Teachers - Special Snowflakes?

[Sandbox Sally]

This is a vent, and also wanting to honestly know how common this is...

I know that we've talked about teacher's kids before, and all the different ways that people like to recoup costs by having the kids absent all summer, but I wanted to ask some additional questions.

Are you often approached by teachers who expect you to keep their place all summer without any type of compensation? I find this so incredibly aggravating, and I can't imagine how daycare providers earn a living if they're keeping spaces open for two months with no pay. I understand if you can afford as a daycare provider to take every summer off, and take only teacher's kids, but otherwise, how do people afford to do this? I think it's pretty ballsy for parents to suggest that we do this, to be honest.

Also, do teacher parents ask any of you to take March Break/Christmas/long weekends off without paying? It seems that without fail, teachers are telling me that they won't pay during these times as they're home. This just doesn't fly with me. Do they not get paid during winter break? Do they not get paid during March Break?

I guess I get annoyed when people simply assume that we can afford to take time off without pay. I know it doesn't hurt to ask...but most if not all of the teachers who have contacted me seem to find it absurd that I won't let them have all this time off while taking a hit to my bank account.

Frustrated is an understatement. I am thisclose to wanting to put a NO TEACHERS ALLOWED clause on all my adverts (I would never do this, but man!!).

[mimi]

Some providers only take teachers so they can enjoy the same amount of time off. They don't require the teacher to pay for their time off. I quess this is a trade off for the the provider who can afford it.
Providers also want teachers because it is a f/t child which are hard to come by these days so the provider makes certain allowances for this too.
Is it fair or right to the other parents - no. It is the providers choice of course to do this except word gets around to the teachers and then this becomes the providers they look for.
Parents don't really care about our profit margin. Like any business most just want the biggest bang for their buck. I really get your annoyance Alphagetti!

[Sandbox Sally]

I get that some people only take teacher's kids. I mentioned that in my original post. My biggest annoyance lies in people being surprised that we won't do this. I guess I was just wondering if that was the experience of other providers, or if I just have a bunch of entitled women working in my school district.

[Other Mummy]

I have never taken on Teachers' children as clients. And I don't think I ever will. I have heard horror stories from other providers regarding Teachers. It's ironic isn't it? Teachers should be the one professional that understands how much we give to the children, how difficult a job it can be..yet they expect providers to hold their spots for 2 months or longer without being compensated? What's even more crazy is that they do get paid for the summer, March breaks, Xmas Breaks, etc.

Alphagetti, How many clients of yours are teachers?

[Sandbox Sally]

None!! LOL I just keep getting requests from teachers. In the summer, I had a terrible experience where the woman actually got up while I was talking and started to leave, because I told her that I would require stats and March Break/Winter Break paid.

Anyway, I just finished the umpteenth email back and forth from a teacher, and she seems rather put out that I won't keep the spot open for July and August without any compensation. I even offered that she pay two days a week, and still I come off as unreasonable. I told her I'd be happy to have her child from March until July, but couldn't guarantee the spot would stay open during summer.

I have had four total teachers act this very same way in my short time living here. In the city, teachers paid whatever they had to in order to keep a spot. Supply and demand, and alla that. LOL

Just frustrated, like I said...

[Spixie33]

I have interviewed quite a few teachers and they usually ask what my policy is. I have never had one ASSUME or tell me that they expect the time off unpaid. Yikes. That sounds awful.

I have talked to them during interviews and they have told me that providers seem split down the middle on whether they charge a half rate for the summer or not at all.

I am a provider who does not charge for summer, march break or Christmas vacay when it is for a teacher. I have 1 teacher so far in my daycare and will likely get a second one next year. I am losing income during that time but I justify it that I don't mind the lighter load during those days because my own kids are home from school. My own children require a lot of attention and are hungry every 10 minutes when they are home and they add a lot of work to my day so I almost feel like it evens out having my own children home. It also allows me to spend more time with my own children or interact with them more rather than just worrying about 5 dcks. It is a worthwhile tradeoff for me personally.

I won't accept more than 2 teachers at a time though. I still need to make some money

The thing I love about teachers is that they usually pick up by 4 which is another bonus. Some teachers can be sticklers though and can seem like demanding clients. That is why I have often interviewed but not signed them. Some of the ones I have interviewed don't like the idea of a contract and all the guidelines but yet they themselves have a lot of rules they want to lay down on how I provide care.

I guess it all depends on the teacher though. Sorry you are having a rough time with the interviews between them. Good thing you are emailing back and forth with the current one to iron everything out before you waste your time interviewing

[kidlove]

Sometimes as with any parents teachers or not, (more often than not teacher though, due to their schedules) will question Why they need to pay when their child does not attend, as if we have a child we can pull out of our back pocket to fill their spot when they are not there?! I have found myself sort of defending my position, trying to get these "questioning" parents to please put the shoe on the other foot and realize, if I ran things that way...no kids would equal no income. HMMMM, I'm sure teacher of all people employed once explained to or asked to please see things from our position could/should understand due to the fact that they are generally salaried and recieve pay even through the Holidays and summer months, even though they are not working......duh, so you don't deserve the same? maybe they need a little explanation or a non selfish approach to understand completely.
I haven't had too many teachers kids and when I did they were family friends, I offered no pay IF I could fill the childs spot with a school aged kid who needed only summer care and a gaurentee they would return in the fall, out of two teachers over the years, one came back every year for 4.5 years, and the other screwed me about two weeks before the school year resumed, called me to say she was going with another provider. Your choice, but personal I is smart to charge at least a minimum due or hold a deposit, that will be non refundable IF they dont return in the fall. What do people think? our services can be free? just had a mom drop her jaw last week when I explained she had to pay X amount of dollars each week (min due) for her kids who were only coming 2 days per week. Once I explained to her, that I not only need an income but Iwas giving her a SWEET deal and to fill the other three days of the week I am losing by taking her kids part time will be just short of a miracle...she seemed to understand a little better.

[Momof4]

Oh no Alpha, sorry for your frustration. I have a couple of friends who have teacher-only daycares and they have everything worked out so it's mutually beneficial. However, if a teacher wants to sign at a daycare that runs year round then they will have to pay the fees year round just like the other families. Why should any profession be more important than any other?

[playfelt]

My rate for teachers is higher from Sept to June and that compensates for the summer and allows them to come one day a week during the summer. They also must pay a deposit in June to rebook the space for Sept which of course is non refundable. Been taken advantage of too often from claims of no problem he will still come in the summer which of course changes end of June and they want the space for Sept still or they don't dome for the summer but then while out and about at the local park their child gets used to playing with the kids of a provider that lives closer to them and they pull child giving minimal notice at which point it is too late to get kids for Sept. It is too bad that all teachers have to pay the price for the greedy but such is life at least in my daycare.

[apples and bananas]

I aggree Alpha, I think it's insane that someone would assume that.

Have you tried a "teachers rate"? Higher rate thoughout the year, but no cost for the summers and march break.

That way you're not loosing any income over the year, it's just squished into a smaller period of time? Just a thought.

I think our rates are justified in the way we present them. If we know we have a teacher we can say to them... here is your daily/weekly rate. I do not charge for summer or march break. If you need care during these times we can arrange a drop in rate at $XX

I wonder if that would work.