How much power should schools have?

[Colleen27]

Well i dont prepare work 2 weeks in advance because I'm not sure how far my class will get, so I can't necessarily give your child the work. Plus, what good will it do to give you worksheets on things they haven't learned yet?!

I'm all for students taking vacations during the school year if that's what your family wants to do. However, I think it's still an UNexcused absense and therefore work missed should not be able to be made up. And the student/parents will be responsible for learning the material, not the teacher who already has 26-30 other students to continue teaching.

Does your classroom really keep up such a pace that missing a week means getting into material not covered yet? I know some high school classes move that fast, but at the elementary level? When we took the kids to Disney in January, DS had the same Saxon math, daily cursive practice, daily spelling assignments, and readling log/comp that he has in school on a day to day basis. We've handled all of that work at home on many occasions, whether because of illness or vacation or simply because his reading support (dyslexia) pull out caused him to miss something. The teacher didn't have to help him learn any of it. I'm perfectly capable of working through times tables and cursive and using spelling words in sentences. The only after-school aspect of getting caught up was staying 10 minutes late to take the weekly spelling test, and since being available to students and parents for 35 minutes after the last bell is part of the work day for teachers in our district, I don't think that was too great a burden on her.

At risk of another tangent... 26-30 kids at the elementary level?!? The biggest class either of my kids have been in thus has has been 20!

 

[Tinkmom75]

Originally posted by:tiggertabi
I think that people don't realize just how much extra work it is for a teacher to have to plan/teach a lesson for a student who was absent. I mean, imagine you are working in a business and you do a presentation to your team. One of the team members doesn't show up for the meeting. You surely are not going to do that entire presentation to that team member one-on-one after work is over or during your lunch hour? But I have parents who email me and say "we're going on a vacation....can we get work?" Well i dont prepare work 2 weeks in advance because I'm not sure how far my class will get, so I can't necessarily give your child the work. Plus, what good will it do to give you worksheets on things they haven't learned yet?!

OK, so if it's the districts policy to let the student make up the work then it is your job to give that student the work ahead of time. It is a job and it is work. If my job required me to do an extra presentation then that's what I would do cause that's what I get paid for.

Another thing, do you change text books each year. I know there are changes throughout your career, but come on once you've taught it a certain way I'm sure you use past year's lessons as a foundation for the current year so it's not like you are doing this from scratch. Most of our schools' teachers give out the work a couple days before vacation so you have a good idea where you will be in the lesson. As far as what good it will do to give them things that they haven't learned yet, I think this is where it is the parent's judgement call to know if their student is smart enough to read the instructions and figure it out and if the parent can help.

Originally posted by: princessmom29
Well, I am talking about the kid that is black and bule all over, or the child who brings lice and bedbugs to school b/c mom is too busy smoking meth to bathe him. Or the child that comes to school hungry b/c there is no food at home and is so desperate for food he steals others lunches. How about the child whose mom made him walk 3 miles to school in the sleet without a coat b/c she was too lazy to get out of bed and drive him? Am I not saupoed to do something about this???? Am I arrogant b/c I care about kids whose parents so obviously don't. If someone doesn't have the "arrogance" to do something aobut it some of them are going to end up dead!!! Yes I do have to sometimes protect my students from thier parent's stupidity and I am better able to sleep at night when I do the right thing and speak up!

It sounds like you live in a really bad area and are very stressed about it. I'm sorry you have to deal with this everyday. Do you get a lot of sleet in your area? My DD got lice once, not because we are dirty people, but because a girl she hung out with had it. Don't you know that you don't have to be dirty or negleted to get lice? I've sent my DS to school hungry. That was because he was messing around and wouldn't get ready. My parenting lesson was about the responsibility of getting ready on time. He didn't steal anyone elses lunch money. He got ready quicker the next day. Maybe I'm arrogant

My kids have missed school in the past with the districts blessings. My DD missed some days of 8th grade last year and in 2009 she will miss some of 10th grade. I've already contacted the district since I just found out it is at exam time. They are willing to give her an alternate exam schedule. I guess I am very glad for the district I live in. By the way, my children are A students and I tought my son to read all by myself before kindergarten. So, I'm also lucky to have smart responsible kids. I wonder who had any influence on that. Don't you think it's apparent?

