Okay to miss school for fun stuff?
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| Thu, 01-31-2013 - 2:52pm |
Moms cited visiting family members, vacations, special sibling events, concerts, and even “mental health days” as good reasons to take kids out of school.
Alyssa Chirco, a mother of one who lives outside St. Louis, agrees that parents, not school administrators, know best. “I reserve the right to check my child out of school at any time, for any reason.”
What is the harm in missing a day here or there? Teachers and administrators talk about lost learning time, but the financial reasons are just as relevant. Most schools are funded using a formula that incorporates the average daily attendance. Absences mean fewer dollars allocated.
http://www.today.com/moms/parents-split-over-whether-its-ok-let-kids-miss-school-1B8186531
What do you think? Is it okay for students to miss class for fun things? Have you let your children do it before?
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Aren't "poor performing schools" those who do not have the right percentage of kids passing the standardized tests (never mind the stupidity of all the testing in the first place?). As I said, if I had a kid who was in danger of not passing the standardized test, and therefore having scores that count against the school, I'd be quite worried. The child isn't learning what the state says the child should be learning. Assuming the test is a good instrument to measure learning (big assumption there) eiither something is going wrong with the child, or something is going wrong with the school, or a combination of both. If something is going wrong with the child, the child needs services to find out why he/she isn't learning, and then to bring him or her up to grade level, if at all possible. If nothing is wrong with the child, then the school isn't doing its bit to provide the lessons that will allow the child to pass the standardized test.
Well, I'm familiar with your stand on state tests, Lol, I don't like them either but for now, that's all there is, And they are tied to funding! So what do you do, educator.. For fun breaks, fancy trips now and then are ok as long as kid is passing?
<<If something is going wrong with the child, the child needs services to find out why he/she isn't learning, and then to bring him or her up to grade level, if at all possible. If nothing is wrong with the child, then the school isn't doing its bit to provide the lessons that will allow the child to pass the standardized test.>>
The parent should intervene and have a role in there somewhere. Set study hours, delay or deny fun activities until homework is done, know and remind the child when her tests are scheduled ~ then ask the child how the test went, instill the importance of education in your child. I don't doubt children who come home after school to an empty house, are often unsupervised or have parents who don't even show an interest are the ones who don't perform well in school.
>>For fun breaks, fancy trips now and then are ok as long as kid is passing? <<
I would think the point is ... if a child is doing well, a missed day here and there won't change that.
If a child isn't doing well, a missed day here and there isn't going to change that and the school should investigate why the child isn't doing well.
When my child attended a private school, the principal would allow some children to miss school for family vacations. She based her decision on how well the child was doing in school. Her assumption was, if they are doing well, they know the importance of education and can afford to miss a week of school. Doesn't make much sense if you ask me.
This same principal blamed my sons academic struggles on his absences due to illness. My son was recently diagnosed with adhd, inattentive type.
Both her assumptions were wrong. So, really, a fun day or not, a missed day here or there will not have a profound impact on a child's education.
I value education too much to believe that, Or perhaps I just take campaigns about keeping your kids in school too seriously! I do have one kid that struggles academically, She's on an IEP for that too. I work with the teachers that help her and work my darndest to help her myself too, But it is frustrating when programs like that get cut (and other programs, btw too) b/c of others negligence and carelessness that contribute to low test scores! Problems in schools today are b/c of the breakdowns at home more than anything else.
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