Educational letter for school excuse/taking the kids out of school

[kaytieeldr]

Well, it depends - the DIS focuses primarily on Walt Disney World, which deems itself The Most Magical Place on Earth. But most people, even here, do confuse it with The Happiest Place on Earth: DisneyLand .

I haven't seen a single perfect person here, either in this thread or on the DIS overall. Without rereading the thread, I don't recall anyone telling the OP not to take her kids out of school. Oh, sure, there are side discussions about excused vs unexcused absences, truancy, court...

Yes, the OP asked for a link. She got several, plus was directed to an active thread on the same topic on TPA&S. In addition, posters in this thread made suggestions regarding what she could write in her own letter - even going as far as to write a letter for her.

It doesn't appear the OP has the requested letter; She seems to have taken all the overblown rhetoric from all the generic online templates and amassed that into one crazily long "letter" that, again, reads like a travel brochure instead of briefly describing how the trip might be educational.

 

[Goofypop]

Maybe it's because I wrote documentation for a living ...

THERE IT IS!!!! I was wondering what had your underwear in a knot! Wow. I should have known. I tell you what, you've let everyone know what your "professional" opinion is now. So instead of continuing your unnecessary rant about how the OP is defying the laws of print and should be condemned for doing so, maybe you should unsubscribe from this thread. Thanks. Do it for all of us, please?

And OP, to be honest, I wouldn't use that letter either but not because of the strict overly sensitive rantings of the PP here, but because it is ridiculous. No educator is seriously going to buy the BS that a child is going to Disney World for anything but fun. Another poster here said that the teachers will probably be laughing about it and they're right. I have 3 friends I graduated high school with that are now teachers here and they would find that letter humorous at best. Just simply let the school know you are going to WDW and what dates. Don't try to play it off as educational.

 

[DisneyLoverUSA]

I disagree. Everytime I sign an online petition, they have a form letter written out for me to check. I am welcome to add anything of my own or not, as I chose. Also, I believe that letter is specifically written to be used by other people. So it isn't stealing anyone else's intellectual property, it is using a form letter.

I find it disturbing that so many of you "nice people of the dis" are not only being nasty to the OP about her letter (for no reason I can ascertain), but are actually hoping it doesn't work. Do you have some kind of bet going on? or are you just angry because you have unexcused absences for your kids when you went to Disney?

If a form letter wasn't an acceptable thing for the schools to take, then there'd be a whole lot of trouble since they send them out all the time.

That's exactly what I was thinking. For someone to take it on such a personal mission and keep coming back OVER AND OVER repeating the same old crap in this thread it seems like they are upset that their kids absences weren't excused and don't really think anybody else's should be either. I think there may be some underlying "you should never take kids out of school for vacation" floating through here as well. Some ppl really value their own opinion a LOT and think others should too.

 

[DisneyLoverUSA]

WOW.....I cannot believe that someone asked for a copy of a memo, that has been posted numerous times, and now everyones parenting and writing skills need to be explained.

Didn't your Mom ever tell you....if you don't have anything nice to say, don't say anything?

It is always amazing how many perfect people are on the DIS. If you choose not to take your kids out of school, then don't. If you want to, so be it....they are your kids after all.

Why do posts have to turn nasty? It truly makes no sense to me. This is a Disney forum, correct? Isn't that known as the -Happiest place on Earth? The Dis gives new meaning to this phrase.

OP....you have the requested letter, use it, have a great vacation and please.....request that this thread be closed!

What I have been discovering is if you go back and look at a person's history of posts you can see a pattern where they tend to be very opinionated and oppose almost everyone's opinion in numerous threads CONSTANTLY. You can go see what all they have posted and what they said. It's in their history. It's interesting to see how some ppl have a very distinct pattern.

 

[kaytieeldr]

And OP, to be honest, I wouldn't use that letter either but not because of the strict overly sensitive rantings of the PP here, but because it is ridiculous.

Thank you. That's what many of us have been trying to explain. We just didn't think to be so blunt.

