Why do so many parents let their kids just stay home?

[Anonymous]

[Anonymous]

My kids are ahead academically. We do lots of enrichment at home and I make sure they are on top of their lessons. I’m not worried about them missing ten days for illness or travel. And yes the fever free 24 hour rule and two bouts of strep have gotten one kid there.

There is a big rise in truancy/unexcused absences especially among lower income kids. If that’s what you are referring to I doubt too many parents here know what’s going on in those families (I don’t.). We should probably bring back truant officers.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:We don't know "these parents" of students you are talking about. What led you to post this?

Some of them have to be on this site. They are over 20%

Going to school didn't seem to help you...

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Why do so many parents let their kids just stay home?
Why?
I will understand when they are sick, or every now and then, but missing over 10 days a school year? Why? They don't feel like going so they don't go?

Missing a whole sub ever month? Wow! 10 days, like normal sick leave at a job?

[Anonymous]

I do it! It’s me!

My kid has an invisible disability that makes him more susceptible to whatever latest virus is going around. He also has more frequent medical appointments than the average kid.

And finally, I care more about his happiness and comfort than your judgment and he has no trouble staying ahead despite a missed day here and there.

[Anonymous]

I am a math teacher. I do have strict curriculum to follow. Every missed class means the student is behind and will be able to follow lesson they come to, unless they catch up on their own. Since many parents do not know math and not able to tutor, it then falls on me to somehow get the kid up to speed. For just lessons I can replace 90 minutes of class with 45 minutes of 1:1 after school session but now you asking me to be a 1:2 tutor for every kid who kisses my class, and for free.
So whatever is happening or not happening in other classes, missing math means one of the following: 1) you ensure your kid is up to speed on lesson/practice (studying in their own or with you or with tutor); 2) your kid spends at least an hour after school with teacher - you burden the teacher and teacher needs to agree to this (unfair either way); 3) your kid goes on as nothing happened meaning they now have a gap (those gaps when they accumulate will mean your kid is slower in future classes, struggling to understand lessons that require strong prerequisite skills, etc)

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Yet all of you send your kids to public school and complain about it….

Yes because it’s free. Some of us don’t have a choice.

[Anonymous]

There is still a pandemic going on OP, so 10 sick days per year isn't that much for a kid to miss, a long with all the other illnesses kids pick up.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I am a math teacher. I do have strict curriculum to follow. Every missed class means the student is behind and will be able to follow lesson they come to, unless they catch up on their own. Since many parents do not know math and not able to tutor, it then falls on me to somehow get the kid up to speed. For just lessons I can replace 90 minutes of class with 45 minutes of 1:1 after school session but now you asking me to be a 1:2 tutor for every kid who kisses my class, and for free.
So whatever is happening or not happening in other classes, missing math means one of the following: 1) you ensure your kid is up to speed on lesson/practice (studying in their own or with you or with tutor); 2) your kid spends at least an hour after school with teacher - you burden the teacher and teacher needs to agree to this (unfair either way); 3) your kid goes on as nothing happened meaning they now have a gap (those gaps when they accumulate will mean your kid is slower in future classes, struggling to understand lessons that require strong prerequisite skills, etc)

My kids alert me to the classes that are important not to miss. They are highly dedicated students, and we do our best not to miss them or to do 1 as above. Doesn't mean every class is like yours - the majority aren't.

[Anonymous]

My generally very healthy son has misssed 7 days for illness. Flu was 4 of them at once. He is also academically advanced and doesnt miss a beat when out of school. He can catch up on whatever they covered in a day in about 30 minutes. So when we travel I will always take an extra day or 2 to make the trip more enjoyable. And I'm not worried in the least bit about what he missed at school. He is in 3rd grade, so I anticipate this changing down the road.

If school was more challenging we would make a greater effort to always attend.

[Anonymous]

Because there seemed to be no urgency from FCPS when school was closed for an entire year.

[Anonymous]

Another thread to bashing schools, parents and each other …

Sigh..

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Why do so many parents let their kids just stay home?
Why?
I will understand when they are sick, or every now and then, but missing over 10 days a school year? Why? They don't feel like going so they don't go?

I’m a teacher and the LEAST number of days my students have missed is 9. I have around 60% at this point who are chronically absent (which means they’ve missed more than 18 days). We still have until June so that number will climb.

[Anonymous]

The Daily actually just did an podcast episode on this on April 2. Very interesting, worth a listen.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Yet all of you send your kids to public school and complain about it….

That boggles my mind. You are very wealthy people yet you cheap out on your kid’s education. Why?