School absences - when is it okay?

[Clare]

Do you think it's okay to keep your child home from school whenever you want to? Would you let them skip school to go to a concert or the zoo or some other fun activity?

It's actually illegal here to keep children out of school unless they are unwell. If they are unwell,you are supposed to produce a medical certificate. You can be fined $1000 for unaccountable absences.

I agree with this. I think children need to learn that they have to go to school. Fun activities can be saved for weekends and school holidays. I have a friend however, who constantly keeps her son home when he isn't sick. She's let him have days off to go to the zoo, to go to parties and concerts. If he needs any appointments - like dentist - she makes them during school hours and lets him take the day off school. He doesn't particularly like school and I think she's sending him the wrong message - that it's okay not to go if you have a better offer :dunno:

I'm interested to hear other opinions on this :)

[Anne]

For the most part I think "fun" stuff should be scheduled outside school, especially as the child gets older. That being said... Once a year, my dad always took us out of school midday on a Friday to go to the LA county fair to beat the crowds (I am guessing that is the reason). It is something I even remember as a special thing now.

He also extended our summer vacation (road trip across the US) by a few days one year to allow us to see one more national park (Zion National Park) and felt we probably learned more doing that than we would have the first few days of class.

These days were far and few between. I am sure there were a couple of others but skipping school was not something they took lightly.

[Kara]

Well, I wouldn't keep my kids home to attent a party or concert LOL....but we have missed school if we extended our vacation or he missed a Friday if we went on a weekend trip. Other than that, he has been sick when he missed.

[TtownAnne]

Hmmmm, I'd say generally unless it is unavoidable (i.e., it's nearly impossible to get a dentist's appointment less than 5 months out, so I'll jump on whatever day they give me!) then no. That said, it is an exception for younger kids. Last year and this year Caroline will be missing a few days of school while we go to Disney. It's not ideal, but hey, this is still effectively preschool, and we certainly plan to make our trips less frequent as school gets more important, but likewise we figure she has her whole adult life to have to work every day. Missing a few days won't be the end of the world unless she's doing really poorly in school. Other than an award at school, you don't get anything in life for attending every single day!

[Jayne]

Well, I wouldn't keep my kids home to attent a party or concert LOL....but we have missed school if we extended our vacation or he missed a Friday if we went on a weekend trip. Other than that, he has been sick when he missed.

:nod:

Tylor missed a whole week last year to go to Florida (granted it was partly for his Aunts wedding but it was also to go to Disney and such) - This was about an 18 hour drive away. He ended up missing the rest of the year because of the accident but I didn't have a problem with him missing that week.

It is rare that Tylor ever even misses a single day. He wouldn't want to just skip school and I don't find it appropriate to just pull them to go to the zoo. For us though for the Dr's appts and such we have to do them during school. It is the only time the Dr. is open :dunno:

[Dennis]

I think it's fine as long as it's not a regular occurance, like a few times a year or even a week for a vacation that you can't do any other time. As for doctor appointments, I think you need to do them when you can schedule them, and if that's during school hours, then so be it.

[AmyP]

I agree with Dennis. Very few doctors and dentists around here have appointments available after school. Although our pediatrician does have a "quick sick" hour in the mornings. It's mainly for kids who are in school or daycare to see if they have strep, pink eye, ear infection, and things like that to see if they're okay to go to school or daycare. Physical exams and such are only during the day during the week.

That said, my mom usually scheduled physicals for all of us in the summer so we wouldn't have to miss school. When I was seeing a specialist as a kid, she'd try to schedule appointments late in the afternoon so she could take me after school or just get me out of school a little early. Usually I left in the middle of my last class, which wasn't a big deal.

I got into it with the pom squad leader when I was in high school for having a doctor's appointment on a practice day. My mom was PO'd big time because it was a specialist who only saw patients the days we had practice. She wrote a note to the teacher who was in charge of the pom squad and nothing was ever said to me again.

My mom took us out of school when I was in kindergarten and my older brother was in third grade to go to Disney but that's the only time she's ever taken us out of school. Oh, and I graduated college on a Thursday during the day and she took my little brother out of school (7th grade) to attend that. He actually even talked the principal into giving him the perfect attendance award anyway since it was such a special circumstance.

[gulp!]

I think as a rule you shouldn't have your kids miss school, but once in a blue moon for something like the vacation examples mentioned earlier would be o.k. I would try to avoid it at all costs, though.

I don't think I ever missed school to go to a dr's appointment. My mom always scheduled them for after school. I remember that my appts with my orthodontist were always at 3 PM.

[kim]

i fully intend to pull my kids out of school for a week during the school year for vacation. i already have a trip planned for early oct. '07 and tony will be in kindergarten. unless my kids are flunking out of school i don't have a problem with it. (i've taken my niece on a trip during the school year before, and i'm taking her again in dec. straight A student in her senior year of hs)


as for 'casual' days off, i'm not big on that...and the kids around here get out so early anyway i don't see issues with appt's after school.

[Shel]

Kaleb and Jacob will be missing 3 1/2 days of school this coming year for a trip to Disney. Ideal, no? But, we scheduled it around fall break and parent teacher conference half days off to minimize the amount of time they miss. Kaleb will be in 8th grade, so I didnt want him to get too far behind, but we also wanted to avoid summer crowds and be able to enjoy our vacation. His school district allows for, but *strongly discourages* one week out for family vacations, so we're taking it.

[Melissa]

I think a rare absence is one thing, but I truly don't agree with taking children out of school so that you can beat the crowds or the prices at a certain resort. Kids need to be in school, that is their job. I fully believe that any vacation type of absence should be listed on their record as unexcused and depending on the rules of the school district, that could mean repeating a year if necessary.

If you can work a vacation around the school's absence rules, then so be it, but I certainly wouldn't condone it.

Clare, how many people are fined the $1000 on average?

[Clare]

Clare, how many people are fined the $1000 on average?

I really don't know. I think it's largely a scare tactic. I guess it would depend on the school reporting the absences and then the education department pursuing it :dunno: A pamphlet called "It's not okay to stay away" was issued by the government this week and distributed via the schools. I wonder how many people will pay attention to it :dunno:

I also think that vacations are okay. We plan to take the children to Europe for a 3 month trip in a few years time. They will do school work while we are away of course, but I consider travel to be very educational in itself.

