Re: How many times has your kid been absent this year ?

Message edited 5/27/2015 11:54:13 AM.

Re: How many times has your kid been absent this year ?

My son is in 2nd grade and missed school maybe 1-3 times, I don't recall. I always send in an absence note or email the teacher in advance that he will be out.

How many times has your kid been absent this year ?

I think I was Surprised they counted the absences on the days of early dismissal for snow. I think they were in school for like 2 hours and then sent home. I mean, it makes sense that they have to mark it as an absent day but it's kind of silly, IMO.

Re: How many times has your kid been absent this year ?

Varies depending on the period because they get pulled out for the orthodontist who only has hours 9-5ish. Generally it was:
7 - excused (sick)
5 - unexcused.

The unexcused was because I took them out for a cruise in January & they were out 2 days (1 for a day at Comic Con & 1 for a day to see their favorite author at the NY Public Library).

In middle school they count excused as any in-school program they are out (band, orchestra, G&T) so for my dd, she has 32 excused absences.

We did the cruise this year because next year I have a kid in high school & we would probably not pull them out.

Message edited 5/27/2015 1:51:39 PM.

Re: How many times has your kid been absent this year ?

Re: How many times has your kid been absent this year ?

Posted by bella321

Posted by Kitten1929

Posted by bella321

Posted by Tah-wee-ZAH

Last week, one of my seniors (course required for graduation) and, her brother, a sophomore (he has the Global History Regents) were pulled out of classes for 6 days for a family cruise. Really?? It's May and they are in high school!! I informed the attendance clerk immediately and they were coded as unexcused. Not sure if the senior will graduate as it brings her right to the limit.

Just curious, where these students having difficulties before this absence? JMO but I think families should be allowed to take vacations even when the kids are high school.

It's the school year for a reason. There are multiple breaks, long weekends and summer vacation for people to plan trips. With the way the education system is right now, would you think that cruise is so important it might hinder graduation?

This sounds very ignorant. Yes, there are multiple breaks from school and summer vacation but if you have ever been part of a family that:

a) works on the weekends

b) has a busier work schedule during the summer

or

c) cannot afford to take vacations during the peak winter / spring breaks

There are no options but to take your kids out of school.

Of course, education is priority but I think a few days off to enjoy quality time with family is also valuable. Students should be expected to make up assignments not condemned for their absence (unless it is effecting their grades).

I think there are so teachers on this thread who might be jealous that other people are pulling their kids of school ... just sayin'

Re: How many times has your kid been absent this year ?

Posted by bella321

Posted by Kitten1929

Posted by bella321

Posted by Tah-wee-ZAH

Last week, one of my seniors (course required for graduation) and, her brother, a sophomore (he has the Global History Regents) were pulled out of classes for 6 days for a family cruise. Really?? It's May and they are in high school!! I informed the attendance clerk immediately and they were coded as unexcused. Not sure if the senior will graduate as it brings her right to the limit.

Just curious, where these students having difficulties before this absence? JMO but I think families should be allowed to take vacations even when the kids are high school.

It's the school year for a reason. There are multiple breaks, long weekends and summer vacation for people to plan trips. With the way the education system is right now, would you think that cruise is so important it might hinder graduation?

This sounds very ignorant. Yes, there are multiple breaks from school and summer vacation but if you have ever been part of a family that:

a) works on the weekends

b) has a busier work schedule during the summer

or

c) cannot afford to take vacations during the peak winter / spring breaks

There are no options but to take your kids out of school.

Of course, education is priority but I think a few days off to enjoy quality time with family is also valuable. Students should be expected to make up assignments not condemned for their absence (unless it is effecting their grades).

I think there are so teachers on this thread who might be jealous that other people are pulling their kids of school ... just sayin'

Re: How many times has your kid been absent this year ?

Posted by Kitten1929

Posted by bella321

Posted by Kitten1929

Posted by bella321

Posted by Tah-wee-ZAH

Last week, one of my seniors (course required for graduation) and, her brother, a sophomore (he has the Global History Regents) were pulled out of classes for 6 days for a family cruise. Really?? It's May and they are in high school!! I informed the attendance clerk immediately and they were coded as unexcused. Not sure if the senior will graduate as it brings her right to the limit.

Just curious, where these students having difficulties before this absence? JMO but I think families should be allowed to take vacations even when the kids are high school.

It's the school year for a reason. There are multiple breaks, long weekends and summer vacation for people to plan trips. With the way the education system is right now, would you think that cruise is so important it might hinder graduation?

This sounds very ignorant. Yes, there are multiple breaks from school and summer vacation but if you have ever been part of a family that:

a) works on the weekends

b) has a busier work schedule during the summer

or

c) cannot afford to take vacations during the peak winter / spring breaks

There are no options but to take your kids out of school.

Of course, education is priority but I think a few days off to enjoy quality time with family is also valuable. Students should be expected to make up assignments not condemned for their absence (unless it is effecting their grades).

I think there are so teachers on this thread who might be jealous that other people are pulling their kids of school ... just sayin'

FTR, I am not ignorant.

