Detroit Teacher ‘Sick-Out’ Shuts Down Dozens of Public Schools

Thousands of students in Detroit’s public schools stayed home on Monday after a planned teacher “sick-out” protest forced more than 50 schools to close.

The teachers are protesting poor working conditions, led by former Detroit Federation of Teachers president Steven Conn, the Detroit Free Press reports. The sick-outs had previously shuttered at least five schools on different days last week, WXYZ Detroit reports.

Ivy Bailey, interim president of the Detroit Federation of Teachers, told WXYZ the union has not officially sanctioned the sick-outs. But, she added, “I want everyone to understand the frustration” of the teachers who are walking out.

The school system’s emergency manager, Darnell Earley, said in a statement that the sick-outs will make it more difficult for the Detroit’s public schools to get the support they need from Michigan’s legislature.