I had a math teacher come to me once and complain the prin. would not let her take a professional day to see her son who was rotating to a temp assg't in Iowa from Iraq.He was an Lt in 101 and was on his second tour.He'd een seconded to some training assg't for six weeks and then back to Iraq. I talked to the boss who was adamant.She'd dock her pay. I said I'd make a call.She said call the union,they can't do anything.Told her I was calling Sean Hannity with the school name, her name, and the NYC Dept of Ed phone number. My math teacher friend got her day. But that's what professionalism meams to most of us.
What I do not understand is why she would take a “professional day” to see her son instead of a “personal day” or “vacation day”. Anywhere I have ever worked, we did not get paid days off to see our relatives, no matter what the situation was. I, as a taxpayer, do not think we should pay teachers or any other public employees for time off that is not part of their normal vacation/sick pay package.