As for the child in question, he would have a day off every second week or so. I just think it's too much. And a lot of the time it's just because his mother decided to go to the zoo on a whim. Yesterday I was buying Wiggles concert tickets and she called me and asked me to get two tickets for them. I said that Emily won't be going b/c it's a school day and she laughed and said that doesn't matter to them. I just don't think that it's sending a good message to the child.

As for medical appts, I've never had trouble getting them for outside school hours.

[Kate]

Growing up the only time that my parents "allowed" me to skip school was after my dad had been gone for 3 months. He took my brothers and I into Boston, did all of the tourist stuff and such.

There was also one time that we went to Disney during the school year. We had to get all of our assignments from the teachers and did our homework on the plane.

I am sure that sometime we will pull the boys out for a vacation, but it won't be a frequent thing.

[Bridget]

The only time I missed school as a kid was when I was sick or had dr. appts. (and where I lived everything was a trek, so many of these couldn't be scheduled without missing school.) Same went to Sunday Mass. Until I went off to college I think I missed going to church on a Sunday maybe five or six times total.

I don't have any problem with missing school for dr. appts. that can't be done at other times or for a big family vacation, but just skipping here and there for misc. reasons (going to a concert or something) is not something I intend to do.

[Clare]

Oh and another thing about this child in particular - his mother doesn't just take him to his appt then back to school, he has the whole day off. She says that if he has an appt at 11am, it doesn't make sense to send him to school for a couple of hours before and a couple of hours afterwards :scratch: I think the opposite, it doesn't make sense to let him stay home and play video games for the day.

There are other parents that schedule medical appts during school hours, but they send their kids to school in the morning, collect them at appt time and return them afterwards which is much more acceptable IMO.

[TtownAnne]

And see, that strikes me as weird too - why not either schedule the appointment for 9am and take them in a bit late, or schedule it for 2pm and pick them up a bit early, but why cause MAXIMUM disruption and schedule it for the middle of the day?

[Dennis]

And see, that strikes me as weird too - why not either schedule the appointment for 9am and take them in a bit late, or schedule it for 2pm and pick them up a bit early, but why cause MAXIMUM disruption and schedule it for the middle of the day?

Because sometimes that's the only time you can get an appointment. Also, let's not forget that a lot of parents work so they have to schedule around their work schedules as well.

[Shel]

I think a rare absence is one thing, but I truly don't agree with taking children out of school so that you can beat the crowds or the prices at a certain resort. Kids need to be in school, that is their job. I fully believe that any vacation type of absence should be listed on their record as unexcused and depending on the rules of the school district, that could mean repeating a year if necessary.

You seriously think kids should have to repeat a year if they miss a few days because they are on a family vacation? Wouldn't that punish the child for their parents decision to take them on vacation? And also, kids are not having to repeat grades even if they are flunking anymore, but if they go to Disney because it's the off season they should be held back?

[TtownAnne]

"We" (using the royal form now?) haven't forgotten anything, but I think that would work best for parents too - take a half hour off first thing in the morning to leave straight from home for the doctor's office, rather than take two hours off to go to school, sign them out, go to the appointment, take them back to school, then drive back to work? Even we non-working parents can do that math! I realize it doesn't *always* work out that way, but it's not impossible either.

Also, let's not forget that a lot of parents work so they have to schedule around their work schedules as well.

[Karly]

I think allowing a child to miss days for no good reason sets up a bad habit or cycle for adult life. As much as it would be fun to take mental breaks and miss work every other week for a day or two, it's just not possible. It's unrealiistic to teach a child that this is acceptable and normal behavior, because it's not. It's setting them up for disaster in adult life.

I agree with Anne. I try to schedule our appointments in either the early morning or late afternoon to try to minimize the time we're missing away.

[Bonnie]

I haven't given this much thought at all, because my kids are not in real school yet... I think I'd be OK w/ having them skip a day here or there if we decide to do a family trip. My parents both worked for a residential treatment center that was run by the Jewish Board of Guardians and had Jewish holidays off... we went to Catholic school, and did not have those days off, but we did a lot of long weekend trips and took those days. To me school is of course important, but a day or two here or there for something like a family trip is probably OK.

[Dennis]

"We" (using the royal form now?) haven't forgotten anything, but I think that would work best for parents too - take a half hour off first thing in the morning to leave straight from home for the doctor's office, rather than take two hours off to go to school, sign them out, go to the appointment, take them back to school, then drive back to work? Even we non-working parents can do that math! I realize it doesn't *always* work out that way, but it's not impossible either.

I agree that would be ideal. But again, it depends on your work schedule. For me, it's usually easier to do appointments around lunch time.

[Nichole]

I think allowing a child to miss days for no good reason sets up a bad habit or cycle for adult life. As much as it would be fun to take mental breaks and miss work every other week for a day or two, it's just not possible. It's unrealiistic to teach a child that this is acceptable and normal behavior, because it's not. It's setting them up for disaster in adult life.

I agree with Anne. I try to schedule our appointments in either the early morning or late afternoon to try to minimize the time we're missing away.

I totally agree with this. :nod: Sure, it would be great to take days off when we just don't feel like being responsible, but that's not what being a grownup is about. And kids need to learn that so they can be productive adults.

I see no problem with the occasional and unavoidable missed day (due to an appointment that couldn't be made for any other time, etc), but to take a day off "just because" is a bad idea.

I could probably count on my two hands how many days total I missed from school as a kid, and 90% of it was sick days. My parents felt pretty strongly about us not missing school. I was sometimes a little jealous of my friends that got to go on vacation and miss school, but I'm not scarred by it. ;)

[Mandi]

I don't have any issues with a parent taking their child out of school for a few days if they need to (like a vacation or whatever). Of course that's with the understanding that the child is doing well and school and won't get behind by not being there.

[buzzjen]

I'm obviously in the way minority here, but I don't have a problem with a child missing school OCCASIONALLY as long as there are no academic concerns. I was a very good student growing up and my mom let me miss about a day a semester - when I was younger, she'd let me stay home on a day that I wasn't direly ill and when I was older I was allowed to pick the day. Generally she knew my schedule, so I wasn't allowed to stay home to miss a test or a project deadline. However, she called them mental health days (she used to work for the state and she also got them as part of her personal leave time). I strongly believe that we all need mental health days and that they help avoid actually getting sick. Since my mom was a SAHM, generally our appointments were scheduled for either very early and we went to school after or for late in the afternoon and we left early or she picked us up. I would also take my children out for a vacation, given that they make up the work. I think it is a good lesson that you make good on your responsibilities despite having other (more fun) things to do.

