Attendance pressure

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Clearly parents want to travel. So why isn't FCPS giving a week long break sometime other than spring break and Christmas? I think 99% of parents would trade all the random days off and random half days for a full week.

Yes please!! Stop the every other week days off.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Clearly parents want to travel. So why isn't FCPS giving a week long break sometime other than spring break and Christmas? I think 99% of parents would trade all the random days off and random half days for a full week.

I hope the parents from this school reply with an equally condescending letter about getting a full five days of school per week more than one week in a row. Because perhaps the inconsistency of the school calendar is part of the problem that’s leading to chronic absenteeism.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Clearly parents want to travel. So why isn't FCPS giving a week long break sometime other than spring break and Christmas? I think 99% of parents would trade all the random days off and random half days for a full week.

I hope the parents from this school reply with an equally condescending letter about getting a full five days of school per week more than one week in a row. Because perhaps the inconsistency of the school calendar is part of the problem that’s leading to chronic absenteeism.

Dp. It is. FCPS runs this school like a joke and so parents treat school like it's a joke.

[Anonymous]

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If I encountered it I would probably discuss our plans with our pediatrician and see whether they thought the kids socioemotional health was best served by being in school or with family.

If your child does not need the instruction and is not missing anything important--then why are you worried about it being excused? Why are you demanding that the teacher provide work if she is not teaching? PP claims her child will be just fine academiclally.

If she’s not teaching there wont be any assignments to provide.

If i was taking a long flight or had significant downtime I’d ask for the material. If i got pushback id seek an excused absence. I wouldn’t follow an arbitrary rule so a teacher felt powerful not doing what others do hsppily.

So, who is the one here claiming to be powerful?

What a weird reaction— parents get work for their traveling kids every day. Isn’t this what you want? Parents working with their kids out of school?

Really nothing will satisfy you. Don’t take kids out — even if there is a sub or non important materials. Don't fall behind but don’t keep up!

Your kid actually can’t “keep up” with 4 weeks of packet work. What we can’t send along is all the instruction and activities we do to help them learn the content and master the skills that work should assess. At BEST we can send 4 weeks of busy work which is pointless to ask us to put together and pointless for your kid to do. We can’t send the next 4 weeks of lessons and new content. I’ve mentioned in this thread before the kid who went to India for over a month last year and the dad wanted us to have 1:1 Google meet lessons (this was denied). But we did post all the work for him online, even though in my class no assignments are even done online. Nevertheless I did it. He emailed us saying his son was having trouble understanding the material posted in Schoology. No duh!! He was not here to be taught it!

Wait a second— we just had a retired teacher tel us that busywork was SO IMPORTANT that kids should come to school to receive instruction from her pre-positioned busywork folder instead of spending time with their families.

LOL! I'm the retired teacher whose words you have conveniently twisted. You skipped the part about the detailed plans and the materials for the lessons that were left on my desk. The folder of "busy work" was "just in case."

But, the part I really don't understand is the parent who thinks that lessons go in "lock step." This assumes that every lesson is a complete success and that all of the students clearly "get" it. Gee, sometimes a lesson needs repetition and more practice--and sometimes, the kids get it so quickly that you can skip along to the next one.

But, PP has decided that the teacher is supposed to anticipate exactly what her child needs.

And, as preparing the lesson for the kids with "strep." If she cannot see the difference here, then she cannot be helped. And, kids are seldom out sick for weeks--and, believe me, most teachers would lovingly do as much as possible to help that kid. But, traveling mom thinks this is the same thing. And, FWIW, a sick child definitely suffers and a really sick child is going to need lots of extra help on return--because they likely have not been able to keep up because he does not feel well.

As for the doctor--sounds like a quack if he is giving excuses for travel.

If you don’t know how over FCPS most local pediatric practices are you’re living under a rock. There are memes about them printed out in the nurses station of ours.

Is it a school’s responsibility to keep pediatricians happy?

No.

