The New Zealand School Trustees Association and the New Zealand Principals Association are at loggerheads over how to deal with a new employment law relating to teacher lunch breaks.
Changes to the Employment Relations Act mean teachers working in schools running a normal 8.30am to 3.30pm day must be able to take a morning break and a lunch break.
Teachers working through their breaks, either for pupil supervision, staff meetings, lesson planning or other duties, would now be entitled to ask for time out from their work.
The Post Primary Teachers Association has advised schools they are required to follow the law and is giving its members information about how the recent amendment to the Act will affect them.
The Act will take effect in April next year, but education organisations are already beginning to argue about the best way forward.
NZSTA general manager Ray Newtown believed teachers' non-contact time could qualify as a time for teachers to take a break from pupils.
The time is normally used for preparing classes and marking pupils' work, but Mr Newton said it could also be used as a time for teachers to put their feet up.
However, NZPF president and Balclutha School principal Paddy Ford was vehemently opposed to the idea.
"Non-contact time is for lesson planning and assessment of children's work.
"It certainly isn't a time to sit down with a cup of coffee and have a break."
Mr Ford said Mr Newton's idea showed a lack of understanding of what goes on in schools, and he believed most teachers and principals would not work to the rules set down in the Act because they would be unworkable.
"Teaching is not a 9am-5pm job.
"You have to do whatever hours it takes to get the work done."
Mr Newton said NZSTA had contacted the Ministry of Education to get its view on whether non-contact time could qualify as a break for teachers.
Another solution could be to review school hours and extend the school day, he said.
"Principals have contacted us to say that in order to make it work, it will mean secondary schools may have to remain open until 4pm to allow teachers to take these breaks."
Education Minister Anne Tolley welcomed the idea of a review.
Any changes would require widespread consultation, she said.
Mr Ford said research on the structure of school schedules had shown the present system was fine.
"We don't need change for change's sake."
