Shocked

[sam_gordon]

I completely agree with you, 100%. However, in my county's school district they actually make parents sign an agreement that outlines the rules of attendance and the consequences should you exceed the allowable 5 days. I do think that's crazy. Sort of makes me glad that I homeschool. I don't have to deal with that kind of stricture upon my family life. It's a shame that it has to be that way, schools can be a wonderful thing but I don't think it's right for them to decide what an excusable absence is or is not and then to punish for it accordingly.

Really? So who should decide what's "excused" vs. "unexcused" if not the school system? Schools do that so they treat all students the same. Should "Sally's" vacation be excused since she's an 'A' student but "Bob's" vacation be unexcused because he gets C's and D's?

Family time is just as important IMO as school time. Can't Disney be educational? Of course it can. You can practice math skills (simple counting for younger kids, fractions and such for older), reading (there are signs everywhere), and manners.

I'm sorry, I hate this argument. Family time can be had anywhere... the grocery store, the park, the ride home from school.

 

[3prettyprincesses]

Really? So who should decide what's "excused" vs. "unexcused" if not the school system? Schools do that so they treat all students the same. Should "Sally's" vacation be excused since she's an 'A' student but "Bob's" vacation be unexcused because he gets C's and D's?

I'm sorry, I hate this argument. Family time can be had anywhere... the grocery store, the park, the ride home from school.

Whoa partner, back it up! First off, what I said was that it seemed to me IMO that the consequences are crazy. Sure the school can decide what's excusable and what's not, but the punishment for it seems crazy to me. At least in my district anyway. I didn't say that little Sally who's an A student should be treated differently than Bob who is getting C's and D's. Actually I didn't even give any example, that is yours.

And my family time argument wasn't an argument at all. I'm not arguing, are you arguing? All I said that to me IMO (once again IMO) family time is as important as school time. And my 'Disney can be educational' was a lighthearted attempt at humor. I guess it didn't come across that way, sorry.

 

[Joy1619]

Frankly this makes me glad that I live in Canada, where the law has better things to do that prosecute, fine, or jail parents if little Johnnie isn't at school that day. Yeesh. And passing a grade should be tied to whether the child knows the material and has the knowledge for that grade and curriculum - not how many days they missed. So if a child is an A student but missed 6 days of school they get held back a grade? What a load of bunk.

 

[Luckymomoftwo]

So, if they have the power to "keep" your kids in school, does that mean that if you wanted to homeschool, they could say, NO, we have the power to keep them here and you may not homeschool??? Scary stuff if thats the case.

No, you have the right to homeschool, but I believe that the parents as well as the children have to pass certain state tests in allowance to continue home schooling.

 

[Snape]

Who pays the public school teachers salaries?

 

[G8r4evr]

Every park is packed. We were here last year same time....about a third of the crowd then. It is shocking. Yesterday at 10:45 all fast passes for Toy Story were gone. Wait time was 130 min.

We just returned home today and were surprised by the crowds. The parks were packed and the lines longer than I have seen them in quite some time.

For example:

We arrived at 10:45 and went straight to get Fast passes for Toy Story and they were all gone for the day...stand by was 90 minutes.

We got fast passes for Buzz last night and were told to return between 7:30 and 8:30, I believe it was....we got back at 8:05 and CMs were holding flags outside the entrance, showing those returning with Fast Passes where to line up. We were told the FP wait would be 30 - 40 minutes, but that if we didnt want to wait they would honor the FP's for the rest of the evening.

 

[A Mickeyfan]

I am reading all the comments referring to the child is your child and school isn't going to tell you what to do.. While there are policy's on absences, seems some really don't care because it is their child..
I have this to say about it..

It is my car and I will drive 60 in a 30. I don't care that there are speed limit signs.. it is my car, I paid for it and I will do what I want with it.. I don't care about the laws... now if I really did this, I would have to deal with the consequences that can follow as a direct result of my actions.. just as the parent will have to deal with what the school decides as their consequences..

I have taken my children out of school for Disney.. in Elem & Middle School.. but not High School.. they have too much to miss then.. and their consequences were something I did not want my children to have to deal with.. like with holding their credits because they had x-amount of unexcused absences...

I also don't think the OP was really commenting on what others should do with their kids, but just taken by surprised that Disney was so crowded..

 

[HsvTeacher]

Who pays the public school teachers salaries?

Teachers aren't the ones making attendance policies. That's an administrative decision. I understand what you're saying, though.

Personally, I don't care if a parent pulls out their child to go on vacation or any other personal reason if they feel their child can handle it, and they don't expect me to make crazy accommodations for them. Our administration, however, feels differently. Attendance is tied to funding.

Of course, I've also had classroom parents who couldn't be bothered to get out of bed to take their child to school. In those cases, attendance policies protect a child's educational rights, but that's a whole other issue.

 

[itchin2go]

And passing a grade should be tied to whether the child knows the material and has the knowledge for that grade and curriculum - not how many days they missed. So if a child is an A student but missed 6 days of school they get held back a grade? What a load of bunk.