Given Clare's example, I believe that once every other week is excessive.
Frankly, I also wouldn't pull my child out for something that could be scheduled another time (like a concert).

[Melissa]

You seriously think kids should have to repeat a year if they miss a few days because they are on a family vacation? Wouldn't that punish the child for their parents decision to take them on vacation? And also, kids are not having to repeat grades even if they are flunking anymore, but if they go to Disney because it's the off season they should be held back?
Absolutely!!! If a school system says that a child cannot have more than 4 unexcused absences from school, the parent then decides to take that kid to Disney or whatever for a week, then that child should suffer the grade consequences.

I do not view going to Disney or to a resort such as Cancun, as an educational experience. Unless the school system is allowed to say, "Ok, we'll allow these to be excused if you write a complete trip report on what you did while you were on vacation. Including all the educational experiences you had."

Sorry, kids should be in school. Parents shouldn't just allow their children to go on vacation because that is the cheap time. I think it is wrong. Then again, I'm also a teacher that has seen it abused more times than not, not just at the elementary level (where it is semi-excusable), but also the middle and high school levels where some kids are in college prep classes. There are kids that will be gone for a week and come back and say, "can I have my homework to make up now?" NO WAY!

The only vacation that I ever saw a student take that I thought was done really well was when two of my high school students had a chance to go to India for a family member's wedding. Since it was a huge expense to go there, the parents made it border two quarters in the school year so they wouldn't fall under the attendance policy problems. Plus, the parents wrote to each teacher explaining what the children were going to see and experience and made it a home schooling type of trip. The kids came back and told their classmates about their experiences.

But, if I had to set a rule, I would state that any vacations fell under unexcused absences and if a child has more than 4 unexcused absences in a quarter then that child automatically fails a class. Remember, a typical school year here is 180 days (give or take), that means that each quarter is 45 days. Now, many schools have rotating schedules and some classes may not meet everyday (PE, music, art, computers, etc...). Subtract for any unexpected half days or delayed openings and typically children will have 40 days in a class per quarter (again give or take).

Now, add to that a vacation??? Now we're talking an additional 5 days missed and that is not even including any illnesses that the child may get!!! That is a LOT of school to miss so that the parents can save a couple bucks and not have to stand in a long line.

[Dennis]

I don't see what the big deal is as long as the kids make up the work while they are gone. IMO it's no different than someone being out sick with the flu or chicken pox for a week. Either way they need to make up the work.

[Melissa]

But homework is not a complete reflection on what happens in school. Understanding cannot be completely evaluated just by doing homework. I could be given homework for a school year and complete it but yet not learn anything regarding the subject because I was just hunting down answers and not really learning the material.

In school there are lectures, questions from other students to clarify, activities, lab work, etc... Plus, unless the child is going to bring their instrument on a trip, how in the world would they be able to make up all the class work for their band/orchestra class? What about woodshop class?

There are many classes where the grades are based on daily performance tasks that cannot be easily made up unless time is spent after school making that time up. But again, that student loses out on important class discussions regarding those performance tasks.

There is a difference between missing school due to illness vs. missing due to a vacation. A vacation is something that can easily be taken when school is not in session. Illnesses are not planned. There is a health issue in regards to illnesses, when one isn't healthy it makes it very hard to participate in school if you are worried about vomitting in class or coughing on someone. Plus then you have to worry about those with compromised immune systems.

Again vacations, there are no such problems. You are taking a child who is perfectly capable of attending school and allowing them to be truant.

[Dennis]

In school there are lectures, questions from other students to clarify, activities, lab work, etc... Plus, unless the child is going to bring their instrument on a trip, how in the world would they be able to make up all the class work for their band/orchestra class? What about woodshop class?

There are many classes where the grades are based on daily performance tasks that cannot be easily made up unless time is spent after school making that time up. But again, that student loses out on important class discussions regarding those performance tasks.

There is a difference between missing school due to illness vs. missing due to a vacation. A vacation is something that can easily be taken when school is not in session. Illnesses are not planned. There is a health issue in regards to illnesses, when one isn't healthy it makes it very hard to participate in school if you are worried about vomitting in class or coughing on someone. Plus then you have to worry about those with compromised immune systems.

Again vacations, there are no such problems. You are taking a child who is perfectly capable of attending school and allowing them to be truant.

How do you make up lab work, woodshop, etc. if you're sick? As you said, you stay after school, or do it during study hall/free periods, or before school and get it done.

The bottom line is if you have to do X, Y, and Z to pass the class, you have to do it whether you are there every day, out sick, or out on vacation. If someone can miss a week and still do all their assignments/projects/labs/whatever, pass all the tests, etc., why shouldn't they pass the class?

[MrsPeacefrog]

When I was in school my parents travelled overseas every 2nd year, granted we did not go with them all the time and stayed with other family when they went, but they did take us a few times, when I was in kindergarten we went to Italy for 3 months. I missed the whole middle part of Kindergarten, but my mother spoke to my teacher and got all the work I would have learned in those 3 months and did it with me, I came back and had to pass a few assessments to be able to graduate to Grade 1 and I passed with flying colours, the teacher actually commented how I surpassed there expectations!

Then in Grade 6 we went to Europe for 10 weeks and I missed 10 weeks of that year, again I did "homework" while away and passed that grade with no problems.

So I don't agree with making a child redo a year just for missing those days when they have passed the assessed requirments of that year just because they were not "physically" in school

Now in saying that I don't totally agree with taking days off as regular as Clare's example, but I think if the child is still keeping up with the work, and passes just like any other student would who is there, then I don't have a major problem with it.

Granted the last thing I would think of doing is taking the kids to the zoo on a school day just for the hell of it, especially when there is so much vacation time in a school year plus weekends to do that kind of thing! :nod:

As for dr's appt's etc I have never had a problem getting an appointment after the regular school hours, maybe I have been lucky so far! :dunno:

[Clare]

I was discussing the kids reports yesterday with the mother of the serial absentee and she was shocked that his was marked 10 days absent in the first semester. She kept saying that she can't believe that he had that many days off. Well that's what happens when you keep him home every two weeks or so. I wonder if now she's seen it in writing and that it will always be on his school records,whether she'll rethink it :dunno:

Deb - I had a similiar experience, we went to Ireland for 3 months when I was in Grade 4 (my brothers were Grade6 and Grade 3). We did schoolwork when we were away and we passed all tests with flying colours when we got back. We want to do the same with the kids but will only do it while they are all still in primary school. I wouldn't take them out of high school for that length of time.