Of course, not, but don’t be shocked that many pediatricians are more than happy to make sure their patients aren’t being arbitrary penalized by FCPS. They remember being at work while their kids were at home “learning”

Ah one of the idiotic “Schools were closed during a pandemic when millions of people were dying” geniuses. I can’t wait for you rkid to get to college and watch the Professors laugh at her COVID is the excuse of everything attitude.

COVID may not be the reason for everything but its definitely the reason my pediatricians office has FCPS memes on the wall and has no problem keeping their patients insulated from dumb policies.

They also require vaccination so don’t worry its not only MAHA fringe who is over FCPS.

Complaining about COVID policies on the one hand and claiming that expecting kids not to take extended vacations while school is in session is a little ironic.

I hated the COVID policies and think they made terrible decisions. I also think kids should be in school when school is in session.

It may seem ironic. You concluded that kids should be in school whenever FCPS decides they feel like having school. I concluded that FCPS doesn’t remotely care about the well-being of their students or their families, and so that— and not FCPS’ whims— is my primary concern. It’s in my child's best interest and mu families best interest that we travel and spend time together. That this doesn’t help FCPS meet their attendance metric is for them to worry about.

Then, quit complaining about unexcused absences or teachers who don't produce packets of work for you. Your child obviously does not need instruction.

The one complaining is the power mad principal. As I’ve said my experience is supportive teachers happy to provide material.

If that changed I’d get the absence excused and the teacher would have to provide makeup work. I think most teachers aren’t so bitter as the ones here who begrudge children a few days with their grandparents.

I’m a teacher. It isn’t about being bitter. It’s about being disrespected.

I’m all for your trip to see the grandparents. I’ll make the packets, meet after school to get your kid caught up, check in multiple times, etc. But just be gracious about it and not entitled. (And your comment about just forcing the work by getting it “excused”? That’s disrespectful, dismissive, and entitled.)

This is taking time I don’t have and it’s keeping me from 1,000 other things I need to be doing at that moment. I’m overworked, overextended, and tired.

So the sense of entitlement needs to disappear. Say “thank you” and all will be fine. And make it sincere.

What’s funny about this to me is, if I ever had a teacher actually try to penalize my kid for the circumstances of her family, I would consider the — teacher — dismissive, disrespectful, and entitled. I would feel the same way about wasting my time getting the absence officially excused and requiring the work— wasting my time when I have 1,000 other important things to do.

Since we’ve always had supportive teachers, we’ve always been very appreciative. But power trips have no place in teaching (or in administration as this principal is demonstrating)

So expecting appreciation instead of rudeness is a “power trip” to you?

I literally wrote that I would go WAY out of my way to help your kid. All I expect in return is a “thank you” because I am adding to my incredible workload to support your trip.

But that’s apparently a power trip.

A teacher who pushed back on providing material would be on a power trips. So is this principal with his rude, bullying email.

If you support families then you’re not on a power trip and certainly you’d get a thank you, at least. My sister wrote the principal about the work that was prepared for my niece. If you make a parent waste time and add to their incredible workload to get a note, then I wouldn’t expect appreciation.

[Anonymous]

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Anonymous wrote:

If I encountered it I would probably discuss our plans with our pediatrician and see whether they thought the kids socioemotional health was best served by being in school or with family.

If your child does not need the instruction and is not missing anything important--then why are you worried about it being excused? Why are you demanding that the teacher provide work if she is not teaching? PP claims her child will be just fine academiclally.

If she’s not teaching there wont be any assignments to provide.

If i was taking a long flight or had significant downtime I’d ask for the material. If i got pushback id seek an excused absence. I wouldn’t follow an arbitrary rule so a teacher felt powerful not doing what others do hsppily.

So, who is the one here claiming to be powerful?

What a weird reaction— parents get work for their traveling kids every day. Isn’t this what you want? Parents working with their kids out of school?

Really nothing will satisfy you. Don’t take kids out — even if there is a sub or non important materials. Don't fall behind but don’t keep up!

