This Principal Said Taking a Day Off Is Like “Teacher-on-Teacher Crime.” Seriously?

With all due respect, staffing is not our job.

Photo of sick teacher with quote about teacher-on-teacher crime

Remember the first year of teaching? No, not the classroom management struggles or the failed lesson attempts. The illnesses. I actually kept track my first year: 11 viruses, 3 strep/cold combos, and a nasty stomach bug. Despite all those illnesses, I only took one sick day: a decision one principal calls a “teacher-on-teacher crime.”

Anyone not in education might consider teachers coming to school sick bizarre. But between rigid expectations for calling in sick (some districts require securing a sub yourself), understaffing issues, and administrators exploiting teachers’ guilt, many teachers feel pressure when actually taking their sick time. They think they will either annoy their coworkers, disappoint their boss, or fail their students.

Sound exaggerated? It’s not.

A New Jersey teacher recently shared her experience with sick days on Facebook and Reddit:

What did teachers have to say? Well, a lot, it turns out:

Misplaced guilt and blame

Comment
byu/jared_d from discussion
inTeachers

Administrators might try to shift the guilt, but this one isn’t on us!

Uh … staffing is your job

Comment
byu/jared_d from discussion
inTeachers

If anything, understaffing a school just pits teachers against one another. Not cool.

Try this email!

Comment
byu/jared_d from discussion
inTeachers

I like that this teacher suggests a follow-up. Another Reddit teacher suggests editing this email to include “the sick days to which I am contractually entitled because my union bargained for them as part of my compensation package” too. Nice!

Local news

Comment
byu/jared_d from discussion
inTeachers

In my experience with administrators saying things they shouldn’t have said, this is one of the fastest ways to get them to backtrack.

Document, document, document

Comment
byu/jared_d from discussion
inTeachers

Yes, I think following up via email is a good idea because it puts this issue in writing and gives them the chance to ignore, deny, or clear up.

ADVERTISEMENT

What would actually be a teacher-on-teacher crime

Comment
byu/jared_d from discussion
inTeachers

Let me get this straight. Coming to work sick is … noble? All I did my first year of teaching was spread germs around!

Would a great boss say this?

Comment
byu/jared_d from discussion
inTeachers

I like that this teacher encourages us to consider that the administrator shouldn’t have said it, but it’s more of an overall reflection that maybe this isn’t the best place to work.

Speak up, union reps!

Comment
byu/jared_d from discussion
inTeachers

I think this is a great idea!

Don’t take the bait

Comment
byu/jared_d from discussion
inTeachers

Driving yourself into the ground isn’t good for you or your students. Take your sick days!

Principals: here for a good time, not a long time

Comment
byu/jared_d from discussion
inTeachers

This is an easy checklist!

Ignore them

Comment
byu/jared_d from discussion
inTeachers

If you’re not at the point where you’re comfortable speaking out, just know that this is a desperate guilt trip with no real consequences attached for using what you are contractually owed.

Coworkers shouldn’t play into the toxicity, either

Comment
byu/jared_d from discussion
inTeachers

I like this coworker’s reply! Spunky!

As teachers, we need an environment that prioritizes our health and that of our families. Please remember that a well-rested, healthy teacher is far more effective than a worn-out one that pushed through illness and could have used a sick day.

This administrator clearly needs to not perpetuate guilt around taking a day off. The teachers above offer various insights, but the overall message is clear: Tune out desperate guilt trips.

Take your sick days. It’s your time.

For more articles like this, be sure to subscribe to our newsletters.

A teacher-on-teacher crime? Or are understaffed schools a state-on-teacher crime that we blame teachers for?