Last year, the Andover, Mass., union won contract language extending students’ recess by 10 minutes. For teachers, it’s time “for catching your breath,” says Andover Education Association President Matt Bach. With this win in mind, we asked NEA members on NEA Today’s Facebook page what they’d do with an extra 10–15 minutes in their paid day. Here are a few of their answers:
"Eat sitting down."
–Melissa M.
"Collaborate with my team."
–Maritza F.
"Definitely take a bathroom break!"
–Aisha B.
"Paperwork."
–Heidi C.
"Fifteen minutes would be nice, but we need bigger changes in the world of special education."
–Amanda M.
"Positive contact with parents!"
–Laura A.
"The things I do now unpaid: prep, plan, grade, contact parents, and confer with my colleagues regarding common students."
–Celia M.
"IEP paperwork!"
–Chandra M.
"Collaborate with special ed teachers."
–Peter S.
"Lunch. I get 10 minutes to eat."
–Mindy I.
"Casually walk to the bathroom, unworried about whether there will be an empty stall."
–Shane P.
"Meditate, pray, and go to the bathroom."
–Jaydene M.
"Make copies."
–Susan F.
"Ditto to all above—plus, I’d clean my room because our custodial positions are understaffed."
–Debbie B.
"Honestly, I would take a mental health walk around the school."
–Sonja H.
"Maybe cry."
–Allison D.