 

[twins2xs]

I think that people don't realize just how much extra work it is for a teacher to have to plan/teach a lesson for a student who was absent. I mean, imagine you are working in a business and you do a presentation to your team. One of the team members doesn't show up for the meeting. You surely are not going to do that entire presentation to that team member one-on-one after work is over or during your lunch hour? But I have parents who email me and say "we're going on a vacation....can we get work?" Well i dont prepare work 2 weeks in advance because I'm not sure how far my class will get, so I can't necessarily give your child the work. Plus, what good will it do to give you worksheets on things they haven't learned yet?!

I'm all for students taking vacations during the school year if that's what your family wants to do. However, I think it's still an UNexcused absense and therefore work missed should not be able to be made up. And the student/parents will be responsible for learning the material, not the teacher who already has 26-30 other students to continue teaching.

As a teacher and a parent who is very involved with my children's school and their teachers I haven't ever encountered and issue with extra work. As a teacher, I have never felt it as a burden to make accommodations for a child who is absent...that is simply part of my job. However, I notice that you have an extremely large class. Perhaps that is why I haven't encountered a problem. Our classes max out at 22 and that is with a teacher and an assistant. When I did speak with our teachers about our plans and they had no concerns and in fact were very supportive. It honestly was no big deal!

I will say that the time of year that one chooses to take a vacation does make a difference. Choosing the end of the year as opposed to the beginning is a much better option when the workload isn't as intense. For us whatever work they missed was easily made up within three days.

Every school and family is different. In our case we have a great school system with very supportive teachers. So, for us it works

 

[taitai]

Does your classroom really keep up such a pace that missing a week means getting into material not covered yet? I know some high school classes move that fast, but at the elementary level? When we took the kids to Disney in January, DS had the same Saxon math, daily cursive practice, daily spelling assignments, and readling log/comp that he has in school on a day to day basis. We've handled all of that work at home on many occasions, whether because of illness or vacation or simply because his reading support (dyslexia) pull out caused him to miss something. The teacher didn't have to help him learn any of it. I'm perfectly capable of working through times tables and cursive and using spelling words in sentences. The only after-school aspect of getting caught up was staying 10 minutes late to take the weekly spelling test, and since being available to students and parents for 35 minutes after the last bell is part of the work day for teachers in our district, I don't think that was too great a burden on her.

At risk of another tangent... 26-30 kids at the elementary level?!? The biggest class either of my kids have been in thus has has been 20!
_

I think this just indicates the tremendous variability of schools both within school districts and around the country. It sounds like for a lot of kids, missing a week or so is no big deal. Their schools just don't move at that brisk a pace. Our children go to an academically rigorous public school. The children have homework and reading assignments nightly starting in kindergarten. All of their instruction is done in a language I do not speak using an "alphabet" that I can not write. Missing even a day or two can really put these kids back and we are talking KINDERGARTEN! Yes, I can help them with their basic concepts...this is, afterall, kindergarten...but only in English. I can not provide instruction in the language in which they are immersed so they lose out. Missing a couple days is actually a super big deal irrespective the whole NCLB funding issues.

Also, our class size is only 15. So, the kids get a tremendous amount of one on one instruction from both the teacher and the para-professional in each classroom. Once again, tough to make up at home.

What really surprises me is how many people just don't care about the rules. The whole "kiss my grits" comment a couple posts above. I guess that also shows the variability between schools and school districts. As I have stated before, somewhere between 80-90% of families in our district volunteer in the schools. We have to have lotteries to determine who gets to go on field trips so many parents volunteer to help. Every time you go to the school you see parents volunteering in the classrooms or within the school doing everything from helping with the literary magazines to working in the organic garden to helping the office with emails and newsletters. There is just a tremendous sense of community that we are fortunate to experience. It is clear from many of these posts that we are unique and very lucky. I think when you do have that sense of community you are less likely to thumb your nose at the rules as you know they affect more people than just yourself.

taitai

 

[Mickeypooh99]

Wow. I must be really missing something here. My children go to an excellent school in NY and missing school for vacations is not an issue at the elementary level. I am not sure on the policies in the upper grades. I personally wouldn't take my children out only because the workload is very intense.

