Teacher's absence in St. Mary's Co?????

[Severa]

Originally Posted by RoseRed

In addition, it also helped that you and I are friends and when you sub'd for my kid and she acted up, all you had to do was say was, "I've got your Mom's number..."

Yup and now I teach in my youngest son's school. I struck a deal with him at the beginning of the year, "If you do good in school, keep your grades up, don't give your teachers fits, I won't go out of my way to embarrass you in front of your friends. You start slipping? You're fair game..."

I was walking one of my students to PE one day and passed my son in the hallway. I called out to him and he blew past me like I didn't even exist. My student thought it was hysterical.

[Baja28 (Premo)]

Originally Posted by drivingdaisy

Yes but they accumulate. I'm not exactly sure on all the rules of this.

Some principals let people use sick days for personal days, but that is a principal to principal issue. I don't think a principal would let someone use that many sick days for non-sick day reasons, but maybe some do.

This teacher is clearly abusing the rules and disregarding the kids education.

Originally Posted by lmor

You are joking, right? So what if a teacher relaxes at home during the summer (8 weeks); she is on her own time as in not on the payroll. Teachers' annual salaries do not include pay for summer, winter, spring breaks, or any of the school days off except for teacher in service days. I am not complaining about that, but do want to clarify.

I suggest you read the entire thread before posting. She IS on the payroll. Their pay DOES include summer, winter & spring breaks. They are paid an ANNUAL salary.


Although in agreement with the OP's position and based on a few posts in this thread I will say that I now agree that the OP should contact the teacher first, principle second then go to the board if not satisfied with the first two responses.

[bresamil]

Originally Posted by Chasey_Lane

Substitutes can be retired teachers, SAH moms, grad students, and much more. Baja is assuming that substitutes are lazy, uneducated losers providing sub-par educations for children.

I haven't read the whole thread yet soo....Let me speak only to my child's experience. She has one teacher (out of the 7) who is out frequently due to her child's illness. The substitutes for this class have included a retired physician, a student getting a teaching degree, a retired engineer, a former SAH mom, and a retired teacher. Still, no matter what their background, in this class they give the kids a worksheet and let them do whatever they want as long as they don't set the room on fire. The only good sub they have had is when one of the vice principals stepped in because the teacher had to leave midday.

Guess which class is the only one my daughter doesn't have an A in? That's right - the one with the missing teacher. It is an important class and they are missing out on solid theory.

Now I fully support the teacher taking care of her chronically ill child BUT as I know the administrators knew this would be an issue this year, I feel they should have assigned her a qualified assistant that could take over the class in her absence. There is one assigned to another teacher in the school - in a nonessential class - and several "student teachers" who are doing their in class work for their degree assigned to other classes. I happen to know 2 of the student teachers are in school to prepare to teach this particular class when they graduate so I don't know why they were assigned to the teachers that are always there instead of my daughter's teacher.

[awpitt]

Originally Posted by Baja28

This teacher is clearly abusing the rules and disregarding the kids education.

I suggest you read the entire thread before posting. She IS on the payroll. Their pay DOES include summer, winter & spring breaks. They are paid an ANNUAL salary.

Inncorrect.

They are NOT 12 month employees. Legally and contracually speaking, teachers are 10 month employees and are paid for 190 duty days; however, they are paid in 26 installments during the year. The only teachers who are paid for the summer are those who work during the summer, coaches, summer school, etc.

http://www.smcps.org/files/HR/EASMC-...signatures.pdf

Originally Posted by Baja28

...the OP should contact the teacher first, principle second then go to the board if not satisfied with the first two responses.

Agreed. People often try to go straight to the top without giving the teacher a chance to address an issue.

[awpitt]

Originally Posted by bresamil

I haven't read the whole thread yet soo....Let me speak only to my child's experience. She has one teacher (out of the 7) who is out frequently due to her child's illness. The substitutes for this class have included a retired physician, a student getting a teaching degree, a retired engineer, a former SAH mom, and a retired teacher. Still, no matter what their background, in this class they give the kids a worksheet and let them do whatever they want as long as they don't set the room on fire. The only good sub they have had is when one of the vice principals stepped in because the teacher had to leave midday.

Guess which class is the only one my daughter doesn't have an A in? That's right - the one with the missing teacher. It is an important class and they are missing out on solid theory.

Now I fully support the teacher taking care of her chronically ill child BUT as I know the administrators knew this would be an issue this year, I feel they should have assigned her a qualified assistant that could take over the class in her absence. There is one assigned to another teacher in the school - in a nonessential class - and several "student teachers" who are doing their in class work for their degree assigned to other classes. I happen to know 2 of the student teachers are in school to prepare to teach this particular class when they graduate so I don't know why they were assigned to the teachers that are always there instead of my daughter's teacher.

