out. If teachers are having to call in unions to work simple issues like this out, it's clear our school system is in much worse shape than anybody thought.

In the private sector, it is a completely voluntary act. You want to eat a sandwich at your desk and keep working, it's your choice. You don't have 25 ten-year-olds that you are responsible for at the same time.

I have worked in the private sector for over 30 years, and if a supervisor ever attempted to write me up for refusing to work through lunch, HR would have torn the reprimand up and thrown it back at them, saying "Never do this again.".

As for negotiating it individually, that just doesn't happen when you work for the state. Everybody has to be treated exactly the same, if you are on the same pay grade. That's the state's HR policy, enacted to protect them against discrimination issues, not a union issue.