Teacher absenteeism: Are mental health days on the rise?
Teacher absenteeism can adversely affect students. (AP Images)
The AJC has an interesting piece this morning on absenteeism among metro Atlanta teachers. The story by education writer Ty Tagami and database specialist Kelly Guckian is subscriber only and will not appear online so I can’t share a link. But I can provide a summary.
The AJC analyzed metro Atlanta attendance data for the past three years and found that teachers in nearly all districts missed on average more than 10 days due to illness, training, personal leave or jury duty. Sickness was the most common cause.
The story examines whether “mental health” days are increasing because of class size, diminishing respect and increasing responsibilities and accountability.
“It used to be that teachers only worried about teaching,” said Connie Jackson, president of the Cobb County Association of Educators. “Now, they have to worry about paperwork, evaluations, test scores, data management, keeping your students happy and keeping your parents happy. There’s so much more on teachers, that I think it’s contributed to absences.”
The piece says that research shows that when a teacher misses school, students learn less. Research suggests that the impact of a teacher missing 10 days a year compared with one who has perfect attendance is like the difference between a new teacher and one with three to four years experience.
Here is a brief snippet of the story:
“Nationally, teachers are out one day a month” or about 10 days a year, said education researcher Raegen Miller, whose work on teacher absence is widely cited. “If in Georgia it’s more than that, that inevitably raises the question — what’s going on?”
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution analyzed data reported by school systems to the Georgia Department of Education. The newspaper also used the state Open Records law to obtain figures on how much money each school district spent on substitute teachers.
Gwinnett County Public Schools, the largest system in Georgia, was the only large metro district to match the national average in each of the past three years. Elsewhere, though, the rates were higher. Last year, for instance, in Atlanta Public Schools and in Fulton and DeKalb counties, teachers were absent on average about 13 days. They were out 11 days in Cobb County.
Studies show a link between teacher absence and lower student test scores, especially in math — something that students, parents and educators have always known.
–From Maureen Downey, for the AJC Get Schooled blog
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208 comments Add your comment
mathmom
March 29th, 2012
12:36 pm
Maureen – did the AJC article address the age of the teachers? Is it an aging population? Are younger teachers coming in, or are the younger teachers choosing to teach in other states? If it is an aging population, is the average age greater than the national norm? Do the absences seem to be age-related (for an older or younger population)?
Pluto
March 29th, 2012
12:37 pm
Education like anything else the government decides to monopolize is being consumed with regulatory minutae that is consuming sapping the strength and desire of all involved. The hoops you are required to jump through to get your hands on the $$$$ are endless and time consuming. Trying to comply with all of the educational departments of compliance has gotten too darn exhaustive. I have over 100 sick days coming to me and I will try to use them or die trying.
Beverly Fraud
March 29th, 2012
12:39 pm
Keep on complaining about “teachers whining. Do you not have a CLUE that TEACHING conditions and LEARNING conditions are, as MACE likes to say, “inextricably linked?”
When the teaching conditions for YOUR CHILD’S TEACHER are complete and total garbage, what the Hades do you think your child’s LEARNING CONDITIONS are like?
Duh!
Digger
March 29th, 2012
12:47 pm
Be sure to double check your order after GM gives it to you. She shorted me an order of fries last week.
Angela
March 29th, 2012
12:48 pm
@Misinformed,
Perhaps you don’t understand what this blog is all about.
Get Schooled » (oh the apple is missing). Meaning education, schools, students, teachers, etc. Sorry, this is what this blog is all about!
East Cobb Parent
March 29th, 2012
1:04 pm
Interesting article, I believe if you are truly sick then you should stay home. I never encouraged my employees to come into the office sick. However, those that had “excessive absences” were managed out. That’s what we used to call it. For the record, ten sick days would have you on the least desirable projects and at the head of the list if downsizing. As for training, employees had a love hate relationship because there was no one to do their job and it waited until they returned. Last time I checked, most of corporate still worked this way.
farce
March 29th, 2012
1:05 pm
Glad I got out of MACE. The leader is showing his true colors.
Beverly Fraud
March 29th, 2012
1:21 pm
The story examines whether “mental health” days are increasing because of class size, diminishing respect and increasing responsibilities and accountability.
Do these factors increase absenteeism?
Does a bear “mental health” in the woods?
Will we address the FACTORS or take a punitive approach to further beleaguer teachers?
