Venting about school's attendance policy

[crazymomof4]

Thanks everyone for your replies! Most of you had encouraging things to say and I really appreciate them.

damo~

Are they saying that they think he will have difficulties next year or just that he hasn't "done the time"?

The teachers are amazed and praise his ability to keep up. His average has stayed at A- all year. They call him a "very consciencious student". So it's definately a case of "not doing the time". It's actually the office that sends the threatening letters. I'm thinking (hoping) they are just a scare tactic to change the behavior of moms who keep their kids home for no reason.

Princess_Aurora~

I don't think it would be unreasonable to call up your dr when your kid gets sick and ask for an excuse for school.

I just spoke to a friend of mine (different school system) and she said she has called and given the Dr. her kid's symptoms over the phone and he will send a note. I guess this practice is more common than I thought. I'll be doing this from now on.

Doctor P~

Your son has now missed approximately 20% of the school days this semester

Actually, my original post stated that he has 15 unexcused days and 5 excused to date--that's for the year, not the semester!

I don't think that it is unreasonable for the school to either require that he go to summer school, take special tests to show competence

Why should he have to take SPECIAL tests to prove competance??? He is taking and getting great grades on the same tests his classmates are, plus he is taking the State's competancy tests. This kid already feels lousy about missing school. He crys and says, "Mom, why do I have to be sick so much?" & "I'm so tired of being sick!" Why should he have to be put through more to prove he is up to par with his peers?? Did I mention that he has been on the Honor Roll for all 3 marking periods this year?

Turning in all the back homework doesn't cut it in my book--there is a socialization and in class aspect to education

I don't understand. If his teachers are pleased, why doesn't it "cut it" with you? Are you suggesting that he should have his social skills tested to see if he is falling behind in that area and should possibly take the whole year over to relearn 5th grade social skills? We have 6 people living in a not-so-big house. Believe me, his social skills are tested often.

I do understand everyone's comments giving the school's side. I know that there must be a lot of parents who do not value education and abuse the attendance policy (like the sister to addicted_to_WDW). I guess I am just bothered by the fact that all of us are being judged based on that lowest of standards. Not all moms lie for their kids.

 

[jamsmom]

Let's be for real......we call in to the doctor's office and it will be a nurse who faxes to the school. Doctoe's nor nurses really have the time to fax tons of schools. Schools are just neding $ to pay administrators and NOT the teachers.....my rant, sorry.

 

[Planogirl]

A lot of these threats are generated automatically from what I understand. I bet that if you talk to the people at the school, they'll work with you on this and it will be a big relief for you.

 

[WebmasterAlex]

Have you tried having a meeting with the principal?
Maybe a face to face meeting to explain about the mono and the after effects would go a long way....
Unless the principal is just a jerk, in which case it doesn't matter what you do, maybe just hearing what is going on face to face could smooth a lot of waters....

 

[aroundtheworld]

I have been through the same thing this year with my DS who is in kindergarten. He has asthma and has also gotten several viruses this year. When he had missed 13 days I had to go see the assitant principal. (Here you are allowed 18 days then it's up to the principal whether you pass, the justice of the peace gets involved, etc.) While meeting with him he said if DS was sick again in the year send him or the teacher a note or give him a call the morning I kept him home or the day he went back. Ok. So, one morning he had a fever of 102 so I call the asst prin and tell him. He says ok but if it's more than one day I'll need a Dr's note. Huh? This was never brought up in our meeting and is note in the handbook we were given. And yes it does makes you feel like they are saying you are lying for your child. I don't like a school having control over when I take my child to the Dr. Our Dr doesn't want you to bring your child in for every fever they get. Like you said sometimes there is nothing they can do.

My DD attends the same school and had perfect attendance until she got pink eye (because other kids were coming to school with it). So it's not like I just don't send my kids to school.

My DS has had a rough year. We went to WDW during Thanksgiving break nad he was sick the first couple days we were there. And during his spring break he had Scarlet Fever and then a reaction to the antibiotic he was taking for it.

Good thing is we only have 5 more days of school!

 

[Megan's Mom]

I can't believe that they would say anything about a kindergartener's attendance. here the manditory age for school attendance is 7 so we usually let the K slide unless there is a pattern for the family but here they don't go to court for a 5-6 year old. They have beenwanting to change that though.

 

[aroundtheworld]

Yeah. I would think they would wait until they start 1st grade to start worrying about attendance. He is above average in everything they have learned this year. He knew a lot of the stuff they had to know at the end of the by the 1st nine weeks. He is a very bright 6 year old he just has had some health problems this year.

When I went to the meeting the asst prin didn't even know if notes had been sent or not. You would think when he sends a note home asking for you to schedule a meeting (an attendance hearing they call it) he would be prepared and get the notes from the teacher or talk to the teacher about what's going on, etc. I guess I need to do what someone else said and send a note to the office also.

Hopefully he will not have as many viruses, etc next year. He was never in daycare or preschool so this was his first year of being exposed to so many other kids and whatever they may have.

 

[crazymomof4]

aroundtheworld~

He was never in daycare or preschool

When I tell people this about my kids they look at me like I have 2 heads!!! Then I feel like I have to justify myself, like I am a bad mom for "just" keeping them home with me.


UPDATE on DS's health- I took him for blood tests ordered by the Dr. and got the results today. His white blood count and thyroid function are fine but his blood glucose (non-fasting) is a little high so the Dr. wants to retest it. I'm not really worried about it though bc. he had a bowl of pasta just before we got the blood drawn and we all know carbs turn right to sugar! Also, he was sick and any illness can effect blood glucose levels. I'm just glad everything else is normal. The Dr. also said he will write excuse notes for the 4 absences in the past 2 weeks--YAY!

Now DS has the summer to build up his immune system for WDW (I mean school of course.) in September!

 

[crazymomof4]

Please don't let me kill my own thread!!!!!!!!!

 

[aroundtheworld]

DS went to the Dr yesterday for a follow-up visit for his asthma. He is now on meds that seem to working better than what we have tried before this. So hopefully next year will be a better year for us.

 

[Mskanga]

MY kids school will only report you if you miss more than 21 unexcused days in one year, that does not include days that you are sick but they do start from kindergarten.
If you are sick one day here and there, they will accept the parent's note but if you are sick three days or more, they require a doctor's note. I have never had a problem , both of my children have been getting the flu shot for years now , (some parents thought I was nuts for doing it). I know they don't work with everything but since my oldest is borderline ashtmatic ( sp? ) , that's why we started. That's what makes my kids not get so sick in the winter.
It's amazing though how the laws change from school district to school district or state to state, all within the same country!