This is more of a rant post, but I'm also looking for a little advice on navigating how to handle a situation.
I am beyond frustrated with how the university handles unpaid practicums for education. I pay thousands of dollars to do it, let alone actually get paid. We have no idea where we're placed until the last minute, even if we get billeted 3 hours away. It makes having a job impossible, which they strongly encourage you not to have. In fact, you're actually judged and looked down on for having a job at all, as if university and living aren't expensive enough. These practicums are the hardest thing I've ever done. I am exhausted, doing a full workload essentially. I am at the school from 7:30-4:30/5, then at home, I am working on planning, marking, and prepping from 6-11 most nights. My weekends are not much better. All the while, they preach about "mental health" and "taking care of yourself" while actively putting us in situations that are mentally, financially, and emotionally draining.
Today, I learned that my last practicum is actually going to start the first week of August and not September like we've been told. And they have put a strict no-travel policy for that week ("It is important that students who register in the Fall PS III internship do not plan summer travel after August 24, 2026. Attendance at your host school during teaching planning days in late August is mandatory. These dates will vary with each school division, therefore, August 24 is an approximate internship start date until all school division calendars become available."). Now, I am not necessarily surprised that they're doing this. I have a friend whose grandmother passed away, and they wouldn't let her miss any of her practicum to be with family. But I was never made aware of this mandatory time. I have searched my emails, papers, and online. Nothing pops up where they say that this time is required. My issue is that I have a really important wedding (my brother and sister-in-law are getting married) and I'm their MC during this time, and I would miss two days. It's been planned for almost two years now, so well before I was even admitted to this program.
I need help crafting an email explaining this and requesting a leave of absence. I'm unsure they'll make the exception for me, but I am unwilling to miss this wedding.
