Teaching missing way too many days

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Is there anything we can do when a teacher is out a lot?

Does anything happen to them?
Does the principal care?

Do you realize that they may have something going on with their own health or a family member’s health? It’s truly none of your business but the likelihood that they’re just taking off for something light and not serious is minimal. Please have some grace.

She looks healthy. I will need to start writing down the days she out

People like you are why good teachers are leaving the profession and good people are deciding against becoming teachers. Just so you know,

DP— you think people are leaving teaching/not becoming teachers because parents will expect them to be physically present at their jobs? I think you’re vastly underestimating teachers.

Don't play dumb. They are leaving because parents like OP treat them so poorly and want full retribution without having any information as to why the teacher is not there. It's not for OP to decide whether her absences are legist ("she looks healthy" nonsense). That's for the principal to decide.

Sure, but she can’t go to the principal and say “she’s out a lot”. She will need to go and say “I am worried about the lost instruction on these eight days” and then ask for a fix. Otherwise the principal will gaslight and say no there haven’t been an unusual number of absences. If she wants the problem addressed she’s right that the first step is to document (and ‘addressed’ doesn’t mean retribution against the teacher, it should moving the student to a more consistent class or getting other school-based intervention)

[Anonymous]

Which teacher? Which school? Sounds like you’re just dying to tell everyone!

Would that you make feel better? Ugh. Seriously.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Is there anything we can do when a teacher is out a lot?

Does anything happen to them?
Does the principal care?

Do you realize that they may have something going on with their own health or a family member’s health? It’s truly none of your business but the likelihood that they’re just taking off for something light and not serious is minimal. Please have some grace.

She looks healthy. I will need to start writing down the days she out

People like you are why good teachers are leaving the profession and good people are deciding against becoming teachers. Just so you know,

DP— you think people are leaving teaching/not becoming teachers because parents will expect them to be physically present at their jobs? I think you’re vastly underestimating teachers.

Don't play dumb. They are leaving because parents like OP treat them so poorly and want full retribution without having any information as to why the teacher is not there. It's not for OP to decide whether her absences are legist ("she looks healthy" nonsense). That's for the principal to decide.

Sure, but she can’t go to the principal and say “she’s out a lot”. She will need to go and say “I am worried about the lost instruction on these eight days” and then ask for a fix. Otherwise the principal will gaslight and say no there haven’t been an unusual number of absences. If she wants the problem addressed she’s right that the first step is to document (and ‘addressed’ doesn’t mean retribution against the teacher, it should moving the student to a more consistent class or getting other school-based intervention)

Are you under the impression that the school doesn't know how much the teacher is out and the reason for it? No, no one needs OP to keep score.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Is there anything we can do when a teacher is out a lot?

Does anything happen to them?
Does the principal care?

Do you realize that they may have something going on with their own health or a family member’s health? It’s truly none of your business but the likelihood that they’re just taking off for something light and not serious is minimal. Please have some grace.

She looks healthy. I will need to start writing down the days she out

People like you are why good teachers are leaving the profession and good people are deciding against becoming teachers. Just so you know,

DP— you think people are leaving teaching/not becoming teachers because parents will expect them to be physically present at their jobs? I think you’re vastly underestimating teachers.

Don't play dumb. They are leaving because parents like OP treat them so poorly and want full retribution without having any information as to why the teacher is not there. It's not for OP to decide whether her absences are legist ("she looks healthy" nonsense). That's for the principal to decide.

Sure, but she can’t go to the principal and say “she’s out a lot”. She will need to go and say “I am worried about the lost instruction on these eight days” and then ask for a fix. Otherwise the principal will gaslight and say no there haven’t been an unusual number of absences. If she wants the problem addressed she’s right that the first step is to document (and ‘addressed’ doesn’t mean retribution against the teacher, it should moving the student to a more consistent class or getting other school-based intervention)

Are you under the impression that the school doesn't know how much the teacher is out and the reason for it? No, no one needs OP to keep score.

