It’s really important for us as a society to try to refrain from passing judgment on people who have addiction issues. Drug and alcohol addiction is a disease and once someone has the disease, they will always have it. The good news is they can arrest their disease and hopefully render it dormant for the entirety of their lives. By placing too high expectations on certain groups of people, we make it difficult for them to be human.
We all have weaknesses and make mistakes. In the case of school teachers, it would not be fair to try to hold them to a higher standard than we would any other person. Of course, it would be very concerning to parents to find out that one of the teachers who is teaching their kids has a drug or alcohol problem. Every parent would expect a teacher who is suffering from addiction to get help as soon as the problem becomes apparent.
Unfortunately, things don’t always happen the way we might want. In the case of addiction sufferers, there’s usually deniability that keeps them from getting help. When it comes to teachers with addictions, their ability to do their jobs properly has to be adversely affected by substance abuse. With responsibility for young children or young adults, it sets the stage for some potentially serious issues. That’s why it’s ultra-important for teachers with an addiction issue to seek help.
Can Teachers Attend Alcoholic Rehab Programs Without Losing Their Jobs?
When a teacher has a significant drinking problem, they will eventually need help. The only viable form of help that exists is an alcoholic rehab program from a reputable rehab center. At issue is the fact it’s difficult for teachers to miss time from work. When time is needed, most teachers have to provide detailed information about why they need to miss classes.
If they have to miss 30 to 60 days of classes, that presents an even bigger dilemma. We all have to remember that teachers depend heavily on having a good reputation. It’s that reputation that gives parents confidence that their kids are in good hands. When word gets out that a teacher has a drinking problem, it’s hard for parents to keep from losing faith in said teachers. At the end of the day, we all want teachers, who sufferer from an illness, to get the help they need. The question is can teachers get the help they need without losing their jobs. Let’s examine this from the perspective of a union teacher and a nonunion teacher.
Union Teacher
Membership in a teachers union usually brings with it certain protections. While things will vary from one state or school district to another, it’s a good bet that union leadership has contractually found a way to protect teachers who come forward and admit to having a drinking problem. As part of the contract, it is usually stipulated that unless the teacher with an addiction issue violates a very serious rule of law, they will be afforded the opportunity to get help. That would include getting the time off to attend an alcoholic treatment program.
non-Union Teacher
In districts and schools where teachers are not unionized, the issue of getting help without getting fired is a little more complicated. In many of these schools, there is a code of ethics that each teacher is expected to abide by. If one of the stated rules indicates zero tolerance for substance abuse, a teacher with a drinking problem could be subject to being fired. Of course, we would all like to believe that schools would take a more humane approach to the addiction issue. It does no one any good if a teacher is fearful of coming forward because they don’t want to lose their job.
More likely, teachers are given some leeway to come forward and admit the presence of a problem. If they are willing to do that, then it’s very like the powers to be will be supportive of a teacher getting help. If you are a teacher with a drinking problem, your first priority is to protect your health by getting help. Hopefully, you can do that without losing your job. What we want you to know is we are here to help you when you need it. To start your journey towards recovery, we encourage you to pick up the phone and gives a call at 844-639-8371. We are here 24/7/365.