Just curious, what have you done to advocate for your child regarding this situation and what was the response(s)?

[bresamil]

Originally Posted by awpitt

Just curious, what have you done to advocate for your child regarding this situation and what was the response(s)?

I spoke with the administration of the school who said they would not be making any changes and have a nice day. I've known the principal for years so I expected that response.
So now I'm taking up the slack and teaching the theory and principles of the subject at home to my daughter and several of her friends who are also affected. Its not my area of expertise but at least her test scores are improving and they can hold discussions on the topic so perhaps I'm doing an adequate job.

[Bushy23]

Teachers' hefty salaries are driving up taxes, and they only work 9 or 10 months a year! It's time we put thing in perspective and pay them for what they do - babysit! We can get that for minimum wage. That's right. Let's give them $3.00 an hour and only the hours they worked; not any of that silly planning time, or any time they spend before or after school. That ...would be $19.50 a day (7:45 to............ 3:00 PM with 45 min. off for lunch and plan-- that equals 6 1/2 hours). Each parent should pay $19.50 a day for these teachers to baby-sit their children. Now how many students do they teach in a day...maybe 30? So that's $19.50 x 30 = $585.00 a day. However, remember they only work 180 days a year!!! I am not going to pay them for any vacations. LET'S SEE.... That's $585 X 180= $105,300 per year. (Hold on! My calculator needs new batteries).What about those special education teachers and the ones with Master's degrees? Well, we could pay them minimum wage ($7.75), and just to be fair, round it off to $8.00 an hour. That would be $8 X 6 1/2 hours X 30 children X 180 days = $280,800 per year. Wait a minute -- there's something wrong here! There sure is!

The average teacher's salary (nation wide) is $50,000. $50,000/180 days = $277.77/per day/30 students=$9.25/6.5 hours = $1.42 per hour per student--a very inexpensive baby-sitter and they even EDUCATE your kids!) WHAT A DEAL!!!!

[withrespect (Premo)]

robot.jpg

[sockgirl77 (Premo)]

Originally Posted by withrespect

Attachment 91757

[twinoaks207 (Premo)]

Forgive the quantity of mult-quotes but I just clicked on this thread for the first time today.

Originally Posted by aubriana

I get leave where I work, but I don't get my summers off. Just saying...

Originally Posted by Bird Dog

Not to mention the three months she gets off for summer.

Great Union!

It is amazing that every single time someone mentions teachers, "summers off" gets mentioned. For the record -- teachers are not paid over the summer when their job is not in existence unless they have set up with the respective payroll department to have their 10-month salary spread out over the summer so there would be some money coming in during those weeks. "Summers" in this area tend to be about 8 weeks long depending upon the number of "snow" or weather event days in a given year.

Originally Posted by dave1959

OOOOHHHH.... I will not get started on this subject. My kids are out of school
and I am so glad I do not have to deal with teachers anymore. IMHO...I won't say what I'm thinking because I know it will start a forum war..

But.....Give me a job where I work 9 months a year, get summers off, get off at 4pm during the week, no weekends .....sign me up....

If you truly think that this is what a teacher's job entails, I seriously doubt that you "dealt" very much with the teachers of your children. Should you wish to find out the truth, you may indeed "sign up" at many local school districts who all provide alternative routes to teaching to interest those who might wish to have a second career.

Originally Posted by Bird Dog

Some do, not most.
If you tried to advance your degree by going to summer school you would get a masters in about 10 years.

Doctorate 20 years

Most of the teachers that I know who are working on their Master's or Doctorate degrees also take night classes during the school year. In all my years of teaching (30), I have never met one who only took courses in the summer. Summers are nice because you can take two or three courses then to speed things up. Trying to do that during a school year would kill you.

Originally Posted by dixiepeach

My teacher friend owns a beach house in the Outer Banks and spends the summer there.

How wonderful! I am envious! I bet that she returns to the classroom each August feeling rested, rejuvenated, and mentally ready for all of the myriad challenges that her students will provide during the school year. Most of us can't afford this. I am glad that she is one of the lucky ones -- it gives me hope for the rest of us!

Originally Posted by tipsymcgee

I think there's a difference in whether the teacher was on scheduled leave or same-day sick leave, etc. If they are on a schedule day off they probably have to leave a lesson plan, etc. If not scheduled the school has to get a sub and then throw them into the room blind, sort of. And if not scheduled callouts become regular then I think it would compromise a kid's education.

