If you factor in things like interviews, meetings before and after school, weekend sport, weekend conferences, inservices, parent teacher interviews, you don't in fact have more time off.

That is a story that's been around since Adam was a boy. We actually did a study (I live in aCnberra, very much a Public Service city), and this notion of so many holidays was touted by some PS parents.

They were well and truly proven wrong.

As for holidays, here in Australia, teachers are required to meet with colleagues, plan programs and the likes.

Of course teachers need a break. Their day-to-day demands are high, but gone are the days when 10 weeks were considered a holiday.