Teachers are giving me a hard time pulling kids out of school

[KellyNY]

Memories should be every day. If my kids only have memories of WDW then I've messed up the parenting entirely.

Too harsh, really. Do you know how many single parents out there working 2, 3 jobs, or parents going to school and work in addition to be a parent, how many people are self employed and work without days off 12 hours a day, what about night shifts, seasonal jobs, military and so on. It is a nice idea to work 9-5, and create memories every day. Sorry but life does not always work that way. There are plenty of people who can actually create memories only on vacation, besides national holidays and Bdays.

 

[Bob Price]

I'm sorry if I've been a bit snippy to the teachers here, but there is a reason I'm still a bit angry.

In January, 2008 I took my DGD to WDW for her 9th birthday. Her mother cleared it with the principal at the begining of the year, but her teacher was not happy about it. At the end of the school day, the day before we left, she gave my DGD a huge packet with several dozen exercises in it & told her (and her mother) that it had to be done by the time she got back. This was what she would be missing - and if she didn't complete it all, she would be behind.

We spent 1 to 2 hours on it every night, and barely made a dent. It was a complete mess. There were questions on readings that weren't included (and not in the text books - we brought them all with us) - and no indication what they were to. There was a cross-word puzzle that was missing all the Across questions (the second page). Pages missing from exercises (on several it was the first page - with the instructions). Some were so poorly copied, you couldn't read them. It was a big mess.

She had one day between the time we got back & school (the MLK Jr holiday). Her adult half-sister sat down with her and they worked for 12 hours to finish the assignments.

And when she went back to school the next day, her teacher told her she didn't need to collect it just then. Eventually, TWO of the assignments were given to her class - about a month or so later. The rest were never assigned (and her mother found out that most of them were years old, and the readings were from books they didn't use anymore).

Basically, her teacher decided to punish her. To teach her a lesson about how HER CLASS was too important to miss. I'm sure she thought she was totally justified. I don't happen to agree.

Maybe she should have stayed in school.

 

[lunapnp]

There is a huge difference between nurses, nurse practitioners and teachers. The tax payers all contribute to the teacher's salary and for some reason they think that gives them the right to dictate their every move which adds so much more stress. Teaching has it's rewards but I'm glad I didn't choose teaching. My dad did everying in his power to discourage me from teaching because he didn't want me to go through what he did. My wife is now going throug it though.

Just to clarify...I was NOT comparing nurses to teachers in any way. If you will re-read my post, I was stating the point that even though I am a nurse practitioner, there are parts of my job that SUCK, too. It's not JUST teachers who have to put up with crap at their job. You want to talk about a profession where people want to dictate your every move...try working in the medical profession!

I would love to know some of these jobs that make it impossible to travel during those 185 non school days.

I will give you a different perspective on this...and it doesn't REVOLVE around a job. My oldest DD has cerebral palsy and is 13 years old. They get roughly 10 weeks off for summer break. She usually spends the first four weeks of break in an intensive therapy program...then takes a week "off" to go to summer camp. Then usually another 3-4 weeks of more intensive therapy. So, that leaves about 2 weeks of "free" time for her. Now, I know the response before I even post this. "Well, that gives you two weeks to travel to Disney." Yes, it does. However, my daughter's HEALTH takes priority. She physically could not handle a summer day at Disney. We will not even consider a trip to Disney in the summer. That being said, our school system FORTUNATELY takes a week in the fall off, so we are able to go to Disney then. Just to get this off of my chest...I don't think a week in the mountains makes for "better" family memories over a week at WDW. It's whatever floats your boat...and it sounds like the mountains float your boat more! My family LOVES Disney...I'm thrilled for those who DON'T love Disney! Less crowds for us!

 

[Withacy]

Maybe she should have stayed in school.

Luckily, you have no say in the matter.

I took my goddaughter when I could go - which happened to be her 9th birthday (I generally work around a January vacation because my birthday is the same day - and for a number of bureaucratic reasons, Januarys are kind of slow). Her parents don't have the money to take them to Disney World, and she'd never been to an amusement park or even stayed in a hotel before. And she's not likely to get a chance like this again in the forseeable future. I'm sorry if that upsets some people's idea of the order of the universe, but that's just too bad.

My goddaughter was getting A's before, and she's getting A's now. Her teacher wasn't happy, and got her revenge by pulling that nasty stunt, even though we followed the school's rules and had permission. In the end, what she gained that week was worth a hundred times anything she might have lost. Which, when you think about it, was no more than she would've lost with a bad case of the flu.

 

[lunapnp]

My kids hardly miss school except for the week we go on vacation each year. The point is they are my kids and if I call in I don't give a reason. The same with my place of employment. I hardly ever miss work either but I don't need to give an answer because it is my business. Same with the school. If it is something they need to know then I will tell them.

On another note, if all you teachers are so busy and don't have any extra time then why are you on this board posting? Not trying to be a smart a** but just wondering.