Again, does a bear “mental health” in the woods?
Ima Teacher
March 29th, 2012
1:24 pm
Whine
Whine, whine
Whine, whine, complain.
Teacher, Too
March 29th, 2012
1:24 pm
I don’t know about other people’s health plans, but I can only schedule drs appts (for my physical and well-woman’s exam) a year +1 day. So, at some point, it does become necessary to have to schedule an appt during the school year. It would be lovely to schedule dentist appts during vacation days, but those days fill up quickly, as so many parents and other teachers want those times as well.
I try to avoid taking time off, but once in a while, I do take a 1/2 personal or full personal day to go do something fun. When I do that, it takes me hours of time to plan for the 1/2 day or full day off.
Plus, I’m one who has never had children and won’t have children, so I’m not missing school due to pregnancy, maternity leave, or sick children. Now that my parents are aging, though, I find I have missed school a couple of times when one of my parents is critically ill.
Another Math Teacher
March 29th, 2012
1:34 pm
Good Troll: “When I get sick and don’t work, I don’t get paid.”
Wow, I thought Ms. Downey was nicer than that.
A Conservative Voice
March 29th, 2012
1:47 pm
@Dr. John Trotter
March 29th, 2012
11:12 am
But, let’s not do away with the First Amendment. Workers have the freedom of association (according to the Court) and the right to organize, and doing away with this chops away at the First Amendment.
Well Dr. John, of course you’re right; however, Unions are going the way of the dinosaur (oops, that’s a no no now…..might offend someone
) anyway, so I’ll just bide my time.
catlady
March 29th, 2012
2:11 pm
I don’t see teachers at my school missing many days. The childless ones generally miss the least. The ones who live near “mama” don’t miss much, either-”mama” takes care of sick grandchildren. We have a couple who are fighting breast cancer–they miss a lot. We have one that had a serious blood clot in the lungs. She misses a lot. I miss a lot (10 days so far), here and there, due mostly to a compromised immune system and quite a few debilitating chronic problems. Our 3 who had babies this year were out quite a while–two of them for 12 weeks. Qur 4 men miss very little. Our nurse is out a lot and our guidance counselor is too, but she is a smoker and has bronchitis a lot. Our principal and vice principal are usually there. I think all and all we do pretty well. I hear of virtually no one taking a mental health day. I think everyone is scared for their jobs.
MiltonMan
March 29th, 2012
2:23 pm
“We are treated as failures no matter how well our students do,”
Teachers in North Fulton are treated pretty well – look at teaching there. Why should APS teachers who cheated or covered up for those who cheated be treated well???
“we are expected to move mountains with severely outdated technology and little resources,”
Most schools that I have visited have a dedicated computer lab – often more than one with the latest technology & a full-time “computer resource specialist”
“…and we are kept to a higher stander than any normal human being.”
What is “stander”???
Just A Teacher (and a Dad)
March 29th, 2012
2:23 pm
“Haven’t we been around this before. The majority of teachers are women, many who are in their child-bearing years.” (sic)
Irisheyes has pointed out a flawed perception of teachers. Historically, the teaching profession has been dominated by women, many of whom had spouses taking responsibility for the majority of their expenses, but this is no longer the case. Now, many men, such as myself, have chosen education as our profession and our income is the primary source of income for our families. Furthermore, many of my female colleagues are supplying the majority of the income for their families, as well. But the outdated perception of the female teacher who is only working for pin money or until she can start a family of her own still persists in the minds of the misinformed public.
I am a middle aged man who spent 6 years of my life in college mastering the two disciplines in which I am certified. My contract includes sick leave and personal days which I have used to recover from spinal surgery (from which I returned a week earlier than my doctor recommended) and to bury my father, among other things. As far as this year goes, I have missed 3 days of work. 2 were for illness, and the other 1 was to complete a report before the deadline. The last was something that i would have done on a Teacher Work Day if such a thing still existed, but alas such things are now a part of the distant past. So I had to use one of my personal days to come to work and complete the report. My students probably learned less that day from the substitute teacher who was not certified in my field, but the state of Georgia and my local school system decided to do away with work days, and I could not teach and complete the mandatory report at the same time.
