*Rant* My daughter's teacher is going to fail her before school even starts...

[palmtreegirl]

That stinks, I hope it all works out for you!!

 

[jen0610]

Did you not read the other posts? I was given the band camp schedule in March, which I had to basically beg for. I was told in March by the athletic director that there was a preliminary schedule for the next school year's football games but it was too early to release it because it was not final.
When I scheduled our vacation, my daughter was NOT GOING TO MISS ANYTHING according to the information that the school and BAND could provide for me. So, I supposed to wait and schedule our family vacation on the school's time frame?

I think a lot of people would at least agree with me on that part that it takes a lot of time to schedule a vacation. I do not have the luxury of being able to plan a vacation only a couple months out. I need time to save money, arrange time off of work, etc. When our vacation was scheduled, I worked with the information that both the school and the BAND were willing to give to me.

For me - with the information that I bolded - if this is what I had been given, I would never have scheduled our vacation during the time frame that you did. I would have scheduled it for June or July or during the Winter break. Every band parent KNOWS that their kid is going to be marching during football games. With the school only having a preliminary schedule to give you back in March for the football dates - I would effective marked all the dates off for the two weeks before school all the way thru to 2 weeks after the shown last date of the football games.

Edit to add after your other post.

If March was the finizing, then you still didn't really give ley way with the information that they did give you. In March, you could have requested off different date and moved reservations.

 

[mhsjax]

Did you not read the other posts? I was given the band camp schedule in March, which I had to basically beg for. I was told in March by the athletic director that there was a preliminary schedule for the next school year's football games but it was too early to release it because it was not final.

When I scheduled our vacation, my daughter was NOT GOING TO MISS ANYTHING according to the information that the school and BAND could provide for me. So, I supposed to wait and schedule our family vacation on the school's time frame?

I think a lot of people would at least agree with me on that part that it takes a lot of time to schedule a vacation. I do not have the luxury of being able to plan a vacation only a couple months out. I need time to save money, arrange time off of work, etc. When our vacation was scheduled, I worked with the information that both the school and the BAND were willing to give to me.

It's the Dis boards that is the way it goes.

 

[daughtersrus]

Scheduled the vacation last year, final booking in March when I couldn't wait any longer for information because of needing to give work the absolute final dates in order to get the time off. Either way, the information I needed was not afforded to me at that time so I went with what I had. Yes, mistake on my part but I am not afforded the luxury of scheduling a last minute vacation. I have to plan for time off and coverage at my job, my husband's job, etc. I am not asking for special treatment, I am asking for fair treatment.

Being that there were games last few years before Labor Day, didn't you think that the schedule would be similar this year?

 

[ccgirl]

Did you not read the other posts? I was given the band camp schedule in March, which I had to basically beg for. I was told in March by the athletic director that there was a preliminary schedule for the next school year's football games but it was too early to release it because it was not final.

When I scheduled our vacation, my daughter was NOT GOING TO MISS ANYTHING according to the information that the school and BAND could provide for me. So, I supposed to wait and schedule our family vacation on the school's time frame?

I think a lot of people would at least agree with me on that part that it takes a lot of time to schedule a vacation. I do not have the luxury of being able to plan a vacation only a couple months out. I need time to save money, arrange time off of work, etc. When our vacation was scheduled, I worked with the information that both the school and the BAND were willing to give to me.

I did read. Is this the first year that football games were before the official start of school? When I sign my children up for an activity (my DD does competitive swimming) I make sure I have nothing booked for the entire season. I would schedule something before the season starts. For example, if you knew the season started in August, that would have left all of July for a vacation.

Maybe those other students missing 2 games will receive 'F's' as well? If not; then there is a problem. That is why I don't play the I don't want to follow the rules game. As I tell my DD, don't worry about what other people do - worry about yourself.

 

[StacyMarie]

Is the difference that your daughter is missing 2 games instead of 1 or are the other students also missing 2 games? Maybe that's the difference.

I do believe that is the difference. When I gathered the information that I was able to get, I did go by the fact that last year we only had one game before school started. This year, there are 2 games.

 

[RunningGirl]

I do believe that is the difference. When I gathered the information that I was able to get, I did go by the fact that last year we only had one game before school started. This year, there are 2 games.

Yes, that puts you in a tough spot and I have sympathy for you! My kids are also very involved in activities and it seems like it gets harder and harder to schedule vacations every year. Not sure what the answer is!

 

[StacyMarie]

For me - with the information that I bolded - if this is what I had been given, I would never have scheduled our vacation during the time frame that you did. I would have scheduled it for June or July or during the Winter break. Every band parent KNOWS that their kid is going to be marching during football games. With the school only having a preliminary schedule to give you back in March for the football dates - I would effective marked all the dates off for the two weeks before school all the way thru to 2 weeks after the shown last date of the football games.

Edit to add after your other post.

If March was the finizing, then you still didn't really give ley way with the information that they did give you. In March, you could have requested off different date and moved reservations.

