There are some things that you forget about teaching and what being a full-time teacher means. One of those things is how much time you spend ill or fighting illness. I don’t mean serious illness, (such as stress related illness) but the sort that results in coughs, sore throats, sneezes, and sniffles. Most of the time these can be shrugged off but on occasion, when it’s more than a cold you have to give in. It’s never taken lightly the decision to take a day off. So many variables, planning, cover, disruption, but sometimes discretion is the better part of valour and a day regrouping and resting makes all the difference from being just a body in the classroom to being an effective teacher.
The fact is many children come to school when they shouldn’t. But when both parents are working and there is no one to watch them then there is little option but to send them to school and hope they don’t get sent home. (And yes guilty as charged on this count!) What’s the answer? There probably isn’t one. I do know, though, that my current rate of infection and recovery means I will either end up with an amazing immune system or knackered and good for little else except the glue factory. You can guess which one I am hoping for.