[MrsPeacefrog]

Hopefully her seeing it on paper will get her to stop doing this, it is only damaging him for the future!

We want to do another big trip with the kids when they are around the 10yr old mark, and I have no problems with it because we experienced it as kids and know that if you work with them while they are away that they can come back not only having learned what they would of in school but also broadened there horizons and learned from being out in the big wide world...that is invaluable if you ask me! :nod:

[kim]

But, if I had to set a rule, I would state that any vacations fell under unexcused absences and if a child has more than 4 unexcused absences in a quarter then that child automatically fails a class.


well thankfully you're not setting the rules, i think your view is extreme and i would not enroll my kids in any school with such rules. i take my kids on vacation for family time and i'll take them anytime i please, thank you very much. my reasons for when i vacation are my own and not for anyone else to judge.

[Jayne]

Melissa I think your view is a bit extreme. I know that as a teacher it is hard to have a student out. That as a teacher you have to take extra time to either prepare work or to have the child do it when they get back...But this is the case even if a child is Ill. Tylor has to have Surgery in November. Should he repeat the year because he will be out of school possibly a week and a half? The Doctor wants those pins in until November and then he wants them out. I can't tell him..."Well the school will make him repeat the year if I take him out that long so NO, take them out early so maybe his leg isn't completely healed or..Leave them in Longer..SO maybe they can't come out and will effect his growth"???

As for Vacations. There again is nothing wrong with a family vacation when a family can take it. Teachers in our own district have done it. So if a Teacher, or administrater can then so can the child. I would never take a child struggling and not doing well in school out for a week. I don't think that is right but if my child is doing well in school and has good grades and is on task I don't see a proble. When we left for Florida I had him take his spelling test early, gather any homework she already knew would be assigned and made arrangments for him to take a test as soon as he got back. His Teacher was wonderful and happy that I took those measures and made her aware of the break early on. (we went for a wedding. My SIL married. We would not likely been able to take our kids to disney on a vacation but because we split the costs with our IL's we could and we stayed that week to do so. NO ONE will tell me when and when not I can take MY children somewhere.

[Melissa]

Again, there is a huge difference between an illness and something that can be scheduled around the school year.

You are entitled to your own opinions, but I truly believe that it is wrong to allow your child to miss school to take a vacation. Yes, my view may seem extreme, but during the school year, your child is supposed to be IN SCHOOL. I do believe that any parent who takes their child out to go on vacation should be counseled. It is absolutley rediculous to plan a vacation during school time when there is plenty of time during the summer and other planned school vacations that those vacation can be taken.

Teachers in our own district have done it. So if a Teacher, or administrater can then so can the child.
Really? Are you sure it was a vacation and not a teacher or administrator going to a conference? It is exceedingly rare for a teacher to take any time off (or be allowed any time off) for a vacation in the middle of a school year.

[Melissa]

Oh and Kim, in the school where I taught, the 4 absences rule WAS in place. It wasn't a rule that I set up, but I thought it was a good one, especially for high school.

[sheila]

There is a difference between missing school due to illness vs. missing due to a vacation. A vacation is something that can easily be taken when school is not in session. Illnesses are not planned.

Again vacations, there are no such problems. You are taking a child who is perfectly capable of attending school and allowing them to be truant.

My parents took us out of school for planned vacations regularly. We missed between a day and a week before the Christmas break. The school calendar was not the only thing that needed to be considered in regards to these vacations. To suggest that we were truants because we went to visit my grandpanents for the holidays is a bit offensive to me. My mom is a teacher, and she took that into consideration when pulling us out of school. We did bring schoolwork with us, but that isn't even the biggest thing to me.

The most important thing is that these vacations are some of the strongest memories of my childhood. Long car rides and time spent with family in a good atmosphere is really important to family, and I think those trips are part of the reasons why we are as close as we are. If good family relationships means sacrificing a couple band practices, sports games and lectures, so be it.

[sheila]

I do believe that any parent who takes their child out to go on vacation should be counseled. It is absolutley rediculous to plan a vacation during school time when there is plenty of time during the summer and other planned school vacations that those vacation can be taken.

Counseled? By whom?? You are most certainly entitled to your opinion, as I am entitled to strongly disagree with you. I think a counseling session because a vacation extends a day or two into the school session oversteps the boundaries of the school's importance in a child's family life.

[Melissa]

Definitions of truant on the Web:

* one who is absent from school without permission
* no-show: someone who shirks duty
* absent without permission; "truant schoolboys"; "the soldier was AWOL for almost a week"

I contend that you would have had those same pleasant memories if you took those trips while school was not in session. I have wonderful memories of trips to see family, or other vacations and was never pulled out of school for a vacation.

[Dennis]

Oh and Kim, in the school where I taught, the 4 absences rule WAS in place. It wasn't a rule that I set up, but I thought it was a good one, especially for high school.

Melissa, how did they definie unexcuses vs. excused absences? In my high school, the only absences considered excused were for school activities (such as having to leave early for a road game) and taking the driver's test. Everything else - including being sick with a doctor's note - was considered unexcused.

Dennis

[sheila]

If they had been possible, I probably would have. But as the other constraints on our family meant that taking those trips necessitated the truancy from school, we would not have gone on those vacations without the absences.

[Jayne]

I contend that you would have had those same pleasant memories if you took those trips while school was not in session. I have wonderful memories of trips to see family, or other vacations and was never pulled out of school for a vacation.

But there your wrong. We wouldn't have some of those memories because some of the trips we took could not have been taken in the summer. So if we followed your rule we would not have even had those trips to remember.

And yes. Tylor's teacher went to Florida for a week in November of 04. She told us she was going. Sent a letter home. Saying that her mother had cancer and they were taking one last vacation with her while they still cold. It happened.

[Shel]

Definitions of truant on the Web:

* one who is absent from school without permission
* no-show: someone who shirks duty
* absent without permission; "truant schoolboys"; "the soldier was AWOL for almost a week"


See, my boys will not be truant. They have permission to go to Disney. The school allows for but *strongly discourages* one week for family vacation. We're not even taking a week out, but I wouldn't feel guilty if we were. We are quite capable of helping our boys catch up and learn the material they missed while gone.

