Friday. I got the dreaded email: could I cover an extra period? Deep sigh...
I ended up in the band class. Luckily, it wasn't too far from the English classroom where I've been, and while the class was huge, this is the sort of elective that kiddos choose, so they tend not to fight me on things.
As is my habit, before I left "my" classroom, I called the office to ask them to send someone to unlock the other classroom's door. (Someone means security.) Then I made the trek over.
I found a huge group of students. Waiting patiently. The bell rang...
We were still waiting.
I was debating going to the choir room next door to call again when I spied the school's principal walking towards us. I knew he had a key.
Mr. L looked out over the group of students. "Mr. V couldn't make it in today? After the jazz band concert last night? Yet many of you were there and you made it in today. How many of you were at the concert last night?"
Several students raised their hands.
"You all made it in today..."
Mr. L's tone was light, but he was definitely not happy.
I'm glad I'm not the one in trouble.
(Now, all sorts of things could have happened. There could be a true emergency. People fall ill all the time. I have no idea why the band teacher was out, but he called out when two other teachers were also not covered, so the absence was noticed.)
Not a good look for the band teacher
ReplyDeleteNope, not after a band event the night before.
DeleteYes, there are reasons, and I wonder what reason he gave when he called in lol.....But, from someone that suffers from a chronic pain is I can say, it could be anything. Sort of surprised the P voiced that comment in front of students.
ReplyDeleteThey don't have to give a reason when they call in. They can do it via computer. And they can always use an undisclosed reason.
DeleteWell, yes, there could be some unforeseen emergency. But good see many kids could make it, and so too you.
ReplyDeleteSomeone's in trouble!!!
ReplyDeleteYup.
DeleteOops... Hopefully you were here and ready ;)
ReplyDeleteI tend to be cynical, so, yes, I'm thinking he didn't feel like coming in that day.
ReplyDeleteOf course, like you said, it could all be legit, but...impressions...
Yeah, I'm cynical, too. I put the caveat just to be safe, because I could totally be wrong (wouldn't be the first time--see next week's Friday post).
DeleteSo good that you are not in trouble
ReplyDeleteWhere I live in Australia, legally we only have to say that we are calling in sick and the Principal (or whatever member of staff you call in to, sometime the Deputy or AP, or HT Admin are all common) and not allowed to ask details past that you are sick. A staff absence like that might be quietly side eyed, but a comment like that would be deemed highly unprofessional, and would absolutely be grounds for a discussion with the appropriate teachers union (we have two in my state, one for public school teachers and one for independent school teachers).
ReplyDeleteOnce you are on your third day in a row, you need a medical certificate, which you don't even need to go to the doctor for anymore, a lot of chemists can do them as well.
Unless the principal here was actually genuinely joking (and the kids AND the staff member away had that kind of relationship with him) I am actually pretty horrified by this one.
I can understand that. They don't have to explain beyond saying that they're sick here, and they also have "unchallenged" days where they don't even have to say they're sick.
DeleteAt times you need to call in. For your own relaxation and stress.
ReplyDeleteHe certainly sounds like he jumped right to judging the absence! Like if the students could come in the day after a concert, surely the teacher could. Which really has nothing to do with it. Unless it was a late, exhausting night!
ReplyDeleteI have no idea. It probably was. The teacher always has more to do than the students.
DeleteIt seems kind of in appropriate for the principal to call out the teacher in front of the kids like that.
ReplyDeleteI never even considered that, but that seems to be the consensus of the comments.
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