May 10, 2008 Ship of Thieves! Stealing the Magic..AGAIN!!! Panama Canal FL to CA!!! Part 2

[Mom323]

I am totally flabbergasted and disgusted with my school district. I have inquired of the school district as to what the consequences would be to take my daughter out of school for the two weeks for this cruise. The response is that no matter what, if I take my daughter out of school for two weeks, I will be referred to juvenile court for prosecution for keeping my daughter out of school.

The fact that I have let them know ahead of time, tried to make arrangements, and been totally upfront about it, makes absolutely no difference!! They will simply stick it to me good.

There is no independent study available either. I have been told that if I want to avoid prosecution, I must withdraw her from school. And then re-enroll her when I come back in town. I am waiting to hear from the school as to whether or not she will be held back from being promoted to the next grade if I take her out for that many days.

She will be in the fourth grade!!!!

Can you believe this nonsense!!

I understand the need for rules. But I don't understand how you can lump me in the same category as parents who just don't send their kids to school because they don't care, are abusive and so forth. I don't belong in that category and I am quite upset to be put in that situation.

Okay, vent over.

Wow, I'm shocked. What is their policy on the number of absences for the year?
What will happen now, is that parents will be disenrolling their kids and then reenrolling, to avoid the problem. Think of the paper work the school system will have. Maybe that will change their minds.

 

[clynne]

I am totally flabbergasted and disgusted with my school district.

Did you approach the individual teacher and/or principal? Seems like an arrangement could be made...if she had a communicable disease for a week or two, would she be threatened with truancy prosecution???

I would be incensed...

Carolyn

 

[UKANGEL]

some fantastic stories here from very inspirational people, thank you

Curacao-go to their website. Robert went scuba diving with Scott and Lynn and I went downtown and went shopping. It was a blast. Oh-great buys on SHOES!!! there. Bought three pairs of really cute sandals for about 6 bucks a piece.

yay more shoe shopping!

Leeanna (My sister) is in surgery right now. (for her neck/spine) I think it's being fused, I wasn't really able to hear the whole story because it was freaking me out, so I went into lalalala land after she started telling me. It's a 3 hour surgery and I'm mostly freaking out waiting to hear how she is. I called her boyfriend a minute ago and he said another hour or so......please, prayers & pixie dust.

She is my big sister and she is the best Auntie to my kids. She shares my Disney passion and often will come with us as the 5th wheel on our trips to help with the kids and enjoy the fun. (her boys are all grown-up). I've been thinking about her all day...this surgery is to relieve constant pain in her neck and down her arms. She is the crazy active one in our family, she scuba dives and runs and hikes and travels to wild places. She was told no more roller coaster after this, which is terrible since she would take all the kids on the "scary" rides so I didn't have to get banged around. Live life to the brink of fullness. You never know when things will change.

Back to the regularly scheduled topics....shoes, costco, and oscars (no dieting talk here yet...2 more days until the 1st)

Best wishes and hugs to you and to your sister Nanette. I'm very close to my own sister so I know I'd be very worried too. Hope she recovers well.

x

 

[UKANGEL]

I am totally flabbergasted and disgusted with my school district. I have inquired of the school district as to what the consequences would be to take my daughter out of school for the two weeks for this cruise. The response is that no matter what, if I take my daughter out of school for two weeks, I will be referred to juvenile court for prosecution for keeping my daughter out of school.

The fact that I have let them know ahead of time, tried to make arrangements, and been totally upfront about it, makes absolutely no difference!! They will simply stick it to me good.

There is no independent study available either. I have been told that if I want to avoid prosecution, I must withdraw her from school. And then re-enroll her when I come back in town. I am waiting to hear from the school as to whether or not she will be held back from being promoted to the next grade if I take her out for that many days.

She will be in the fourth grade!!!!

Can you believe this nonsense!!

I understand the need for rules. But I don't understand how you can lump me in the same category as parents who just don't send their kids to school because they don't care, are abusive and so forth. I don't belong in that category and I am quite upset to be put in that situation.

Okay, vent over.

'Nice' to know that the schools in the US have the same ridiculous regulations as here in the UK!!!!

Really hope you manage to get this one sorted!