And to comment on something else you said earlier, about missing out on class discussions and just digging for answers. My boys were homeschooled for awhile. Does this mean that in your eyes they didn't learn the material because they were just digging for answers in a book and not listening to 24+ other kids ask questions they may already know the answer to? Classroom settings can be very disruptive to the learning process as much as it can be helpful.

[kim]

I do believe that any parent who takes their child out to go on vacation should be counseled.

counseled? :rotflmao: by whom? a teacher? a psychologist? i'll counsel myself thanks since i have the required degree.[/quote]

It is absolutley rediculous to plan a vacation during school time when there is plenty of time during the summer and other planned school vacations that those vacation can be taken.


ridiculous to YOU maybe. i work during summer and school vacations, i'll take my vacations whenever i like, thanks.

[Kara]

And see, that strikes me as weird too - why not either schedule the appointment for 9am and take them in a bit late, or schedule it for 2pm and pick them up a bit early, but why cause MAXIMUM disruption and schedule it for the middle of the day?

In the rare times we need an appt, I will ethier aim for first thing in the day or say get him out at 2:30, half an hour early and go at the end of the school day...or it waits until 4:30 when he has been home for half an hour.

[Shanna]

"We" (using the royal form now?) haven't forgotten anything, but I think that would work best for parents too - take a half hour off first thing in the morning to leave straight from home for the doctor's office, rather than take two hours off to go to school, sign them out, go to the appointment, take them back to school, then drive back to work? Even we non-working parents can do that math! I realize it doesn't *always* work out that way, but it's not impossible either.


There is absolutely no way I could schedule an appointment for first thing in the morning. The morning is typically the busiest time around here for me. I am one, like Dennis, who schedules things around the lunch "hours". My bosses are 2-hour lunchers, so it works out better for me that way. Not to mention, my children's actually school will be 30 minutes from my office, a 30-minute drive to the doctor/dentist/wherever and then back to school, me back to work. :dunno:

[Shanna]

I do not view going to Disney or to a resort such as Cancun, as an educational experience. Unless the school system is allowed to say, "Ok, we'll allow these to be excused if you write a complete trip report on what you did while you were on vacation. Including all the educational experiences you had."

In all honesty, I view everyday life as an opportunity to teach your child something - whether its on the drive to the doctor or a drive to the beach. I don't think anyone else has the right to say my day-to-day dealings with my children are not educational. I think it is rather pompous, actually. I can teach my child more about their world in one day than a teacher could teach my child about life in a year. I think that is just as important, if not moreso, than book-learning.


Sorry, kids should be in school. Parents shouldn't just allow their children to go on vacation because that is the cheap time. I think it is wrong. Then again, I'm also a teacher that has seen it abused more times than not, not just at the elementary level (where it is semi-excusable), but also the middle and high school levels where some kids are in college prep classes. There are kids that will be gone for a week and come back and say, "can I have my homework to make up now?" NO WAY!


I remember one time in high school when my dad took me out of school on a Friday to go to the races (sprint car races). I was responsible and asked for my assignments ahead of time so that I wasn't behind. When I had my tonsils out in 7th grade (over spring break, mind you) I made sure I had any assignments before hand. I think that if a parent is going to take their child on vacation during the school year, that asking for assignments/classwork ahead of time is probably more the norm than the exception. My children are still *MY* children, regardless of how many days the school system says they have to sit in the schoolhouse. Just because they are in attendance does NOT mean that they are learning.

[Kara]

I need to find out handbook but I think that any absence over 4 days needs to be approved by the principal. But I am not sure.
This is our attendance policy..probably more towards high school age than elementary. Which I think makes a difference in this discussion as well. I think it would be harder to make up high school work than elementary...

Students who are absent in excess of the maximum allowable absences from any class, or in any subject, shall not be granted the credit associated with the successful completion of that class or subject. The maximum allowable absence chart is:

Length of Class Time

Maximum Allowable Absences

Full year - 180 days

24

Semester - 90 days

12

Rest didn't copy...weird...

[Shanna]

In school there are lectures, questions from other students to clarify, activities, lab work, etc... Plus, unless the child is going to bring their instrument on a trip, how in the world would they be able to make up all the class work for their band/orchestra class? What about woodshop class?

There are many classes where the grades are based on daily performance tasks that cannot be easily made up unless time is spent after school making that time up. But again, that student loses out on important class discussions regarding those performance tasks.

Hrm. . . I was in band, choir, drama and debate all four years of high school. I missed school. I never had anything below an 'A' in any of those classes - all of which relied on performance credit.

That said, I have also never had a teacher/band or choir director or whatever that didn't do an average of grades. So I miss 4 days out of a 45-day grading period. Assuming that those 4 days were days that were actually graded, it wasn't going to affect my grades enough to matter.

And woodshop. .. thats kinda like saying, "I missed chocolate chip cookie day in home-ec, I guess that is one skill that I can never learn since I wasn't taught it institutionally". . . I think those are a bit ridiculous. And time after school making things up? Big deal! I would imagine my parents would have rather had me at school after school and on a vacation at some point rather than home after school doing nothing :dunno:

[Shanna]

Quote:
Definitions of truant on the Web:

* one who is absent from school without permission
* no-show: someone who shirks duty
* absent without permission; "truant schoolboys"; "the soldier was AWOL for almost a week"



I agree with Shel. The school does not hold ultimate authority over me nor my children. The only person I have to answer to is myself. Therefore, my children are not truants if they are with me.

[TtownAnne]

That's exactly why my last line started out with "I realize it doesn't ALWAYS work out that way..." :) (emphasis added)



There is absolutely no way I could schedule an appointment for first thing in the morning. The morning is typically the busiest time around here for me. I am one, like Dennis, who schedules things around the lunch "hours". My bosses are 2-hour lunchers, so it works out better for me that way. Not to mention, my children's actually school will be 30 minutes from my office, a 30-minute drive to the doctor/dentist/wherever and then back to school, me back to work. :dunno:

[Shanna]

I know, I wasn't aiming bad vibes at ya :)

[Alyssa]

I was rarely absent from school either, and I plan to remind my kids that school *is* their job as kids.

That said, I also can see how a break from that job – be it a short family vacation or even the occasional special day with mom or dad – can be a really good, rewarding, mentally/emotionally good thing. Assuming, of course, we’re talking about a good student who isn’t struggling in school.

[Melissa]

Sheila and Dennis, I am not an administrator, so I would believe that there is leeway in determining what is considered a valid excuse for an absence. Therefore, I can't tell you exactly how the school dealt with students missing for sickness vs. vacation.

