It’s no secret that teachers often get to enjoy the freedom of school holidays, just as their students do (though, they may be using that time to plan their syllabuses or mark homework and exam papers).
So, does this freedom mean that they can’t take leave and go on holidays during schooling periods?
The SJK（C）Fees Monitoring Forum 华小收费和家协财务调查 Facebook page recently shared the complaint of a parent, who shared their disdain for their child’s school teacher who went overseas while classes were ongoing.
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The parent complained, “Hello, I am a parent of a famous school in SS2, Petaling Jaya, Selangor. I have a question to ask. Last month, my child came home and told me that his school teacher did not come to class and went abroad to travel. I then told my child that teachers would not travel abroad during school days, and I didn’t take things seriously after that.”
“Until one day, when I was scrolling on my phone, I suddenly saw a familiar face, but the photo was taken abroad. I was very shocked because what my child said was true. I couldn’t believe my eyes, the teacher was far away in Paris because she was participating in a tour for a direct sales company.”
To say that the parent was not happy is an understatement.
They proceeded to berate the teacher and the school for the teacher’s apparent brazen act of travelling overseas during the schooling period.
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“I was shocked and angry. I really want to know why the school can approve teachers travelling abroad during their working time. And it can be brazenly displayed on social media. Aren’t they afraid of being seen by us parents? Or are they deliberately trying to tell us how successful her career is?”
“Even the school can allow her to abandon her job and travel abroad during her working time. My child is in a senior grade and is going to take exams. I wonder how my child can be taught by such an irresponsible teacher who neglects my child’s studies and posts photos of her trip abroad on social media,” they added.
The parent also condemned the fact that the teacher was overseas due to another job.
“I wonder if this teacher, who works so hard for their side business, still remembers that her main job is a teacher?”
The parents went on to explain that the teacher was gone from school for 7 working days and believes her absence will cause the downfall of her child’s education.
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“Does the school allow teachers to take leave to go abroad on weekdays? In order not to affect my child’s studies, we also arrange to travel abroad during the school holidays. Air fair is more expensive during that period, but we still do it. Why can the school or the government approve teachers to do this?” they questioned.
This didn’t sit well with netizens as to them, teachers are humans too and deserve to take their entitled leaves as they see fit.
“Teachers are also human beings and need holidays too! Teachers are just ordinary workers!”
“Some people really think that being a teacher means they become your child’s personal babysitter.”
“If the teacher teaches your child for 10 more days, will your child get an A?”
“Dinosaur parent! Don’t teachers deserve to have their own lives?”
So, what do you think? Should teachers be strictly confined to their schools during schooling periods or should they be allowed to take their leaves as they please?
Do feel free to share your thoughts in the comment section.
Also read: Puchong Residents are Protesting the Construction of a Chinese School in Their Area, Here’s Why!
