Do you expect them to be at school more often than not? How would you feel if your K, 1, 2, 3, etc grader's teacher regularly missed about a week of school per month?
Would you do something if you knew your child's teacher wasn't there very often?
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One week per month? That sounds like a lot. I wouldn't be happy and would speak up about that.
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One week spread out over the month?
Who would you even raise this to, the administration knows, obviously...and with tenure, what can be done? I sound so negative, but jeesh, I wonder if there really is anything that can be done about it? I'd be annoyed.
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@Andrea: @looch: yeah, 5 days of not being at school throughout the month. Sometimes all at once, sometimes spread out.
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@mediagirl: Not sure what can be done once we get to public school (I am not familiar with it), but right now we are at a private school and I would complain because I know that they really want to keep the parents happy and will listen to our concerns.
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@mediagirl: For the one week, I wouldn't be so upset about it if it was a vacation that was planned and couldn't be moved, IF it were the only time it happened during the school year.
I feel like if I were to complain, it would come out that's the teacher had some serious illness and then I'd feel like a complete a**. That stuff ALWAYS happens to me.
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It really depends on the reasoning behind missing and my child's ability to learn and stay engaged. It would probably bother me, but if it was illness related, what can you really do? If it was just random.....seems like they are not very into their job and I would be concerned about my child's education
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i'm not sure where you live but my best friend is a teacher and i know getting time off is a huge ordeal for her. after a certain number of occurrences, her pay is docked a percentage. i would probably assume this teacher has to take time off for a really good reason, based on what i know and give them the benefit of the doubt.
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i'm sure if absenteeism was an issue, the school administration would address it with the teacher. one year when i was working in a public school, the teacher i was working with was out a lot, her mother was dying of lung cancer. the parents didn't know until she passed, but they knew the teacher was out a lot, the school knew why & made accommodations. the teacher's contract will dictate how many days they can miss and if there is a reason for FMLA, the school will make adjustments to accommodate. sure it's nice when ppl get a heads up about why teachers might be out, but sometimes it's a private matter. my dad took some time when my grandmother, his mother, was dying & didn't explain to students or parents why because it's a distraction & he didn't feel it was necessary. lessons are made up well in advance and can be carried out by others without disruption to the learning process.
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I second @loki, all the teachers I know have a very tough time taking even a single day off without a ton of notice and planning. So I would probably assume something bigger is going on. I'd be concerned to say something as first thing that comes to my mind is she could have a serious medical condition she is seeking treatment for, I would feel awful if she had cancer and I was bitching about her attendance.
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I'd assume there was a serious issue going on - illness or the like. I doubt the administration would allow so much time off for anything else.
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I agree with @loki: and @mrs. bird:
I would assume that something serious was going on if the administration was allowing a teacher that much time off.
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@LuLu Mom: @mrs. bird: @loki: @yellowbird: Totally get that. In this situation, it's not a major family issue or illness. I just don't understand how a teacher can take so much time off when it's just to take the time off...
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@loki: @LuLu Mom: Totally agree with you ladies. Where I live, getting time off for a teacher is sooooooooo hard. They really only get like two sick days and maybe four personal days TOPS because they already have the summer and other school vacations off. If a teacher was out as often as you're describing, I would have to assume there was something serious going on in her life - whether family or medical related. There's really no other way the administration would allow her to take that much time off and keep her job!
ETA: @mediagirl: Just saw your response that it's not family or medically related! I'm curious how you know that? But either way, yes, if she's able to just take off weeks at a time, that would really bother me!! Assuming you know it's just vacations, I might speak up to the administration about it! They already get summers and other breaks, so I'm not sure why she would need to take so much other time off...
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@mediagirl: how do you know her reasons for taking the days off? it could just be something she isn't disclosing. the school board probably has pretty strict rules in place so i'm sure they're wouldn't just let her have a day off a week whenever she wanted.
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Yes it would be bother me.
Kids are allowed 5 unexcused absences a YEAR so I would think teachers should follow suit!
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@loki: @Adira: I know the teacher.
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Despite it being frustrating, I think that if s/he is acting professionally according to the administration, there isn't really anything to be done.
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I'm guessing something is really really wrong at home...if she planned accordingly and a good substitute teacher is there, i wouldn't think twice of it or be concerned.
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I would probably go to the administration. I remember as a kid having a substitute was hugely disruptive (but super fun!) and each time we had a sub we'd basically lose a day of learning -- so if the teacher was out for a week, we'd get in about 4 days worth of work. Sometimes things happen, and people get sick, etc but if it isn't medically related then that's a big problem.
Rather than phrasing it as a "complaint" maybe you can go in giving the teacher the benefit of the doubt that there is a serious issue at play and have a conversation with the administration based more around plans for continuity for the kids and lessons plans.
ETA: It sounds like you may know or suspect that the teacher is feigning one reason to the administration while actually just taking personal days (based on the difficulty of getting time off and your personal knowledge of the teacher). I'd probably tread carefully and be sure I really, really was certain this was not related to health or family. That said, that's a very serious problem and one I would certainly feel compelled to raise.
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As a teacher, in the schools I've worked in, policy is if you take more than your allotted time off your pay will be docked. Additionally, administration is usually very aware of absences, especially ones of the nature you've described.