I’m under the impression (based on experience) that if OP doesn’t want to be blown off by the principal when she asks for the school to address the lost instruction, she’d better be prepared with the data.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:When my oldest was in third grade his teacher took a lot of days off. Not all in a row, but 1 or 2 at a time. She must have maxed out the total number of sick/personal days because it really was a lot. He didn’t learn a whole lot that year, and whenever I helped out in the classroom and on their field trip I couldn’t believe how wild the kids were, like no one was really disciplining them. It was not long after Covid and she used a lot of videos and slides created during that time. She is a nice person but I just don’t think she really cared. She has young kids and I think she wanted to be home with them. She ended up moving somewhere cheaper and quit teaching. My guess is they can afford one income in the new location. I don’t begrudge her at all for making that life choice, but it would’ve been nice if she hadn’t been so checked out when she was still in the position.

It is possible that you have cause and effect flipped. You yourself said the class was unbelievably wild. Teachers can try and try and try and not be able to get that under control, especially if the principal is not on board. That may have contributed to the teacher burning out. I know it would have done it to me.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Is there anything we can do when a teacher is out a lot?

Does anything happen to them?
Does the principal care?

Do you realize that they may have something going on with their own health or a family member’s health? It’s truly none of your business but the likelihood that they’re just taking off for something light and not serious is minimal. Please have some grace.

She looks healthy. I will need to start writing down the days she out

People like you are why good teachers are leaving the profession and good people are deciding against becoming teachers. Just so you know,

DP— you think people are leaving teaching/not becoming teachers because parents will expect them to be physically present at their jobs? I think you’re vastly underestimating teachers.

Don't play dumb. They are leaving because parents like OP treat them so poorly and want full retribution without having any information as to why the teacher is not there. It's not for OP to decide whether her absences are legist ("she looks healthy" nonsense). That's for the principal to decide.

Sure, but she can’t go to the principal and say “she’s out a lot”. She will need to go and say “I am worried about the lost instruction on these eight days” and then ask for a fix. Otherwise the principal will gaslight and say no there haven’t been an unusual number of absences. If she wants the problem addressed she’s right that the first step is to document (and ‘addressed’ doesn’t mean retribution against the teacher, it should moving the student to a more consistent class or getting other school-based intervention)

Are you under the impression that the school doesn't know how much the teacher is out and the reason for it? No, no one needs OP to keep score.

I’m under the impression (based on experience) that if OP doesn’t want to be blown off by the principal when she asks for the school to address the lost instruction, she’d better be prepared with the data.

The school will tell the parent that there was a sub that taught on those days. Unless the kids are being left in a classroom with no one with them, the school is not going to "address lost instruction."

The only exception would be a kid on an IEP who lost hours on their IEP due to absences.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I think OP has a high schooler. You have to get a tutor if the teacher is missing too many days, or your kid won't learn the material. it is what it is.

She has an A, but its annoying they are watching Netflix, and its like a off day for them.

You want to get the teacher fired because your snoflake is bored? I asked already, but what the hell is wrong with you?

DP but no. It would be great if administration could try to find subs that can teach the content or something. I know easier said than done, but if it is high school class - I’m very supportive of the teacher having things going on, but my kid also needs to know this content before taking the next class. In one case we got a tutor, but not everyone has the budget for that. In another, it was a language teacher in 8th grade. Administration worked with the high school to note that the kids really may not have learned all the content, and the high school language teachers spent much more time reviewing. I do not think it’s wrong to contact the principal nicely and see if there is some plan. Unfortunately, teaching is not like other professions where sick days don’t impact everyone.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I think OP has a high schooler. You have to get a tutor if the teacher is missing too many days, or your kid won't learn the material. it is what it is.

She has an A, but its annoying they are watching Netflix, and its like a off day for them.

You want to get the teacher fired because your snoflake is bored? I asked already, but what the hell is wrong with you?

DP but no. It would be great if administration could try to find subs that can teach the content or something. I know easier said than done, but if it is high school class - I’m very supportive of the teacher having things going on, but my kid also needs to know this content before taking the next class. In one case we got a tutor, but not everyone has the budget for that. In another, it was a language teacher in 8th grade. Administration worked with the high school to note that the kids really may not have learned all the content, and the high school language teachers spent much more time reviewing. I do not think it’s wrong to contact the principal nicely and see if there is some plan. Unfortunately, teaching is not like other professions where sick days don’t impact everyone.

If the teacher is out for a prolonged period of time, the school should address the lack of instruction. No one is arguing anything else. However, OP is gaining no sympathy because of the way she is going about this "she doesn't look sick" etc. She should concern herself with her child's progress (or the lack off) and leave the legitimacy of the reason for the teacher to be out to the principal. Teachers are people and deal with life just like you and me. We should not expect them to come to work when they are sick or dealing with family emergencies. We need to have contingencies for when those things happen instead of expecting the impossible.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I think OP has a high schooler. You have to get a tutor if the teacher is missing too many days, or your kid won't learn the material. it is what it is.

