Cause or Effect?

Under the Microscope

After spending $10 million a year on substitutes, Chicago Public Schools announced it will begin publicizing teacher attendance rates at its schools this year. Typically, Chicago  teachers miss an average of 12 days during the school year (about twice as much as employees in private industry, according to surveys). But rather than shining the interrogator’s light, union officials suggested a better strategy to district officials: Consider why teachers at some schools are frequently sick or stressed out and try to improve those conditions.