As a former teacher in government schools I can say that long before NCLB parents had to excuse partial and full day absense for their children. My son's school wanted a call in the morning of the absense in liu of a note. (Remember the joke about the school official who asked, "Who is this?" and the kid replied, "This is my Mother".)
You are of course correct about public school teachers being paid well for not carring one whit about the kids education. (In general this is the union's view, there are specific teachers who care a great deal.) But you are wrong about job security. After 10 years I was laid off on a strictly senority basis. If they had gone on subject matter, subject mastery, or merit I would have been kept and some other teacher closer to retirement would have been laid off. But Asi es la vida. Enjoy your work, and don't be too upset about the pay. Save and invest for your retirement, and enjoy that too.
As a former teacher in government schools I can say that long before NCLB parents had to excuse partial and full day absense for their children. My son's school wanted a call in the morning of the absense in liu of a note. (Remember the joke about the school official who asked, "Who is this?" and the kid replied, "This is my Mother".)
I have no problem with a child needing a note when he or she is going to school on the bus after being absent. But to require a note when I am telling the staff the excuse is beyond reality.