She has an A, but its annoying they are watching Netflix, and its like a off day for them.

You want to get the teacher fired because your snoflake is bored? I asked already, but what the hell is wrong with you?

DP but no. It would be great if administration could try to find subs that can teach the content or something. I know easier said than done, but if it is high school class - I’m very supportive of the teacher having things going on, but my kid also needs to know this content before taking the next class. In one case we got a tutor, but not everyone has the budget for that. In another, it was a language teacher in 8th grade. Administration worked with the high school to note that the kids really may not have learned all the content, and the high school language teachers spent much more time reviewing. I do not think it’s wrong to contact the principal nicely and see if there is some plan. Unfortunately, teaching is not like other professions where sick days don’t impact everyone.

If the teacher is out for a prolonged period of time, the school should address the lack of instruction. No one is arguing anything else. However, OP is gaining no sympathy because of the way she is going about this "she doesn't look sick" etc. She should concern herself with her child's progress (or the lack off) and leave the legitimacy of the reason for the teacher to be out to the principal. Teachers are people and deal with life just like you and me. We should not expect them to come to work when they are sick or dealing with family emergencies. We need to have contingencies for when those things happen instead of expecting the impossible.

Agreed, but schools do not do these things proactively. If OP doesn’t raise it, safe bet is they will do nothing. If she raises it without data they will say “there haven’t been an unusual number of absences”. If she says “the teacher was absent 28% of Q2” they might do something, because thats the kind of thing they don’t want shared with the board.

[Anonymous]

Talk to the principal about it. They will not reveal anything but you will have raised a concern and ask them for a solution. The teacher is allowed to take leave for health etc, it’s the school job to ensure that there is a back up plan and minimize disruption to the students learning. Hold the school responsible.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:My DD's second grade teacher was out a lot. It was because she was dealing with dying parents. She acknowledged to the parents it had been a hard year and apologized for missing so much. It still sucked for the kids. But you can't really do anything. Supplement more at home? I suppose the school could try to place the same sub each time for some consistency.

This. Teachers don't get a lot of time off so when they are out a lot, I guarantee it is for a good reason. And you need to accept it and mind your own business. That said, I do want to acknowledge that it DOES SUCK for students so responses like "do you track the attendance of grocery workers" are a little ridiculous.

[Anonymous]

Teachers are human beings, too. With kids and spouses and things going on in their lives.

I'm sorry you've never been in a position or had a rough year where you missed a lot of work, but that's life and it happens.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Teachers are human beings, too. With kids and spouses and things going on in their lives.

I'm sorry you've never been in a position or had a rough year where you missed a lot of work, but that's life and it happens.

I think the two things need to be separated.

Teachers are entitled to take their sick time; things happen to them just like everyone else

AND parents who don’t raise concerns about lost instruction to the principal are not going to get any solutions, and if their kid falls behind due to lack of instruction, if this concern isn’t raised and documented, the school will blame the parents.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Teachers are human beings, too. With kids and spouses and things going on in their lives.

I'm sorry you've never been in a position or had a rough year where you missed a lot of work, but that's life and it happens.

I think the two things need to be separated.

Teachers are entitled to take their sick time; things happen to them just like everyone else

AND parents who don’t raise concerns about lost instruction to the principal are not going to get any solutions, and if their kid falls behind due to lack of instruction, if this concern isn’t raised and documented, the school will blame the parents.

Yes, two separate things. Raise the concern and the school has to provide a solution.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Teachers are human beings, too. With kids and spouses and things going on in their lives.

I'm sorry you've never been in a position or had a rough year where you missed a lot of work, but that's life and it happens.

I think the two things need to be separated.

Teachers are entitled to take their sick time; things happen to them just like everyone else

AND parents who don’t raise concerns about lost instruction to the principal are not going to get any solutions, and if their kid falls behind due to lack of instruction, if this concern isn’t raised and documented, the school will blame the parents.

Yes, two separate things. Raise the concern and the school has to provide a solution.

The school never has a solution. They will pay you lip service but nothing will actually change. Their hands are tied. You’ll have to take matters in your own hand by getting tutor or risk looking like a crazy parent with complaints that won’t be solved.