However, in elementary school, I don't see a problem. I just pulled my four children last week for five days. The principal was aware of our plans as I was in a meeting with her the day before we left. She said, "family time is just as important. Have a great trip". I am happy to report that we did just that

I agree with this. My kids go to an excellent school here in MI. Our schools allow the kids to miss for vacation time.

The elementary doesn't have a set number of days you can miss. High school allows 7 days missed per trimester. For vacations they only count every other day. Even if they go over the absences they can still pass based on grades. Vacations are considered excused absences. The teachers give make up work. It all works out.

I know many families who took a week or more off this year for vacations. Its part of life here. We have a great school. My point is schools DO NOT HAVE to have such strict policies. Our kids are actually learning despite family time (or probably because of it.) Our school is rated as one of the best, and they manage to do it without strict attendance rules.

 

[brandylouwho]

I guess I've been exposed to the sicker side of parenting - the family that had their eight year old home from school because "someone needed to watch the baby" (Mom being too busy doing whatever she did). The family who had five daughters, all pulled out of the home due to incest when they were 13 or 14. Excessive absenteeism is often a symptom of issues at the home that we SHOULD judge - we have a responsibility to protect other people's children if those other people have shown themselves to be unfit.

Very well put. I was trying to figure out how to respond to that same post. I am not an educator, but work in law enforcement and am appalled every day the neglectful , woefully inadequate, "stupid" (however you choose to describe them) parents that we deal with. It is just very sad. I know it is because of people like this that so many of these rules/laws come about in the first place.

Oh, and I live and work in a nice, smallish city..not some huge metropolis. These problems are everywhere. And schools have an obligation to try to enforce the rules set forth. As soon as they don't there will be someone with a big mouth on the news crying about why the system didn't catch the problem or do something about it, "they shoudl have known" type of thing.

That being said, I personally will still do as I wish as far as taking my kids out of school for vacation. I try to work within the system...I would face whatever consequences there are for my actions. I am not worried that I'll end up in jail or have my kids taken away over a Disney vacation. Could it happen(maybe) will that realistically happen? Doubt it.

 

[Mickeypooh99]

My kids have missed school in the past with the districts blessings. My DD missed some days of 8th grade last year and in 2009 she will miss some of 10th grade. I've already contacted the district since I just found out it is at exam time. They are willing to give her an alternate exam schedule. I guess I am very glad for the district I live in. By the way, my children are A students and I tought my son to read all by myself before kindergarten. So, I'm also lucky to have smart responsible kids. I wonder who had any influence on that. Don't you think it's apparent?

I'd say its a parent. Maybe a helpful aunt.

 

[Mickeypooh99]

I think this just indicates the tremendous variability of schools both within school districts and around the country. It sounds like for a lot of kids, missing a week or so is no big deal. Their schools just don't move at that brisk a pace. Our children go to an academically rigorous public school. The children have homework and reading assignments nightly starting in kindergarten. All of their instruction is done in a language I do not speak using an "alphabet" that I can not write. Missing even a day or two can really put these kids back and we are talking KINDERGARTEN! Yes, I can help them with their basic concepts...this is, afterall, kindergarten...but only in English. I can not provide instruction in the language in which they are immersed so they lose out. Missing a couple days is actually a super big deal irrespective the whole NCLB funding issues.

Also, our class size is only 15. So, the kids get a tremendous amount of one on one instruction from both the teacher and the para-professional in each classroom. Once again, tough to make up at home.

What really surprises me is how many people just don't care about the rules. The whole "kiss my grits" comment a couple posts above. I guess that also shows the variability between schools and school districts. As I have stated before, somewhere between 80-90% of families in our district volunteer in the schools. We have to have lotteries to determine who gets to go on field trips so many parents volunteer to help. Every time you go to the school you see parents volunteering in the classrooms or within the school doing everything from helping with the literary magazines to working in the organic garden to helping the office with emails and newsletters. There is just a tremendous sense of community that we are fortunate to experience. It is clear from many of these posts that we are unique and very lucky. I think when you do have that sense of community you are less likely to thumb your nose at the rules as you know they affect more people than just yourself.

taitai

You are in a very different situation than most of us. If we had that opportunity then I would skip the vacations during school.