Your kid actually can’t “keep up” with 4 weeks of packet work. What we can’t send along is all the instruction and activities we do to help them learn the content and master the skills that work should assess. At BEST we can send 4 weeks of busy work which is pointless to ask us to put together and pointless for your kid to do. We can’t send the next 4 weeks of lessons and new content. I’ve mentioned in this thread before the kid who went to India for over a month last year and the dad wanted us to have 1:1 Google meet lessons (this was denied). But we did post all the work for him online, even though in my class no assignments are even done online. Nevertheless I did it. He emailed us saying his son was having trouble understanding the material posted in Schoology. No duh!! He was not here to be taught it!

Wait a second— we just had a retired teacher tel us that busywork was SO IMPORTANT that kids should come to school to receive instruction from her pre-positioned busywork folder instead of spending time with their families.

LOL! I'm the retired teacher whose words you have conveniently twisted. You skipped the part about the detailed plans and the materials for the lessons that were left on my desk. The folder of "busy work" was "just in case."

But, the part I really don't understand is the parent who thinks that lessons go in "lock step." This assumes that every lesson is a complete success and that all of the students clearly "get" it. Gee, sometimes a lesson needs repetition and more practice--and sometimes, the kids get it so quickly that you can skip along to the next one.

But, PP has decided that the teacher is supposed to anticipate exactly what her child needs.

And, as preparing the lesson for the kids with "strep." If she cannot see the difference here, then she cannot be helped. And, kids are seldom out sick for weeks--and, believe me, most teachers would lovingly do as much as possible to help that kid. But, traveling mom thinks this is the same thing. And, FWIW, a sick child definitely suffers and a really sick child is going to need lots of extra help on return--because they likely have not been able to keep up because he does not feel well.

As for the doctor--sounds like a quack if he is giving excuses for travel.

If you don’t know how over FCPS most local pediatric practices are you’re living under a rock. There are memes about them printed out in the nurses station of ours.

Is it a school’s responsibility to keep pediatricians happy?

No.

Of course, not, but don’t be shocked that many pediatricians are more than happy to make sure their patients aren’t being arbitrary penalized by FCPS. They remember being at work while their kids were at home “learning”

Ah one of the idiotic “Schools were closed during a pandemic when millions of people were dying” geniuses. I can’t wait for you rkid to get to college and watch the Professors laugh at her COVID is the excuse of everything attitude.

COVID may not be the reason for everything but its definitely the reason my pediatricians office has FCPS memes on the wall and has no problem keeping their patients insulated from dumb policies.

They also require vaccination so don’t worry its not only MAHA fringe who is over FCPS.

Complaining about COVID policies on the one hand and claiming that expecting kids not to take extended vacations while school is in session is a little ironic.

I hated the COVID policies and think they made terrible decisions. I also think kids should be in school when school is in session.

It may seem ironic. You concluded that kids should be in school whenever FCPS decides they feel like having school. I concluded that FCPS doesn’t remotely care about the well-being of their students or their families, and so that— and not FCPS’ whims— is my primary concern. It’s in my child's best interest and mu families best interest that we travel and spend time together. That this doesn’t help FCPS meet their attendance metric is for them to worry about.

Then, quit complaining about unexcused absences or teachers who don't produce packets of work for you. Your child obviously does not need instruction.

The one complaining is the power mad principal. As I’ve said my experience is supportive teachers happy to provide material.

If that changed I’d get the absence excused and the teacher would have to provide makeup work. I think most teachers aren’t so bitter as the ones here who begrudge children a few days with their grandparents.

I’m a teacher. It isn’t about being bitter. It’s about being disrespected.

I’m all for your trip to see the grandparents. I’ll make the packets, meet after school to get your kid caught up, check in multiple times, etc. But just be gracious about it and not entitled. (And your comment about just forcing the work by getting it “excused”? That’s disrespectful, dismissive, and entitled.)

This is taking time I don’t have and it’s keeping me from 1,000 other things I need to be doing at that moment. I’m overworked, overextended, and tired.

