Why Teachers Do Not Take Child Sick Leave? Emotional Strategies, Micropolitics, and the Self-Conception of Teachers with Small Children in a Pandemic

Czechia had one of the longest school lockdowns during pandemic in 2020 and 2021. Teachers with small children consequently faced a number emotional dilemmas that primarily stemmed from conflict between their role as teacher parent, which unfolded home only space to perform work, family care, self-care. The paper is organised around question why teachers this difficult situation did not take advantage child sick leave, public policy measure could have helped them reduce care for own mental health. In study we draw on research into dimensions policies, micropolicies micropolitics, self-conception teachers. analysis based data sample documents, interviews nine teachers, discussion threads Facebook group dedicated We found main reasons leave were emotionally strongly sense imperatives attached supported by micropolitics schools, perception representing uncertainty failure rather than relief. Child has moreover been recognised anchored modern separation (work) private (family, care) spheres, conditions crisis revealed its limitations.