Unexcused Absences: DPS Teachers Act Like Children for a Day

Denver Public Schools teachers at two schools, eager to relive their high school glory years, took a ‘senior skip day’ yesterday (Hat tip: Mount Virtus).  A high school tradition in many schools is for graduating seniors to skip a day of school near the end of the year. These teachers wanted to stage a temper tantrum because of their proposed record pay increases. From the Post:

Denver [ Public Schools ] teachers Tuesday called in sick or staged symbolic parking boycotts in an effort to voice dissatisfaction with contract negotiations.

All 16 classroom teachers at Academia Ana Marie Sandoval, a high-performing dual-language Montessori school in northwest Denver, called in sick Tuesday — two days before the end of school.

Ten of the 26 classroom teachers at McGlone Elementary in northeast Denver called in sick in an apparent protest.

Not to be outdone, other teachers decided to relive senior prank day

Teachers at Beach Court Elementary in northwest Denver  refused to park in the school parking lot, posting signs that read: "No one can replace (the teacher's name)."

The Denver Classroom Teachers Association responded to the situation is to lie through its teeth: 

"We don't encourage this, but teachers are mad, and sometimes they take things into their own hands," said Kim Ursetta, president of the Denver Classroom Teachers Association. "We are anxious to get back to the bargaining table."

A flier passed around last week urged teachers to unite with "job actions" this week, including "sickouts" and "park-outs." 

But, this is for the children, right?

McGlone principal Ann Alley-Walker said the protest at her school occurred during traditional end-of-the-year celebrations, including the annual fifth-grade luncheon for parents and students that was missing one of its two fifth-grade teachers. 

"It's poor timing because kids need their teachers here when they are having a celebration," Alley-Walker said.

Who is the Denver Classroom Teachers Association? According to its website:  

The Denver Classroom Teachers Association (DCTA) is a professional organization of recognized leaders representing nearly 3,200 educators, including classroom teachers and specialized service providers. DCTA advocates for the rights and responsibilities of these educators and for an ethical system of quality public education for all students.

The DCTA must have an interesting definition of “Professional.” What kind of “responsibility” do these teachers show students when they perform a sick-out? How is skipping school and posting silly signs in the school parking lot ethical? 

The Denver Public Schools should not compromise on its pay increases and incentive proposals. Obviously, these childish teachers know in their hearts that they are bad at teaching children and would never receive a raise due to merit. Why else would these “sick” teachers perform stunts to keep merit pay away from DPS?

by Civil Sense