Camp Conundrum

[fatboy]

My school and I are in a bit of a pickle over summer camp. I checked the dates of the camp a couple of months ago, because I had to book tickets home. I went ahead and booked a ticket that would have been after the 3 weeks of camp they informed of. Now the school has changed its summer vacation plans (at the behest of the parents), so now the school will be completely closed during what would have been the final two weeks of camp. The school will then reopen on the day of my non-refundable flight. Basically, I will only be available for one week of camp, but the school has been informed by the relevant authorities that I must do the full 3 weeks.
Where do I stand on this? I can't cancel the ticket, so that's not an option. I feel that this is their fault for changing their dates. BTW, I work for SMOE.

[danitravels]

Did you confirm this with your school before you booked them? And does your contract say anything specifying regulated time on your camps? Sometimes it is flexible. At my school, the teachers want me to go with them on the teachers' retreat, so we've "shortened" my camp by stacking an extra hour on each day so that I have a full 20 hours, just not over 10 days.

Also, the "relevant authorities" should give you this stuff in writing.

Hope it all works out!

[fatboy]

Nothing has been presented in writing. It's too late for me to cancel the flight and it has already been paid for. Does anyone have a phone number in SMOE that I can call? I want to get their advice on this matter.

[cat fud]

The correct answer is "Sorry, I'm not available for camp as I shall be on vacation, since you already told me I could go."  The school will work around it without you.  Meanwhile, you'll have to deskwarm for the original two weeks of camp.

[fatboy]

The correct answer is "Sorry, I'm not available for camp as I shall be on vacation, since you already told me I could go."  The school will work around it without you.  Meanwhile, you'll have to deskwarm for the original two weeks of camp.

Deskwarming isn't an option here because the school will be closed completely for 2 weeks. That means door locked, all staff and kids on vacation. This is why it's become such a pain in the ass to sort out. Most schools stay open to some extent, even if it is just a skeleton staff. My school is a private school, so they dictate their own terms regarding vacations.

[hankmcmasters]

my girlfriend's summer camp schedule got changed up quite a bit to suit her vacation schedule.  she's teaching one hour a day afterschool (until 6 or 7pm) for two weeks before the semester ends, then she is doing more of that when she gets back in august.  she works for smoe

the point is, you can probably get things changed around.  in my girlfriend's case it took A LOT of lobbying from her co-teacher to persuade the vice principal.  i hope you have someone standing behind you.

but really, what a text book blunder for someone in korea.  always always always always always ALWAYS get approval before you buy any tickets.  i'm pretty sure you can use the 'i already paid for it' defense, but i bet they'll accept that only grudgingly.

i hope you have a great vacation

[porcelinewhite]

Yeah..It really sucks...
I have to work for 3 weeks, too....
I don't really know what you can do..
SMOE has strict rules.. and contract

[p33k]

Sorry but rule #1 is always have it in writing.   If you had it in writing you could probably argue it.  Live and learn I guess.

I always have my P/VP sign away at my log book when we agree to my vacation.  They know when it is and know I won't be here.  If they did change it, I would fight it and show that they knew 3 months ago I wasn't going to be here.  And be the end of story.

[MRM]

So, the take home message is that the school can work with you, if they are willing, despite SMOE? Is the school breaking the rules if they allow you to work fewer days and more hours, for example? I booked my plane ticket home after my handler (co-teacher) told me the dates of my summer camp (2-weeks long). Apparently, she hadn't run that by the vice-principal because the VP said that the camp MUST be 3 weeks long, or else the school would get in trouble with SMOE. I've been reading about other schools who have been flexible with the NSET's schedule, and in fact two years ago, my school changed my camp from 3 to 2 weeks, in order to save on heating expenses (but the classroom was still freezing). So, my question is, is it the school's decision or SMOE's decision that the camp should be at least 3 weeks long? 

[bktetsujin]

If you had your vacation signed signed by the principal, you would be set now. They can't force you to do anything if you something in writing to prove it.

Without it, it's their word against yours. You're SOL if you actually trusted them. My school initially told me it was okay to buy my tickets ahead of time, but I insisted on a signature. Don't ever trust what they tell you. I've been doing pretty well because of this. Got my signature and everything approved for I can leave in mid-August, even though my contract ends September 5th. I'll go tell them to **** off if they try to change my plans.Writing rules over anyone's word!

[MRM]

I get the importance of "having it in writing," but I'm still curious to know if anyone knows who makes the final and authoritative decision on the week-length of the camp... ::)

[fatboy]

I know I made the fundamental error of not getting written confirmation, but luckily my school are being cool about it. They don't seem to really care about the camp, but they just want to keep SMOE off their back - which is understandable. The school are basically squeezing in hours throughout July that will add up to the recommended total. This winter, I'm going to play it safe though and get written confirmation.