Findings from the Graduate School for Education underscore the fact that the effects of absenteeism are cumulative, with each missed day contributing to classroom ‘chaos.’
“The core of being a teacher is instruction and helping kids grow and develop,” Gottfried says. “Absenteeism pulls teachers away from that core purpose.” The study, which focused on kindergarten teachers, found that higher student absenteeism led to lower satisfaction, reduced feelings of usefulness, and diminished belief in the teaching profession.
The findings underscore that the effects of absenteeism are cumulative, with each missed day contributing to what Gottfried calls growing classroom “chaos.” Teachers maintain instructional practices but experience declining morale and satisfaction, reinforcing the need to address absenteeism not only for students’ academic growth but also for teacher well-being.
When the Schuylkill swallowed the city: Lessons from Hurricane Ida’s historic flood
New Penn research shows that Hurricane Ida wasn’t a once-in-a-century anomaly but a preview of how climate change, urbanization, and aging infrastructure are rewriting flood risk.
The Fed explained: What it does and why it matters
Former Philadelphia Fed President Patrick Harker and financial historian Peter Conti-Brown, both Wharton professors, unpack the central bank’s origins, its unusual structure, and the quiet ways it shapes the economy
How population changes are impacting primary education worldwide
Research from Penn sociologist Emily Hannum and colleagues reveals regional trends in whether school-age populations are increasing, plateauing, or decreasing—and shows how different countries are responding.
A bioengineered bean gum from the lab of Penn Dental’s Henry Daniell is found to reduce the levels of three microbes associated with head and neck squamous cell cancer to almost zero, without affecting the beneficial bacteria normally found in the mouth.
Fighting oral cancer with bioengineered chewing gum
Research led by Penn Dental’s Henry Daniell shows that antiviral and antibacterial chewing gums reduce the levels of three microbes linked to worse outcomes in oral cancers, paving the way for more effective and affordable therapies.
