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Thursday, September 21, 2017

Nearly 30 Percent of Public School Teachers Chronically Absent

Unionization plays role in shaping absentee rates

Public school teachers are three times more likely to miss large chunks of school days than their peers at charter schools, which could hurt student learning, according to a new report.

An analysis by Thomas P. Fordham Institute senior research and policy associate David Griffith found that more than 28 percent of public school teachers miss at least 11 workdays a year.

Hawaii led the country in absenteeism with 79 percent of public school teachers taking off at least 10 days. Educators' truancy rates are far higher than those in other industries. An average teacher will take eight personal or sick days each year compared to the nationwide average of three-and-a-half, according to the report, titled, "Teacher Absenteeism in Charter and Traditional Public Schools."

"The percentage of teachers in traditional public schools who take more than ten sick and personal days is almost four times higher than the percentage of employees in other industries who take at least ten sick days—despite the fact that teachers have significantly fewer work days than employees in other industries," the report says.

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11 comments:

Anonymous said...

Hope president Trump gets rid of school unions.

Anonymous said...

Given the fact that approx. 90% of public school teachers are liberal , doesn't surprise me a bit. Also another fact is that 65% of public school teachers are African American.

Anonymous said...

It's not like many of them hurt themselves on the job, either.
The truth is probably that they take lots of mental health days.

Anonymous said...

79% in Hawaii. Not a huge shriven American population. So what does your comment mean? You brought race up, which makes me certain that you're an anonymous racist, and are quick to blurt out unfounded facts.

Anonymous said...

Maybe it's because the teachers spend their days immersed with little germ factories.

Anonymous said...

if I had to deal with these little monsters I would be absent a lot too, or maybe not become a teacher IN THE FIRST PLACE.

Anonymous said...

I am curious to know if they sick days include when their child is ill and can not be in school/day care. Do they take sick days or PPO? Also, I know a lot of teachers who take vacations during the school year, would this be considered in this "truancy rate". I don't think teachers are just randomly taking days off. From what I understand I am an absolutely not a teacher, is that they have to submit plans when being absent, which appears to be a pita.

Anonymous said...

Yes, if a teacher stays home with their sick child, they are forced to take a sick day as well. It's categorized under "family sick leave," but still counts towards the teachers days.

And for the record, taking a few days off from their students is still less days than most of the parents take off from their kids.

Anonymous said...

The unions foster this behaviour!

Anonymous said...

Teachers unions! Pay them for not working, and that's what you get.

Anonymous said...


It's always open season on teachers. They are not perfect but most absolutely don't deserve the derisive comments.