Kim, that is great that you don't want to be held accountable, but I'm sure if you took your child out habitually, I'm sure your local social services/child welfare department WOULD have something to say to you about it. There are many state laws that mandate what is considered truancy. So while you don't want to be beholden to school rules and plan your vacations as you like, if it is done to excess (and you are not stating one vacation a year or the like) you can lose your driver's license in some states or even be charged with contributing to the delinquency of a minor.

Shel, homeschooling is something completely different than going on vacation. With homeschooling there is a curriculum that is followed and the parent teaches the children the material. It is still SCHOOL. You aren't taking your children out to be on vacation for the whole school year, they are learning in a different environment.

Rules regarding attendance are not created for responsible parents (like everyone on this board). What I'm hearing is, "I take my kid for a week once a year and we make sure that we get the work beforehand." Well, that is terrific that those of you that are saying this are responsible. BUT, the rules are made for those parents who couldn't care less.

I've had students that go on vacation for a week during the second week of school and then again 3 weeks later. That child misses out on the state mandated tests and has to miss yet another week of classes to make up those tests. Now that student is 4 weeks behind!!! I teach music classes. The concerts, football games, and parades are all mandatory. The ONLY excused absences that I allow are illness (with a doctor's note), death in the family, or something extraordinary where the principal agrees that it is a valid excuse. If you miss one of those mandatory events, you automatically fail the class. That is a district wide middle school and high school music organization rule that was formed by all the music teachers in the district well before I go there. AND from the music departments that I've worked with, that is par for the course.

[kim]

Kim, that is great that you don't want to be held accountable

where did i say that :scratch: just because i don't agree with your notion of counseling parents and had the balls to say it? thanks for the DSS lesson, i had no idea :rolleyes:.

So while you don't want to be beholden to school rules and plan your vacations as you like, if it is done to excess (and you are not stating one vacation a year or the like) you can lose your driver's license in some states or even be charged with contributing to the delinquency of a minor.

where did i imply i'm planning on doing this to excess? or that i'm not aware of what my kid's school rules are? i know what truancy is, i'm aware of what the rules are in my district i don't need lecturing thanks.

[Shel]

The ONLY excused absences that I allow are illness (with a doctor's note), death in the family, or something extraordinary where the principal agrees that it is a valid excuse. If you miss one of those mandatory events, you automatically fail the class. That is a district wide middle school and high school music organization rule that was formed by all the music teachers in the district well before I go there. AND from the music departments that I've worked with, that is par for the course.

Sorry, as a former band geek and music minor in college, I know this will offend, but I could care less if my kid fails band. Unless he's planning on being a music performance or educator, band is not a critical class. I'm not going to change valuable family time around a band teacher getting upset because he missed a concert. It comes down to the teacher is not the parent and can never know what's best for someone else's child.

[Shanna]

Sorry, as a former band geek and music minor in college, I know this will offend, but I could care less if my kid fails band. Unless he's planning on being a music performance or educator, band is not a critical class. I'm not going to change valuable family time around a band teacher getting upset because he missed a concert. It comes down to the teacher is not the parent and can never know what's best for someone else's child.


From one former band geek (high school & college) to another :clap:

[Alyssa]

Sorry, as a former band geek and music minor in college, I know this will offend, but I could care less if my kid fails band. Unless he's planning on being a music performance or educator, band is not a critical class. I'm not going to change valuable family time around a band teacher getting upset because he missed a concert. It comes down to the teacher is not the parent and can never know what's best for someone else's child.Hmmm. As someone who could care less about band (sorry self-professed band geeks!), I don't like the idea of parents/kids taking either any sort of class like band or an extra-cirricular musical or sport or art lesson lightly. I think much of what we are trying to teach kids at young ages is about the concept of committment and dedication. That if you sign up for something, you do it and you show up at all events around it.

NOW...I am not one of those opposed to the occasional family vacation and the like. So my point is more that I think (general) you should take "elective" classes like band or extra-cirricular activites into just as much account when you plan to "skip" just as you would a math course.

[Shel]

But I do Alyssa. Honestly. But if a band teacher is going to fail Kaleb because he missed a concert or rehearsal, I'm going to be peeved about it. A math teacher isn't going to fail him for missing a class or lecture, how come a band teacher gets all this extra "power"?

[Shel]

And I have another question? How is someone taking their kid out of school for vacation any different than an adult taking a week off of work for vacation? If the same principal that everyone is stating holds true, adults should never get vacations unless their work closes down, and they should be fired, arrested and held as truant if they do?

[gulp!]

And I have another question? How is someone taking their kid out of school for vacation any different than an adult taking a week off of work for vacation? If the same principal that everyone is stating holds true, adults should never get vacations unless their work closes down, and they should be fired, arrested and held as truant if they do?

I'm not going to get in the middle of this- ahem- spirited debate, but the difference I see is that schools give a week in February, time over the holidays, a week in April, and 2 months off in the summer. If my job gave me all that time off, I'd bet they wouldn't be too happy with me if I chose to vacation at a different time without a damn good reason. (ETA: damn good reasons do exist, but at my work, they have to be DAMN good. :) )

[Alyssa]

But I do Alyssa. Honestly. But if a band teacher is going to fail Kaleb because he missed a concert or rehearsal, I'm going to be peeved about it. A math teacher isn't going to fail him for missing a class or lecture, how come a band teacher gets all this extra "power"?I don't disagree with you, Shel. I don't think failure should come from not showing up, be it band or math. My point was just the dedication issue. :nod:

[Melissa]

And I have another question? How is someone taking their kid out of school for vacation any different than an adult taking a week off of work for vacation? If the same principal that everyone is stating holds true, adults should never get vacations unless their work closes down, and they should be fired, arrested and held as truant if they do?
But school has built in vacations. Many schools start after Labor day, get a long weekend in October, a long weekend for Thanksgiving, a week off around Christmas, some have another week in February and again in April, then they are let out for the year in June.

There are variations on that, but you can't compare the school year to a work year. Most employers build in at least 2 weeks of vacation a year (isn't there a mandate on that?) with the ability to earn more weeks of vacation for continued service. My mom now gets 5 or 6 weeks of vacation a year because she has been with her company for 25 years. Then, there is the opportunity to take time off unpaid too.

i take my kids on vacation for family time and i'll take them anytime i please, thank you very much. my reasons for when i vacation are my own and not for anyone else to judge.
i work during summer and school vacations, i'll take my vacations whenever i like, thanks.
Those two quotes were the reason that I brought up the social services thing.
where did i imply i'm planning on doing this to excess? or that i'm not aware of what my kid's school rules are? i know what truancy is, i'm aware of what the rules are in my district i don't need lecturing thanks.
So you do believe that there is an excess? What is excessive? Can you define it? Is is OK to take a child out until a certain grade level?