I hope your statement works

 

[Coconut36]

THERE IT IS!!!! I was wondering what had your underwear in a knot! Wow. I should have known. I tell you what, you've let everyone know what your "professional" opinion is now. So instead of continuing your unnecessary rant about how the OP is defying the laws of print and should be condemned for doing so, maybe you should unsubscribe from this thread. Thanks. Do it for all of us, please?

And OP, to be honest, I wouldn't use that letter either but not because of the strict overly sensitive rantings of the PP here, but because it is ridiculous. No educator is seriously going to buy the BS that a child is going to Disney World for anything but fun. Another poster here said that the teachers will probably be laughing about it and they're right. I have 3 friends I graduated high school with that are now teachers here and they would find that letter humorous at best. Just simply let the school know you are going to WDW and what dates. Don't try to play it off as educational.

We do agree on one point..the comment to the OP about the ridiculousness of the letter and the school/teacher taking it seriously. It's still plagiarized but putting that aside it's also silly beyond words, will absolutely become a joke, and will be unlikely to be taken seriously by anyone at the school. For me as a parent I feel one needs to own the choices they make for their child. Decide to take them out..fine. You know the consequences and impacts to your child..don't do something silly like that letter to try to make it something more.

As for my upset..you know..stealing is stealing and plagiarism is still plagiarism regardless of what profession I had. I don't have to be a musician to be upset when people steal music by illegally downloading it...theft is theft.

To add to that I have a teacher mother and teacher husband who would react most negatively to stolen works in their students and I know for most teachers it would reflect quite negatively on the parent submitting such junk because it is clear to anyone that is copy and pasted sources/writings. If a student submitted something that was "fill in the blank" online the teachers wouldn't be OK with it and it could be found to violate some school plagiarism policies. It's not about a grade it's about the ethics around it.

Just because you don't care about the "laws of print" doesn't make them non existent or unimportant. By most academic definitions of plagiarism the OP is plagiarizing and it seems pretty sad to submit such work to a school/teacher knowing that it would be violating many school policies/codes of conduct regarding plagiarism.

And all to make sure their kids teacher(s) has to make up packets of work for their kid and excuse a family vacation rather than dealing with the consequences of the choice they made and the work their child miss.

 

[Goofypop]

theft is theft

Okay. Since you put it like that, let's examine that for a moment. See if you can finally understand what is being said here... The letter, and many others like it, including ones I have posted to other sites, are free to use and fully modify by the user and have been given for such use by the author with no intent for credit.

It is not theft if it is freely given and no credit is due. When you go to a friends house, assuming you have any with that superior attitude, and they offer you a drink do you give them credit for such a tasty beverage? And by your definition, that is stealing. That friend bought the drink, it belongs to them, even though they offered you some, you still took it. You're a thief. Hey, I'm just using your words.

 

[kaytieeldr]

That's exactly what I was thinking. For someone to take it on such a personal mission and keep coming back OVER AND OVER repeating the same old crap in this thread it seems like they are upset that their kids absences weren't excused and don't really think anybody else's should be either. I think there may be some underlying "you should never take kids out of school for vacation" floating through here as well. Some ppl really value their own opinion a LOT and think others should too.

Nobody in this thread cares whether you take your child out of school or not, how long you keep your child out of school, or whether the school excuses the absence(s).

Simply because something exists on the Internet doesn't make it fact, or worthwhile. People are trying to help you by explaining that the "letter" you put together using exact wording from various sites is ridiculous (thanks again, Goofypop ). Many are telling you anyone in the school reading that letter will be amused and entertained, but not believe a word of it.

Do you mind if I ask why you are so all-fired for using that hot mess and against writing your own letter?

By the way, a template is a file that serves as a starting point for a new document; it's generally not intended to be used verbatim (not even in combination with other templates).

eta: then again, sometimes a poster will keep repeating the same information OVER and OVER because one of those times the recipient will have that 'aha!' moment and suddenly grasp the message. How Annie Sullivan taught Helen Keller to communicate has always been inspiring to me.