 

[TammyAlphabet]

If I were you, I would go to a school board meeting and present your case. I can not imagine that there have not been other cases in your school district of children going out of town on cruises or family emergencies for two weeks.

You certainly do not belong in the situation of being an abusive parent. What an impossible situation!!

If going to the school board doesn't work, why not call the local newspaper and see if you can get some publicity to get them to change their minds?

Just my thoughts...

I was told by the attendence officer at the school district that they have absolutely no choice but to count her as truant if I take her out of school. It is state law. And I was told that they would never make exceptions, ever. I was told that even those who took their children out of school for religious reasons, such as a pilgrimage to Mecca for the Muslim children, they had to withdraw their student and re-enroll when they returned.

Wow, I'm shocked. What is their policy on the number of absences for the year?
What will happen now, is that parents will be disenrolling their kids and then reenrolling, to avoid the problem. Think of the paper work the school system will have. Maybe that will change their minds.

I am waiting on the answer to the number of absences for the year. As for disenrolling and reenrolling, the principal actually suggesed this as an alternative.

Did you approach the individual teacher and/or principal? Seems like an arrangement could be made...if she had a communicable disease for a week or two, would she be threatened with truancy prosecution???

I would be incensed...

Carolyn

I am incensed. The principal of the elementary school has pledged to help in any way, but is bound by law to report the absences as unexcused, thus the 10 day limit requires the principal to report the student as truant and will be sent over for prosecution in juvenile court. The fact that the principal and the school district have no discretion is what unnerves me. It is unbelievable to me that there is no way to provide an alternative in these situations.

I hate this school district. At least at the moment.

My worry is that they will not promote her to the next grade if she misses these days. (I also don't relish the thought of going to jail )

The sad part is that I am the kind of parent who is relentless about sending my child to school. My daughter has missed one and half days this year due to strep throat.

And she never misses more than 2 or 3 days per year due to sickness!!

I am both sad and mad at this point, but I am not ready to give up by no means.

Tammy

 

[UKANGEL]

Tammy, I really feel for you! sending you from over the ocean!

 

[TammyAlphabet]

Did you approach the individual teacher and/or principal? Seems like an arrangement could be made...if she had a communicable disease for a week or two, would she be threatened with truancy prosecution???

I would be incensed...

Carolyn

In this case, she could get a doctor's note and the absences would be excused. Now, I just need to find a shady doctor.....(joking)

 

[TammyAlphabet]

Tammy, I really feel for you! sending you from over the ocean!

Thanks! I appreciate the hug.

 

[HollyTyler]

I was just on the DCL site and they are showing 2 cats with availabilty. This is for two adults only.

05/10/2008 15-Night Westbound Panama Cruise Category 04 : Deluxe Family Stateroom w/ Verandah $ 9,589.84

05/10/2008 15-Night Westbound Panama Cruise Category 06 : Deluxe Stateroom w/ Verandah $ 8,309.84

Holy cow! But we can laugh because we don't have to pay that price!

 

[birkner]

In this case, she could get a doctor's note and the absences would be excused. Now, I just need to find a shady doctor.....(joking)

Could you file a petition to home school your child for the balance of the year and thus avoid the problem? Wouldn't then all she have to do is take the testing to reenroll?

 

[TammyAlphabet]

Could you file a petition to home school your child for the balance of the year and thus avoid the problem? Wouldn't then all she have to do is take the testing to reenroll?

I was told that could not be done. I don't know why? They didn't tell me.

 

[been2marceline]

Got coupons for the $300 store in the mail today. Guess I better check my checkbook and see if I have an extra $300.

Karen, wife of many last names...

 

[clynne]

I Mecca for the Muslim children, they had to withdraw their student and re-enroll when they returned.

Sounds utterly ridiculous that you would have to do this! (But, in our school district, you would have to file for independent study for an absence longer than a week or so. School district needs those per diem dollars!) I would hope, especially since you've made a point to get clearance a full year ahead of time, that she would be re-admitted when you return without damaging her ability to move up to 5th grade at the end of the year.

Geez Louise...hang in there...keep asking questions. You can not have been the first responsible family to take a family vacation during school time!

Carolyn

 

[birkner]

I was told that could not be done. I don't know why? They didn't tell me.