 

[Tinkmom75]

Originally posted by: Mickeypooh99
I'd say its a parent. Maybe a helpful aunt.

Yes and a wonderful supportive caring Aunt who provides the best daycare

 

[LuckyMamaInDE]

Speaking to the make-up work:

My kids attend/have attended a k-8 private school. In all the grades, the kids do small group projects almost every week. The projects are across and through the curriculum, language arts, social studies, science, math, and specials like music. The work is done in class (primarily----the older kids do research out of class). If a child were to miss school for an extended period of time, they would miss this vital aspect of the curriculum.

That being said, the school policy is for classwork and homework to NOT be given out in advance for absences. The child must make up the work within a certain period of time, related to the number of days absent. The policy is written in the school handbook which must be signed by the parents AND child every September. If you choose to send your child to this private school, you choose to follow the school policies.

 

[Colleen27]

I will say that the time of year that one chooses to take a vacation does make a difference. Choosing the end of the year as opposed to the beginning is a much better option when the workload isn't as intense. For us whatever work they missed was easily made up within three days.

I think this varies by school too. My kids' teachers have both said that the beginning of the school year is the easiest time to miss because it is mostly review. Our state testing is in early-mid Oct and we don't go back until after Labor Day, so those first few weeks are all about reviewing things that may have been forgotten over the summer that will be important come testing time. And we've seen that first hand with our kids - taking them out in Oct, the week before testing began, made for a much easier workload to catch up than taking them out the week after semester finals in January. Probably very late in the year would be fine too, but I'm kind of glad our May trip got postponed until Sept because while the academic load isn't particularly demanding around our original dates (the week of Memorial Day), there's a lot of fun end-of-the-year stuff going on that they might be upset to miss.

 

[Colleen27]

I think this just indicates the tremendous variability of schools both within school districts and around the country. It sounds like for a lot of kids, missing a week or so is no big deal. Their schools just don't move at that brisk a pace. Our children go to an academically rigorous public school. The children have homework and reading assignments nightly starting in kindergarten. All of their instruction is done in a language I do not speak using an "alphabet" that I can not write. Missing even a day or two can really put these kids back and we are talking KINDERGARTEN! Yes, I can help them with their basic concepts...this is, afterall, kindergarten...but only in English. I can not provide instruction in the language in which they are immersed so they lose out. Missing a couple days is actually a super big deal irrespective the whole NCLB funding issues.

Also, our class size is only 15. So, the kids get a tremendous amount of one on one instruction from both the teacher and the para-professional in each classroom. Once again, tough to make up at home.

What really surprises me is how many people just don't care about the rules. The whole "kiss my grits" comment a couple posts above. I guess that also shows the variability between schools and school districts. As I have stated before, somewhere between 80-90% of families in our district volunteer in the schools. We have to have lotteries to determine who gets to go on field trips so many parents volunteer to help. Every time you go to the school you see parents volunteering in the classrooms or within the school doing everything from helping with the literary magazines to working in the organic garden to helping the office with emails and newsletters. There is just a tremendous sense of community that we are fortunate to experience. It is clear from many of these posts that we are unique and very lucky. I think when you do have that sense of community you are less likely to thumb your nose at the rules as you know they affect more people than just yourself.

I think in your case, the immersion aspect of your kids' school makes it a whole different ballgame. Our schools are excellent, nationally recognized actually, and have high parental and community involvement, but they are still typical American schools. Any reasonably educated parent could help a child catch up anything they missed at the elementary level and probably through middle school as well (with the possible exception of foreign language classes).

At the high school level, we'll almost certainly quit traveling during the school year because DD has her sights set on the IB high school program, but up until then, we can handle anything she misses when we vacation. I don't know that I'd break any rules to do so... We deliberately chose to buy in this district because of their family-focused approach, which includes an attendance policy that accomodates families who can't travel during school breaks.

