Maternity leave vent.

mfarmer0811

I teach high school, well, used to. I took a full 11 weeks and won't be returning in the fall. I'm going up today to visit a couple of my classes. Well, my dept. head who is also a friend just called b/c she heard I was coming up. She wants to go over some paperwork and talk about some students that are currently failing. I'm not quite sure what she wants me to do about that. I haven't been there since the first week of March, and I'm not coming back. Take it up with my sub, and let me enjoy showing off my son without having to do work!!
Ugh. Sorry I just had to vent to someone!

karen31186

I am a high school teacher too and have been out since March 17.  I am taking off until August as well.  My sub has texted me non-stop since I've been out and I've had to do lesson plans the entire time.  I completely feel for you.  Maternity leave as a teacher is crap.  

karen31186

FarmBoysWife said:

I am a high school teacher too and have been out since March 17.  I am taking off until August as well.  My sub has texted me non-stop since I've been out and I've had to do lesson plans the entire time.  I completely feel for you.  Maternity leave as a teacher is crap.  

Eh, this happened to me with James.. It's not just teachers.

You had to do lesson plans your entire maternity leave but you're not a teacher??? Interesting.

babylimas

I think decent maternity leaves are rarer than crappy ones. It's definitely not just teachers. I had to work FT all week with 2 kids, one of whom has explosive diarrhea. Of course that's my own fault for my H being the boss. I was having to work from my hospital bed bc the office couldn't figure out anything on their own!

OP - that does sound frustrating. It's not like you can do anything! Hopefully you can have fun showing off your LO despite the work.

SassyFlats

That really sucks. My boss (who is also a really good friend) has only contacted me to chat about the baby, or to share some funny work stories that I've missed-- like how they sent out 800 form letters with a typo on them because I'm the person who always proofreads. Woops!

I'm going in sometime in the next couple of weeks to meet with her about my schedule and new job description since I'll be coming back part time, but otherwise I've been left alone. I've sneaked a couple of peeks at my work email and I'm really surprised there's nothing in there! She must be checking it and forwarding things to herself to handle.

nkrone08

I agree with PPs in that it's near impossible to completely disconnect during maternity leave. I'm not a teacher but I also haven't been able to disconnect even though my team and temp were well trained before I left. I take it as a compliment that they occasionally call me. It shows that I'm a valued employee and that my knowledge is needed. Were those students failing when you left? If not, I think that speaks to your great teaching ability. Take it as a compliment! Also, I know that this doesn't pertain to your situation, but staying in contact and helping out as needed throughout leave lessens the problems I'm walking into when I go back. Hopefully you don't have to do too much admin work when you go in and can enjoy showing off the LO!

Srs08856

I'm sure your head doesn't want you to "do" anything about the failing students.. She probably just wants your input since you know the children better than any sub, and you had the most influence on them throughout the year. I'm a teacher also and I've had to discuss some things with my subs over ML, and I also have to go back for conferences even though it's during my ML. It would be impossible to disconnect completely without doing a bit of injustice to the children and the parents. You probably care less because you're not coming back at all, but the children still deserve your thoughts about what might have gone wrong during the year, right?

nblondheim

I'm a teacher and understand you completely! I've been out since December when my water broke and I'm not going back. I'm currently on unpaid leave as my maternity leave was over before the kids even came home! With that being said I've done everything...lesson plans, notes home, prep for activities, etc and get daily texts and emails. I actually just got off the phone with school!!! I wish things were different but they're not! I'm sorry you're going through this!

fish8412

Nope nope nope. I used to be a teacher (not going back). I have not returned any emails or phone calls (only got one phone call and a handful of emails). I worked really hard on my maternity leave plans and they are super detailed. I spent hours on many nights and weekends doing the plans so I have already put in more than enough time and effort to help the sub. My school system does not give you any paid time off during maternity leave. You have to use the sick leave you accrue. So I refuse to put any effort towards work during my leave. I also think of it as taking a sick day for a doctors appointment or when you are actually sick-I wouldn't do any work on those days so why respond to work during maternity leave?

mfarmer0811

I guess I shills have added that I have been corresponding off and on this whole time, including answering my subs texts while I was in labor! I don't mind helping out, I just didn't want to have to do it while I wanting to spend time with my students.

