“I think that the teachers trip should be cancelled.
I don't know what Mr Mercer thinking about as the money spent on the teachers trip
should have been spent keeping there staff like the school mentor Julie Copeland.
I think that the school should think more about there students needs.”

“oh well”

“Surely the biggest punishment would have been to send the teachers to Marbella. Surrounded by all that luxury but with no time to enjoy it. I think the knee-jerk reaction to this story has been like a godsend to some of the teachers. Spending 5 days a week educating other people's children is hard enough; it's even worse when it's at the expense of one's own children. Thank you British press - you're ace”

“Mr Mercer is my headteacher , and to be honest he does so much for us all at Edensor. I am happier at this school than the previous high school I attended and he his a much better headteacher, so whoever is saying he should loose his job he totally shouldn't. He as done so much positive at his time at Edensor.”

“So, the trip has been cancelled. What a waste! I know somone from Edensor and he and the rest of the staff there work incredibly hard. They don't deserve to be messed about like this and made to feel guilty for doing their jobs. Is everyone happy now? The kids are still not in school, the staff will be in no mood for training and the school will have probably lost all its money. So no-one's a winner. I wish everyone at Edensor well - they will bounce back from this.”

“Some of these comments are ridiculous, its as if some of you are blaming teachers for earning more money than yourselves when all of them will have gone to university for at least 4 years and paid for that. If you want these benefits from your job do something about it don't blame these teachers because you don't get it.
As for the children having to have the day off school, as you can see the trip has been canceled and they still have to have the day off so it makes different if they are in Stoke or Spain!
As for spending the money on the children this comes from a different budget and so would never get spent on the kids, schools have a separate budget for training and to be spent on the kids.
I still believe most are just jealous and seriously believe none of you would turn down the same opportunity.”

“you're dead on Brian- the amount of 'art' that gets put up and graffitied, knocked about etc- well its beggers belief.

i hope the trip is cancelled- my mate can see his kids who are upset that their dad had to go away for work- the youngest has never been away from him, she's been breaking her heart. he'll get his euros changed back- but what about all the other expense he's gone too? the kennels are paid up- wont get that back- a passport he didnt need- not going to get that back- all the petrol and driving about lending travel stuff of mates- and what about the taxi- they werent allowed to drive in- he's had to stump up for a taxi from hanley to longton!!!! he wont see that money again either i bet. it's all down to the headteacher and his cronies- they're allright with their fancy houses, big cars and oversized salaries- what about the rest of the staff- the proper teachers in the classrooms- how are they meant to get their money back?

having said all this- what a slow couple of news days if this is all people have to talk about!”

“it looks like it has been cancelled according to tv. but now that thy will have lost alot more money and not done the conference are people happy.

the school gets a fund for training and if it is not spent i think this is where the councllors bonuses come from, so MR M has booked two days away using prob alot of the budget this means that there will be less training days, therefore parents will have to spend less in the long run on child care due to there being less money to spend on training days so they wont have them. but people dont look at the big picture they look at whats bothering them here and now. is there this much said when there is a big statue of a tree made out of iron put up in some out of the way place. do people moan as much when the council recieve there little bonus. but again if its not at the end of your nose its not a problem because you just can't see it”

“I think its disgusting that this is happening. It is an absolute waste of money. You watch when they come back they will want parents that have become involved in the PTA to fund raise for the School surely the money could have been used more wisely than this?”

“Why is everyone assuming the teachers are happy about going?

My mates on this so called "jolly". He's not happy about it- who would be?! Working extra hours Thursday, Friday, Saturday, Sunday- he's got to give up his weekend and 2 evenings for this. You talk about childcare costs- he's a single dad, 3 kids- he's had to pay for childcare and I'm babysitting when I can. He's struggling to make ends meet as much as I am but he's been told he has to buy a passport, travel insurance, take a load of money for food and drink... he's a dad- he wants to spend that money on his kids- but he can't as he's being dragged off doing overtime. He's not happy- stuck working with a bunch of people he only sees in school- they're not his mates!

Put yourself in his shoes- would you be happy about it?”