In recent weeks, California schools have seen an increase in sickness among students and teachers. From colds and the flu to other seasonal illnesses, every classroom has been affected. As students sniffle through lessons and teachers do their best to power through, the rise in absences has left schools struggling to keep up.
The impact of these illnesses goes far beyond just missing a few days of school.
For students, getting sick can make many fall behind on assignments, projects, and tests. Many students rely on in-person lessons to fully understand concepts, but when they’re stuck at home sick, it’s easy to feel overwhelmed by the amount of work piling up. Even when teachers try to provide online resources or extensions, it’s not the same as being in the classroom.
Teachers are also feeling the strain. When they get sick, they’re often forced to scramble to find substitute teachers, which isn’t always easy, and substitutes may not know the lesson plans as well as the regular teacher, which can disrupt the flow of learning. In addition, when classrooms are half-empty, teachers are often stuck in a cycle of teaching the same material repeatedly.
“It makes us teach and reteach more because we don’t have a full class of kids, so students aren’t learning as well,” one teacher shared.
Students showing up sick is another major issue. It creates a domino effect, as illnesses spread from one person to the next, making it harder for everyone to recover and stay healthy.
“A lot of kids are not going to school or going to school sick and getting others sick,” said a frustrated classmate.
On top of that, schools themselves are facing challenges. Administrators have to worry and do more about rising absentee rates, adjust schedules and ensure that classrooms are properly cleaned to prevent the further spread of germs. Some schools are even considering putting back mask recommendations and encouraging more frequent hand washing and sanitizing stations to help curb the spread of illness.
Experts say this year’s spike in illnesses could be linked to a combination of factors. After years of social distancing and mask-wearing during the COVID-19 pandemic, many of our immune systems haven’t had as much exposure to common viruses. As restrictions eased, germs began spreading more rapidly again, especially in crowded environments like schools.
Students can do their part to help by staying home when feeling unwell, washing hands often and covering our mouths when we cough or sneeze. Teachers and schools can help by being understanding about missed work and continuing to emphasize good hygiene practices.
It’s clear that this “spike of sickness” is taking a toll on everyone in schools. While it’s hard to avoid getting sick entirely, working together to prevent the spread can help keep classrooms healthier—and hopefully, make those piles of makeup work just a little bit smaller.
