I'm a teacher- should I go in when 'poorly'.

[cupofteaplease]

Hi all,

I'm not entirely what I should do. I have been feeling unwell for the past three days, very feverish, light headed and with a very sore throat. I went to the doctors today and she says I have tonsilitus and a virus. She has put me on antibiotics.

Problem is, despite having tonsilitus, I haven't lost my voice, so I could still teach! I'm not sure the school would think tonsilitus is a 'good enough' reason to be away from work.

WWYD?

If you are feverish and need antibiotics for an infection you should stay at home, it may be contagious to the children and you should rest til you feel better.

Can self cert a sicknote for up to 7 days.

tonsilitus is not something to ignore - it can make you feel awful.

Do you think you are competent to be in charge of 30 children all day ? If not - then you should be sick, and reassess tomorrow.

If you don't take the needed rest you may need longer time off at a later date because you have a weakened immune system. I would advise you to stay off but I know it's a hard thing to do. I work in a school, not teaching but support for learning asst, and I always feel bad at taking time off.

Hope you feel better soon.

Thanks for the responses. I am not at work today as it is not my day to teach. I am due in tomorrow, so I am unsure whether to ring the school now and pre warn them, or see how I feel in the morning?

I think its a very good reason not to go in and teach. For your own sake.

You can either rest up for a couple of days while the antibiotics take effect or you can struggle in, take ages to recover and pick up everything else that is going around. Its an exhausting term this Christmas one, if I were you I would choose to not try and struggle on for ages below par.

Hope you feel better soon.

Tonsillitis is contagious - according to the nhsdirect website. My son got it a few weeks ago, and 4 days later so did my nephew. I wouldn't go in!

I'm also a primary school teacher, and know how hard it is to take that decision not to go in when you're ill, because you know the hassle it will cause other people.

But I have suffered with sore throats on and off for years, and have learnt at my cost NOT to try and teach when my throat is not right, because you can do yourself permanent damage. You may not have lost your voice yet, but if you spend all day using your voice as we teachers have to, you soon will.

DON'T go in. And don't go back until you really feel better [stern emoticon].

Although you haven't lost your voice, you can place strain on your vocal chords (and other bits connected) and ultimately, if you are troubled by repeated tonsillitis, lead to permanent damage. It's better to rest really.

my dh who is a teacher says STAY OFF!!
( disclaimer: he is jaded)

Thanks for all the advice. I rang school yesterday evening and told them what was happening, and fortunately they told me to stay off. 10 of my class were off yesterday and Monday with the same symptoms!! I still feel rotten, and am really pleased I'm not at work right now.

I'm coming to this late, but just wanted to say that I think you made the right decision.

I haven't had a day off work for over 3 years (I work part time), but I phoned my headteacher at lunchtime to say that I wouldn't be in the for next 2 days as I've damaged a ligament in my knee and can't move around without pain.

It feels really awful making that call, doesn't it!