my apologies if i interpreted "having to mark papers yesterday" as an indication of a whinge.
as for the talking to head etc. my kids are now 9 and 12, we have taken them every year, every year they are refused, even when i write "essays" of supporting information
they have near perfect attendance rarely off sick and never out of school for any other reason. believe it or not, my children enjoy school, we taught them from.. well forever, that education/learning is a privilege and is to be sought out, they are some of the most enthused learners you will meet. my daughter isnt the most academic in the world, but works and tries hard. my son is in the top 5% nationally in the gifted/talented thingy (soz, they recently changed the name, i cant recall it now). (wife and i are both post grad so remain life long learners ourselves)
dont begrudge you your pay, but you cant also begrudge people getting a little peeved when they have walked miles into work to ensure service continuity and then on a tea break see teachers bragging about their days in the woods and defending their right to do so because we did some marking yesterday
edit to add: best to ignore me today, ****ty mood, soz
