Perfect attendance rewards

[RachelEllen]

They always bugged me in elementary school because I had to miss the days for Jewish holidays. Never enough to complain about it to anyone, but I remember feeling strange that there was an award I wasn't eligable for becaue of my religion. (I know there are some schools that give days off for Jewish holidays, but most do not.)

 

[gladstoneganderfan]

I hate this "award"! My DD has had the flu last year thanks to one of our schools perfect attendence winners. He got sent to the office at 9 with a temp of 102, but Mom didn't pick him up until after 11 so he wouldn't mess up his perfect attendence.

At DD's school, A/B honor roll receives a certificate & a coupon for a free meal (usually a BBQ place that donated to the school). The A honor roll receives a certificate & a ribbon.

Perfect attendence receives a certificate, a coupon for a family dinner at a pizza place (another school donor), and they all get their names in a drawing for a bike at the end of the year! That's right, let's make just showing up something to strive for over good grades.


I just can't buy that a child can make it through grade school without being sick enough, just once, to stay home from school.

 

[dlbbwu]

The company I work for, hands out $100.00 Visa gift cards to the hourly people with perfect attendance. They do not make a big production out of it or anything. Of course we salary people don't get anything, not even a pat on the back. I have had not missed a day of work since I started with this company and knock on wood, I won't.

I really don't have an opinion on the subject. I just believe if it is done for our hourly, why not salary?

Thanks for letting me vent!

 

[Aliceacc]

I doubt that kids go to school sick just to get the perfect attendance award. QUOTE]


Oh, yes, they do, at least in the high school in which I teach!

We've had kids come in for homeroom, then run to the nurse's office to get sick, just for that stupid award.

We've had parents asking whether or not attending a family funeral would get in the way of that award, then asking advice as to whether or not the child should attend the funeral (since absence for any reason is counted as absence.)

I could go on and on and on about the kids who come in sick as dogs (and infect everyone with whom they have contact) for that award.

I'm not sure where in our history just showing up became something we honor, but I think this award should be eliminated.

 

[aprilgail2]

I doubt that kids go to school sick just to get the perfect attendance award. I just don't think anyone thinks it's that much of an honor to get the award, do they??

Are you serious?? They sure as heck DO come to school sick just to get a stupid award like that! And when they come to school sick it means they spread it to other kids which means not only does my child miss school when she cathces it but I miss work to stay home with my child that is home sick since I would never send her to school sick! In kindergarten she missed over 30 days just from catching other kids colds (a simple cold caused breathing problems for her). So because some mommy wants little Johnny to have perfect attendance it effects so many other people!
My daughter will never have perfect attendance, nor do I care. We vacation during the school year, so no stress of sending her in to just get a piece of paper that says "congrats, you came to school even when you shouldn't have and infected everyone else-WAY TO GO, I am sure all the other parents who's kids you infected thank you!!"

 

[MushyMushy]

No kidding about kids coming to school sick for the benefits! At our school, kids with 5 or fewer absences don't have to take the final.

A bunch of teachers are actually making them take the final, though the grade won't count if it doesn't benefit the student. I'm not sure how I feel about that when it's written in the school handbook that they don't have to, yet some of the teachers still make them do it. I have to make them do it because that's what's in the regular teacher's plan -- we're not very popular right now, let me tell you!

 

[Pin Wizard]

For those whose kids get perfect attendance how do they "do" appointments? Our local (about an hour and a half away) ped. dentist only see's patients during school hours. And even getting one is difficult during the morning or late afternoon.

I'd be looking for a different doc. They either have to have normal business hours and/or Saturday hours for me to go with them. With DS we've managed to get his appointments after school. The last time it was at one o'clock, but that turned out to be during spring break, and we were home any way. On more than one occasion I've told them that they needed to change to another day and time when they've scheduled during school hours.

 

[Galahad]

I agree in part - but this is different. They are talking NO absences. If an employer wants you tocome to work with strep throat and a 102 degree fever, would suggest another employer.

I agree. I'm sure the target of the awards is eliminating the non-illness related absences. My son's HS does something REALLY stupid IMO. If you have perfect attendance in a given semester you get to "skip a final" of your choice. So the reward for diligence is to have fewer academic experiences?

 

[Pin Wizard]

Reading someone's post just reminded me that our company does reward for attendance...up to about $250! Of course, I almost forgot about that since I haven't gone long enough to qualify for even the first part of that. We have some people who haven't missed a day of work in years.