Second, the problem is parents that think that school's need to bend to their needs. I would venture to say that 20-25 years ago when some people on LIF graduated HS, it was a hell of a lot different that maybe a few days off here and there didn't affect anything. But today? I wouldn't want my kid to get behind because we put a luxury ahead of his education. I am also willing to bet that if a student were disciplined because of their absences, the parents will be the first ones to point the finger at the schools instead of taking responsibility. I am also sure that the "dying relatives last vacation" excuse is few and far between, and for those extenuating circumstances, that's up to the family to decide. Never did I say that family time should be pushed aside, but kids today have NO work ethic and NO boundaries and just expect everything be handed to them on a silver platter and the parents are to blame for instilling this sense of entitlement.

How many times has your kid been absent this year ?

My daughter (K) was absent 2 times for strep (she had perfect attendance until March!! Then got back to back strep.
She was then absent 1 day a couple of weeks ago for belly ache

Then she was just out for 5 days to go to Disney.
Please I'm sorry at a young age I don't see the reason that you cannot take them out of school for a family vacation. It's kindergarten for heavens sake.

FWIW- my parents never pulled us out of school. Only one time for Disney when I was in 9th grade and it was for one day of a long holiday weekend.

However I don't see the big deal especially at a primary level. My daughter also doesn't struggle and is very ahead of her grade level so maybe that is what justifies it for me.
I'm not saying I would pull them out multiple times a year for a family trip- that I don't agree with however once a year at this level I don't see the big deal. We purposely choose to do it then end of the year too so not to ruin any routines she was just learning etc.

Message edited 5/27/2015 2:02:28 PM.

Re: How many times has your kid been absent this year ?

Re: How many times has your kid been absent this year ?

Re: How many times has your kid been absent this year ?

11 days in 1st. half was for vacation and the other half he was sick. I haven't received a letter , but I didn't expect him to miss so many days because of illness.

DH and I have tough work schedules to contend with, we are not teachers and will likely pull kids out every year.

High school is another story, we will go away without them

Message edited 5/27/2015 2:46:26 PM.

Re: How many times has your kid been absent this year ?

Re: How many times has your kid been absent this year ?

Posted by BargainMama

Posted by Serendipity

Posted by ElizaRags35

Posted by Serendipity

Then she was just out for 5 days to go to Disney.
Please I'm sorry at a young age I don't see the reason that you cannot take them out of school for a family vacation. It's kindergarten for heavens sake.

I'll respectfully disagree. Kindergarten when we were kids? Maybe. But Kindergarten these days where expectations and requirements have increased exponentially? No thanks.

I guess this is a to each their own thing.

I will say I totally agree.... Kindergarten is a world of difference from when we were kids. I say it all the time. I will not disagree with you on that.
My opinion is that it's KINDERGARTEN.... Yes while the work load is more challenging and the demands are more, they are still only 5 and 6 years old in the grand scheme of life missing 5 days of school at 6 years old isn't going to ruin them forever.
But everyone has their own opinion.

Exactly.

In addition, Kindergarten is NOT that challenging. Yes, it's different from when we were kids, they aren't pasting and socializing all day, but not that hard! People are so uptight about the school vacation thing it makes me laugh. I'm sure if you search on this site, you will find the same arguments that surface every 6 months or so

Re: How many times has your kid been absent this year ?

Posted by ElizaRags35

Posted by Kitten1929

Posted by bella321

Posted by Kitten1929

Posted by bella321

Posted by Tah-wee-ZAH

Last week, one of my seniors (course required for graduation) and, her brother, a sophomore (he has the Global History Regents) were pulled out of classes for 6 days for a family cruise. Really?? It's May and they are in high school!! I informed the attendance clerk immediately and they were coded as unexcused. Not sure if the senior will graduate as it brings her right to the limit.

Just curious, where these students having difficulties before this absence? JMO but I think families should be allowed to take vacations even when the kids are high school.

It's the school year for a reason. There are multiple breaks, long weekends and summer vacation for people to plan trips. With the way the education system is right now, would you think that cruise is so important it might hinder graduation?

This sounds very ignorant. Yes, there are multiple breaks from school and summer vacation but if you have ever been part of a family that:

a) works on the weekends

b) has a busier work schedule during the summer

or

c) cannot afford to take vacations during the peak winter / spring breaks

There are no options but to take your kids out of school.

Of course, education is priority but I think a few days off to enjoy quality time with family is also valuable. Students should be expected to make up assignments not condemned for their absence (unless it is effecting their grades).

I think there are so teachers on this thread who might be jealous that other people are pulling their kids of school ... just sayin'

FTR, I am not ignorant.

Second, the problem is parents that think that school's need to bend to their needs. I would venture to say that 20-25 years ago when some people on LIF graduated HS, it was a hell of a lot different that maybe a few days off here and there didn't affect anything. But today? I wouldn't want my kid to get behind because we put a luxury ahead of his education. I am also willing to bet that if a student were disciplined because of their absences, the parents will be the first ones to point the finger at the schools instead of taking responsibility. I am also sure that the "dying relatives last vacation" excuse is few and far between, and for those extenuating circumstances, that's up to the family to decide. Never did I say that family time should be pushed aside, but kids today have NO work ethic and NO boundaries and just expect everything be handed to them on a silver platter and the parents are to blame for instilling this sense of entitlement.

