School districts punishing parents for taking kids out for Disney!

[the Fidge]

May I say what a lark?? OUr school district is CLOSED for the first day of hunting!! Now isn't that grand? We don't have a bully program and our district is rated very badly in the math program. SO why not spend 1/2 million on beautifying the grounds instead, sure makes sense here!!!

I don't think you want my answer to penalizing my child for a vacation, thank goodness we have a hunting program now thats important. No, we have no hockey or lacrosse but by golly we sure got us some rifles!!! Woo hoo!

OK now I am done with my rant, sorry you may now return to your regulalry scheduled program.

 

[treboats]

I will pay them $36 a day to take my child out of school when they give me $36 a day for snow days, grade days (which we have one tomorrow and the teachers don't even have to work WTH is grade day?) and teacher work days. I have to pay a sitter on all of those days so it is a financial hardship to me.

 

[Tink561]

As a teacher, I say okay. Schools need every penny they can get and if parents are going to take students out of school for vacations and the district loses money because of that, then I don't see anything wrong with it. If the district loses money due to those kinds of absences, then it starts to hurt all the kids in the school. I would pay it myself if I could take my kids out of school during an off time.

Should the parents get $$ for the teacher planning days that they have to pay someone to take care of their kids?

 

[Tink561]

Ah, a school district that actually admits that it is indeed all about the money. No one seems too concerned that the children are missing out on academic instruction.


So glad we homeschool.

Exactly!

 

[dfarner]

I don't think that I would have a problem paying for my kids to be out of school if it was truly a financial hardship for the school system. BUT if that school system is in such dire straights, I would also be expecting that all other extracurriculars are being paid for by parents as well. $36.xx is a bargain to me for everything that my kids get in return for quality family time in a place that offers all kinds of educational opportunities. I would hope that the parents of school athletes, musicians, dancers, and other activities would feel the same and offer to fork over the same funds required to provide the transportation, uniforms, and equipment. I know that in most school systems those things are part of the budget. If the school districts can work that into the yearly financials, perhaps they should look at the value of time with families and budget for that as well. JMO.

Actually, my daughter is in several extracurriculars and we pay for EVERYTHING. I have not ever known a district that pays for all uniforms, equipment, or instruments. Many times those are the first programs cut from a school budget.

 

[mericletwins]

Should the parents get $$ for the teacher planning days that they have to pay someone to take care of their kids?

I think that is comparing apples to oranges. Teacher in-service days (I'm not sure what a teacher planning day is, though I would love to have a day to plan) are scheduled on the school calendar and ALL students are out of school, including mine. This is not considered a state attendance day and therefore the school district is not financially penalized. This may be a good time to take a child on vacation since they are not missing school. These are two completely separate issues. Also not sure what a grade day is to a previous poster. I have never heard of this.

 

[Tink561]

I just think it's rediculous and there is no way I would pay them a dime. Just think of all the money they are wasting sending out those requests. You know since "it's just a request" like the article states, most parents are going to throw them away. How is that for the system at work?

 

[katyjeka]

Hats off to the above poster. Finally a school district that admits it IS all about the money!!! Couldn't agree more. I actually feel sorry for the teachers who really care about the kids and are concerned with their future, as the "system" is geared to just push them through. Janice

 

[mrsltg]

I think that is comparing apples to oranges. Teacher in-service days (I'm not sure what a teacher planning day is, though I would love to have a day to plan) are scheduled on the school calendar and ALL students are out of school, including mine. This is not considered a state attendance day and therefore the school district is not financially penalized. This may be a good time to take a child on vacation since they are not missing school. These are two completely separate issues. Also not sure what a grade day is to a previous poster. I have never heard of this.

The point is, the parent is financially penalized on these "work" days because they have to find alternative care for their children. If a district is going to bill parents for days a student misses, I have no problems with parents billing school districts for days they are closed when they should be open. In fact, I would like to see districts pay-up when kids come out of grade unable to perform the basics of the grade they have completed, days when a sub is called in (no offense to subs, but regardless of the lesson plan left in place, the kids are not getting the instruction they are supposed to), days when school is closed due to weather and there is no reason for it, half days because vacation begins the next day (?!), etc etc etc.

 

[DawnM]

Well, this is strictly voluntary, so I am not that upset...the schools can try to get the money....but they can't enforce it.

BTW: I am a teacher too. I just can't get that worked up about it.

The school district is set up to only receive funds for students who are present.....our school in LA actually moved homeroom to AFTER first period so that we would have more kids accounted for!

Most schools in California don't have excused absenses for trips though and teachers are not required to give make up work for unexcused absenses. That would concern me more than paying for the absenses.

Dawn

 

[Starr W.]

The point is, the parent is financially penalized on these "work" days because they have to find alternative care for their children. If a district is going to bill parents for days a student misses, I have no problems with parents billing school districts for days they are closed when they should be open. In fact, I would like to see districts pay-up when kids come out of grade unable to perform the basics of the grade they have completed, days when a sub is called in (no offense to subs, but regardless of the lesson plan left in place, the kids are not getting the instruction they are supposed to), days when school is closed due to weather and there is no reason for it, half days because vacation begins the next day (?!), etc etc etc.

Or like Wednesday here in NW Ohio, 3" of snow overnight and every major district closed . Could have gotten them in with the 2hr delay.

Now why don't the districts structure some of these "workdays" and Monday holidays better? Here's an example, back to school on the first Wednesday of January(3day week) followed by a full week, then MLK and no school on Friday(grade day) 3day week. Following week 1 day off with "snow day".

