Originally posted by linguist
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Schools giving students unexcused absences...
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Originally posted by Hobbs View PostHow is your school's policy lenient compared to the OP school? Did you not have a maximum allowance of absences?Violence has resolved more conflicts than anything else. The contrary opinion that violence doesn't solve anything is merely wishful thinking at its worst. - Starship Troopers
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Originally posted by KnitShoni View PostWhat do the goof off days do to prepare them to be productive members of society?
Originally posted by Greenday View PostWell, my school had almost no punishment for absences. 16 was the amount of absences you were allowed before you had to have a doctor's note explain why you missed so much. They honestly didn't care as long as your grades were okay.
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Originally posted by KnitShoni View PostWhat do the goof off days do to prepare them to be productive members of society?
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Also, a lot of those "goof-off" days have class parties, games, assemblies, and other group activities that are important to developing social skills and a sense of community within the group. (I'm referring to elementary school, of course.) If you pull your kid out of school and he misses the holiday party, then there's an effect. He missed something that the rest of the group participated in.
There's also the issue, in terms of vacations, of jealousy and bitterness. Let's say that Jimmy's mom pulls him out of school once a year for a week to go on expensive vacations. Suzy, Jimmy's best friend, hears alllllll about his cool trips and is constantly whining to her mom, "But moooooommmm, Jimmy got to miss school to go to Disney World, why can't we go?" And then Suzy, all too early, gets to learn the lesson that there are different rules for kids from wealthy families than there are for poor kids.
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Originally posted by KnitShoni View PostWhat do the goof off days do to prepare them to be productive members of society?Violence has resolved more conflicts than anything else. The contrary opinion that violence doesn't solve anything is merely wishful thinking at its worst. - Starship Troopers
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Originally posted by linguist View Postthey aren't "goof off days" for everyone, and if you're to apply rules consistently, you can't say to some "you have to be here," and to others "it's ok if you skip today." if nothing else, it teaches them that sometimes you may not like what you have to do, but that doesn't mean it shouldn't be done.
It's not about different rules for different children. For those days, I don't see why ANY child should HAVE to be there those days.Do not lead, for I may not follow. Do not follow, for I may not lead. Just go over there somewhere.
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Originally posted by KnitShoni View PostThe teachers I've talked to really don't understand why the kids have to be there, either. All they're doing is turning in grades and finishing up administrative stuff. They feel like glorified daycare providers.
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Originally posted by linguist View Postthey aren't "goof off days" for everyone, and if you're to apply rules consistently, you can't say to some "you have to be here," and to others "it's ok if you skip today." if nothing else, it teaches them that sometimes you may not like what you have to do, but that doesn't mean it shouldn't be done.
Wouldn't you agree, by that spirit, that there's a lesson to be learned about trying to change something "you may not like [that] you have to do" when that thing is, honestly, pointless?
*I hate it when that word is used in a discussion It's almost always invariably:
"I don't like that brand of shoe. It hurts my feet, so I'm trying to change work's dress code."
"Stop whining and do something about it."
"....I am?"Last edited by Bronzebow; 09-16-2010, 04:08 PM.
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Originally posted by Hobbs View PostWhat teachers have you talked to? What grades do they teach, where do they teach, and what's the school district like? What would work in one school may not work in another. All I'm hearing from the "pro-absentee" crowd is anecdotal stories. Whereas I provided a study on absence in school, where is your proof?
I haven't seen one argument from you about the con-absentee. Just "I don't like your argument".Violence has resolved more conflicts than anything else. The contrary opinion that violence doesn't solve anything is merely wishful thinking at its worst. - Starship Troopers
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Originally posted by Bronzebow View PostYou keep saying that people on the other side should stop whining* and make some changes.
Wouldn't you agree, by that spirit, that there's a lesson to be learned about trying to change something "you may not like [that] you have to do" when that thing is, honestly, pointless?
If it ain't broke, don't fix it.
Originally posted by Greenday View PostSo you are saying that missing school on half-days and such at the end of the year when all the year's homework, tests, and assignments are done will somehow hurt their education?Last edited by Boozy; 09-16-2010, 11:01 PM.
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Originally posted by AdminAssistant View PostAlso, a lot of those "goof-off" days have class parties, games, assemblies, and other group activities that are important to developing social skills and a sense of community within the group. (I'm referring to elementary school, of course.) If you pull your kid out of school and he misses the holiday party, then there's an effect. He missed something that the rest of the group participated in.
There's also the issue, in terms of vacations, of jealousy and bitterness. Let's say that Jimmy's mom pulls him out of school once a year for a week to go on expensive vacations. Suzy, Jimmy's best friend, hears alllllll about his cool trips and is constantly whining to her mom, "But moooooommmm, Jimmy got to miss school to go to Disney World, why can't we go?" And then Suzy, all too early, gets to learn the lesson that there are different rules for kids from wealthy families than there are for poor kids.
Also, who's to say Jimmy's family is wealthy? Maybe they are poor and struggling but have saved up for that one vacation. Perhaps the best, most affordable time to go would be during school (hotel rates). Don't you think they've earned that trip? See, it's not just the spoiled rich kids who could get screwed over by such strict.
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Originally posted by Hobbs View PostYour last note about whining is pointless. You're not doing anything except whining on an online message board. Stop quibbling and actually do something about it.
99% of what we debate here is stuff that most of us don't have time to do anything about. Just because someone's not an activist doesn't mean they can't have an opinion to share.
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Originally posted by Hobbs View PostWhat teachers have you talked to? What grades do they teach, where do they teach, and what's the school district like? What would work in one school may not work in another. All I'm hearing from the "pro-absentee" crowd is anecdotal stories. Whereas I provided a study on absence in school, where is your proof?
At any rate, most of the people I graduated with have become teachers. I am still in contact with some of my high school teachers and college professors. They teach in various school districts across the state of Texas, with the majority of them working at school districts in and around the Houston area. The only reason I myself no longer teach is because I don't have the patience for it.Do not lead, for I may not follow. Do not follow, for I may not lead. Just go over there somewhere.
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Originally posted by KnitShoni View PostAt any rate, most of the people I graduated with have become teachers. I am still in contact with some of my high school teachers and college professors. They teach in various school districts across the state of Texas, with the majority of them working at school districts in and around the Houston area. The only reason I myself no longer teach is because I don't have the patience for it.
Houston? That explains it
Even my school, which was about as lax as they came, still adhered to the attendance rules, and we never had problems with it. In fact, my school as a majority had a better attendance record than our host school.
Ed. My 1400th Post! Woot!Last edited by Hobbs; 09-17-2010, 06:29 PM.
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