I never ran into an attendance issue in primary, middle or high school, but in college, many professors had attendance policies. There was one class where I had an A average, but it was downgraded to a B because I missed one too many days. There was also a professor that WOULDN'T PASS YOU AT ALL if you didn't attend the requisite number of days. I was panicked at one point about that because I went to visit friends out of town and a snowstorm prevented me from getting home for awhile, causing me to miss several days (and I had already missed several other days -oops).

One part of me thinks -- that's not fair, but another part of me says, "You knew the rules from the get go and you got dangerously close to the line."

I still say, when a parent pulls a kid out of school, it's their business. If there are consequences, there are consequences. But THAT, likewise, is their business. I don't *get* the judgments from others on this thread (or countless other threads where this issue is debated). MYOB (not you - just, you know, as a strategy in life in general).

 

[sam_gordon]

Whoa partner, back it up! First off, what I said was that it seemed to me IMO that the consequences are crazy. Sure the school can decide what's excusable and what's not, but the punishment for it seems crazy to me. At least in my district anyway. I didn't say that little Sally who's an A student should be treated differently than Bob who is getting C's and D's. Actually I didn't even give any example, that is yours.

'Beep' 'Beep' 'Beep'. That's me backing up. Actually the consequences vary. I would think (and hope) prosecuting the parents are a last step. Personally, I think unexcused absences should simply be that... unexcused and no work (including tests) can be made up. Granted in younger elementary grades, it shouldn't matter. In middle or high school that could make a difference.

And my family time argument wasn't an argument at all. I'm not arguing, are you arguing? All I said that to me IMO (once again IMO) family time is as important as school time. And my 'Disney can be educational' was a lighthearted attempt at humor. I guess it didn't come across that way, sorry.

Sorry, didn't read the humor.

 

[3prettyprincesses]

'Beep' 'Beep' 'Beep'. That's me backing up. Actually the consequences vary. I would think (and hope) prosecuting the parents are a last step. Personally, I think unexcused absences should simply be that... unexcused and no work (including tests) can be made up. Granted in younger elementary grades, it shouldn't matter. In middle or high school that could make a difference.

Sorry, didn't read the humor.

No problem. Regarding the consequences, our district is quite harsh in that they can (after 5 unexcused absences) file a complaint with the juvenile court to enforce their attendance rules.

I suppose it's a slippery slope...you put your child in school and agree to their rules but feel constricted by said rules. It sounds frustrating for all, right?

 

[Joy1619]

I never ran into an attendance issue in primary, middle or high school, but in college, many professors had attendance policies. There was one class where I had an A average, but it was downgraded to a B because I missed one too many days. There was also a professor that WOULDN'T PASS YOU AT ALL if you didn't attend the requisite number of days. I was panicked at one point about that because I went to visit friends out of town and a snowstorm prevented me from getting home for awhile, causing me to miss several days (and I had already missed several other days -oops).

One part of me thinks -- that's not fair, but another part of me says, "You knew the rules from the get go and you got dangerously close to the line."

I still say, when a parent pulls a kid out of school, it's their business. If there are consequences, there are consequences. But THAT, likewise, is their business. I don't *get* the judgments from others on this thread (or countless other threads where this issue is debated). MYOB (not you - just, you know, as a strategy in life in general).

That is interesting, as my experience in University was that we were adults and expected to manage our own time, assignments, papers, and exams. There was no attendance taken, but if a lab wasn't done, an assignment not handed in, a paper not written, etc, it was a zero. Then if you fail the class well, too bad for you since you paid for it - fail two and they put you on academic suspension. My comment was on the postings of school divisions/areas where people were saying they would hold kids back a grade if they missed such-and-such many days, and others where they were saying that the parents were fined or jailed. That was what I considered bunk - you'll note that I did not make comments on ANY people's choices or opinions on it, I simply stated that in my opinion those school's policies were bunk. Also, no offense, but these boards are all about minding other people's business - that's why everyone's on here! But yes, I would agree with you that leaving out bashing other people's opinions would be really nice

 

[Angel Ariel]

I get being "annoyed' by what seems to be constricting school policies. To put it quite frankly, they are usually in place, as a PP said, to protect the child's right to an education because, sadly enough, there are parents out there who just don't give two hoots and won't take their kids to school if they don't feel like getting up in the morning.

Does it suck for people who are the complete opposite and just want to enjoy some time away with their kids? yes. But...how else does that protection get put in place for those students who NEED it? How does a school district come up with a policy that affects only "those" types of parents, and not the rest? i get that it's not "fair" - but there's little in life that is.

If one is so against the policies in place in a district, you have a few options. Put your kids in a charter or private school, or homeschool them. Or, if you want to keep them in public school - maybe direct the ire at the policy where the policy is created - at the superintendent and school board level, and not at the teachers who have nothing to do with the policy's creation.