I was sssooo not going to try and "keep up" with this thread... especially the many posts that are made while I'm at WORK! But maddmike, you so made it worth reading back through some of the posts!!! I don't care who you are (or what you do)....that's funny! People need to lighten up and learn to laugh at theirself!!!

 

[Disneyholic]

yes, their job is to teach - spelling for instance - an abject lesson in the need for teachers!!

Thanks! I needed that & completely agree with you. Someone's teacher failed in their job as a teacher from what I see (or someone skipped too many days of school for vacation when they were teaching spelling & grammar. Yes grammar is spelled correctly, because if I type something & doesn't look right I do either spell-check or google the spelling I have to make sure it is right)

 

[itchin2go]

Have you worked with any young adults lately? There is the belief that they should be able to do what they want, when they want, and not have it affect them. Most of life isn't like that. Higher Ed isn't, and the work world surely isn't. Just ask all of those that can't go when it is appropriate.

Might want to be careful with that broad brush.

 

[princessmom29]

I just want to put this out there for all of you facing the extreme attendance policies like where I live. There is a way around the policy. Our attendance officer told me this in a round about way. She said I could un-enroll my dd from school on the day we left and re-enroll her when we return. None of the days would count in that instance.

Here is the wording of our policy straight from our handbook:

A court of law may also impose penalties against both the student and his or her parents if a school-aged student is deliberately not
attending school. An attendance warning letter may be sent to parents of students absent without excuse for three or more days within
a grading period. A complaint against the parent may be filed in court if the student is absent without excuse from school on five or
more days or parts of days within a semester.

Won't work here. If a child is not enrolled in a school, or documented as part of a home school program within 5 days of withdrawing they are considered truant. Also, if you are withdrawn within 14 days of the end of a quarter you cannot reenroll in the same school until the next quarter and will not get credit for the class unless you enroll in a different school within 5 days of withdrawing. attendance records travel from school to school within the system so you will keep any absences you accumulated. So to sum up you cannot be without a school for more than 5 days without being penalized for it.

 

[Pinkpony]

Can't bite my tongue any longer.

What scares me the most about this thread is the rather large percentage of "professed" educators and teachers on here using such poor spelling and poor grammar. I know it's just a chat room, but...

Some people's' are shore pashnut bout them schooling's awrihgt.

 

[princessmom29]

Can't bite my tongue any longer.

What scares me the most about this thread is the rather large percentage of "professed" educators and teachers on here using such poor spelling and poor grammar. I know it's just a chat room, but...

Some people's' are shore pashnut bout them schooling's awrihgt.

I have already been bashed here several times for being dyslexic and having a hard time with spelling. I am so tired of it I refuse to address it at this point.

 

[dormouse72]

I think part of it also is the school's truancy policy. I live in a small district - no more than 1500 kids in total. The teachers from all the schools know each of my kids - the youngest one is best friends with the daughter of her eldest sister's HS English teacher. They all know we are going and, while some are more ok with it than others, they aren't giving us a big problem - just to make sure the kids e-mail in any questions to the regular class blog and go to the scheduled extra-help sessions. They look at is on a case-by-case basis and the guidance counselor will talk to you about your decision if your child is struggling (I know because I had that conversation with them last year when I was planning this trip; DD #1's grades slipped a bit and when she knew the school and I were talking about her missing the trip - her aunt was willing to stay behind with her - those grades came back up in a hurry!).

The district next door is huge. They have five HS with more that 1500 kids in each, not to mention a number of different middle and elementary schools. They have a large truancy problem and have very strict attendance policies (no I'm not making a correlation between large schools and truancy; it is in this case that they have one). My co-worker lives in that district and could NEVER bring her kids during the off-season because they could be expelled for five days missed for anything other than illness (and after three days you need a doctor's note); the district policy is the same over all the schools, no matter if that particular school has a truancy issue or not. To them, missed school is missed school and all schools must conform to district policy.

I understand it, but it's also one of the reasons why I pay through the nose for a tiny apartment in my district rather than much less for a larger place in that one.

 

[lunapnp]

Can't bite my tongue any longer.

What scares me the most about this thread is the rather large percentage of "professed" educators and teachers on here using such poor spelling and poor grammar. I know it's just a chat room, but...

Some people's' are shore pashnut bout them schooling's awrihgt.

Just as a preface...I am not an educator as I stated before. But, did you ever think that some people just can't type??? Maybe they are sending it from an iphone, blackberry, etc. where it is even MORE difficult to type? Maybe they didn't re-read what they typed?? Maybe even more so they just don't give a rats a*# what they typed????

 

[TLinden16]

Since this has turned into a discussion of school policies on attendance, and doesn't really have anything to do with trip planning, I think it's more appropriate for the community board, so I'm going to move this over there now.