IE, you go a quarter you get $25. You go another quarter to make it two quarters you get $50, etc. So right there you would have $75 between the two. You are finally out sick, you're back at square one.

 

[noodleknitter]

lOL, I didn't expect this much conversation over night!

Although Galahad made a good point about showing up and breathing being primary as adults, I still think kids should be pushed to strive for excellence. Real excellence. And teach kids to see the intrinsic value of excellence. That it isn't about an award, but doing what is right. Not that I am against all awards. Young kids, get a kick out of it.

shortbun, I hope that you make it through the year and onto vacation without catching that bug!

And thanks to the teacher's that deal with the brunt of illnesses! If you guys hate these awards, why do schools keep giving them out?

 

[Robinrs]

My bad, I already acknowledged ths in a subsequent post.

Thumbs way up for your answer.

Thanks... I had a long lecture with my son about going to school endangering other children. He came down with something last weekend and I told him he would HAVE to stay home if he doesn't get better... turned out to be an allergic reaction and he was better and went to school.

An attendance award should not take precedence to health and safety. It's crazy...

 

[Mermaid02]

Why reward someone for something they are supposed to do?? You are expected to be at work and school. If you are ill or your parents have made the decision to take you out of school- so be it. But you shouldn't be rewarded for just being there.

 

[daisyduck123]

If you guys hate these awards, why do schools keep giving them out?

These awards come from the administration, not us teachers.

I am going to bring up the topic at next year's "Back to School" staff meeting though.

 

[Mouse House Mama]

My neighbor's son, who is now in 7th grade, has not missed a day of school - ever. My neighbor is hoping he'll make it through to high school graduation without missing a day. The pressure is on now! She doesn't want to ruin his perfect record so she sends him to school when he's sick. If he has a fever, she'll load him up on Motrin and send him to school. When he had strep throat, she sent him to school, waited for attendance to be called and then told him to go to the nurse, who sent him home. She never admits he's sick, rather she always says he has "allergies". Doesn't matter what it is: strep, bronchitis, fifths disease = allergies.

The funny thing is, our school district gives out an "excellent attendence" award for any child who has missed less than 5 days per year. But that's not good enough for my neighbor. She's gunning for some super duper award for her son come 12th grade. I think this is so selfish. How many kids have become sick (and stayed home!) because she sends her sick child to school?

I find it hard to beleive that any child can make it through 13 years of school without coming down with something contagious during the school year. I think the school board feels the same way and that's why the only attendance award is for missing 5 days or less. But again, that's not good enough for my neighbor. At the 5th grade graduation ceremony, she all but begged the school principal to mention her son's fabulous attendence record. And, she got what she wanted.

Geesh, can ya tell this is a pet peeve of mine?

Dina Lohan of the attendance world. I would be very po'd at your neighbor. So when he gets perfect attendance then what? Do they erect a statue for him? Does he then tell the therapist that even though he was so sick and needed to rest his mother insisted he go to school for some ridiculous award that will mean nothing once he is done with High School? She is a selfish parent and you are very nice because I would have told her that by now.

 

[SandraVB79]

At work, we use the concept URVE (= utilization rate, vacations excluded). It's a KPI for us, and the value changes according to your level. My URVE should be 75%, meaning that during 75% of the year (vacation time excluded), I must be billable (I'm a consultant). This means that I can be 3 months a year sick, on the "beach" (meaning not doing billable work at/ for a client), ... Of course, if we're 100% billable (some even manage to be more than 100% billable! that's when you work way too much overtime and don't take up your vacation days), management is even happier (and no, we don't get any reward, lol).

 

[noodleknitter]

These awards come from the administration, not us teachers.

I am going to bring up the topic at next year's "Back to School" staff meeting though.

Good luck! One would like to think they'd listen!

 

[Mermaid02]

I've never been arrested- I'd like an award for that please.

What else could we get awards for???

 

[Mouse House Mama]

I've never been arrested- I'd like an award for that please.

What else could we get awards for???

I breathe every single day. Can I get an award for not screwing that up?

 

[noodleknitter]

No kidding.

I have interns that want to be patted on the back and given TIME OFF, just because they have shown up!

 

[mjkacmom]

I can't stand them. Around here, there is not a problem with attendance - good schools, great community. Yet another excuse for sick kids to come to school.