That is not what I read on the Tennessee State Education site:

http://www.tennessee.gov/education/homeschool/

Pursuant to Tenn. Code Ann. §49-6-3050, parents in Tennessee may conduct a home school for their own children.

( Links for TCA will take you to Lexis Law Publishing, Legal resources/Tennessee. Follow the Search instructions found at that site to find specific items cited on this web page)

Home Schooling in Tennessee
Parents may home school their own children pursuant to Tenn. Code Ann. § 49-6-3050 by registering with their local education agency (LEA). Parents choosing this educational option must meet specified educational requirements, test the child and report attendance to the local education agency at the end of the year.

By authority of the same statute, parents may also home school their own children by affiliating with and registering with a church related school defined by Tenn. Code Ann. §49-50-801. If a parent is exercising this educational option by home schooling a child who is in grade 9-12 they must also register with the LEA they would otherwise be attending. For parents exercising this option, with the exception of grades 9-12, the testing requirements are determined by the church related school. Parents exercising this option for children in grades 9-12 must also meet certain educational requirements. Church-related schools must determine what recording-keeping requirements are in place for these parents. However, church-related schools must keep daily attendance reports which pursuant to Tenn. Code Ann. §49-6-3007(d) shall be open to inspection at all reasonable times, to the director of schools of the system in which the school is located or to the director of school’s authorized representative.

 

[seaulater]

Headed off to parent-teacher conferences! Yippee.

Hopefully can make it to the school through all the snow!

 

[seaulater]

That is not what I read on the Tennessee State Education site:

http://www.tennessee.gov/education/homeschool/

Pursuant to Tenn. Code Ann. §49-6-3050, parents in Tennessee may conduct a home school for their own children.

( Links for TCA will take you to Lexis Law Publishing, Legal resources/Tennessee. Follow the Search instructions found at that site to find specific items cited on this web page)

Home Schooling in Tennessee
Parents may home school their own children pursuant to Tenn. Code Ann. § 49-6-3050 by registering with their local education agency (LEA). Parents choosing this educational option must meet specified educational requirements, test the child and report attendance to the local education agency at the end of the year.

By authority of the same statute, parents may also home school their own children by affiliating with and registering with a church related school defined by Tenn. Code Ann. §49-50-801. If a parent is exercising this educational option by home schooling a child who is in grade 9-12 they must also register with the LEA they would otherwise be attending. For parents exercising this option, with the exception of grades 9-12, the testing requirements are determined by the church related school. Parents exercising this option for children in grades 9-12 must also meet certain educational requirements. Church-related schools must determine what recording-keeping requirements are in place for these parents. However, church-related schools must keep daily attendance reports which pursuant to Tenn. Code Ann. §49-6-3007(d) shall be open to inspection at all reasonable times, to the director of schools of the system in which the school is located or to the director of school’s authorized representative.

Oh my heck-we took our daughter out of 6th grade in 2003 for a cruise through the Panama Canal for two weeks and the teacher said she would learn a lot more than she ever would in a classroom. As if the schools are doing anything productive at the end of May anyway. All they do is plan parties and hang out since ours have already turned all their books in.

By then they are just putting in their "time"

 

[pahrumpgirl]

In this case, she could get a doctor's note and the absences would be excused. Now, I just need to find a shady doctor.....(joking)

If I were you I would find a Dr. that thinks she needs a two week sea cruise to recover from the rotten air and attitude she has to endure while in the classroom or start looking for a good private school that doesn't have their head stuck in the sand.

The Public school system STINKS!! Its no wonder so many parents have gone to home schooling or are sending their children to private schools.

Doug

 

[seaulater]

But I just noticed we are headed for another milestone....

anyone out there?

 

[birkner]

Oh my heck-we took our daughter out of 6th grade in 2003 for a cruise through the Panama Canal for two weeks and the teacher said she would learn a lot more than she ever would in a classroom. As if the schools are doing anything productive at the end of May anyway. All they do is plan parties and hang out since ours have already turned all their books in.

By then they are just putting in their "time"

I agree it is nuts and hope she will be able to use some of the statues to help her not get in trouble with the school.

 

[seaulater]

I'm headed to Baltimore tomorrow on business. Hope it's warmer there.