 

[MamaLema]

My kids' school is great with stuff like this. I used to take them out of school for 2 weeks every October without a problem. The teachers were very supportive and told us to have a great time.

My middle DS can't miss two weeks anymore because he has a hard time keeping up, so now we go in the summer

 

[princessmom29]

OK, so if it's the districts policy to let the student make up the work then it is your job to give that student the work ahead of time. It is a job and it is work. If my job required me to do an extra presentation then that's what I would do cause that's what I get paid for.

Another thing, do you change text books each year. I know there are changes throughout your career, but come on once you've taught it a certain way I'm sure you use past year's lessons as a foundation for the current year so it's not like you are doing this from scratch. Most of our schools' teachers give out the work a couple days before vacation so you have a good idea where you will be in the lesson. As far as what good it will do to give them things that they haven't learned yet, I think this is where it is the parent's judgement call to know if their student is smart enough to read the instructions and figure it out and if the parent can help.



It sounds like you live in a really bad area and are very stressed about it. I'm sorry you have to deal with this everyday. Do you get a lot of sleet in your area? My DD got lice once, not because we are dirty people, but because a girl she hung out with had it. Don't you know that you don't have to be dirty or negleted to get lice? I've sent my DS to school hungry. That was because he was messing around and wouldn't get ready. My parenting lesson was about the responsibility of getting ready on time. He didn't steal anyone elses lunch money. He got ready quicker the next day. Maybe I'm arrogant

My kids have missed school in the past with the districts blessings. My DD missed some days of 8th grade last year and in 2009 she will miss some of 10th grade. I've already contacted the district since I just found out it is at exam time. They are willing to give her an alternate exam schedule. I guess I am very glad for the district I live in. By the way, my children are A students and I tought my son to read all by myself before kindergarten. So, I'm also lucky to have smart responsible kids. I wonder who had any influence on that. Don't you think it's apparent?

How can I explain this any clearer????? I am not jumping to conclusions here. The cxhild with lice came to school dirty continualy. He was never clean and it was often so bad the smell would knock you over. We contacted social services and he and 3 siblings who were also infested with lice and bedbugs were placed in foster care due to neglect. Had I not spoken up they would still be living that way. I fully realize that lice can happen to anyone, but this was an ongoing problem not just with lice, but a pattern of prental neglect of a 5 year old. The hungry child was not a one time incident. We are talking about a pattern over months. He was not stealing lunch money, but the actual food from lunchboxes. We got his family the food stamp assistance they needed. Agian, has I not spoken up they would not have it. I would say for about half of my kids, food and how to get it is top priority in their lives. We don't have sleet often, but it happens about twice a winter. The child that walked to school in it often misses b/c he has no ride and knew if he missed one more day he lost credit. I really don't see how I am arrogant for trying to take care of my students!!! I was not the one who called anyone arrogant. It is great that you take such wonderful care of your children, I was simply trying to point out that there are those that do not, and someone has to help kids who can't help themselves. It relates to the original topic b/c there are parents out there who simply do not care about their kids, wether you believe it our not, and most of the rules about attendance and such originated to see to it that children of these parents recieved an education. Our attendance rules were in place well before NCLB. I can remember not being able to take a week off for vacation in elementary school b/c it was agianst the rules.
I think that you are wrong in assuming that once a teacher has taught something a certian was that they never change it. I present lessons differently every time I teach them b/c I have a different group of students with different needs. My lessons are by no means static form year to year and I am always looking for new ideas to add. As for it being our job to allow make up work it is when students follow the attendance policy which is in place in part to keep teachers from being put in the position of having to spend massive amounts of time on makeup for one student at the expense of others. I think that giving work ahead of time is largely a waste of everyone's time. To be perfectly honest most of what I get back is not done correctly. Granted, I am now teaching high school, but my sister experiences the same thing in elementary. Believe it or not all teachers are not lazy, and most of us really do care about and want what's best for our students. It really bothers me when people assume that everyone that teaches is in it for the summers off ect. Trust me it is not worth it if that is all you care about. I care about my kids and I really get offended and hurt when soemone insinuates that I don't.

