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Show The Salt I Jibe TriKnr.e, Thursday, 6 F September 27, 1979 Teacher Hookey Costing Millions By Dolores Barclay Associated Press Writer Theres a new twist to the old singsong about time off from school: No more pencils, no more books. No more students dirty looks. Teachers, like students, enjoy staying home now and then. But they are doing so at increasingly alarming rates, say elementary and secondary school of ficials around the nation. Its a major problem said in schools today, Scott Thomson, deputy executive director of the National Association of Secondary School PrinciTeacher absenpals. teeism is greater than it was 10 years ago. It affects student learning and student activities. It tends to erode the quality of learning. Entirely Legal Most teacher absences are entirely legal, involving allocated sick and personal leave, which vary from state to state. But many teachers are taking the full amount, ecpecially on the days before and after a weekend. It's not only teachers who do this, but we find this in other institutions and the private sector. Solid TABLECLOTH POLY! LA COTTON PRINTS designer lengths values to $1.98 yd. Juvenile patterns values to $3.93yd. 100 EE Polyester, washable Its an American said phenomena, as- Angeline Caruso, sociate superintendent of Chicagos public schools. But teachers serve as role models. 45 wide to Dan According Taylor, an economist for the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, in May 1978, 2.7 percent of absent for time mm cloth values to 53.98 yd. yd. 45 wide 54 to 60 wide Duble Faced Baby Prints HISS BSKU8KBD malce your own placemats Christmas Patterns also available PmVESVEK . ideal for receiving blankets and baby clothes icissobs Needlecraft and Dressmaker shears. Values to $1 8.G0 set Catalog 37034 $ set Brushed not worked, it amounts to $88 million for personnel costs related to absences. The school budget for that state, including retirement costs, is more than $4 billion. In Philadelphia, the average teacher was out 18 days in the 1978 school year, compared to 13.7 days in 1976. Teachers get 10 paid sick days in each school year, but they can accumulate days from year to year. Averaged 7 Days In Solid teacher work hours were lost beause of absence. All occupations in the country lost 3.5 percent. Higher Rate A survey last year of 135 school districts in Pennsylvania found the over all teacher absence rate for the year was 8.2 days Our rate was significantly higher than national figures, said Joseph Oravitz, director of management and research services for the Pennsylvania School Boards Association. Pennsylvania spent $27 million for substitutes that year. And when you add the benefits paid to the people yd. WOWSSII For applique or stuffed toys Large Assortment LI 10 iOBi miom FLANNEL bundle makes square 13 stripes and soiids value to $3.98 yd. Morning Glory brand BABY BATTS value to $1.98 ea. diapers ea. tS A J 1 1 a. Los Angeles, teachers were absent an average of seven days in the 1978 school year and 6 8 days the previous school year. Teachers and their un- say the absences often are related to the stress generated m muny ions of todays schools. "Theres no question that teaching is a tougher assignment today than it was a decade ago, Thomson said Students tend to be more negativ e, more rebellious, less cooperative and more difficult to handle. The kind of supiort you get from home today is different. You could always count on the support of parents then Now you cant. The Chicago Teachers Union prepared a study on teacher stress last year, finding that over 56 percent of the 22.500 respondents felt physical illness related to stress and 26 percent experienced mental illness Job More Wearing You have to have a certain amount of energy said to stand stress, Fred Martin. Detroit schools deputy superintendent. "The day to of the job is more wearing, so people need mental health days." The Detroit schools budget for substitute teachers is $6 million per year, Martin said day-stres- cr Ls m i rAMD!Lwk' . .L,. i. i -- t-i ' |
