Missing school could cost you money...

[Charade]

I would pay in a heartbeat. My DD's get zeros factored in for every day they miss unexcused. I would love to pay for them to not get zeros.
Think about it this way. You pay for your car every day whether you drive it or not. You pay for your house if you are out of town. I think it is perfectly reasonable to expect to pay for the school if they are missing out of funding because of a choice I made to pull my child out.
If any of you have been involved in PTA type asscoiations, you can attest to the tight funding out there. This is a small thing I can do so I would do it.

i don't have kids in school. Never will. Should I get break? No, I *still* have to pay school taxes.

 

[iloveboardwalk]

The "stupid rules" are in place, as I have said over and over again, because the schools are responsible for the education of your children. Period. No matter if they have wonderful parents who can be trusted to take them out for vacation but still do the right thing and see the kids do not fall behind, make up the work, etc., or if they have parents who do not care if they are ever in school or not. There are almost 2000 kids in our building. If we didn't follow "stupid" attendance rules chaos would reign.

I personally, would never take my kids out of school for a vacation just to avoid heat or crowds or peak rates. It just sends the wrong message, IMHO. I would take them out if that was the only time we could take a family vacation.

I DO think the attendence rules are stupid. And, as I mentioned, if other parents are not responsible, that's not my problem. My family takes vacation when it works for us. My "busy" times of year are in the summer and other "typical" vacation times. Further, I do not enjoy 90 degrees and 100% humidity, nor do I enjoy 3 hour waits in line. If that is not an issue for you, that's great!

Lastly, I do not consider it the schools job to educate my children. I consider that MY job and the schools and teachers are a great help. But my kids are my responsibility, not the school's.

 

[iloveboardwalk]

OK, try to see this as a hypothetical situation. If you had a boss, would you just come and go as you please?

Perhaps this is why I chose a caeer in which I can be my own boss. I despise being told what to do and being put in a box. Life is too short to be ruled by the school district.

 

[iloveboardwalk]

Do your kids also just follow the rules they want to?

My kids follow the rules I set forth. I live my life in a responsible manner, I treat others with respect, I honor my obligations, I pay my bills and I put my family first. I would hope that not lockstepping to ridiculous attendence rules set in place because of other people who do not care how their kids do in school would suddenly render my otherwise responsible life null and void.

I ask because I cannot tell you how many teenagers and young adults I've had to terminate because everything in their life is more important than coming to work. I have to think it's because they were never taught these kind of responsibilities as children.

Oh, you're right, I bet my kids think the world revolves around them.

 

[iloveboardwalk]

i don't have kids in school. Never will. Should I get break? No, I *still* have to pay school taxes.

But at least you can go on vacation whenever you want to!!

 

[Cor44432]

There's always homeschooling as an option?

And for the record, it's not the school district that runs peoples lives with
ridiculous attendance rules, that would be your state legislature. They
are the ones who set the rules and mandates (for public schools anyways).

 

[iloveboardwalk]

There's always homeschooling as an option?

I've considered it, but I think there is a lot to be gained from the social interaction with peers and teachers. School is about more than book learning, IMO, there is a lot about life to learn in the hallsways. I had a wonderful public school experience and I hope for the same thing for my kids. I expect a lot of it had to do with my parents involvement so I plan to model my behavior after their behavior.

And for the record, it's not the school district that runs peoples lives with
ridiculous attendance rules, that would be your state legislature. They
are the ones who set the rules and mandates (for public schools anyways).

Well, good point. Either way, I still hate being told what to do. I am contrary like that.

 

[JennyMominRI]

I've considered it, but I think there is a lot to be gained from the social interaction with peers and teachers. School is about more than book learning, IMO, there is a lot about life to learn in the hallsways. I had a wonderful public school experience and I hope for the same thing for my kids. I expect a lot of it had to do with my parents involvement so I plan to model my behavior after their behavior.


.

My kids are in PS now, but they were homeschooled for many years.. They got far more interaction with different people, religions cultures etc. when they were homeschooled...Part of that was because we lived in a very diverse neighborhood in California..I was able to take them to conventions where they met people from all over the world. They interacted with the same kids that were in the schools, they just did it afternoons and weekend. .Now they are in a PS system where 95% of the kids are white catholics with Italian or Irish backgrounds..You can maybe throw in a few portuguese people.
That's a far cry from the Mexicans, Philipinos, Vietnamese, Cambodian, AA, Samoan, Buddhist ,Hindu, Muslims, Jews etc, they came in contact with while being homeschooled...That really has a lot more to do with lifestyle than schooling style.
I had a horrible PS experience..I was miserable and spent from 5th grade on counting the days until I graduated...It's not anything I would wish on my kids..Ever..
I'm not knocking your choice not to Homeschool..I think people try to make the best choices for them..When I thought my kids were better served at home,I kept them at home. When I thought they were better served at school they went to school...They are all in school now

 

[iloveboardwalk]