So the sense of entitlement needs to disappear. Say “thank you” and all will be fine. And make it sincere.

What’s funny about this to me is, if I ever had a teacher actually try to penalize my kid for the circumstances of her family, I would consider the — teacher — dismissive, disrespectful, and entitled. I would feel the same way about wasting my time getting the absence officially excused and requiring the work— wasting my time when I have 1,000 other important things to do.

Since we’ve always had supportive teachers, we’ve always been very appreciative. But power trips have no place in teaching (or in administration as this principal is demonstrating)

So expecting appreciation instead of rudeness is a “power trip” to you?

I literally wrote that I would go WAY out of my way to help your kid. All I expect in return is a “thank you” because I am adding to my incredible workload to support your trip.

But that’s apparently a power trip.

A teacher who pushed back on providing material would be on a power trips. So is this principal with his rude, bullying email.

If you support families then you’re not on a power trip and certainly you’d get a thank you, at least. My sister wrote the principal about the work that was prepared for my niece. If you make a parent waste time and add to their incredible workload to get a note, then I wouldn’t expect appreciation.

Just a reminder: there are multiple posters on this thread.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

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Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

If I encountered it I would probably discuss our plans with our pediatrician and see whether they thought the kids socioemotional health was best served by being in school or with family.

If your child does not need the instruction and is not missing anything important--then why are you worried about it being excused? Why are you demanding that the teacher provide work if she is not teaching? PP claims her child will be just fine academiclally.

If she’s not teaching there wont be any assignments to provide.

If i was taking a long flight or had significant downtime I’d ask for the material. If i got pushback id seek an excused absence. I wouldn’t follow an arbitrary rule so a teacher felt powerful not doing what others do hsppily.

So, who is the one here claiming to be powerful?

What a weird reaction— parents get work for their traveling kids every day. Isn’t this what you want? Parents working with their kids out of school?

Really nothing will satisfy you. Don’t take kids out — even if there is a sub or non important materials. Don't fall behind but don’t keep up!

Your kid actually can’t “keep up” with 4 weeks of packet work. What we can’t send along is all the instruction and activities we do to help them learn the content and master the skills that work should assess. At BEST we can send 4 weeks of busy work which is pointless to ask us to put together and pointless for your kid to do. We can’t send the next 4 weeks of lessons and new content. I’ve mentioned in this thread before the kid who went to India for over a month last year and the dad wanted us to have 1:1 Google meet lessons (this was denied). But we did post all the work for him online, even though in my class no assignments are even done online. Nevertheless I did it. He emailed us saying his son was having trouble understanding the material posted in Schoology. No duh!! He was not here to be taught it!

Wait a second— we just had a retired teacher tel us that busywork was SO IMPORTANT that kids should come to school to receive instruction from her pre-positioned busywork folder instead of spending time with their families.

LOL! I'm the retired teacher whose words you have conveniently twisted. You skipped the part about the detailed plans and the materials for the lessons that were left on my desk. The folder of "busy work" was "just in case."

But, the part I really don't understand is the parent who thinks that lessons go in "lock step." This assumes that every lesson is a complete success and that all of the students clearly "get" it. Gee, sometimes a lesson needs repetition and more practice--and sometimes, the kids get it so quickly that you can skip along to the next one.

But, PP has decided that the teacher is supposed to anticipate exactly what her child needs.

And, as preparing the lesson for the kids with "strep." If she cannot see the difference here, then she cannot be helped. And, kids are seldom out sick for weeks--and, believe me, most teachers would lovingly do as much as possible to help that kid. But, traveling mom thinks this is the same thing. And, FWIW, a sick child definitely suffers and a really sick child is going to need lots of extra help on return--because they likely have not been able to keep up because he does not feel well.

As for the doctor--sounds like a quack if he is giving excuses for travel.

If you don’t know how over FCPS most local pediatric practices are you’re living under a rock. There are memes about them printed out in the nurses station of ours.

