Darn teachers

[nikki]

Well crap Walt - that really sucks. I hope somehow Bob can still make it with you guys!!

 

[Detonator]

I'm a certified teacher at both the Elementary and High School levels, both my parents are school Principals, and I find this situation repugnant. One of the most prevalent problems in schools is the lack of good home-based mentorship (particularly from dads). I've had native Indian boys leave school for 3 weeks to go moose hunting with their grandfathers, and the positive change in their behaviour and academic results upon return is remarkable.

This is worth fighting for. I can understand individual teachers being hard-headed or lazy about the situation, but if the school principal (or Dean) is actually going to penalize a student for experiencing a wholesome family activity, someone needs to lose a job. Any idea how many of my former students went away on sailboat excursions, trips to Florida, overseas tourism, etc? I promise you those things add more to a kid's life than a week of academics. That's the reason I quit teaching...stupid secular humanist Socialists in their self-righteous positions protected by unions. I would go to war with this school, no doubt!

 

[MrMXer327]

I wrote a letter to the school that stated that Jared would be taking an educational leave. On the leave, Jared would see and cross the Great Mississippi river, Take in the sight of the Gateway to the west in St Louis, Learn to new communications skills as he interacted with folks from different parts of the world, Engage in advanced physical activites with both adults and children his own age and sample Oklahoma's rich Native Indian cultural heritage.

The request was approved the very next day :yeehaw:

 

[gnarlykaw]

I'm with Gomer. We met with the teachers of both boys and just told them that they would be missing a week of school at the end of Sept. We asked if they could get the work they would be missing so they could work on it while they were gone. We never mentioned where or what they were going to be doing and the teachers didn't ask. Hope things change and he can make it after all.

Mrs. Gnarlykaw

 

[BunduBasher]

Funny thing is, my 10 year old is doing everything he can to skip dirtweek. He was selected at school to ride in a local parade, and he thinks this should be his priority ............ anyone looking for an almost new KLX110 :bang:

 

[CaptainObvious]

Funny thing is, my 10 year old is doing everything he can to skip dirtweek.

:| That must be a heart breaker.

 

[tnrider]

This is exactly what you have to do (MrMXer327's approach) - you have to "play the game". Unfortunately my wife is a teacher in the district and she is not allowed to take educational leave... Public schools don't want the kids out as they get paid federal money for their attendance rates - "unexcused" hits their bottom line!

I wrote a letter to the school that stated that Jared would be taking an educational leave. On the leave, Jared would see and cross the Great Mississippi river, Take in the sight of the Gateway to the west in St Louis, Learn to new communications skills as he interacted with folks from different parts of the world, Engage in advanced physical activites with both adults and children his own age and sample Oklahoma's rich Native Indian cultural heritage.

The request was approved the very next day :yeehaw:

 

[Detonator]

That Federal money comes from your pockets. Just give them permission to mark your child as being present on those days, and let the kid get a real education in values and fraternity.

Man...since when did students become inventory on a balance sheet? This is one of those misguided socialist things "...inattendance leads to dropout-ism; in order to decrease attrition, we'll encourage attendance, which we'll reinforce by a pay-per-day system, which will allow administrators to put pressure on parents, who will concede to sending Johnny to school." Pretzel-Logic!

 

[WaltCMoto]

This whole thing has me kinda chessed off. Or depressed, and confussed. I look forward to this all year and then something goes haywire. Oh well, this will give me some 1 on 1 time with Eric. Thats not all bad either. I hate to badmouth school, but these situations remind me why I didnt like school when I was there.

 

[BunduBasher]

he thinks this should be his priority ............ :bang:

well, the kid decided he's in, weather forcast for his parade is raining and chilly, had to drop off the forms at his school today for the teachers to sign - he's going whether they sign or not !

I think he decided if he is going to be wet and chilly, it may as well be on his bike :ride:

 

[tx246]

here in texas we face that same situation. your kid sitting in his seat for second period roll call is worth x amount of dollars to that school. the first time i brought my son to dirtweek, i sent a note to school stating that we took time off for a family function. i got a message on my phone recorder and a nasty letter from the school district threatning me about truancy and how i could end up in court, my kid losing credits, and me paying a big fine. to top it off, he wasnt allowed to make up the work. as much as i hate it, we now have to "lie" about him being sick to attend this event. this fact really bothers me. some school districts might show a little discretion, but not mine. freaking bastages