 

[MKCP5]

I haven't read very single post, 'cause there are too many! But I do truly see this from both sides. Dh is a teacher, and if a student is taken out for any extended period of time and comes back without the work he gave him done, he has to give the child failing grades for not completing the work, or stay after even more (he already does 3 afternoons) to do one on one work with this student to catch him up on the subject matter, has to call the parents for the missed work and the resulting failing grades, then has to answer to administration as to why he has a student who is failing his class,.........you get it, the list goes on. It is really not fair to the teacher.

As a parent however, I AM responsible, and if I take my child out, I make sure the work is done, and it is for very good reasons, which frankly, are none of the schools business. (I hate when you sign them out early that they ask "reason for leaving" on the form! MYOB!) Like everything in life, there are always going to be people who take advantage of the system and who screw it up for others.

We have become an utter nation of big brother is watching--whether through schools commenting on your vacation plans, or the thread that was going about people saving deck chairs at the WDW pools and how they felt it was their business to reprimand the people who did it, to a school watching what a boy is doing outside of his school grounds, people just need to live and let live more. As long as no one is being permanently harmed in some way, stay out of it!!!!

Thaks for the soapbox!!!

 

[MiniGirl]

As a parent however, I AM responsible, and if I take my child out, I make sure the work is done, and it is for very good reasons, which frankly, are none of the schools business. (I hate when you sign them out early that they ask "reason for leaving" on the form! MYOB!) Like everything in life, there are always going to be people who take advantage of the system and who screw it up for others.

This made me chuckle. My youngest is in 1st grade, and I routinely check her out of school early. Sometimes we leave town or go see a movie, and sometimes we just go get ice cream. On the card, I always write "Just because" as the reason. I have gotten a look from new volunteers, but nobody has ever said anything to me about it. I started this when my oldest was in K, so it has been 4 years now. I guess they are used to it. LOL!!!

Oh, and as some pp have suggested, this is not my way of throwing the rules back or trying to have a power play or anything. I am checking her out... just because. These little fun surprises are one way I try to keep the lines of communication open. I'm hoping by doing this now and making a habit of small outings where we just enjoy each other and talk will last and continue on when most teens are no longer wanting to talk to their parents. All that just doesn't fit on the little space they give me. LOL!!!

 

[Tinkmom75]

Originally posted by: Princessmom29:
How can I explain this any clearer????? I am not jumping to conclusions here. The cxhild with lice came to school dirty continualy. He was never clean and it was often so bad the smell would knock you over. We contacted social services and he and 3 siblings who were also infested with lice and bedbugs were placed in foster care due to neglect. Had I not spoken up they would still be living that way. I fully realize that lice can happen to anyone, but this was an ongoing problem not just with lice, but a pattern of prental neglect of a 5 year old. The hungry child was not a one time incident. We are talking about a pattern over months. He was not stealing lunch money, but the actual food from lunchboxes. We got his family the food stamp assistance they needed. Agian, has I not spoken up they would not have it. I would say for about half of my kids, food and how to get it is top priority in their lives. We don't have sleet often, but it happens about twice a winter. The child that walked to school in it often misses b/c he has no ride and knew if he missed one more day he lost credit. I really don't see how I am arrogant for trying to take care of my students!!! I was not the one who called anyone arrogant. It is great that you take such wonderful care of your children, I was simply trying to point out that there are those that do not, and someone has to help kids who can't help themselves. It relates to the original topic b/c there are parents out there who simply do not care about their kids, wether you believe it our not, and most of the rules about attendance and such originated to see to it that children of these parents recieved an education. Our attendance rules were in place well before NCLB. I can remember not being able to take a week off for vacation in elementary school b/c it was agianst the rules.
I think that you are wrong in assuming that once a teacher has taught something a certian was that they never change it. I present lessons differently every time I teach them b/c I have a different group of students with different needs. My lessons are by no means static form year to year and I am always looking for new ideas to add. As for it being our job to allow make up work it is when students follow the attendance policy which is in place in part to keep teachers from being put in the position of having to spend massive amounts of time on makeup for one student at the expense of others. I think that giving work ahead of time is largely a waste of everyone's time. To be perfectly honest most of what I get back is not done correctly. Granted, I am now teaching high school, but my sister experiences the same thing in elementary. Believe it or not all teachers are not lazy, and most of us really do care about and want what's best for our students. It really bothers me when people assume that everyone that teaches is in it for the summers off ect. Trust me it is not worth it if that is all you care about. I care about my kids and I really get offended and hurt when soemone insinuates that I don't.