 

[Minniemama350]

with a family trip. I hope you have a wonderful time.However, I am required to enforce the attendance policy. I signed a contract that said I would support all of the rules. I did not make the rules, but enforce them I must. It is interesting to me that it is somehow my fault just because I am the teacher, if the rules aren't exactly what everyone wishes for. It is also interesting to me that some people are not willing to see why it would be unfair to ask a teacher to go above and beyond what they are doing in their classroom already. If a teacher volunteers to email, that is a different story. I have a problem with someone asking me to do more as a convenience to them without ever considering the impact on me. I already work many more hours than I am paid for. Where I live, teachers are being furloughed, our benefits are being cut and we're already being asked to do way more than any other year that I have taught (15 years).

And as to the "mistakes" some of my fellow teachers and possibly I have made while typing, my nerves tend to get a little frazzled after being patient with your children all day. Were this an assignment for my students, I would be certain to proofread and edit.

Respectfully

 

[dfularz]

I too am a teacher who next month plans to take our daughter (and myself) out of school for a quick trip down to WDW for the F&W Festival. When parents would take students out of school for vacation, I tried to only send with them the most important work, the essential items. I personally do not want to have my daughter making up school work while we are on vacation, but I understand that in order to keep up with NCLB, she will have to. Please understand that as a teacher, we are tied up with NCLB rules and regs. Our districts in PA must have a 95% attendance rate for the year or we don't make AYP. So I can understand where schools may be a bit more strict about students taking vacations. If you are in a district where many parents do this, then the school is ultimately held accountable for your child's absence and then gets punished because of it. I realize how unfair this is, but in my opinion, NCLB regs in PA at least are extremely unfair.... Until changes are made with the NCLB rules, schools are going to have to make decisions like these, as unfair as they are.
But anyway.....Have a great trip!!!

 

[creativeamanda]

Can't bite my tongue any longer.

What scares me the most about this thread is the rather large percentage of "professed" educators and teachers on here using such poor spelling and poor grammar. I know it's just a chat room, but...

Some people's' are shore pashnut bout them schooling's awrihgt.

I am typically a great speller, but I make typographical errors all the time.

I do take offense to your last sentence. . .it's comments like that that make people without knowledge of my education or my abilities deduct 20 IQ points when they hear my Southern accent. I can assure you that 99% of the teachers I know are very intelligent people and I know very few people who actually talk like that. I live near the famed "Corridor of Shame", too, so I should know unintelligent backward people that you are referring to, but I don't.

Also, spelling is not the be-all and end-all to knowledge. My daughter is a 10-year-old child who is very precocious and highly intelligent. She has a learning disability in written expression that is mostly exhibited in poor spelling. She does very little writing without a document program with spell check or a Franklin speller. The next time a person feels this is a valid point (ie, spelling), then they might want to take learning disabilities into account. People with learning disabilities are not unintelligent. They learn differently.

 

[disney1990]

In the county that I live in, teachers may not give children any of the work that they would miss which they are on an unexcused absence. If homework is due -- then they receive an incomplete for it. If they miss a test or a quiz, then they receive a zero on each one that was missed -- no exceptions.

Maryland law (Section 7-301 of the Education Article) requires regular school attendance of children between five and sixteen years of age. Any person who has legal custody or care and control of a child five years old and under 16, who fails to see that the child attends school or receives instruction under this section is guilty of a misdemeanor and:
(i) a first conviction is subject to a fine not to exceed $50.00 per day of unlawful absence or imprisonment not to exceed ten days, or both;
(ii) a second or subsequent conviction is subject to a fine not to exceed $100 per day of unlawful absence or imprisonment not to exceed 30 days, or both.

A lot of this is brought on my the standards set by "No Child Left Behind."

 

[creativeamanda]

I must add that even though our district calls and counts absences as unexcused, because we are not allowed to give 0s for suspensions (the argument is that they have been punished enough), it is also against policy to give 0s for any other unexcused absence. More than 10 unexcused absences=automatic failure, however, but parents are given the option of letting their children make up this time in after school programs.

And this is a policy in schools in South Carolina, not North Carolina.

 

[mhsjax]

I understand the accountant thing. But sunburn? I bet I'm paler than you and I can manage to maneuver around WDW just fine in the summer.

For some it is more than sunburn, I have relative that becomes physically ill in the sun, breaks out in open sores and also swells beyond belief. also I now from personal exprience that there are a lot of people who can't get off during the summer,

 

[GraceLuvsWDW]

For all of you teachers out there I just want to say I in no way blame any of the attendance policy on you. I realize you are merely to follow the rules. I think the attendance officer has one of the most difficult jobs of all!

That said, I think the trend toward these excessive attendance policies is ridiculous. As we previously discussed, a butt in the seat does not make a good student. MANY other factors come far before that such as parental involvement (which, imo is more often represented and fostered by a family taking regular family vacations), reading at home, stressing the importance of education, and supplementing the education a child receives at school. I could go on to mention extracurricular activites have been shown to keep students interested in school, also involement in the community or church. The line that attendance policy is doing anything but optimize funding is misleading. NCLB has absolutely NO PROVISION of mandatory attendance guidelines. It does mention truancy prevention and record keeping but that's it. The attendance policies are completely a function of MONEY.