Teachers are required to provide lesson plans for their absences -- ALL of them. If it is an emergency same day call-out, there should be emergency lesson plans that will be used. Some teachers will even email lesson plans in this instance (I've done this myself.). Should there be an instance where no emergency plans are in place, an effective school administration will obtain materials from the other grade-level teachers so the students will still receive instruction for the curricular objective for the day.

Originally Posted by Baja28

I don't see where she is trying to ascertain what they do on their time off. She ran into the teacher on a school day. She's noticed a pattern of absenteeism. She is inquiring why the teacher is out so often, not what she's doing while out.

Yes the teacher is entitled to her earned leave and the management has a fiduciary obligation to allow her to use her leave so it is not detrimental to a child's education.

I get 160 hours per year leave (and I work 12 months, not 9.5). My management would never allow me to take all 4 weeks at once. I have responsibilities to my job.

Originally Posted by Baja28

That's where I go the other link.

If they only get 9 days, this teacher is way over the line.

In most school districts, teachers are given 10 sick days and 2 or 3 personal days per year as leave time. These accumulate. Someone who has been teaching for a while may have tons of days saved up. Most school systems will pay, at retirement, a small stipend for a small percentage of these accumulated days. Leave time must be approved in advance in most cases and Principals have rules concerning leave approval.

We all have responsibilities to our jobs and we are all human beings. Personally, I suspect that everyone pays so much attention to how we teachers do our jobs because our jobs just happen to involve some of the most important people in the world -- our children. It would be nice if we were paid the same as professional athletes but that's another thread. Nonetheless, there does need to be some recognition that teachers are human beings. We have families that may include sick children or elderly parents. We may have our own health issues. We have cars that break down. We have furnaces or plumbing that requires repair. We have or may be required to chauffeur to medical, dental, vision, and other appointments. We are at the mercy of a 9 to 5 Monday through Friday world that doesn't care that we may leave for work at 7 AM and not return home until 6 PM or later on weekdays. Not everything can be done on Saturdays/Sundays and summer vacations.

Originally Posted by dixiepeach

Is there a limit to how many days a teacher in St. Mary's Co can be absent? My son's teacher is absent very often. I've seen her shopping in the mall on school days. I asked her why she was out and she did a "fake cough" and smiled at me and said she was sick. She was out the week before Xmas and now she's out this week. If I missed this much time at my job I'd be quickly disciplined and replaced !

Originally Posted by dixiepeach

I went back though my calendar. She missed 5 days in september, 4 days in October and 5 days in November, then a week in December.

On the positive side, it is wonderful that you are so concerned about your son's education.

However, I believe that you are going about addressing this concern in the wrong way.

Please consider that this teacher may have things going on in her life that you are not aware of (and the teacher prefers to keep private) that are causing so many absences this year. Just off the top of my head, here are some possibilities: a chronic illness that requires routine doctor appointments such as cancer treatments/kidney dialysis/diabetes or blood pessure monitoring,etc.; an elderly parent or other relative that requires care that might include transporting them someone/shopping for them, etc.; other appointments that must be taken care of - lawyers,etc. for something else going on in her life. Some teachers are also involved in other responsibilities for the school (testing, technology, etc.) that require additional professional training that happens to be given during the school day. It is foolish to assume from one meeting in a mall, that the teacher is abusing leave.

The appropriate course of action in this instance is to first, express your concern to the teacher (ie -- I've noticed that the children are missing you a lot recently. Is everything okay?). That might have gotten you an explanation or, if not, at least communicated your concern. If you weren't satisfied with this, your next step should have been addressing your concerns to the Principal or Acting Principal. If this gave you no satisfaction, you should have requested that your child be changed to a different classroom and teacher. If this request was denied, then at least you would have had a documented list of efforts that you had made to resolve the situation for your child's benefit when you went to the Board of Education. If you were not pleased with the Board of Education's response, you have the right to home-school your child or place them in another school that you feel would better serve the educational needs of your child.

Your primary concern is your child. The Board of Education's primary concern is educating the students while working within all of the myriad legal requirements for education and labor relations, not to mention political fall-out. In other words, your child matters to them but is not their sole primary personal interest. They must also consider all of the other children, their employees, the State Board of education laws, and federal laws that deal with education and employees.

And finally, for those who will wonder why I am posting this huge long response on a school day when they know that I am a teacher --- I am home on sick leave because I have a doctor's appointment for something that I've been putting off addessing for months because I was too busy with my school commitments to take the time to set up the appointment. Hopefully, that won't have a negative effect on the outcome of my appointment today. I would much rather be at school teaching my babies.