They would not give me the preliminary schedule AND my husband and I can ONLY take vacation at the end of August, first part of September. Sorry, I couldn't schedule in June or July!

 

[Planogirl]

All I know is that I'm glad that our school waits until school starts for most of this. The band is having camps this month but the game schedules haven't even been released yet.

Good luck OP. I hope that something can be worked out.

 

[StacyMarie]

For me - with the information that I bolded - if this is what I had been given, I would never have scheduled our vacation during the time frame that you did. I would have scheduled it for June or July or during the Winter break. Every band parent KNOWS that their kid is going to be marching during football games. With the school only having a preliminary schedule to give you back in March for the football dates - I would effective marked all the dates off for the two weeks before school all the way thru to 2 weeks after the shown last date of the football games.

Edit to add after your other post.

If March was the finizing, then you still didn't really give ley way with the information that they did give you. In March, you could have requested off different date and moved reservations.

My husband and I can only take vacation in August.

 

[fraggle551]

One of the craziest threads I've read in quite a while!

Anyway, the solution is simple: go on vacation as planned, and simply hire a 'ringer' to fill in for your daughter at the two football games.

Go find a woman of your daughter's approximate height and hair color, hand her the Oboe, and tell her to follow everyone else on the field (I doubt the oboe player leads the formation).

I am not sure what an Oboe is, but if it is a wind instrument tell the ringer to puff out her cheeks; if it is a string instrument to move her arms about wildly every so often.

Here in Texas hiring 'ringers' is a time-honored tradition (usually in football, but I do not see why not for band also).

Anyway, at the beginning of the football game the psycho band director will only be looking to see if the oboe slot is filled. So long as he sees someone that looks somewhat like your daughter, he will be satisfied.

Now go, enjoy the Disney experience.

Well there ya go! Someone who finally has a sane and reasonable solution to the problem!

 

[phorsenuf]

Couldn't she just come home a few days early and stay with relatives/friends?

 

[mhsjax]

For me - with the information that I bolded - if this is what I had been given, I would never have scheduled our vacation during the time frame that you did. I would have scheduled it for June or July or during the Winter break. Every band parent KNOWS that their kid is going to be marching during football games. With the school only having a preliminary schedule to give you back in March for the football dates - I would effective marked all the dates off for the two weeks before school all the way thru to 2 weeks after the shown last date of the football games.

Edit to add after your other post.

If March was the finizing, then you still didn't really give ley way with the information that they did give you. In March, you could have requested off different date and moved reservations.

Maybe I am reading it wrong, but she received the dates for band camp and she scheduled according to that so her child wouldn't miss that.

I think some of you live in a fantasy world where school commitments and vactions schedules are easy to adjust to. News flash, some jobs you can't rescedule vacations on a whim. Sometimes you don't get the dates you need and you just have to hope.

I am sorry but our vacation time as a family is more important than band or other commitments, IF and that is a big IF I didn't get the info needed. You can't sit around and wiat for the school to tell you the schedule. Summer is only so long and you have to get in vacation when you can.
Obviously, if you have the dates then you don't schedule, but if you can't get the info, then all bets are off. They aren't controlling my time that much and anyone who lets them is only enabling them to do so.

 

[daughtersrus]

They would not give me the preliminary schedule AND my husband and I can ONLY take vacation at the end of August, first part of September. Sorry, I couldn't schedule in June or July!

Since you can only take vacation at this time anyway, it really wouldn't have mattered if you had the schedule earlier or not. This is the only time that you could go.

Since your DD is not going to continue with band, I would opt for her dropping the class.

 

[luvmy3]

They would not give me the preliminary schedule AND my husband and I can ONLY take vacation at the end of August, first part of September. Sorry, I couldn't schedule in June or July!

OP, don't try to defend yourself you don't need to. You did what was best for your family and no matter what some here say in the grand scheme of things that is way more important than marching band.

 

[phorsenuf]

Since you can only take vacation at this time anyway, it really wouldn't have mattered if you had the schedule earlier or not. This is the only time that you could go.

Since your DD is not going to continue with band, I would opt for her dropping the class.

I agree with that and the sooner the better so the band director can make necessary changes to the routine. It's not like a member of a 30 member football team where someone dropping out doesn't have a huge impact on the team**. This is a choreographed event that needs modification.

** Unless it's the star quarterback or something.

 

[Mickey's Minion]

I misspoke, it is not the ENTIRE month for band camp but almost the entire month. The students have pre-band camp at the high school starting August 2 through August 18th everyday M-F from noon to 5 p.m. Then they leave for 5-day overnight band camp that is required and the students have to pay 350.00 to attend and that is from August 19th through August 24th. We leave for vacation August 27th through September 5th. From August 25th on, there is no more practices, just 2 football games on August 27th and September 3rd, which will happen while we are gone but before school starts. School officially starts on September 7th.