When I was in school, I had to be on my "death bed" to stay home sick. There was no way my parents would schedule a vacation if we had to miss even a single day of school. School/education is a priority. A vacation is a luxury. Kids get plenty of time off for holidays and vacations, and lately, the ever increasing number of snow days. I'm sorry but if you cannot afford to take a vacation during one of the many weeks kids are off from school, save your money for next year and take a shorter trip some place closer this year. I know we'll never be able to afford a vacation every year and I won't jeopardize my kids' educations to save a few bucks.

Kudos to the PP who reported their students' absences. I would fully expect my kids' teachers to do the same if we were to pull them out for anything other than a sickness, especially so close to the end of the year.

Re: How many times has your kid been absent this year ?

This year she has been out a decent amount of days mostly for sick time.

Last year we pulled her out and went to Disney. Her teacher was pissed off but she was in the first grade and doing very well . I think testing grades (3rd and above) I would hesitate to pull out for vacation.

Re: How many times has your kid been absent this year ?

We got a letter home, too. My first grader missed 9 days this year.

Except one day where we went away for a family wedding, he was ill for 8 of those days.

Four were due to the flu ( he came down with it on a Monday night, and missed the remainder of the week), bronchitis, and some migraines. He is prone to migraines, and luckily after a consult with a neurologist we seem to have them under control.

He did very well in school this year. Luckily, his health didn't affect his learning.

Hoping for a better year next year, including a flu vaccine that will actually protect my kids!!! They both got a nasty case of the flu in January in spite of being vaccinated in October.

How many times has your kid been absent this year ?

If a child is doing well in school there should be no reason not to pull them out. Sometimes a vacation is a learning experience too. Parents or students in the older grades should be responsible for requesting and completing whatever work they missed so they stay on target with the rest of the class. It should be every parents right to decide what they want to do with their own children. If they fail a test or not graduate because of it, then it is on them. And not for nothing, our teachers have been out of the classrooom alot more than some of the numbers of days absent on this thread, whether its district training or a personal day, or a sick day, it's a rarity, at least in my experience that they are there every single day school is open. What happens on those days? Classroom time is also lost.

Re: How many times has your kid been absent this year ?

My kids have been absent quite a bit. They've been sick a bunch and we took them out for vacation twice. They are in K and 2nd grade. Frankly, my kids are doing very well and these absences did not impede their learning in the slightest. My 2nd grader can do most of her work in her sleep.

Personally, even through high school I think it can be fine depending on the kid. If you have a kid who does exceptionally well at school I don't see why it's a problem. Also, I think if you have a senior who is doing well and it is the end of the year, all tests are done, college acceptances received then what is the big deal. I think sometimes teachers can be jerks too. I hate high horses.

How many times has your kid been absent this year ?

Now I know why I see so many freakin' kids when I tried going on vacation during the school year. I would always think "aren't these kids supposed to be in school?"

I guess not when fares are cheaper.

Re: How many times has your kid been absent this year ?

http://www.people.com/article/mom-arrested-sons-sick-days-says-parents-should-be-able-write-notes

Re: How many times has your kid been absent this year ?

Re: How many times has your kid been absent this year ?

Message edited 5/27/2015 4:14:03 PM.

How many times has your kid been absent this year ?

I'm not a teacher but if I were and a parent told me their kid would be skipping my class that I worked hard to plan to go to Disney I'd report them, too.

A day or 2 for a kindergartner, maybe. But high school? Come on.

Re: How many times has your kid been absent this year ?

There are two schools of thought on this............those that think it's okay and those that don't AND nobody will convince anyone to change their stance on the matter. This argument comes up on here ALL the time.

Here's the reality. The kids who do great in school will do great whether they have 100% attendance OR whether they miss "X" number of days for a vacation, sickness, or whatever else. Those that struggle are going to struggle even if they have 100% attendance HOWEVER, missing school is a bigger deal for those kids so it probably is best to not pull a kid who needs a lot of help in school. I think we can all agree on that.

All that being said, I don't really give a cr@p what anyone thinks about my decision to pull my DD. This nonsense of K, 1, 2 being SO much harder then when we were kids is SO overblown. Yes, it's different but speaking as a former elementary school teacher, it's NOT as crazy as everyone seems to think. It's NOT college, it's still just elementary school and it's not going to make or break any kid to miss a few days over the course of their educational career.

I value education, we put a great deal of emphasis on it in our home but at the same time, I also value family time, making memories, and giving my kids real-life learning experiences and I'll be the one to decide if I want to do that during school breaks or not. At the end of the day, as long as my kids are doing well in school, which my DD is without a doubt, it will be at MY discretion if and when they should miss school and I don't care what anyone else has to say about it. If the work is completed and they aren't behind then I see NO problem with it.

Message edited 5/27/2015 4:27:12 PM.