Is it a school’s responsibility to keep pediatricians happy?

No.

Of course, not, but don’t be shocked that many pediatricians are more than happy to make sure their patients aren’t being arbitrary penalized by FCPS. They remember being at work while their kids were at home “learning”

Ah one of the idiotic “Schools were closed during a pandemic when millions of people were dying” geniuses. I can’t wait for you rkid to get to college and watch the Professors laugh at her COVID is the excuse of everything attitude.

COVID may not be the reason for everything but its definitely the reason my pediatricians office has FCPS memes on the wall and has no problem keeping their patients insulated from dumb policies.

They also require vaccination so don’t worry its not only MAHA fringe who is over FCPS.

Complaining about COVID policies on the one hand and claiming that expecting kids not to take extended vacations while school is in session is a little ironic.

I hated the COVID policies and think they made terrible decisions. I also think kids should be in school when school is in session.

It may seem ironic. You concluded that kids should be in school whenever FCPS decides they feel like having school. I concluded that FCPS doesn’t remotely care about the well-being of their students or their families, and so that— and not FCPS’ whims— is my primary concern. It’s in my child's best interest and mu families best interest that we travel and spend time together. That this doesn’t help FCPS meet their attendance metric is for them to worry about.

You do realize that the attendance metric influences funding for your child’s school?

You keep saying this. Here’s an easy fix:

The day before winter break has a very high absence rate. Next year make that a teacher planning day. Now the school average attendance is higher!

Why doesn't FCPS take the steps within their control?

DP. Not the sharpest tool in the shed, are we? If you make that day a planning day, parents will treat that as the start of winter break and take their kid out a day earlier.

Try it and see. Or put planning days on other high-absence days like the Monday after Thanksgiving. FCPS has 100% control over where those days are and 0% credibility with parents, so start making the decisions within their control, it will help with both problems.

Teacher here. I don’t think missing a day before break is the big deal. Even two days before break. It is when kids are missing a full week or two to extend an already two week break. This is the main reason the two week winter break will stay put.

Parents, you are in control of your kids attendance. If you want to pull them, there is nothing we can do. It is up to you though that the kids catch up with what is missed. They may have tests the first week back, essays due, projects due, etc. They will have content they missed.

FCPS has statistics on the impact of chronic absenteeism - 17% of chronic absent were reading proficiently in grade 3 compared to 64% with good attendance. Longitudinally students not reading proficiently in grade 3 were 4 times more likely to drop out. Academic Matters 11/14/24 https://go.boarddocs.com/vsba/fairfax/Board.nsf/files/DAZRKV6E4756/$file/School%20Board%20Presentation%20SY25%20-%20Student%20Attendance%20and%20Engagement.pdf

FCPS tried year round school as part of it's Modified Calendar Program starting in the late 1990's. First was Timber Lane. That cut down on some January absences since in some countries [ie in Central America] the school year ran late Jan or early Feb through November or to mid Dec. Students could get opt outs with transportation to specific standard calendar schools. AAP was then the smaller GT which got expanded in 2002 and now is the really broad AAP.

FCPS published % of chronic absenteeism for the 2018-19 school year as part of a governance work session on 10/2/2019. Odd place to see the actual statistics but here it is: https://go.boarddocs.com/vsba/fairfax/Board.nsf/files/BGKMJ45B69C8/$file/ChronAbsenteeismCivicEngagementImpact_AlphaRegion_v2.pdf

Chronic absenteeism is not equivalent to pulling your kids from school for 3-5 days once a calendar year for a vacation. Chronic absenteeism is 10% or more of a school year, so a minimum of 18 absences.