Pluto
March 29th, 2012
2:28 pm
If teaching was the sole focus of a teachers’ job, I think there would be less absenteeism. The endless 504s, IEPs, duty stations all which I am told trumps teaching not to mention parent/student meetings and other impromptu obligations must be satisfied first and then we can get to helping struggling students before or after school and lastly we can get the learning on. I am exhausted by days end.
MiltonMan
March 29th, 2012
2:42 pm
The last was something that i would have done on a Teacher Work Day if such a thing still existed, but alas such things are now a part of the distant past.
Fulton County still has them.
Follow the Course is the Reason
March 29th, 2012
2:46 pm
Listen to what “Follow the Course” says is the reason for excessive absences “Simply the results of the “furlow” days … the school system can “take” … and conversely, so will I.”
First, this “follow the course” teacher admits that excessive absences are payback for “furlow” days and has misspelled furlough. It is not F U R L O W. It is furlough. So first we have a bad attitude problem and then we have an ignorance problem. Why doesn’t the teacher know how to spell furlough?
It’s shameful and speaks volumes about the lack of teaching skills in the teaching ranks. No wonder Atlanta’s children can’t pass the easy CRCT tests. Many of their teachers are just plain uneducated.
GM
Woody
March 29th, 2012
2:46 pm
Yeah, well, you can’t just take and take and take from a person and expect them to show up for you every single day! Thank goodness there are self-regulating teachers out there who know what they need to do to keep from going postal. Now, how about some management expertise here? Actually anticipating what the overload is going to do to individuals and planning for bonus time off – planned absences instead of unplanned? Changing the substitute system to make teacher absences more seamless for the kids?
To Tonya C
March 29th, 2012
2:57 pm
I understand your comments. I was pointing out the duplicity of the APS system punishing families for children for ten absences while at the same time allowing teachers ten or more absences.
It’s also duplicitous for teachers to complain they can’t teach kids who are absent when they themselves are absent as much as the kids.
WHen the teacher misses for any reason, a sub comes in and babysits the class. That is the norm. In effect, when the teacher is absent, the kids might as well be absent.
One cold or flu can knock a human being down fora week and when contagious every human being needs to socially distance themselves. BUT the same goes for everyone, students and teachers. If children being in school is important (and it is then so should teachers.) ALl that curriculum training should be done in the Summer months. Promethean boards are a waste of time and money and need to be thrown away.
Now, I hope you understand my point.
GM
To Teacher Too
March 29th, 2012
3:01 pm
If you take the days off during school year to do “somthing fun” and your students aren’t passing the CRCT, then don’t complain about parents and students and administrators.
take care of your aging parents when they are ill but excuse me, you have an enormous amount of time away from your job to plan fun activities such as a week of Spring break. Two or more weeks at Christmas, every government holiday, a week at Thanksgiving and TEN whole weeks of Summer.
and you still need to shirk your duties during the piddly 180 days you actually work?
Again, no wonder our kdis aren’t learning. Teacher too and others like himher jsut wanna have fuh uhn…oh teachers just wanna have fun……
Gm
Horrible
March 29th, 2012
3:02 pm
“Furlow” – mebbe it’s fur low morale…
catlady
March 29th, 2012
3:05 pm
GM, I believe you would complain if a teacher were the Lord Jesus Christ himself!
Tom B.
March 29th, 2012
3:06 pm
You would think with 80 week days off a year these “teachers” would get over it. Wish I only had to work 2/3’s of year.
Beverly Fraud
March 29th, 2012
3:26 pm
“You would think with 80 week days off a year these “teachers” would get over it. Wish I only had to work 2/3’s of year.”
Yes Tom B. one WOULD think that wouldn’t one? But the fact that there is a MASS EXODUS from the profession DESPITE that “time off” OUGHT to be your first clue, as to how truly abysmal teaching conditions are, shouldn’t it?
Again, if you want to think of it selfishly, it’s not that these conditions are affecting teachers in ISOLATION; it’s that they are directly linked to the LEARNING conditions of YOUR child.
Tom B.
March 29th, 2012
3:35 pm
Beverly Fraud
March 29th, 2012
3:26 pm
It tells me they don’t want to work the other 2/3’s.
catlady
March 29th, 2012
3:44 pm
catlady you are the biggest whiner by far.
It is amazing how much time you complain whining.
