Sick Out Psych Out
Bitter negotiations are going on in the Elk Grove, California, school district over health care expenditures. So when more than 680 teachers (out of a teaching force of 3,400) called in sick last Friday, it seemed likely that a sick out was taking place.
Union officers denied the accusation and disavowed any knowledge of it. “We made it very clear we would not condone or endorse it,” said union president Maggie Ellis. In an odd turn of events, district statistics back her up.
Last year, 603 teachers were absent on the Friday before Lincoln’s birthday and 692 teachers were out before Washington’s birthday.
You might think that routinely missing 20 percent of your teaching staff before a weekend would adversely affect student learning, but it’s heartening to know that the time was well spent, broadening the curriculum and sharpening student knowledge of American cinema.
“We just really watched movies,” said one high school student.
February 13th, 2012 at 17:39
Strikes are legal activities. “Sick outs” are not, and those who engage in them should be penalized.
I say this as a former school site union rep who, when a sickout was planned, talked to my staff about how I thought it was unprofessional–only one teacher from my site called in sick that day.
February 13th, 2012 at 18:40
I wonder if this district has “no tell” days in their contract in which it is legal and expected that sick leave can be used for days off without being sick.