Do I need a note from my doctor?

[allisnow]

So for those who don't know, I got pink-slipped again. Not a big shock, it's happened every year, but I did get rescinded last year and there was some hope that it might happen again. But things are just too iffy, the state hasn't decided on a budget, and the district is skittish about promising to pay out money they aren't positive will be there. There's still some hope that things for next year might be resolved quickly, but... I'm just trying to go with the flow.

The one 'good' thing is that if I get laid off, I don't get to keep my sick days, which means I kind of get to play with them a little. I'm thinking about taking a day off this week. Can't be tomorrow because it's a short day and I have a meeting - can't be Wednesday because I have after-school class - can't be Friday because there's just too much going on with the kids. So... to play hooky Tuesday or Thursday?

[Poll #1741848]

Comments

[andveryginger.livejournal.com]

Having finally decided to leave, I'm in a similar boat -- how much to burn and when. Regardless of Tuesday or Thursday, enjoy your "sick" day. :)

[allisnow.livejournal.com]

I'm leaning towards Thursday too... of course I'll probably feel differently Tuesday morning :)

[meg-pat2000.livejournal.com]

Okay- so this has confused me for a while now- but how does your education system work over there meaning that you get "pink-slipped" and arent sure if you have a teaching job year to year.

Because here- its NOTHING like that- once you have a job your employed for life until you leave the public system- its just the school that changes.

So do you apply to schools, or to a district, or to a Government body who then places you at a school?

I'm very interested in how other education systems work because people bitch and moan about our but i reckon its pretty good!

[allisnow.livejournal.com]

Here, unless you decide to go work for the Dept of Corrections (prisons) or something (which are run by the state) you are hired by a District, which is funded by state, federal and local sources. After a probationary period (usually 2 years) a teacher is either non-reelected or given tenure, and what tenure means is that you can't be fired willy-nilly -- you have to go through a pretty extensive process and, theoretically, the union fights on your behalf. Once you're tenured (which I am) you have to do something pretty bad to get fired, other than just being a bad teacher. But if the district simply doesn't have enough money to pay you the following year, or thinks they won't, they're allowed to lay you off, but any open positions have to be filled by laid-off teachers in order of seniority.

I'm sure that's clear as mud :)

[meg-pat2000.livejournal.com]

Wow...thats a really different system to us, and seems like a kind of unsteady system too.
Here when you apply for a job at a public school you are either appointed on a permanent basis (permanent with Education Queensland our govenment sector) or on a contract (which means you are contracted to that school for a specified period of time). Usually most first years are on contract for 6 months (Jan-June) then have their contract renewed (July-Dec) and then if the school likes you, and there is a position (ie. Your contract wasnt for a teacher on leave etc) then they will offer you permanency. HOWEVER being permanent simply means you are permanently employed by EQ- not the school- so at anytime they can transfer you to any other school in the State. This rarely occurs- but when you accept permanency you declare that you will complete a min 3 year of country/remote service (school out woop woop!).

I guess the funding is your big issue hey, and is the reason you have uncertainty. How does the money get given out to districts?? Here schools are given money on the basis of enrolments and their bulk earnings but no school ever has not enough money. That and education is such a state and federal government priority here that money is being poured into schools. Even the "worse" ones are doing okay.

Its amazing the variety thats out there!