God there is some crap on this page! Firstly, teachers are NOT paid for holidays-see HMSO; "The teachers pay and conditions act". Teachers are paid a salary for being in school for 195 days, and working 1265 hours directed time! Everything else that adds to the teachers hours comes under the heading of"and any requirements of the head teacher to ensure the smooth and efficient running of the school". This means working up to 50-60hours a week(unpaid).Since I spend almost 6 hours EVERY Sunday, and at least 2 hours in the evening on a Monday, Tuesday and Weds or Thurs after I get home plus my normal day of in school for 08.00, break duty(So NO tea break) 45 minutes lunch (hour) and most often don't get home before 17.00hrs( no traffic jams-I live 5 mins away from school), later when there is a staff meeting. I work the 50-60 hours a week,that most people don't see.

Apart from the tasks outlined by others in the thread, my unpaid holidays are spent, planning,thinking of new and different approaches, working out new strategies for difficult pupils etc.

We are inspected, monitored, performance reviewed. Given subject leadership responsibilty without extra pay.

We are abused by pupils, attacked verbally and physically. Some teachers are spat at,we clean arses, wipe noses,feed and often clothe kids. We buy stuff that will help our kids without getting the money back.And then we get told it's our fault-It's the parents fault! They have had their kids since birth, they have been responsible for their "social development" or great lack of it.We have kids carrying knives, we have kids taking drugs,we have bullying and extortion in our schools. Don't blame us, look at yourselves, you are the parents! We are expected to cure the social ills in 5 hours a day for 190 days (kids get an extra 5 days holiday)I love my job, ask anyone that knows me, but I write a paperback book every weekend planning lessons etc. My kids are sick of it, my wife is sick of it.

I teach in a special school, I teach children who steal cars, burgle, rob. I've taught murderers, rapists, buggerers and thieves, drug addicts and prostitutes. All you lot who sit out there in judgement of me can stuff it from whence your children came. As for the rest of you who are teachers, take no notice, they don't know what they are talking about, they arn't capable of the challege,most would run a mile if they had our work to do.