I have to go out to Kroger to get a barrel of cheese before I read your blog…that’s how much cheese it takes to go with that whine/wine of yours
GM
MikeyD
March 29th, 2012
3:52 pm
@Throckmorton P. Gildersleeve:
If the situation with the principal that you described is accurate, you should email Maureen and ask her to look into it. Such action is unethical and completely crosses the line of professionalism. This “leader” should be publicly outed and made to answer for these ridiculous demands. At the very least, if he’s requiring people to come to work after the contract ends, he should also take money out of his own pocket to pay you. I give an extraordinary amount of my own “off-the-clock” time to my school and students, but I won’t ever be told that I HAVE to. I do it because I choose to and because I need the time to prepare and stay on top of things. But, the minute an administrator tries telling me that I MUST work for no pay is the minute he/she has a grievance filed against him/her. (And that’s a grievance that I’d win every single time!)
Also, PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE don’t feed the GM troll!!!
To teacher&mom
March 29th, 2012
4:01 pm
You made a point to ask why teachers quit the first five years of employment and never return. You wrote “Funny…we rarely see those teachers return to the profession…wonder why? Any ideas?
The human beings who enter the teaching profession are of several types: the first, the one who really wants to help kids. He or she is rare. Second, the type that cannot do much else and for which college is too difficult — about 70% of APS teachers.
When the 70% flunk out of their jobs they take on less-demanding jobs. We have some very uneducated adults as teachers in APS. They couldn’t pass a regular college major at a regular college. It’s a known fact that those with the lowest SAT scores go into teaching. That’s not a coincidence in GA.
Those who flunk out as teachers the first five years often flunk out at life doing other things.
We have notable exceptions. I can think of one at least, Mary Elizabeth. She’s always well-spoken and articulate and her comments are educated. i don’t always agree with her but it is plain on the nose on my face that she cares about children and she is truly educated…and she never whines. Never.
Wish we had more Mary Elizabeths in teaching.
GM
LHE
March 29th, 2012
4:11 pm
I was able to retire a year early because I was almost never absent and had accumulated over 400 days at the end of my 29th year of teaching. New teachers need to be reminded of this additional perk for being at work everyday!
tipster
March 29th, 2012
4:11 pm
Tom. B – “Wish I only had to work 2/3’s of year.”
Stop wishing. Get your certification and start teaching. Show us how its done. Teachers apparently have it so great that you are wishing you were one. So, please, by all means, get one of those cushy, high paying, hardly working teacher jobs.
Anyone else find it ironic that GM criticizes someone else’s grammar while making mutliple mistakes herself? You know, this is a blog. Most people just type quick responses without worrying about proof reading or editing.
irisheyes
March 29th, 2012
4:13 pm
GM, every time I read your comments, I thank my lucky stars your “children” are at APS. catlady is right. If Jesus himself started teaching, you’d complain he was doing it incorrectly.
Teacher, Too
March 29th, 2012
4:25 pm
Sorry that once in a while I take a 1/2 day of PERSONAL leave to do something for myself. Let’s see how many hours of my weekend time, my unpaid Christmas time, my unpaid spring vacation time, and my unpaid hours before and after my eight hour day I spend on grading papers, attending meetings, parent conferences, planning lessons because I have been in RTI or 504 or IEP meetings, and tutoring students. That’s right– SHAME ON ME! read– too bad…sometimes the fun things don’t happen or aren’t scheduled during the summer or during vacations that I don’t have a say in scheduling.
Yes, my parents are aging. I can’t schedule when my parent has congestive heart failure. I can tell you that if it was during a time when I had something fun scheduled, I would drop everything and attend to my parent.
Really, you know nothing about me or my work ethic. I go well above and beyond what I am expected or required to do. So, if on occasion, I need a 1/2 day, then I take it. I may miss four days a year– well below the “average.”
Oh- and all my students pass the CRCT. And if I do have to be out, I work diligently to make sure I leave work that is constructive and meaningful– I’ve prepared my students for whatever I leave if I know I am going to be absent.
I am absolutely delighted that so many posters are perfect employees or employers. I am certain that you never take a day off from work to be sick, care for someone, or do something fun that can’t be scheduled (like a wedding or a special anniversary weekend).
teach2
March 29th, 2012
4:29 pm
My goal every year is perfect attendance. The thought of taking a “mental health day” may cross my mind, but I would never do it out of concern for my students and out of respect for my team teachers.
Teacher, Too
March 29th, 2012
4:30 pm
I’m off to grade papers, even though my work day is “officially” over, as I know I’ll be taking home tests tomorrow, which I will grade while I’m on my vacation.