I never said you didn't care, in fact I was truly expressing empathy for the fact that you have to deal with this so much. I never said you were arrogant, but you do seem to have a strong oppinion against anyone who would take their children out of school even if it were done in accordance with the district's policies. I never said you don't change your lesson plans, I just said you don't start from scratch each year and if it is the district's policy then it is your job to give out homework and help the students to stay on track (as well as the parents).

Taking a child that is a good student with loving caring parents out of school for a family vacation within the district's policy is not the same thing as what you have described above.

 

[princessmom29]

I never said you didn't care, in fact I was truly expressing empathy for the fact that you have to deal with this so much. I never said you were arrogant, but you do seem to have a strong oppinion against anyone who would take their children out of school even if it were done in accordance with the district's policies. I never said you don't change your lesson plans, I just said you don't start from scratch each year and if it is the district's policy then it is your job to give out homework and help the students to stay on track (as well as the parents).

Taking a child that is a good student with loving caring parents out of school for a family vacation within the district's policy is not the same thing as what you have described above.

I totally realize that they are not the same thing. Your post came across as sarcastic and tounge in cheek. Mabye that was not your intention. If your kid can handle being taken out and it is in accordance with the district's policy I have absolutely no problem with it. I didn't realize tat my posts implied that. What i have a problem with is people who blatantly violate the rules and don't feel that they should have to answer for the consequences, and parents who know that their child struggles and still choose to pull them from school unnecessairly. I gave these examples as a reasoning for why teachers sometimes have to step in on children's behalf. It really breaks my heart, but is sometimes necessary.

 

[badblackpug]

The bottom line is there are rules governing absenteeism. They vary from district to district. You may not agree with the rules your district has set forth, you may not agree with the reasoning behind these rules, but this does not mean that the rules don't apply to you or your child. If you choose to break the rules, then you choose to accept the consequences of breaking these rules. You may not agree with the speed limit on a certain road, but if you choose to go faster, then you run the risk of a ticket and a fine, you knew this before you exceeded the speed limit. The same goes for absenteeism policies. If your district has a rule against taking children out of school for vacations and you choose to do so, knowing that this is against the rules, then you choose to accept the consequences of breaking those rules. ...or choose to have your children accept the consequences. You can't complain later that you shouldn't have been subjected to truancy court or fines or that your child should have to take zeroes or be retained. You knew this ahead of time. You have to take the good with the bad. The vacation was fun, the referral to DYFS and the $875 truancy fine...not so much.

 

[Tnkrbelle565]

The bottom line is there are rules governing absenteeism. They vary from district to district. You may not agree with the rules your district has set forth, you may not agree with the reasoning behind these rules, but this does not mean that the rules don't apply to you or your child. If you choose to break the rules, then you choose to accept the consequences of breaking these rules. You may not agree with the speed limit on a certain road, but if you choose to go faster, then you run the risk of a ticket and a fine, you knew this before you exceeded the speed limit. The same goes for absenteeism policies. If your district has a rule against taking children out of school for vacations and you choose to do so, knowing that this is against the rules, then you choose to accept the consequences of breaking those rules. ...or choose to have your children accept the consequences. You can't complain later that you shouldn't have been subjected to truancy court or fines or that your child should have to take zeroes or be retained. You knew this ahead of time. You have to take the good with the bad. The vacation was fun, the referral to DYFS and the $875 truancy fine...not so much.

Well said

We live in one of those districts where the schools WILL and do flunk a child for absences so as much as that disappoints me (as I will never be doing Disney over school vacation weeks!), I will deal with it because I don't want my 6 year old staying back because of a choice I made.