Its incredible isnt it! Last year i had back to back colds or stomach bugs for about 4 months!! Then DP would get it and we wold fight because then he would get sick and wouldnt get paid for being sick (as he is a business owner).
I just cant believe that I am sick after 5 days back although I shouldnt really be surprised as 4 other kids were off sick today and I sent one home after she started vomiting.
I am a teacher too, and I can understand where parents are coming from. I too feel it is disruptive for students when teachers change often. Unfortunately when we are ill, we can rarely get the same supply teacher in as they are regularly booked in advance. Many teachers are on contracts, so if a longer contract or permanant position becomes available, they'll (understandably) take it. Teachers have a job that can't just be put on hold or 'caught up on' when we are ill.
And as the "Ali's" said so well, we have a highly stressful job that doesn't just go from 9 to 3 for 40 weeks a year like so many people think. Younger teachers are getting burnt out very quickly - I don't think we were prepared for just how full on it can be at uni - and when you think about the public perception of teachers, it's understandable that many young people don't want to stay on in the profession. I know quite a few teachers who have changed careers suddenly (or gone on stress leave, never to return). When you add the mothers on maternity leave into the mix, there is quite a high staff turnover. And don't get me started about illness - at school at the moment we have swine flu and whooping cough plus the whole gamut of colds and flu's. I am yet to get through a winter without at least one cough/cold or infection that has meant taking a day or two off.
My best friend is a primary school teacher and has been now for over 25 years. I have the utmost respect for teachers and what they put up with. My BF was a dedicated and committed teacher but after 20 years, was getting "burn out" which I am sure most teachers who don't have a break in their career get and combined with that she had a child in her class that was very vindictive towards her. In 20 years she had never encountered a child like that and she had no support from the school and had to have 12 months off to recover. Now my friend is in a school but out of the classroom. I find it really sad that something she loved turned so sour. Teachers have alot to put up with.
Anyway, back to the topic. DD goes to our local public primary school. It is such a fantastic school. I have seen no teachers leave throughout the year, expect for pregnancy. Morale is high and class sizes small. the school is quite large and effectively they employ some almost full time staff as relief teachers so there can be continuity for the kids. For example, they book up these staff to do leave relief weeks ahead so if a teacher has planned leave the kids always get continuity. I know some of these teachers might only get one day off a term so really they are full time employees and they tend to put them in the same year level. DD's class had a bad start to the year as her teacher had a death in the family but they had the same relief teacher and DD still loves her.
that's soooo true about sickness! When I was a teachers assistant I have never been so sick so often!
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