Give me a break. You don't have the statistics. FCPS does and I learned about the January absenteeism problem at FCPS meetings. 1-3 weeks or more some are out in Jan. Not 2-4 days plus some sick days scattered throughout the year. Expectations on school attendance flexibility included in another person's post "Families with international jobs, families of immigrants, families of military/transient DC residence— all very well represented in the area— can’t fly to visit relatives in the 1 and 2 and .5 day breaks that are all over the calendar. "

So you all want FCPS to universally revert to the Mofidied Calendar or year round school with perhaps July off? Pay for intersessions?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

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Anonymous wrote:

If I encountered it I would probably discuss our plans with our pediatrician and see whether they thought the kids socioemotional health was best served by being in school or with family.

If your child does not need the instruction and is not missing anything important--then why are you worried about it being excused? Why are you demanding that the teacher provide work if she is not teaching? PP claims her child will be just fine academiclally.

If she’s not teaching there wont be any assignments to provide.

If i was taking a long flight or had significant downtime I’d ask for the material. If i got pushback id seek an excused absence. I wouldn’t follow an arbitrary rule so a teacher felt powerful not doing what others do hsppily.

So, who is the one here claiming to be powerful?

What a weird reaction— parents get work for their traveling kids every day. Isn’t this what you want? Parents working with their kids out of school?

Really nothing will satisfy you. Don’t take kids out — even if there is a sub or non important materials. Don't fall behind but don’t keep up!

Your kid actually can’t “keep up” with 4 weeks of packet work. What we can’t send along is all the instruction and activities we do to help them learn the content and master the skills that work should assess. At BEST we can send 4 weeks of busy work which is pointless to ask us to put together and pointless for your kid to do. We can’t send the next 4 weeks of lessons and new content. I’ve mentioned in this thread before the kid who went to India for over a month last year and the dad wanted us to have 1:1 Google meet lessons (this was denied). But we did post all the work for him online, even though in my class no assignments are even done online. Nevertheless I did it. He emailed us saying his son was having trouble understanding the material posted in Schoology. No duh!! He was not here to be taught it!

Wait a second— we just had a retired teacher tel us that busywork was SO IMPORTANT that kids should come to school to receive instruction from her pre-positioned busywork folder instead of spending time with their families.

LOL! I'm the retired teacher whose words you have conveniently twisted. You skipped the part about the detailed plans and the materials for the lessons that were left on my desk. The folder of "busy work" was "just in case."

But, the part I really don't understand is the parent who thinks that lessons go in "lock step." This assumes that every lesson is a complete success and that all of the students clearly "get" it. Gee, sometimes a lesson needs repetition and more practice--and sometimes, the kids get it so quickly that you can skip along to the next one.

But, PP has decided that the teacher is supposed to anticipate exactly what her child needs.

And, as preparing the lesson for the kids with "strep." If she cannot see the difference here, then she cannot be helped. And, kids are seldom out sick for weeks--and, believe me, most teachers would lovingly do as much as possible to help that kid. But, traveling mom thinks this is the same thing. And, FWIW, a sick child definitely suffers and a really sick child is going to need lots of extra help on return--because they likely have not been able to keep up because he does not feel well.

As for the doctor--sounds like a quack if he is giving excuses for travel.

If you don’t know how over FCPS most local pediatric practices are you’re living under a rock. There are memes about them printed out in the nurses station of ours.

Is it a school’s responsibility to keep pediatricians happy?

No.

Of course, not, but don’t be shocked that many pediatricians are more than happy to make sure their patients aren’t being arbitrary penalized by FCPS. They remember being at work while their kids were at home “learning”

Ah one of the idiotic “Schools were closed during a pandemic when millions of people were dying” geniuses. I can’t wait for you rkid to get to college and watch the Professors laugh at her COVID is the excuse of everything attitude.

COVID may not be the reason for everything but its definitely the reason my pediatricians office has FCPS memes on the wall and has no problem keeping their patients insulated from dumb policies.

They also require vaccination so don’t worry its not only MAHA fringe who is over FCPS.

Complaining about COVID policies on the one hand and claiming that expecting kids not to take extended vacations while school is in session is a little ironic.

I hated the COVID policies and think they made terrible decisions. I also think kids should be in school when school is in session.

