Many teachers I know are indeed good, caring individuals who work hard to educate their students. But it is a TEAM effort, requiring parents and the individual efforts of the students as well. That's why I try to work WITH parents and let them know what is going on.
I haven't seen any of the things in your second paragraph here (I don't know about other areas so I will only say it for mine). But I do see lots of the 3 R's being taught every day and not "feelings." I don't have TIME to teach all of that "other" stuff.
I do agree with your first sentence of your last paragraph. You take it when the time is available. And that's how parents do it which I have long since learned, sometimes conflicts with the school year (many times MORE than once or twice a year), but I just do the best I can to help the kid catch up when he or she gets back.
As for me, my vacations are to go back home to see my family. I often smile when some of the kids say they're "only" going to Disneyland this year.
Exactly correct.
I cruise three or four times a year. We have an enrolled 16yo daughter, who we take out of school for those times. She learns more on the cruises, probably, by visiting foreign and exotic destinations.
My eldest son is a cop. He takes time off when the department tells him time is available. They have a sign-up list to post your desires, and the off times are doled out by RANK.
My second son is a school teacher. He said he wanted to be a school teacher because he knew of no ther job where he ould make $50 grand and have the summer off!
My eldest daughter just changed jobs. she decided to spend a few weeks in South America and her employer didn't want to give her the time. She told them that she would find another job when she got back.
I may be old fashioned enough to think that such things as vacations and paid leaves are "benefits", not rights! Just ask the average construction worker...
We have a generation of parents who must be re-educated, as from the early 90s up to the present day, it has been too convenient for them to give schools the job of raising, rather than teaching, their children.
BOTH parents and the unions are to blame for current problems. Parents must start raising their children properly and teachers are going to have to start denouncing union liberal politics - or public schools will continue to decline.
The condition of public schools is the mirror of the condition of society as a whole.