Then I’m going to start working on my lesson plans for the week after spring vacation.
I’m NOT complaining, though, as I enjoy my students, and I love teaching. (I would say I love my students, but someone may take that out of context and accuse me of being of unsavory character.)
Ann Dewitt
March 29th, 2012
4:37 pm
I am tired of teachers being blamed for everything. Why doesn’t the AJC do a story on parents. How is a teacher suppose to teach the required material when parents keep their children out of school. Parent don’t bother to get up in time to get their children to school on time. I teach one little girl who has missed at least twice a week. Every excuse is “I had to go to a funeral.” This little girl has had more people die in her family. Parents are allowed to write notes that are lies and the school system accepts these note months after the absence. How are teachers suppose to teach children who don’t come to school. Teaching is a very stressful job. It has become more stressful in the last couple of years. How about giving teachers a break AJC and write a story about another profession. How about making parents more accountable for their child’s education.
Sandy Springs Parent
March 29th, 2012
4:40 pm
Last year at one of the better Cobb Elementary Schools my daughter had a 5th grade teacher, who took off several days to take her older Daughter to Auburn. Then took more days to go to Parents weekend at Auburn. She took an entire week off at the begining of March to go on Spring Break with her daughter who attended Lovett., since their Spring Break was a week Earlier. Then at the begining of May she took another several days to help her older daughter move back home from Auburn. ( come on Auburn is 2 hrs away, why could it not be done on the weekend.). There were numerous other days she was off. One day around 2:00 I saw her in the Publix shopping Center parking lot, I asked her how my daughter was doing in school. Her reply was that she had been off that day and didn’t know. How did you not know for the whole year. She used to live in the same subdivision as me. I guess since, she just taught in Cobb County Schools to send her children to Lovett it really didn’t matter how much she missed from being their for mine or how they were doing. She was suppose to be one of the better teachers.
I could have understood all of the missed days to go to Auburn functions if you had to travel a day each way, but it is an easy 2 hour drive. She told the kids all the time that was where she was going.
Ima Teacher
March 29th, 2012
4:42 pm
If you are NOT complaining, you must be whining.
Who cares what you are doing?
No other profession whines like teachers.
I don’t hear police whining about danger, firemen complaining about heat, Quickie Mart employees complaining about hours, prostitutes complaining about pimps, but teachers – they have to tell us about every little difficulty in their lives.
Maybe its because most teachers are women and women like to whine?
Well back to my grading papers and lesson planning.
Wendy
March 29th, 2012
4:42 pm
I can’t believe the statement was made that teachers only used to worry about teaching. Teachers have always dealt with paperwork, evaluations, test scores, data management, and keeping students and parents happy. And they didn’t have computers to help them. The difference is kids had respect for their teachers, which they learned from their parents. If you got in trouble at school, you got in worse trouble at home. Now most parents side with their kids not the teachers. Come on parents, you’re not helping your kids any by not teaching them respect.
teacher&mom
March 29th, 2012
4:50 pm
@GM: I never whine and I resent being lumped into that group. If anyone is guilty of being stuck on a soapbox it is you.
You stated, “Those who flunk out as teachers the first five years often flunk out at life doing other things.” What a narrow-minded perspective! My experience has actually been the opposite.
I truly sympathize with the quality of education your children are receiving. However, there are many dedicated teachers in this state. In my rural district, we have teachers who go above and beyond. They are dedicated, resourceful, and tenacious. However, given your many comments on this blog, I’m sure you would find fault in their teaching.
I’m not sure what motivates your venomous rants regarding teachers, illegal immigrants, etc. It is tiresome and does not contribute in any way to the discussion.
Ron C.
March 29th, 2012
5:02 pm
I have no problem with allowing teachers to take their sick days. Of course they are very stressed out these days with the increasing burden placed on them. The administration asks too much of teachers (they are human after all), and with so little pay and job security. Anyone who has spent time in the classroom for very long will surely agree!
Ron C.
March 29th, 2012
5:06 pm
Pluto, you are so right!
HS Graduation
March 29th, 2012
5:11 pm
Here’s one for you. Gwinnett County schedules high school graduations on the last day of school, during middle school hours, then tells teachers with high school graduates that they can take the day off without pay. Sweat huh?