I know I am just reiterating what many of the others have said but...

It really does not matter what you think Band should be doing, how they should run their program nor whether they have mandatory games before school starts or not or whether the band director has made exceptions for others or not.

If the principal is supporting the band program, then...

The fact is - They do have games before school starts
The fact is - These are graded games
The fact is - As a band board member, you knew the rules
The fact is - You miss games, you fail.

You knew the schedule and rules before your daughter signed up, correct?

If you felt so strongly that the rules should not apply to you, and that you had a problem with mandatory games before school started, then your daughter should not have signed up for band.

You had a choice and you made it when you signed up for band.

I also don't understand you saying your daughter only has two choices - to fail or drop.

How about supporting her school and rescheduling your vacation? There was one weekend, the weekend right before school starts that has mandatory games. You are CHOOSING to have your vacation during that one weekend.

Sounds like you had all of July to go on vacation without any penalties. Yeah, it is a bit hotter, a bit more expensive and a bit more crowded, but commitment takes sacrifice.

Many programs have graded performances that are not exactly within school rules.

Drama students have mandatory evening shows, there are weekend competitions for band, orchestra, choir, science fairs, mathletes and many other graded classes.

You are making a choice to leave during a time you know there is a commitment needed.

It is a choice you are making, thus not the school's fault.

I would reschedule my vacation so that my daughter won't have to be the one to bear the brunt of the punishment for your planning error.

 

[mhsjax]

OP, don't try to defend yourself you don't need to. You did what was best for your family and no matter what some here say in the grand scheme of things that is way more important than marching band.

The voice of reason. And OT here, but I want to apologize for my tying and any other crazy errors. I am using my hubby's laptop and I have never used it before and wow, I m going crazy rying to type on this thing.

 

[Planogirl]

I know I am just reiterating what many of the others have said but...

It really does not matter what you think Band should be doing, how they should run their program nor whether they have mandatory games before school starts or not or whether the band director has made exceptions for others or not.

If the principal is supporting the band program, then...

The fact is - They do have games before school starts
The fact is - These are graded games
The fact is - As a band board member, you knew the rules
The fact is - You miss games, you fail.

You knew the schedule and rules before your daughter signed up, correct?

If you felt so strongly that the rules should not apply to you, and that you had a problem with mandatory games before school started, then your daughter should not have signed up for band.

You had a choice and you made it when you signed up for band.

I also don't understand you saying your daughter only has two choices - to fail or drop.

How about supporting her school and rescheduling your vacation? There was one weekend, the weekend right before school starts that has mandatory games. You are CHOOSING to have your vacation during that one weekend.

Sounds like you had all of July to go on vacation without any penalties. Yeah, it is a bit hotter, a bit more expensive and a bit more crowded, but commitment takes sacrifice.

Many programs have graded performances that are not exactly within school rules.

Drama students have mandatory evening shows, there are weekend competitions for band, orchestra, choir, science fairs, mathletes and many other graded classes.

You are making a choice to leave during a time you know there is a commitment needed.

It is a choice you are making, thus not the school's fault.

I would reschedule my vacation so that my daughter won't have to be the one to bear the brunt of the punishment for your planning error.

I got the impression that the OP couldn't reschedule due to work commitments.

 

[mhsjax]

I know I am just reiterating what many of the others have said but...

It really does not matter what you think Band should be doing, how they should run their program nor whether they have mandatory games before school starts or not or whether the band director has made exceptions for others or not.

If the principal is supporting the band program, then...

The fact is - They do have games before school starts
The fact is - These are graded games
The fact is - As a band board member, you knew the rules
The fact is - You miss games, you fail.

You knew the schedule and rules before your daughter signed up, correct?

If you felt so strongly that the rules should not apply to you, and that you had a problem with mandatory games before school started, then your daughter should not have signed up for band.

You had a choice and you made it when you signed up for band.

I also don't understand you saying your daughter only has two choices - to fail or drop.

How about supporting her school and rescheduling your vacation? There was one weekend, the weekend right before school starts that has mandatory games. You are CHOOSING to have your vacation during that one weekend.

Sounds like you had all of July to go on vacation without any penalties. Yeah, it is a bit hotter, a bit more expensive and a bit more crowded, but commitment takes sacrifice.

Many programs have graded performances that are not exactly within school rules.

Drama students have mandatory evening shows, there are weekend competitions for band, orchestra, choir, science fairs, mathletes and many other graded classes.

You are making a choice to leave during a time you know there is a commitment needed.

It is a choice you are making, thus not the school's fault.

I would reschedule my vacation so that my daughter won't have to be the one to bear the brunt of the punishment for your planning error.

wow, it must be so nice to reschedule a vacation. Again, not everyone can do this my hubby had to schedule his a year in advance and fat chance getting it changed, again people live in a fantasy world, the same fantasy that believes that any of this is going to matter more than a hill of beans years down the road, but family vacations and time together will matter most.