It may seem ironic. You concluded that kids should be in school whenever FCPS decides they feel like having school. I concluded that FCPS doesn’t remotely care about the well-being of their students or their families, and so that— and not FCPS’ whims— is my primary concern. It’s in my child's best interest and mu families best interest that we travel and spend time together. That this doesn’t help FCPS meet their attendance metric is for them to worry about.

Then, quit complaining about unexcused absences or teachers who don't produce packets of work for you. Your child obviously does not need instruction.

The one complaining is the power mad principal. As I’ve said my experience is supportive teachers happy to provide material.

If that changed I’d get the absence excused and the teacher would have to provide makeup work. I think most teachers aren’t so bitter as the ones here who begrudge children a few days with their grandparents.

I’m a teacher. It isn’t about being bitter. It’s about being disrespected.

I’m all for your trip to see the grandparents. I’ll make the packets, meet after school to get your kid caught up, check in multiple times, etc. But just be gracious about it and not entitled. (And your comment about just forcing the work by getting it “excused”? That’s disrespectful, dismissive, and entitled.)

This is taking time I don’t have and it’s keeping me from 1,000 other things I need to be doing at that moment. I’m overworked, overextended, and tired.

So the sense of entitlement needs to disappear. Say “thank you” and all will be fine. And make it sincere.

What’s funny about this to me is, if I ever had a teacher actually try to penalize my kid for the circumstances of her family, I would consider the — teacher — dismissive, disrespectful, and entitled. I would feel the same way about wasting my time getting the absence officially excused and requiring the work— wasting my time when I have 1,000 other important things to do.

Since we’ve always had supportive teachers, we’ve always been very appreciative. But power trips have no place in teaching (or in administration as this principal is demonstrating)

So expecting appreciation instead of rudeness is a “power trip” to you?

I literally wrote that I would go WAY out of my way to help your kid. All I expect in return is a “thank you” because I am adding to my incredible workload to support your trip.

But that’s apparently a power trip.

A teacher who pushed back on providing material would be on a power trips. So is this principal with his rude, bullying email.

If you support families then you’re not on a power trip and certainly you’d get a thank you, at least. My sister wrote the principal about the work that was prepared for my niece. If you make a parent waste time and add to their incredible workload to get a note, then I wouldn’t expect appreciation.

Are you kidding me?
When I was teaching in FCPS I had over 150 students per year. My five classes met every day for 50 minutes each. I taught a lab based science course in which the county wanted us to complete 60-70 labs per year. Yes. Basically a new lab every other day of school. Some labs took one day. Some took two or three days. When families chose to take an extra week or more of vacation during school I was not in any way shape or form able to give kids work to do while they were gone. Would you like me to have Susie take the necessary chemicals and equipment on vacation with her to keep up with the lab work? I didn't think so. Susie could read the lab. And if she showed up on a day that worked for me, I might let her try the lab in a makeup situation after she returned. But honestly, kids rarely showed up to make up work and never understood the missed work without doing the labs. Most teachers just want kids to learn. They aren't on "power trips". If they were, they wouldn't be teaching and getting paid absolute sh*t for putting up with the nonsense parents try to pull.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

If I encountered it I would probably discuss our plans with our pediatrician and see whether they thought the kids socioemotional health was best served by being in school or with family.

If your child does not need the instruction and is not missing anything important--then why are you worried about it being excused? Why are you demanding that the teacher provide work if she is not teaching? PP claims her child will be just fine academiclally.

If she’s not teaching there wont be any assignments to provide.

If i was taking a long flight or had significant downtime I’d ask for the material. If i got pushback id seek an excused absence. I wouldn’t follow an arbitrary rule so a teacher felt powerful not doing what others do hsppily.

So, who is the one here claiming to be powerful?

What a weird reaction— parents get work for their traveling kids every day. Isn’t this what you want? Parents working with their kids out of school?

Really nothing will satisfy you. Don’t take kids out — even if there is a sub or non important materials. Don't fall behind but don’t keep up!

