Unexcused/Excused Absences

[Supercalafragilistic]

Last year, Mikey got an unexcused absense. We figured it was from when we went to MN to visit Min and Cracka. We did send a note at the beginning of the week, though, and he did all his work ahead of time. Anyways...
Yesterday a note came home saying that children missing school for camping, visiting, etc, are highly discouraged and may be unexcused.

Okay, I don't get this. I can see if it's something that happens a ton, but to miss a day here and there because you are going on a family vacation?

[WhoserMomma!]

That is annoying. That happened to us too when we went up to MI a couple years ago. Jacob missed the other day because he threw out his back, and I called. However, they still said it was unexcused because he didn't go to the Dr. I am still trying to make them change it.

[Supercalafragilistic]

I think it's crap that they won't excuse absences for that, Dayna. Not everything requires going to a doctor. Do they expect us to take the kids to the doctor every time they have the sniffles or the flu, too?

[Mingle Bells]

What a load of crap. :( Sorry Kebs. I guess you guys will just have to move down here. :snicker

[fire~n~ice]

What does it matter if it is excused or unexcused? I am not familiar with it as none of my kids are school age yet.

[Candyland]

If it is unexcused they can not make up any test/homework. Basically they get F's for the day.

It isn't fair at all but that is the way it is here too. Sometimes they will work with you if you make arrangements ahead of time on the homework but it still shows as unexcused.

[WhoserMomma!]

In MO and TX, if your child has a lot of Unexcused As, they will call Child services. I think it is 6 UA. I don't remember. In MO, they would send a cop over to your house and ask why they weren't going to school. My children never really have UA, but it ticks me off when they do. It's not like I'm letting them skip school for the heck of it to lay around watching tv and eating junk...kinda like what I do when I call in to work. :teehee I think every state is different on their laws. MI I heard was tough, but when I lived there I homeschooled.

[zak frost]

Well, if the parents wrote a note, how can it be unexcused?

I just don't "get" some of the school stuff. But, I am the freak who homeschools.

[Duck]

I think it's crap that they won't excuse absences for that, Dayna. Not everything requires going to a doctor. Do they expect us to take the kids to the doctor every time they have the sniffles or the flu, too?

My school did.

Dayna, I think that is crap that they wouldn't excuse that! :naughty on them

Kebs, I agree with you on the vaca thing too. Like my school now only gives the kids like a week for X-mas break. Some people have family on the other end of the country and go there for breaks. Or even Thanksgiving when you get like an extra 2 days on the weekend, and have family farther away. I think those should be excused as well as a family vacation. School sucks!

[WhoserMomma!]

My school did.

Dayna, I think that is crap that they wouldn't excuse that! :naughty on them



Well, I think they are giving us a hard time because Dennis told them it was their fault because of the 500# pack back they are forced to wear. They have to carry all their books and SCHOOL SUPPLIES in it! Not to mention carry a binder! :mad They are not allowed to have the rolling BPs. Idiots!
So, I decided to do some reseach and write a small newspaper article on the damages a heavy back pack can do on a child and how much they should weigh.
That is when they started giving us a real hard time about it. lol

[UnFun]

So what would happen to the people who don't go to doctors at all??? Last time I checked, parents still had the right to decide on care for their child? OR did we suddenly become Cuba? :pissed

[TEF]

I don't get the unexcused/excused thing either. It makes zero sense. Around here if you send a note in saying "so and so will not at school this Friday due to a family affair" or something along those lines, or say that "we as a family are going on an education trip to ____" The absence gets excused. When you don't send a note in before a trip or after, or don't send a note in when your child has been sick, than it is an automatic unexcused. If the child misses 3 days of school in a row, a drs note is required along with your written excuse. (unless it was a trip as mentioned above).

[Chaser]

The school here "requires" a note from a doctor if the kids are going to miss more than two consecutive days of school. Alex had a stomach bug last year, I told them she wouldn't be going to the doctor, but I'd be glad to send her in with a bag of puke or poop (their choice) to prove she was really sick. She ended up missing four days, but they were listed as "excused." It's ridiculous- I think a UA should be cutting - if the parents are willing to let them miss school for any reason- illness, vacation, the celebration of Penguin Awareness Day- it's their perogative.

[UnFun]

And another thing... "school" is NOT the only education a child needs :roll Freaking "No child left behind" :pissed

[Duck]

Well, I think they are giving us a hard time because Dennis told them it was their fault because of the 500# pack back they are forced to wear. They have to carry all their books and SCHOOL SUPPLIES in it! Not to mention carry a binder! :mad They are not allowed to have the rolling BPs. Idiots!
So, I decided to do some reseach and write a small newspaper article on the damages a heavy back pack can do on a child and how much they should weigh.
That is when they started giving us a real hard time about it. lol

Good for you. I can't believe that they'd make a 10 year old (please tell me I'm right on the age) carry that much around. A 10 year old should not be throwing out his back. There are billboards up around here stressing the fact that it is bad for children to have to carry so much stuff in their backpacks.

[Sofa King]

Skyler pulled a muscle in her neck last year from the damn backpack. It was a big thing petruding on her neck. The back pack thing is getting out of hand and ALL of their books are ginormous!

We have a screwy system that makes no sense to me too. We must write a written excuse for illness, and yes, the dr's note if 3 days or more....as for vacay....if it's deamed an educational vacay it's excused, if not your SOL. Disney is considered educational. Ft Lauderdale Beach with Grandparents is not. Even if we do Lion Country and Butterfly world I asked? :shrug Haters!

Chaser's idea of sending in the puke to prove their illness is perfect! Noting that one right now! :hyper

[WendyDixie]

The backpack thing is so true. Danae is in Billingual program and gifted. So her backpack is just incredible. I can barely pick it up sometimes. And they won't let her use a rolling BP either. She has to carry 2 binders along with everything else (allt he supplies and books) and the binders are HUGE Oh and did I mention the notebooks for her journals?

Thankfully I have not had issues with UA They are pretty OK with they way they handle it at her school.

[TEF]

Speaking of the backpack thing, Sofa is so right! Both A & A have been constantly complaining of arm aches and neck aches. today I picked up their backpack and I almost fell over! It was that heavy! This is ridiculous! Some child is really going to do something serious to their bodies (like herniate a disc or worse) over this.