Talking with my son's teachers(coteach in 4th grade), the teachers are not too happy with the schedule(we had a wacky week in early November also) as it is hard to teach Monday, off Tuesday, Wed. Thursday, off Friday. I think all the teachers are on the same page(elementary,MS, HS) and are bringing this up at the next board meeting. I think a couple of longer weekends during the year might help cut some of the vacation abs.

 

[DawnM]

That is taking it a bit far. The public education system is not a public babysitting service......although that is what my husband calls it! LOL!

Dawn

Should the parents get $$ for the teacher planning days that they have to pay someone to take care of their kids?

 

[powellrj]

I don't think that I would have a problem paying for my kids to be out of school if it was truly a financial hardship for the school system. BUT if that school system is in such dire straights, I would also be expecting that all other extracurriculars are being paid for by parents as well. $36.xx is a bargain to me for everything that my kids get in return for quality family time in a place that offers all kinds of educational opportunities. I would hope that the parents of school athletes, musicians, dancers, and other activities would feel the same and offer to fork over the same funds required to provide the transportation, uniforms, and equipment. I know that in most school systems those things are part of the budget. If the school districts can work that into the yearly financials, perhaps they should look at the value of time with families and budget for that as well. JMO.

wow, where do your kids go to school. Not only do we pay for all those things, (DS was just invited to join the "special choir" at a cost of "only" around $2,500), but we also pay several hundred dollars per child every year in book and registration fees. Thats the reason my kids don't do many extracurricular activities anymore. We can't afford them.

I am always surprised how many people can still take their kids out of school for trips anymore. We have had a very strict attendance policy and they can only miss 5 days before you get a letter threatening legal action.

 

[kribit]

Who pays the taxes to run the schools? Last I checked I had a $9000 property tax bill and the feds take quite a bit of my paycheck every week. If (as the responsible parent), I was going to take my child out of school for a week, it would be a cold day in hell before the school took $36 per day from me. Give me a break!

 

[leighe]

The point is, the parent is financially penalized on these "work" days because they have to find alternative care for their children. If a district is going to bill parents for days a student misses, I have no problems with parents billing school districts for days they are closed when they should be open. In fact, I would like to see districts pay-up when kids come out of grade unable to perform the basics of the grade they have completed, days when a sub is called in (no offense to subs, but regardless of the lesson plan left in place, the kids are not getting the instruction they are supposed to), days when school is closed due to weather and there is no reason for it, half days because vacation begins the next day (?!), etc etc etc.

I'm sorry. As a teacher this post really bothers me. School is not child care. When schools are closed for bad weather it is for the saftey of students. When teachers have professional development days it is to ultimately benefit the students we teach.

I agree that charging parents for unexcused absences is slightly ridiculous and that schools are way top heavy when it comes to administrative costs but the general disdain for public education shown on this thread shocks and saddens me. Many rules and procedures about school funding stem directly from state legislatures and/or federal mandates. If you don't like the way the system is run contact your representatives - don't just automatically think think the school system is sitting around trying to come up with ways from keeping you from taking your kids to Disney.

 

[dfarner]

I'm sorry. As a teacher this post really bothers me. School is not child care. When schools are closed for bad weather it is for the saftey of students. When teachers have professional development days it is to ultimately benefit the students we teach.

I agree that charging parents for unexcused absences is slightly ridiculous and that schools are way top heavy when it comes to administrative costs but the general disdain for public education shown on this thread shocks and saddens me. Many rules and procedures about school funding stem directly from state legislatures and/or federal mandates. If you don't like the way the system is run contact your representatives - don't just automatically think think the school system is sitting around trying to come up with ways from keeping you from taking your kids to Disney.

Very well said Leighe. I would be anxious to see how many of the public school parents that have posted on this thread have actually been to a school board meeting.
Several posters mentioned snow days-this is for the safety of all students in your district, whether they ride a bus, walk, or a transported by parents. I live within walking distance of my daughter's school and we could have gotten her to school every day thus far. However, in other areas of our district children are subject to longer commutes and unsafe road conditions. Some of you that have posted sound like the school districts are punishing you by keeping your kids out of school on days they deem unsafe.

 

[declansdad]

I'm sorry. As a teacher this post really bothers me. School is not child care. When schools are closed for bad weather it is for the saftey of students. When teachers have professional development days it is to ultimately benefit the students we teach.

I agree that charging parents for unexcused absences is slightly ridiculous and that schools are way top heavy when it comes to administrative costs but the general disdain for public education shown on this thread shocks and saddens me. Many rules and procedures about school funding stem directly from state legislatures and/or federal mandates. If you don't like the way the system is run contact your representatives - don't just automatically think think the school system is sitting around trying to come up with ways from keeping you from taking your kids to Disney.

Bravo!!!!

 

[declansdad]

Double post

 

[crisi]

Of course its all about money - how are you going to keep class sizes small without sufficient funds to pay teachers? $200,000 for a small district in California may be three teachers. My school district keeps administration costs very low. We pay additional for all recreation activities. And we still have elementary classes over 30 children in size. We also have a state model where the formula for schools to get state dollars includes attendance.

 

[Sunny37]

I'm sorry. As a teacher this post really bothers me. School is not child care. When schools are closed for bad weather it is for the saftey of students. When teachers have professional development days it is to ultimately benefit the students we teach.

I agree that charging parents for unexcused absences is slightly ridiculous and that schools are way top heavy when it comes to administrative costs but the general disdain for public education shown on this thread shocks and saddens me. Many rules and procedures about school funding stem directly from state legislatures and/or federal mandates. If you don't like the way the system is run contact your representatives - don't just automatically think think the school system is sitting around trying to come up with ways from keeping you from taking your kids to Disney.

ITA!!!!!