Schools giving students unexcused absences...

[KnitShoni]

students are in school to prepare themselves to be productive members of society. if that isn't a job, i don't know what is.

What do the goof off days do to prepare them to be productive members of society?

[Greenday]

How is your school's policy lenient compared to the OP school? Did you not have a maximum allowance of absences?

Well, 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.

[Hobbs]

What do the goof off days do to prepare them to be productive members of society?

If you had bothered to read her post, Linguist said that there was absolutely no reason to miss 9-15 days of classes. Since "goof off days" are only 3-4 a semester, she was obviously not addressing them.

Well, 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.

Wow, that's a terrible school district. I wonder though, where was it located? I usually find that lax rules are a symptom of influential parents.

[linguist]

What do the goof off days do to prepare them to be productive members of society?

they 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.

[AdminAssistant]

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.

[Greenday]

What do the goof off days do to prepare them to be productive members of society?

Keeps them mentally sane.

[KnitShoni]

they 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.

Isn't that what the rest of the school year is for? And, the only people those 9 days aren't goof off days for are teachers. The 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.


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.

[Hobbs]

The 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.

What 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?

[Bronzebow]

they 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.

You 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?

*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?"

[Greenday]

What 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?

So 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? Days where teachers will just play movies to keep the kids occupied so they can get their grading done? Days where they just play games?

I haven't seen one argument from you about the con-absentee. Just "I don't like your argument".

[Hobbs]

You 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?

Your 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.

If it ain't broke, don't fix it.

So 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?

In fact, several times over I have not said that, emphasized that I have not said that etc. I have said it so much, your comment is quite amusing to me. So if you don't have anything to say to me other that what you've repeated, and don't have a question which can't be answered by reading my posts, then I'll no longer entertain questions from you.

[Rageaholic]

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.

That depends, sometimes they just watch movies (typically on the last day). Still, those "goof off" days aren't anything special. I didn't care if I missed it when I was that age. Most of the other students didn't want anything to do with me anyway.

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.

So Jimmy's parents shouldn't take him on vacation just because Suzy might feel left out? Sure, it's unfortunate and sad that Suzy's parents can't take her on vacation, but why take that away from Jimmy? Bitterness and jealousy is something that's going to happen one way or another, especially if Suzy is friends with Jimmy.

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.

[Boozy]

Your 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.

Meh.

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.

[KnitShoni]

What 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?

Actually, you provided a study on EXCESSIVE absences in school, which had nothing to do with my argument. Excessive is a matter of opinion, and even that article only detailed the harm caused by a greater number of absences than anyone here has mentioned. When I find a study on whether or not mandated early release days are beneficial to children's education, I'll post it. As of now, there is none.

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.

[Hobbs]

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.

Excessive absences is what we're talking about (ie. going and exceeding the maximum allowed).

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!