I would never take a child struggling and not doing well in school out for a week. I don't think that is right but if my child is doing well in school and has good grades and is on task I don't see a proble.
How can you know that your child isn't going to have a problem? How far in advance do you plan your trips? A week? A month? Many months? Kim stated that she is planning a trip for Oct 2007. How can one possibly know if their child is going to be doing well in school a year and a half ahead of time? You never know if they are going to experience a subject that gives them problems. Would you really be willing to cancel your trip if your child all of a sudden has a problem with school?

Sorry, as a former band geek and music minor in college, I know this will offend, but I could care less if my kid fails band.
But I do Alyssa. Honestly. But if a band teacher is going to fail Kaleb because he missed a concert or rehearsal, I'm going to be peeved about it. A math teacher isn't going to fail him for missing a class or lecture, how come a band teacher gets all this extra "power"?

First, which one is it? Are you going to not care or will you be peeved? Secondly, many music classes do figure into a child's GPA, so having one F will certainly not help their college aspirations especially when that F is shown in a so called "easy" class. Music classes have a definite curriculum, I have homework assignments, tests, mid-terms and finals. The students in my classes work for their band grades.

As a band teacher (or a string/choir etc...) I can't just create another concert opporutity for that child, where a math teacher can give another math test. Now, if that child doesn't make up that math test guess what, the child fails the test! The winter concert is considered the midterm for band and the Spring concert is the final. Each concert weighs very heavily on the child's grade.

Each child and parent is required to sign a document that contains the dates for all of the concerts for the year. I also give an opportunity for the parent and child to document all conflicts at the beginning of the year AND let them write notes for any other conflicts as they come up. I do allow students to miss football games if they are participating in another sport and can't make the game, or if they have to go to a family event (wedding); plus, I had two Jewish students who couldn't attend all the Friday night games, so their grades were not affected. I would however not allow excused absences for work.

That is mostly to force children to come to the concert and games, yes it is extreme but again, this is something that is normal for the majority of the music departments that I've seen. I would compare this to a coach who tells their players that if they do not come to practices that they will not be allowed to play in the game. Music organizations are the same way. If the single tuba player doesn't show up, that affects the whole group greatly (like not having the pitcher show up to a baseball game).

I had a problem one year when one student's grandmother died right before a major competition. He had a large solo part in the jazz ensemble. I had to find a high school student to fill his part, get permission from the competition's coordinator so that I could have that student fill in, etc... Of course that student's grade wasn't affected, but imagine if parents decided that their children didn't need to attend concerts because they didn't feel like it or wanted to let their children go on vacation during the school year.

[Trish]

I'm not going to get in the middle of this- ahem- spirited debate, but the difference I see is that schools give a week in February, time over the holidays, a week in April, and 2 months off in the summer. If my job gave me all that time off, I'd bet they wouldn't be too happy with me if I chose to vacation at a different time without a damn good reason. (ETA: damn good reasons do exist, but at my work, they have to be DAMN good. :) )I don't want to get in the middle, either, ;) but I just want to point out that my place of employment (a state University) actually gives us 10 days off around Christmas and New Years, yet we are still allowed to take time off during the school year, as we are given 2 weeks vacation.

I also don't see a problem w/parents taking their children on vacation during the school year, as long as it's not done in excess. My parents took me out for a week once to drive down to Florida and yes, I missed some stuff, but took my homework w/me and did just fine.

[Kara]

How can you know that your child isn't going to have a problem? How far in advance do you plan your trips? A week? A month? Many months? Kim stated that she is planning a trip for Oct 2007. How can one possibly know if their child is going to be doing well in school a year and a half ahead of time? You never know if they are going to experience a subject that gives them problems. Would you really be willing to cancel your trip if your child all of a sudden has a problem with school?





Yes, we did, and would again.
We had tickets for last November to fly to FL for the long Thanksgiving break. Josh wasn't doing so well with reading so we took a hit and cancelled it so he could be at school for those days he would have missed.

I think each school/situation has to be looked at differently.

I was a band AND choir geek and I wouldn't dream of missing a concert/game...and we never even discussed going on vacation during that time...I guess to me its just different for elementary and high school..??? But I can see how they can't have two different policies.

[Karri]

I'm not going to get in the middle of this- ahem- spirited debate, but the difference I see is that schools give a week in February, time over the holidays, a week in April, and 2 months off in the summer. If my job gave me all that time off, I'd bet they wouldn't be too happy with me if I chose to vacation at a different time without a damn good reason. (ETA: damn good reasons do exist, but at my work, they have to be DAMN good. :) )

But what if your work schedule doesnt allow for time off during those times? Like lets say that you are working on a crucial proposal for a client during those times and your presence depends on getting their business?

I am certain that we'll be faced with this dilemma. And given that the only time we have decent weather in this awful state is summer, we don't travel to other states in summer. So it is bound to happen. And I don't see a big deal about it.

[Shanna]

There are variations on that, but you can't compare the school year to a work year. Most employers build in at least 2 weeks of vacation a year (isn't there a mandate on that?) with the ability to earn more weeks of vacation for continued service. My mom now gets 5 or 6 weeks of vacation a year because she has been with her company for 25 years. Then, there is the opportunity to take time off unpaid too.

Wow! I wish vacation time was mandated! It is only July and all of my vacation and sick time have been used - and only one of those days were for 'fun'.

I hate to be the bearer of bad news, but not all employers have a liberal 'vacation' policy/plan/benefit for their employees. You go when you can go.

In my my entire school career, I never once saw a student flunked or penalized for missing a concert/game/competition or whatever. I guess that means that my band/choir/debate/drama teachers weren't good teachers :rolleyes:

I think that the point has been made that you think no one should ever take a child out of school. Whilst that may work for you, it isn't going to work for everyone. I have never heard of someone not getting into college because their parents took them on vacation.

[Shel]

To answer your first question, I would be peeved because a teacher felt it within her right to fail my child because of my decision to take him on vacation during school. However, in the end, I'm not going to care because I know what works for our family.


I would however not allow excused absences for work.