Andplusalso,
I had just talked with my dept head yesterday via text and phone about the situation. The class is only a semester, so I only had them for a six weeks..
Oh well, I just left, and had a great visit with my kiddos!! One student even cried because she was so happy for me. It was very sweet.

mfarmer0811

fish8412 said:

Nope nope nope. I used to be a teacher (not going back). I have not returned any emails or phone calls (only got one phone call and a handful of emails). I worked really hard on my maternity leave plans and they are super detailed. I spent hours on many nights and weekends doing the plans so I have already put in more than enough time and effort to help the sub. My school system does not give you any paid time off during maternity leave. You have to use the sick leave you accrue. So I refuse to put any effort towards work during my leave. I also think of it as taking a sick day for a doctors appointment or when you are actually sick-I wouldn't do any work on those days so why respond to work during maternity leave?

All of this for me too!! I only had 15 days saved up, so yeah, basically when I help them out, I'm doing it got free.

fish8412

addisonsmom22 said:

@fish8412... wow that really sucks. My aide took over so I didn't have to leave sub plans. 

If you don't mind me asking why aren't you going back? Is it the profession itself?

That's so nice you didn't have to do sub plans!! The county and state (NC) I live in treat teachers horribly. I think we are ranked 48th in teacher pay (state rankings). Teacher unions are illegal here and it is employment at will so we have no voice. Administration and parents can get away with a lot and the teachers can't say or do anything about it. The profession just isn't respected where I live so it isn't worth it. If we lived up north (I grew up in CT) I'm sure I would feel differently about my job. Teacher turnover rate in my county is really high.

karen31186

fish8412 said:

addisonsmom22 said:

@fish8412... wow that really sucks. My aide took over so I didn't have to leave sub plans. 

If you don't mind me asking why aren't you going back? Is it the profession itself?

That's so nice you didn't have to do sub plans!! The county and state (NC) I live in treat teachers horribly. I think we are ranked 48th in teacher pay (state rankings). Teacher unions are illegal here and it is employment at will so we have no voice. Administration and parents can get away with a lot and the teachers can't say or do anything about it. The profession just isn't respected where I live so it isn't worth it. If we lived up north (I grew up in CT) I'm sure I would feel differently about my job. Teacher turnover rate in my county is really high.

What county in NC do you teach in? I'm a high school teacher in Union County.

pepperedmoth

Work contacted me while I was still in the hospital to ask me about renewing my (different hospital) privileges. I may have cried over the phone and my manager said he'd take care of it, THANK GOD.

I was also contacted once with a question re: a regular patient of mine, but happily that has been it.....I DO need to go in and deal with some chart review whatnot. I'm OK with that.

Ahutch428

Also a teacher, and since I am the department head and (former) cheer coach, there were several questions that only I could answer. The first couple of weeks I was still responding to email, but is put up an out of office message now. I'm still answering several phone calls, and texts, and had to go in for some paper work. It can be frustrating, but I also like still feeling connected. I visited some classes when I went back, and it was so good to see my students!

teachermommy9967

Wow I feel super lucky to have such an amazing principal and substitute the only emails I've gotten were congratulations baby's arrival. And I know my students are in amazing hands as I helped the principal puck my substitute. Although in my board when you are on maternity leave other then visiting to show of little one you are not expected to do anything work related.

clo1982

I got a few emails/calls at first. Apparently my one word answers got the message across pretty clear that I had no interest in being a volunteer for the bank. If they were paying me like last time, sure I would answer emails. But since they didn't step up, I'm sure as hell not going to. I have to say it has been a-may-zing to not have that stupid blackberry attached to me at all times (yes we still use blackberries!). My brother in law works with me so if something was urgent he would tell me. But really IDGAF what is going on there until June.

LittlePigeon

Teacher and (former) coach here as well. I did extremely extensive sub plans and am lucky to have a great sub. My biggest struggle has been some of the shady behavior of coworkers while I have been out.

I teach in a center-based room for students with severe behavior disorders that is housed in a general education building. Every time a new student comes in to the school who has behaviors teachers find me to tell me they have a kid who needs to be in my room. Uhm, no. Just because the kid swore at you or left the room without permission doesn't mean they belong in my room.

Apparently some people are taking my being gone as an invitation to try to get kids in to my program who don't really need it. They have stuck two new students in my class this month, which is just so unfair to a sub who is already dealing with an incredibly challenging position. You just can't win! If you have a decent sub like I do, then people find some other way to screw you over and make more work for you.