Also, when you are absent, you provide plans for the sub - especially in the case of extended or recurring absences, where you might be aware of them ahead of time and able to plan lessons that are ensuring the sub can carry on with the curriculum as if you were there (as opposed to emergencies, for which you might not be as well prepared for someone else to walk in and teach your class!)
If she is providing lessons and there is a strong sub in the room, I wouldn't be too worried.
All that being said, if you are concerned, you can always ask the principal about the quality of the work being left. Are the kids doing "busy work" just to fill the time to 3pm or are they with a substitute teacher who can carry on with the curriculum as if their regular teacher was present? If it's the former, the principal should be able to remedy the situation by ensuring proper plans/subs are in place. If it's the latter (which I hope it is), then there shouldn't be too much to worry about.
Sorry that was so long winded!
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Depends on what the reason is - plus it's only two months into the year, so I wouldn't judge too much based on them. My mom is a 3rd grade teacher and she's missed that much because a close relative passed away in September (out of state and she had to help with funeral arrangements), and then in October she took a week off to help with my toddler right after my c-section.
You said you know the teacher...is this actually your kid's teacher and you're trying to figure out how to handle it?
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That's a lot and in my area, it's not allowed. We get 10 sick days per school year and we aren't supposed to use them all. One time I used 9 over the course of the whole school year and got "talked to". If my kid's teacher was absent as much as you are describing, I'd definitely bring it up with an administrator.
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Now I'm quite curious as to his/her reasons for being out, as well as what admin has to say about it, and why they think it's OK.
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It would only bother me if it was effecting my son's learning.
I'm pretty sure they have limits here about how much time off they can take.
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It might bother me but I would probably assume the teacher has a good reason. Hopefully there is a consistent, competent sub.
I know several moms that are classroom sharing, part-time teachers (M/W/F and T/Th - I think). I 've always wondered how that works out for the kids.
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I get 15 sick days and 3 personal days a year. I have to save them for maternity leave. If I miss more than my time I get my pay docked and could be fired.
Last year I took maternity leave plus 20+ FMLA because my son was so sick. If it's not for medical or family I'd be annoyed.
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I get ten days off total (that includes personal days and sick days) and if I miss more than that, I have to pay for the substitute out of my own pay. I am not sure but, at some point, you would be required to take a leave of absence or FMLA.
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@mrs. tictactoe: why do you have that many if you aren't allowed to use them?
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I can understand it being annoying but look at this scenario.
I'm a teacher.I have a daughter. She is in daycare, but if she gets sick, and the daycare won't take her, I have no choice but to take a sick day.
I am required to have emergency lesson plans for substitute teachers. Our board doesn't have trained teachers as substitutes, but most places do, I believe.
I have 20 sick days a year, and only used one last year, luckily my husband was able to take her on days she was sick, such as the week she had pink eye.
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@Mrs. Jump Rope: we are allowed to, but it's not encouraged to use them all. The more we are absent, the more the students will be absent and they want the kids in school.
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It is abnormal to miss that much, but with sick kids, or pregnancies, it happens. I had to use a lot of leave when I was pregnant due to weekly ultrasounds in the middle of the day (you aren't allowed to leave for part of the day...you have to take a full day unless you can leave at lunch or be back by lunch), bed rest, etc. But in those circumstances my families were aware of the situation. It was far from ideal, but it is a job and just like with any other job we do the best we can when there are extreme circumstances.
That said, between professional development, kid sick days, etc. I can see an occasional month where 5 days would happen. Barring any extreme circumstances (like a very sick child or a complicated pregnancy) seeing that happen month after month would be concerning to me. I would bring it up with the teacher though more so than the administration. All absences go through the office, so most likely the administration already is aware of the situation.
Missing a day of school is like 3x as much work. I don't know any teachers that miss a day when they don't really need to.
ETA: This is what I get for not reading all the comments before responding
Yes, barring any extreme circumstances this would really irritate me. I seriously don't know any teachers who regularly take time off just to take it off. Like, at all.
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I'm interested in how this teacher is getting away with it, too. I'm a teacher and I've worked in 4 schools in 2 states and it's always been a major PITA to miss school. In Texas, I think I got 6 sick days and 3 personal days. Where I live now, we get 10 sick days and 3 personal. I've never used them all in one year and yes, it would be frowned on if I tried.
If it isn't personal issues/illness that would allow a different type of leave, The only other thing I can think of is either a person who is retiring whose district won't buy out her sick days, or a teacher who is trying to get fired/getting ready to quit.
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I get two personal days and ten sick days a year. I can choose to take a third unpaid personal day. I average about 3-4 sick days a year when you factor in drs apts, etc. However, I regularly miss that many days of school in a month between field trips, state mandated meetings and professional development. I think her admin obviously knows of the situation. If you feel the need to bring it up with admin that is your prerogative. However, if there is something going on that you don't know about, I wouldn't expect them to disclose because they probably can't legally do that!
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@owlteach: yeah, I forgot meetings, professional development, etc.
Yes, barring any extreme circumstances this would really irritate me. I seriously don't know any teachers who regularly take time off just to take it off. Like, at all.
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