I have been a public school teacher for over twenty years.
So yes, I was absent. I was absent because I had children and took maternity leave and parental leave to take care of my children. I have been absent because I have been sick or my children have been sick. I was absent because I took training to provide better teaching to my students.
I was absent because I accompanied students on an outing and, during this time, I was not in front of my classes (but for the ministry, even if I am in front of students, I am nevertheless considered absent). I was absent because I went on school trips and therefore missed my usual classes.
So, yes, I was absent. My absences were replaced during my maternity leave and parental leave. For the rest, no, I was not replaced, except when I took the initiative to make up certain hours, which I did voluntarily, without asking anyone.
But I want to say that, even if I do not keep precise accounts, I give a lot of hours to the ministry for various and varied projects and that no one takes that into account. I don’t know if that makes up for my absences. But I think I do my job seriously and with a certain devotion.
So hearing me say that public teachers are making their students miss a “lot of hours” makes me angry. What contempt! When a public hospital doctor is absent, no health minister dares to tell him that the overcrowding of hospitals is due to the absenteeism of doctors.
The problem of non-replacement of absent teachers is a real problem. Placing the responsibility on teachers when the responsibility lies with the ministry is intolerable. The anger and ulceration of teaching staff at the words of a newly appointed minister who does not take responsibility for her personal choices are legitimate. Any person who is dedicated to their work and who is criticized for their inaction or even their incompetence would react the same way.
I will end with a lovely sentence from a 4th grade student. The Monday following the death of Dominique Bernard, when I discussed this event in my class, I asked the students what they thought my role was. A little blonde, rather shy, raised her hand to answer me: “You are here to help us give the best of ourselves. » I thank this student for this sentence which prevents me from violently resigning.
Céline Estrampes, Cruseilles (Haute-Savoie)