Beverly Fraud
March 29th, 2012
5:13 pm
“But, the minute an administrator tries telling me that I MUST work for no pay is the minute he/she has a grievance filed against him/her. (And that’s a grievance that I’d win every single time!)”
I still say, on top of that, find the ten days that the ADMINISTRATOR is off, and offer to come in during some of THAT time. Let HIM work for no pay, and then see just how much he cares “for the children”
wovoka
March 29th, 2012
5:18 pm
what really needs to be examined is the number of days a superintendent is missing in action. we have a small school system around 3,000, but our superintendent makes as much as those who preside over 4x the students. She is constantly flitting around, much of it personal business, and never “takes” a day off, according to the books. With budgets being as they are, it would seem that someone would look into this, rather than have the district pay so much for travel. She gets $500.00 per month “local” travel, and is then reimbursed more and fully for out of town travel. The parameter of local travel equals four schools that share two sites fewer than 3 miles apart, so she is making a killing on travel alone. I am all for paying for students to have the best, but this is unnecessary and makes me resent my taxes.
ConnieJackson
March 29th, 2012
5:24 pm
@EduKtr, usually I don’t answer posts on blogs but I feel I have to get the facts straight. First, I am a Republican and President of CCAE. We did endorse Nathan Deal and I am proud of that fact. We decide who we endorse based on their stance on public education, nothing else. Second, the money my members pay in voluntary dues does not go to Political Action Committees anywhere, although it does get split between NEA, GAE, and our local. All Political money comes out of an entirely different source, and it is voluntary. If you have further misinformation that you would like me to correct, please feel free to email me. I welcome your questions.
I love teaching. I hate what it is becoming...
March 29th, 2012
5:45 pm
@IAM Teacher “I don’t hear police whining about danger, firemen complaining about heat….”
Please consider that maybe the reason teachers feel the need to “whine” (which is not the word I would use – “inform” is more appropriate in my opinion) more than those in other occupations, is that police officers, firefighters etc. don’t usually have to deal with going to a BLOG dedicated to their profession and finding innumerable comments from the public about how their job isn’t REALLY dangerous, or fire isn’t REALLY hot, etc.
I am very dedicated to my job and my students, so to come here and read a bunch of derogatory and hurtful comments from people who have no idea what I do all day is very disheartening. I guess I keep hoping that if I “inform” those people of the realities of my situation and that of my fellow teachers they will have a better understanding – and perhaps react with less vitriol – which leads to accusations of “whining”.
Can’t win.
Dekalbite@Eric1997
March 29th, 2012
6:26 pm
“@Parent…I know DeKalb used to have an incentive program for teachers with regards to attendance, but along with other financial benefits, tax sheltered annuities, for example, it was eliminated due to the great recession.”
No. Crawford Lewis eliminated it a number of years before the recession. He said there was no money to pay for it. Meanwhile, he and the BOE were establishing whole new departments and adding highly paid non teaching personnel. It was a savings bond program – As I recall if you had perfect attendance, you got a $300 savings bond (cost to the county $150), if you missed 1, 2, or 3 days it went down accordingly.
It actually worked. In the DeKalb BOE minutes you will read testimony about the effectiveness of the program and how absences actually fell with the incentive program. They had tracked absences from the inception of the program. But Lewis was insistent that DeKalb could not afford it. If you fast forward a few years from when they discontinued the policy and read the DeKalb BOE minutes, they talk about how absences are up, and they discuss this incentive program, but it never gets reinstated.
It was very cool. After I got my immunity built up from coming back to teaching, I got the incentive savings bonds for low absences most years. Lewis was about the most short sighted leader ever.
Are you Kidding
March 29th, 2012
6:29 pm
To OPPRESSED TEACHER- Please tell me you were kidding when you suggested that all teachers “Plan their pregnancy” to coincide with summer break! PLEASE! What are we supposed to plan next, when we get sick, or our planned children get sick? It is bad enough having to plan to go to the bathroom but to plan your child????? REALLY In no other profession would this even be mentioned. Please PLAN on getting a life
catlady
March 29th, 2012
6:58 pm
irisheyes@4:13: Not to mention Jesus didn’t speak good English (a frequent complaint of GM), messed around with wine, hung out with lepers, prostitutes, tax collectors, and other questionable folks, and told people what to do. Nope, GM would complain about Him, too. She’d get on the public scroll and tell everyone what a poor job He was doing.