The community elects the school board and the superintendent in most cases, I believe (that has been my experience) - so if you're (general you) not happy with what's going on - attend school board meetings. Be vocal. Get others behind you and appear to the school board as a unified group. Make your choice known in the elections.

Parents have the ability way more impact on things at the district level than teachers do - but, again in my experience only, the community as a whole is becoming less and less interested in being a part of the solution - just stating that there's a problem.

*not commenting on anyone specifically here - just the feeling I have gotten from the communities I have worked in*

ETA: This isn't specifically about attendance policies - but any policies in the school. I personally am of the "you agree to abide by the policy when you enroll your kids in the school" camp - and within that policy, feel free to do whatever. But if you break the "rules," be prepared for the consequences. But just in general I have noticed that people have no qualms complaining about the state of our education system, yet few seem interested in actually doing something about it. Again - not directed at anyone here, but attitudes I've come across IRL.

 

[4Robins]

I am sorry 4Robins (and this will be my only post to you); have you even TRIED to do any research? Just because you beleive something is true doesn't mean it is.

Hey there Happycamper, thank you for limiting your post to me to one!! I have NEVER typed a single unresearched word on this site. I have searched high and low online, in libraries and town and local bylaws and nowhere is it stated that a school system can dictate what you choose to do with your children. Yes, they have a set of parameters or guidelines that they feel would give you child the optimum chance to excell, but as far as actual everyday decisions, family decisions, they have no say. So I believe this because it IS true.

 

[castmemberb4]

I've only read page 1 of this thread so forgive me if someone has already mentioned this. We are in GA and a lot of schools in this area (not year round schools) had Fall break last week. As well as our Niece & Nephew in Alabama. It's an easy drive from either state I'm sure they got a lot of people from both.

 

[stitchfan23]

I have also only read the first page but last week was Canadian Thanksgiving and alot of schools had last Fri and this past Mon off so missing 4 days would give them a full week.

 

[JCJanko]

I am reading all the comments referring to the child is your child and school isn't going to tell you what to do.. While there are policy's on absences, seems some really don't care because it is their child..
I have this to say about it..

It is my car and I will drive 60 in a 30. I don't care that there are speed limit signs.. it is my car, I paid for it and I will do what I want with it.. I don't care about the laws... now if I really did this, I would have to deal with the consequences that can follow as a direct result of my actions.. just as the parent will have to deal with what the school decides as their consequences..

I have taken my children out of school for Disney.. in Elem & Middle School.. but not High School.. they have too much to miss then.. and their consequences were something I did not want my children to have to deal with.. like with holding their credits because they had x-amount of unexcused absences...

I also don't think the OP was really commenting on what others should do with their kids, but just taken by surprised that Disney was so crowded..

This is what we call a "false analogy," an informal logical fallacy. Unless you are implying that the person taking their children out of school endangers the rest of the class somehow (intellectually I guess, which is a ridiculous stretch at best), you putting people's LIVES in danger on the road is absolutely, positively, 100% nothing like the situation being discussed.

Please at least try to make a valid argument before posting. If you want to use the driving analogy, use parking in a handicapped spot. That would be more logical (and even then it affects the handicapped much more than someone's kids missing school affects other children). At least it's more rational.

 

[drdes]

I personally think that the people who take their kids out of school to go to WDW are a disgrace to themselves, their families and probably to their country as well (and at a stretch to the whole planet within the solar system).

I hope they are righfully ashamed of their actions and that some of the comments on this thread have made them feel guilty and will reconsider their plans - i think cancellation with NO REFUND should be a lesson to them.

Now if anyone is cancelling and have a Fantasmic lunch or dinner reservation that they will be giving up between 21st and 27th October - please PM me and let me know so that I can take your booking - its the least you can do and may (remember, "may" meaning no guarantees) mean that you dont go to hell!

 

[Albytaps]

i personally think that the people who take their kids out of school to go to wdw are a disgrace to themselves, their families and probably to their country as well (and at a stretch to the whole planet within the solar system).

I hope they are righfully ashamed of their actions and that some of the comments on this thread have made them feel guilty and will reconsider their plans - i think cancellation with no refund should be a lesson to them.

Now if anyone is cancelling and have a fantasmic lunch or dinner reservation that they will be giving up between 21st and 27th october - please pm me and let me know so that i can take your booking - its the least you can do and may (remember, "may" meaning no guarantees) mean that you dont go to hell!

lol

 

[sam_gordon]

I personally think that the people who take their kids out of school to go to WDW are a disgrace to themselves, their families and probably to their country as well (and at a stretch to the whole planet within the solar system).

I hope they are righfully ashamed of their actions and that some of the comments on this thread have made them feel guilty and will reconsider their plans - i think cancellation with NO REFUND should be a lesson to them.

Now if anyone is cancelling and have a Fantasmic lunch or dinner reservation that they will be giving up between 21st and 27th October - please PM me and let me know so that I can take your booking - its the least you can do and may (remember, "may" meaning no guarantees) mean that you dont go to hell!