My kids are in PS now,but they were homeschooled for many year.. They got far more interaction with different people, religions cultures etc. when they were homeschooled...Past of that was because we lived in a very diverse neighborhood in California..I was able to take them to conventions where they met people from all over the world. They interacted with the same kids that were in the schools, they just did it afternoons and weekend. .Now they are in a PS system where 95% of the kids are white catholics with Italian or Irish backgrounds..You can maybe throw in a few portuguese people.
That's a far cry from the Mexicans, Philipinos, Vietnamese, Cambodian, AA, Samoan, Buddhist ,Hindu, Muslims, Jews etc, they came in contact with while being homeschooled...That really has a lot more to do with lifestyle than schooling style.
I had a horrible PS experience..I was miserable and spent from 5th grade on counting the days until I graduated...It's not anything I would wish on my kids..Ever..
I'm not knocking your choice not to Homeschool..I think people try to make the best choices for them..When I thought my kids were better served at home,I kept them at home. When I thought they were better served at school they went to school...They are all in school now

I can appreciate this perspective. The good thing about life is that decisions like this are never permanant, we can make changes and adjust as we go. I think THAT right there is a valuable lesson for kids to learn. We live in a very small rural town where the schools are decent and the population is not a diverse as the community you talked about, but it's not all white people either. Life is what we make of it, I think. That's kind of why I take the position that I will take my family time when I want, because my life doesn't necessarily fit into the state's Sept-May box.

 

[leighe]

Lastly, I do not consider it the schools job to educate my children. I consider that MY job and the schools and teachers are a great help. But my kids are my responsibility, not the school's.

I really wish more parents were of this opinion. Then there wouldn't have to be stupid rules.

 

[yeartolate]

My twins!!! OMG, I just spewed Coke!!!

Yes, you're right, I would, but not everyone has a ready set of twins to stand by them.

And your twins are nuts. They certainly wouldn't drop the ball on this one.

 

[Tink&SquirtsMom]

It's illegal in this state to pull your kids out for unexcused absences, which IMO is a good law.

As far as vacation being a valid excuse in CA, it can be.... and its not hard at all. CA has a provision to do "homestudy" during vacation. The school gives you a homestudy contract which the parent and student sign and the teacher provides a packet of work for when you are gone. As long as you bring the packet back, the absences are excused and the school gets their money. Happiness all around!

We did this in December for our dd when we went on our Disney Cruise, and will likely have to do it for both dd, and ds next year if our adoption comes through during the school year (they will travel to Ethiopia with us to get their brother). My dd (and next year my ds) goes to an "individualized curriculum" charter school (each student has unique curriculum based on their level) so it wasn't any extra work for the teacher to put her packet together, since every student gets one every week. I could see it being a pain to the teacher in a regular public school, but I know it is still an option and at least the student is still mostly up to date and the school still gets paid.

 

[declansdad]

Perhaps this is why I chose a caeer in which I can be my own boss. I despise being told what to do and being put in a box. Life is too short to be ruled by the school district.

Ok, I'll stop asking the question because it is obvious you have no plans on actually answering, thanks for playing.

 

[iloveboardwalk]

Ok, I'll stop asking the question because it is obvious you have no plans on actually answering, thanks for playing.

The answer to your question is that I always live up to my responsibilities and obligations. I'm sorry I won't play your game. Of course if I had a 9-5 job in which I personally agreed to be there at a set time, I would be there. The difference is, of course, that the school has a captive audience. It's against the law for kids to not be in school (or in a homeschool "program") where as it is not illegal to not have a job. It's apples and oranges. A person gets paid to do a job. A parent pays for a child to go to school. It's not the same thing.

I refuse to live my life according to some pre-set schedule which does not allow for any exceptions to the silly rules.

 

[iloveboardwalk]

I really wish more parents were of this opinion. Then there wouldn't have to be stupid rules.

I think we have allowed the government to train us into the mindset that nothing is our responsibility. I do appreciate the job that teachers do, I did a great deal of talking to parents the last few months to find out which teacher I would like my daughter to have when she starts school next year. I have it all planned out now, I will be the first mom in line on the first day of registration in order to get the woman who I know will be good for my child.

 

[declansdad]

The answer to your question is that I always live up to my responsibilities and obligations. I'm sorry I won't play your game. Of course if I had a 9-5 job in which I personally agreed to be there at a set time, I would be there. The difference is, of course, that the school has a captive audience. It's against the law for kids to not be in school (or in a homeschool "program") where as it is not illegal to not have a job. It's apples and oranges. A person gets paid to do a job. A parent pays for a child to go to school. It's not the same thing.

I refuse to live my life according to some pre-set schedule which does not allow for any exceptions to the silly rules.

You live up to your responsibilities and obligations because there are rules that govern behaviour. Schools set rules that they expect people to follow. Simply because you don't agree doesn't mean they are wrong for doing so. I teach adults everyday who feel that they can live by their own rules,come and go as they see fit, and choose how much work they should do; and then they can't understand why they fail courses.

As a college instructor answering reference calls, one of the first questions I am asked is, "did this student attend class?". This seems to be very important to employers.

 

[iloveboardwalk]

You live up to your responsibilities and obligations because there are rules that govern behaviour. Schools set rules that they expect people to follow. Simply because you don't agree doesn't mean they are wrong for doing so. I teach adults everyday who feel that they can live by their own rules,come and go as they see fit, and choose how much work they should do; and then they can't understand why they fail courses.

As a college instructor answering reference calls, one of the first questions I am asked is, "did this student attend class?". This seems to be very important to employers.

If someone is being paid to do a job, they have made an obligation to be there or else not get paid. If a person goes to college, they are making an obligation. The state has made an obligation for a child and their entire family which I find unreasonable. I'm sorry you don't recognize the difference and that we disagree. I will continue to decide what is best for my children and family and the state can butt out.