Now something else to pick on you for :lol:

I had to work all through school. I won't go into all the reasons, but I did not have an option. I provided a list of concert dates, ballgames, camps, performances etc for all my activities to my employer as soon as I got anything, but usually I did not get those days off if it was my shift to work. How fair would it have been for me to be penalized for that?

[Shanna]

Now something else to pick on you for :lol:

I had to work all through school. I won't go into all the reasons, but I did not have an option. I provided a list of concert dates, ballgames, camps, performances etc for all my activities to my employer as soon as I got anything, but usually I did not get those days off if it was my shift to work. How fair would it have been for me to be penalized for that?


I had to work all through high school (and college, for that matter) and while my employer did their best to work around my schedule, sometimes I had to work :dunno: I had to work on my own graduation night!

I never, EVER had a teacher as rigid and stubborn and not understanding about how life works for non-teachers as your school system seems to be.

[kim]

I think that the point has been made that you think no one should ever take a child out of school. Whilst that may work for you, it isn't going to work for everyone. I have never heard of someone not getting into college because their parents took them on vacation.


exactly.

and frankly i'm annoyed that because i state that i choose to take my vacations when i want makes you think of social services? :wtf: how giant of a leap is that? i realize that's your way of indirectly insulting me. please insult me directly next time, i'm a big girl, i can take it.

[gulp!]

But what if your work schedule doesnt allow for time off during those times? Like lets say that you are working on a crucial proposal for a client during those times and your presence depends on getting their business?

I've had this happen to me even before I had kids. You wind up rescheduling your vacation, and when you reschedule it, you try to pick a time that minimally affects as many people as possible. Sucks rocks, but you do what you can.

I'm not against kids missing some days here and there for situations like this- not at all. I'm against people who either do it on a regular basis or don't even let it enter their thought process when planning a vacation, because they think school isn't all that important. (which I've heard no-one say.)

[sheila]

I'm not against kids missing some days here and there for situations like this- not at all. I'm against people who either do it on a regular basis or don't even let it enter their thought process when planning a vacation, because they think school isn't all that important. (which I've heard no-one say.)

Right, and I think there are actually people like that, but I don't think that any of them are here. Maybe I am wrong on that one, but I cannot imagine having a school aged child and not (at least) being well aware of the school schedule and taking it into consideration when making plans. I am just of the opinion that my husband and I should have the final say over my family's schedule. Not the school district.

[Cami]

Speaking in generalities here, knowing there are exceptions to all the rules: I think when you have school aged children, you have to consider their schedules just as you consider your own work schedule when you make plans. If kids are out of school, they are going to miss important work, and even if you get the assignments and your kids do them, they still have catching up to do when they come back.

I don't think there's anything wrong with a child missing school if it's unavoidable and infrequent, but I think missing school should be a last resort.

Oh and also I think that it's kind of a neat thing to allow your child to miss one day a term for "no" reason. You can make that really special so he knows what an exception it is to the norm.

This whole topic hits home for me because right now we live in England, so it's very easy for us to travel around Europe. We won't be here forever and want to take advantage of that while we can. But our oldest daughter is starting kindergarten in Sept. On one hand, DH says, "it's kindergarten... how much does it matter?" if she misses. And I can't argue with that. But on the other hand, it doesn't seem right to me to miss a lot of school. I feel like she is supposed to be in school and we need to work around the calendar. btw, her school allows 10 days for family holidays, etc.

[sunnyflower]

I have to jump in for this one. I haven't read the whole thread, but have gotten a basic idea.

As a middle school teacher I HATE it when the students tell me they are going to FL/a cruise/vacation etc in the middle of the school year. It's fine if they are gone the Friday before a vacation or whatever, but when it is a week before a scheduled school vacation it is such a pain. I had one boy who consistently was gone the week before and after a school vacation. And then about 3-4 weeks after that was gone again. He missed 36 days of school. That's a lot in middle school.

We all understand traveling ofr weddings/funerals, etc, but as the kids get older it is very disruptive when they are gone. If you do take your kids out during school for vacations please give the teacher a week or more notice. I hate it when the students comes to me on a Thursday with a note saying they are leaving tomorrow for two weeks and need all their work!

~Kerrie

[stass]

I have the opposite problem. Saxon's teacher took a lot of days off it seemed to me and with him being high functioning Autistic, change is really hard for him so a sub can really set him back socially. (He is in the public sped preschool) She just seemed to get a lot of time off in addition to the summer off and xmas and spring break!

[Melissa]

Stass, I understand where you are coming from, but teachers are allowed to take FMLA time and that could be why that teacher was out so much.

[sabrina]

Not all teachers take time off for FMLA. I know of a teacher who took time off to go on her honeymoon. She taught special ed and was gone for two weeks at the end of april and beginning of may.

We will be taking vacations during the school year. But that is also one of the multitude of reasons we are homeschooling.

[sunnyflower]

That teacher though Sabrina may have taken the time off without pay. I would never do that. We planned our honeymoon for school vacation week (my DH and I are both teachers).

[Melissa]

Sabrina, I was just giving one simple reason why the teacher that Stass mentioned could have been out. Teachers are allowed to use FMLA and if that teacher had a family member that was sick (or s/he was sick) that is absolutely allowed. OR, if the teacher was nearing retirement or moving to a new district and knew that s/he had a lot of sick days saved up, but couldn't transfer them to the new job, or wasn't going to be paid for them when s/he retired; s/he may have decided to just take the sick days.

[Clare]

Emily's teacher has had a lot of time off this year. I'm sure that she can't possibly have any more sick days left.

[schwanda]

In general I am not a fan of taking kids out of school for "frivolous" reasons. However, it may be VERY difficult for me to get vacation time during the school holidays due to my career pathway. I am a pediatric urologist and the peak time for elective surgery is during school holidays. This is obviously because parents want to minimize the amount of time their kids miss school (especially kids who have conditions which lead to multiple hospitalizations). While I may be able to take a week or so in the summer, it may be really difficult to take time off during the other holidays. My kids aren't school-aged yet but I can see this being an issue. I'm not yet sure how we'll handle it.
When I was a student, I needed to be on death's door before I missed a day of school. I had a very full schedule and I played 3 varsity sports a year. Missing a single day of school put me very far behind (at least in high school).
I know there are parents who let their kids miss school for no good reason and, in general, I'm opposed to that. But I also think that it's sometimes hard to know the rationale behind what other people do. :dunno:

Amanda