A conversation with myself
Are you sick?
Maybe. Well, I mean, yes, obviously – otherwise I wouldn’t be asking.
How sick?
Achy and headachy, but not sniffling and sneezing.
So probably not contagious?
Probably not
If you go in, what’s the likelihood that you’ll lose your cool before the end of the school day?
If I still feel like this: high
How old are your emergency lesson plans?
Very very old
Not useful, then?
Not even a little
Will making sub plans be better or worse than going in?
Hmm… 50/50
Wow! 50/50! – you really aren’t feeling well.
I’m really not
Does the school still have money to pay supply teachers or will your colleagues have to cover your classes?
We still have some money.
Any classes whose behaviour is likely to make a supply teacher weep or quit?
Yes, one
Of three?
Yes
That seems like a reasonable ratio. The supply teacher can handle it.
Probably, yeah.
Oh, by the way, are you still feeling sick?
Well, yes
Are you sure?
Umm… yes
Do you remember before Covid when going in sick was normal?
Yes
Do you remember that now we’re not supposed to do that?
Well… yes
So why are we talking about this?
Maybe I’m not that sick!
Have you felt sick all day?
Yes
And, for argument’s sake, if you go in and still feel sick, is the next day any easier to miss?
No, in fact it’s worse.
For pity’s sake. Stay home tomorrow.
Harumph. I’ll wait to see if I still feel sick at 9. Then maybe I’ll call in.
Persistence and Pedagogy 
This self-talk sounds so familiar. The 50/50 sub plan and the age of the sub plan in the “sub folder” cracks me up. I’m curious about the “supply teacher” thing and have one question. Did you make it to the gym this morning? You made it last Sunday and phoned in for the meet-up. If you didn’t make it, I think you should stay home! (and even if you did…)
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I went to the gym! But I knew something was wrong because I had to stop twice and then went home, took a bath & went back to sleep. Supply teacher is just Canadian for sub. 😉
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Shoot. Sorry. The job is hard enough without feeling lousy. I’m always grateful when people who feel sick stay home and don’t attend my classes and meetings.
Like the dialogue with self approach. This is a cool prompt/approach for all of us Slicers, i.e. Try dialogue.
“For pity’s sake. Stay home tomorrow.”
I second this.
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The difficulty is real. Sub plans suck. I know it’s always better when we are there … but come on! Sometimes we get sick!
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Or, I force myself on a Monday, set myself up (take time to write Tuesday plans) and then take Tuesday. Even if you feel slightly better. We/I have march break next week, so I am pulling myself through. However, the other side of that card is no one wants to be sick on their break. Either way, I vote day off. Even if it’s Tuesday.
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Amanda,
Sorry you’re sick and having this all too familiar conversation w/ yourself. Stay home. Nurse yourself. It’s International Women’s Day, so think of it as a responsibility to yourself. BTW, I always had to consider student speech days when taking sick leave. 😑
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I hate that this is a battle teachers have to have with themselves. I feel lucky to work for a company that allows its staff to take a sick day without feeling guilty about it, and without needing to “prep” for it.
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My husband was supposed to have a minor outpatient surgery this week and I was annoyed that I would need to take the day off to drive him. I am glad he needed to reschedule for reasons unrelated to me. How ridiculous is that?? I know people who easily take time off and I’m so jealous. All the teachers at my school are sharing a cold virus with each other and it’s been interesting to see who has worked through it and who has needed days off. I felt lucky to be most sick on the weekend so I could power through with Tylenol. 🤪
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This inner dialogue sounds familiar. I hope you stay home, rest, and feel better!
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