 

[Goofypop]

I hope it gets to be an excused absence. That would be awesome. But just don't use that letter. It is silly. Write your own letter or use one of the templates that was provided but whatever you do, don't over embellish the reason for the trip as educational. No one in their right mind would ever buy that. Tell them that you are going, when you are going and when you'll be back. You can also tell them that even though it is a trip to Disney World that the child may see various things that are educational related and could learn a few things while on the trip. But don't lead with that and don't try to make it sound like this trip is purely for educational purposes. Everyone knows that it isn't. And again, I do hope it gets excused.

 

[Coconut36]

Nobody in this thread cares whether you take your child out of school or not, how long you keep your child out of school, or whether the school excuses the absence(s).

Simply because something exists on the Internet doesn't make it fact, or worthwhile. People are trying to help you by explaining that the "letter" you put together using exact wording from various sites is ridiculous (thanks again, Goofypop ). Many are telling you anyone in the school reading that letter will be amused and entertained, but not believe a word of it.

Do you mind if I ask why you are so all-fired for using that hot mess and against writing your own letter?

By the way, a template is a file that serves as a starting point for a new document; it's generally not intended to be used verbatim (not even in combination with other templates).

Thank you..exactly!

 

[Coconut36]

Okay. Since you put it like that, let's examine that for a moment. See if you can finally understand what is being said here... The letter, and many others like it, including ones I have posted to other sites, are free to use and fully modify by the user and have been given for such use by the author with no intent for credit.

It is not theft if it is freely given and no credit is due. When you go to a friends house, assuming you have any with that superior attitude, and they offer you a drink do you give them credit for such a tasty beverage? And by your definition, that is stealing. That friend bought the drink, it belongs to them, even though they offered you some, you still took it. You're a thief. Hey, I'm just using your words.

Intellectual capital is not comparable to a bite of dinner or sip of a drink. Comparing the two is silly.

(and yes if I spoke of the drink I would say "I thought it was great that Susie let me have a sip so I could see if I liked it")

 

[LuvsDragonflies]

Hey, anyone want to c/p the letter again? It's not on this page yet.

 

[Goofypop]

Intellectual capital is not comparable to a bite of dinner or sip of a drink. Comparing the two is silly.

(and yes if I spoke of the drink I would say "I thought it was great that Susie let me have a sip so I could see if I liked it")

No it's not. You took it so you stole. By your definition it is the same thing. Property is property. Now get down off your cross, someone else needs the wood.

Personally, I don't think you buy a single demented thing you're saying. I think you're just doing it to get something started. Good one.

 

[kaytieeldr]

Hey, anyone want to c/p the letter again? It's not on this page yet.

Somebody else. Reading it more than twice in a months makes me dizzy and confused.

 

[DisneyLoverUSA]

No it's not. You took it so you stole. By your definition it is the same thing. Property is property. Now get down off your cross, someone else needs the wood.

Personally, I don't think you buy a single demented thing you're saying. I think you're just doing it to get something started. Good one.

And beating a dead horse to DEATH. Borderline obsessed it seems. Someone quick go start another controversial thread so she can have something to do TODAY. We know what her obsession was yesterday. Go start a 9 yr old in a stroller thread.

 

[LuvsDragonflies]

Somebody else. Reading it more than twice in a months makes me dizzy and confused.

Welcome to my world.

 

[Coconut36]

No it's not. You took it so you stole. By your definition it is the same thing. Property is property. Now get down off your cross, someone else needs the wood.

Personally, I don't think you buy a single demented thing you're saying. I think you're just doing it to get something started. Good one.

That is the most ridiculous comment I have ever read

 

[EMom]

Seriously?????

We do agree on one point..the comment to the OP about the ridiculousness of the letter and the school/teacher taking it seriously. It's still plagiarized but putting that aside it's also silly beyond words, will absolutely become a joke, and will be unlikely to be taken seriously by anyone at the school.
If the parent letter becomes fodder for jokes ar school, then that means the SCHOOL failed to respect the privacy of the student/parent and therefore the SCHOOL acted unprofessionally. So what if the parent turns in a silly letter and the school acts unprofessionally and laughs at it? Who gives a rat's hiney? The famliy is at WDW by then and having a blast.


