Should I be feeling this anxious? Re temp and PGCE placement

[dancingcs]

I’m currently in bed with a temperature of 38.2 and feeling pretty rough. I’m due to go into my teaching placement tomorrow and I feel really anxious about it because my university is very strict about time off.

My placement runs Monday to Thursday and uni day is Friday. I already missed last Friday because I was unwell and it’s actually got worse over the weekend.

The anxiety I feel about being off again feels awful and unfair, and I honestly feel like I’ll be forced to drag myself in tomorrow no matter how ill I am.

I’ve already had about 5 days off this placement due to childcare when my youngest had chicken pox. My husband is self employed and we’re only managing on his income while I train, so he cannot take time off when the children are ill.

The frustrating part is that I’m doing well on placement and meeting my targets. My work is up to date and feedback has been positive.

The tutors keep saying we need to be in a “teacher mindset” and I do understand the expectation. But I’m not being paid, this is training, and I’m also a parent. We’ve basically been told no time off unless you’re on your deathbed. I feel like because I’ve already had time off due to illness and childcare, I’m not allowed to be ill again.

Would you go in with a fever, or stay home and take the hit?

No one else needs to catch what you've got. However, you do need a back up plan for childcare - you need to complete a specific number of days of placement.

Don't go in if you're ill. Or if you're children are ill. Nobody's dying and you'll still pass!

Just remember you're not saving lives and also that actually sometimes it's worse to teach a class when you're not feeling well as it can damage relationships....

I did not go in. My fever spiked to 39.7 over night. My chest is so sore. My tutor has asked for a phone call when I am feeling better this week. Which has given me slight anxiety!