Question for Teachers... About This Page:

[Teresa]

I know most frown on taking kids out of school for vacations but...
DD-18 has VERY bad lungs and cannot stand Fl. summers
I made ressies for 17 at the GF 18 months ago. Today I found out that ou Parent/Teacher confrences are the week we will be gone (made ressies for Thanksgiving week so kids will only miss 2.5 days)
The school has a no pre-arranged absense policy during that time. Usually, kids absences would be unexcused but they can make up home-work, this way, there are no make-ups. there is no way we can not go (17 people).
Is there any way you can think of that I can get DD-8's teacher to let her make -up work or at least do ok. She is ordinarily a straight-A student and is very bright. [img]images/icons/confused.gif[/img]

[LilMarcieMouse]

You know I'm not a teahcer But here is some pixie dust to help with your problem. you would think they would have a heart.

[GoofyKids123]

Here's another sprinkling of Pixie Dust for you, Teresa. I think I'm going to need a little myself. I spent a considerable amount of time on my computer last night chosing the cutest Disney clipart to add to the reminders that I sent to school this morning. During orientation, I informed my DS's teachers (2nd grade & 3rd grade) that our family would be taking a trip during the first week of September. My 2nd grader's teacher was fine with it, she just asked that I send her a reminder. My 3rd grader's teacher, on the other hand, was not so cool with it. She sent me a note back today in which she told me that she couldn't assemble his work ahead of time because she wouldn't know a week in advance what the class would be doing. Huh? Whatever happened to lesson plans? Is that done on a daily basis? What if she were gone for a week, wouldn't she have to prepare that in advance for her sub? I'd hoped that we'd be able to either complete the assignments ahead of time, or have them with us on the way down. I just hope he doesn't have a ton of work to do when we return. I'm sorry this is so long..just a little bit frustrated because she threw a monkey-wrench in my plans.

[Fortissimo]

Teresa, I am a teacher and if I understand correctly what you are saying, I'm hopping mad!

You mean to tell me, that if you go to WDW your daughter's absence will be unexcused and she will not be allowed to make up the work?

In Colorado a child must be given the chance to make-up work, even if the child has been suspended. I believe the Supreme Court has also said this. Unfortunately, my education law book is in storage so I can't look up the exact ruling.

On the other hand, principals do not have to excuse any absence that not an illness or a family emergency. (To me, going to WDW is an emergency!)

Is your state one which has gone to state-wide testing? If so, this may be the reason they have a no-excuse policy for vacations. However, they must allow her to make up the work.

If the school does not work with you, you have another option. Check with the district about home-schooling laws. Then, a day before you leave, withdraw your daughter from school saying you are going to home-school her. After you return, re-enroll your daughter in school saying you have changed your mind. They must allow her back in, but she will not be responsible for the work she missed as she wasn't a student at that time. I know several people (teachers) who have done this here in Colorado because of their school's absence policy.

GoofyKids123, I have been teaching 12 years and there are times that I don't have lesson plans for the following week. Yes, I do have a rough idea of what I'm doing, but sometmes the kids do not grasp a concept as fast as I had expected so instead of moiving to something new, I spend the time reinforcing. This is especially true in math. Lesson plans change from day-to-day, depending on the students. At times it is very difficult to predict where you will be in the curriculum even only one day in advance.

My suggestion, all schools must have make-up polcies. For example, we allow 2 days for every day the child was absent. Do not worry about your child doing teacher-assigned work during your vacation. You're not doing any work on your vacation, are you? So why should your child? Instead, have your child keep a journal. Then, when you return from your vacation, inquire as to what your child needs to make-up.

Oh, if a child misses my class due to a WDW vacation, they must eat a Mickey Bar for me. I even supply the money.

If you have any other questions about make-up work, please don't hesitate to ask!

[whoSEZ]

<BLOCKQUOTE><font size="1" face="Comic Sans MS, Arial">quote:</font><HR> Oh, if a child misses my class due to a WDW vacation, they must eat a Mickey Bar for me. I even supply the money. <HR></BLOCKQUOTE>

Thumbs up to you, Forti!! [img]images/icons/smile.gif[/img] Your students must think you're the best teacher ever. And they're probably right!

[DVC_Don]

A year ago our kids school district instituted a policy on vacations. They are now called "illegal absence". No homework may be assigned prior. Make up work is to be done after they get back.

My son's forth grade teacher said she could not give him homework prior, but then proceded to suggest what he might like to read while gone so he would not be behind.

My daughter's third grade teacher would not give any homework nor tell her/us what to study. Upon return she sent home five pages of make up work. Included in the make up work were gym and an assembly. The assembly was for the class to go watch the second grade perform a play. She just kept sending home "unfinished work sheets" for these two things until I wrote her a note asking just how she was to make these up. A top notch government worker that teacher was. [img]images/icons/rolleyes.gif[/img]