For me as a parent I feel one needs to own the choices they make for their child. Decide to take them out..fine. You know the consequences and impacts to your child..don't do something silly like that letter to try to make it something more.
The school requested a letter detailing the educational aspects of the trip. It wasn't the parent's big, fat hairy idea. So she's giving them the letter. I'd do it too. They want a letter....I'd give them a letter. Personally, I'd give them a short but sweet letter, but hey......it's her time and energy. If she wants to give them the War and Peace of all Disney Educational letters, it is no nevermind to me. If the school doesn't want to risk getting a "silly" letter, they shouldn't request a letter at all.

As for my upset..you know..stealing is stealing and plagiarism is still plagiarism regardless of what profession I had. I don't have to be a musician to be upset when people steal music by illegally downloading it...theft is theft.
Actually, I don't think plagiarism is a problem here. The letters were offered for public use by others with no strings attached and don't seem to be intellectual property. They weren't copyrighted. The OP isn't being GRADED on the letter. It's not as if cutting and pasting will get a failing grade from an irate teacher. And if submitting said letter elicits giggles from the school personnel, then THEY are the ones behaving unprofessionally, for passing it around and not keeping it private.

To add to that I have a teacher mother and teacher husband who would react most negatively to stolen works in their students and I know for most teachers it would reflect quite negatively on the parent submitting such junk because it is clear to anyone that is copy and pasted sources/writings.
I was a teacher and I'd give a failing grade if a student plagiarized. If a parent handed in an "internet Disney letter"......it wouldn't even register on my radar. Why would I care? I'm not grading them or judging them on the magnificence of their work. It's not WORK to me. I am not their teacher. They are jumping through a hoop which has been put in front of them. As a teacher, I understand jumping through hoops. And to be blunt, I have seen more than a few "non-credited" works come home from teachers over the years. All those rah-rah sheets about student self-esteem, etc. And teachers and parents working together for the good of the students with some heartwarming story that I've read a dozen times. Nope, the author is never given credit. Did I immediately classify the teacher as a thief, criminal, derelict, slacker, etc.? No...I gave them a break.

If a student submitted something that was "fill in the blank" online the teachers wouldn't be OK with it and it could be found to violate some school plagiarism policies. It's not about a grade it's about the ethics around it.
That's a STUDENT. Not a PARENT. And it's probably for a GRADE. Not a TRIP.

Just because you don't care about the "laws of print" doesn't make them non existent or unimportant. By most academic definitions of plagiarism the OP is plagiarizing and it seems pretty sad to submit such work to a school/teacher knowing that it would be violating many school policies/codes of conduct regarding plagiarism.
Again, she's a PARENT, not a STUDENT. She probably didn't get a Parent Code of Conduct. Really? This is just not that hard.


And all to make sure their kids teacher(s) has to make up packets of work for their kid and excuse a family vacation rather than dealing with the consequences of the choice they made and the work their child miss.

Again.....if a school has a policy that you can have a vacation absence excused by doing XYZ and get the missed classwork given to the student either before or after the absence for makeup credit, then that is their policy and that's that. Why does anyone get their knickers in a twist if this does not DIRECTLY affect them? Maybe too much time on their hands......

In the words of the great philosopher, Sergeant Hulka, (I'm giving credit so as to not induce panty twisting or a heart attack.) "Lighten up, Francis."

 

[Goofypop]

In the words of the great philospher, Sergeant Hulka, (I'm giving credit so as to not induce panty twisting or a heart attack.) "Lighten up, Francis."

That is funny!

 

[DisneyLoverUSA]

Seriously?????


Again.....if a school has a policy that you can have a vacation absence excused by doing XYZ and get the missed classwork given to the student either before or after the absence for makeup credit, then that is their policy and that's that. Why does anyone get their knickers in a twist if this does not DIRECTLY affect them? Maybe too much time on their hands......

In the words of the great philospher, Sergeant Hulka, (I'm giving credit so as to not induce panty twisting or a heart attack.) "Lighten up, Francis."