Your kid actually can’t “keep up” with 4 weeks of packet work. What we can’t send along is all the instruction and activities we do to help them learn the content and master the skills that work should assess. At BEST we can send 4 weeks of busy work which is pointless to ask us to put together and pointless for your kid to do. We can’t send the next 4 weeks of lessons and new content. I’ve mentioned in this thread before the kid who went to India for over a month last year and the dad wanted us to have 1:1 Google meet lessons (this was denied). But we did post all the work for him online, even though in my class no assignments are even done online. Nevertheless I did it. He emailed us saying his son was having trouble understanding the material posted in Schoology. No duh!! He was not here to be taught it!

Wait a second— we just had a retired teacher tel us that busywork was SO IMPORTANT that kids should come to school to receive instruction from her pre-positioned busywork folder instead of spending time with their families.

LOL! I'm the retired teacher whose words you have conveniently twisted. You skipped the part about the detailed plans and the materials for the lessons that were left on my desk. The folder of "busy work" was "just in case."

But, the part I really don't understand is the parent who thinks that lessons go in "lock step." This assumes that every lesson is a complete success and that all of the students clearly "get" it. Gee, sometimes a lesson needs repetition and more practice--and sometimes, the kids get it so quickly that you can skip along to the next one.

But, PP has decided that the teacher is supposed to anticipate exactly what her child needs.

And, as preparing the lesson for the kids with "strep." If she cannot see the difference here, then she cannot be helped. And, kids are seldom out sick for weeks--and, believe me, most teachers would lovingly do as much as possible to help that kid. But, traveling mom thinks this is the same thing. And, FWIW, a sick child definitely suffers and a really sick child is going to need lots of extra help on return--because they likely have not been able to keep up because he does not feel well.

As for the doctor--sounds like a quack if he is giving excuses for travel.

If you don’t know how over FCPS most local pediatric practices are you’re living under a rock. There are memes about them printed out in the nurses station of ours.

Is it a school’s responsibility to keep pediatricians happy?

No.

Of course, not, but don’t be shocked that many pediatricians are more than happy to make sure their patients aren’t being arbitrary penalized by FCPS. They remember being at work while their kids were at home “learning”

Ah one of the idiotic “Schools were closed during a pandemic when millions of people were dying” geniuses. I can’t wait for you rkid to get to college and watch the Professors laugh at her COVID is the excuse of everything attitude.

COVID may not be the reason for everything but its definitely the reason my pediatricians office has FCPS memes on the wall and has no problem keeping their patients insulated from dumb policies.

They also require vaccination so don’t worry its not only MAHA fringe who is over FCPS.

Complaining about COVID policies on the one hand and claiming that expecting kids not to take extended vacations while school is in session is a little ironic.

I hated the COVID policies and think they made terrible decisions. I also think kids should be in school when school is in session.

It may seem ironic. You concluded that kids should be in school whenever FCPS decides they feel like having school. I concluded that FCPS doesn’t remotely care about the well-being of their students or their families, and so that— and not FCPS’ whims— is my primary concern. It’s in my child's best interest and mu families best interest that we travel and spend time together. That this doesn’t help FCPS meet their attendance metric is for them to worry about.

You do realize that the attendance metric influences funding for your child’s school?

You keep saying this. Here’s an easy fix:

The day before winter break has a very high absence rate. Next year make that a teacher planning day. Now the school average attendance is higher!

Why doesn't FCPS take the steps within their control?

DP. Not the sharpest tool in the shed, are we? If you make that day a planning day, parents will treat that as the start of winter break and take their kid out a day earlier.

Try it and see. Or put planning days on other high-absence days like the Monday after Thanksgiving. FCPS has 100% control over where those days are and 0% credibility with parents, so start making the decisions within their control, it will help with both problems.

Teacher here. I don’t think missing a day before break is the big deal. Even two days before break. It is when kids are missing a full week or two to extend an already two week break. This is the main reason the two week winter break will stay put.

Parents, you are in control of your kids attendance. If you want to pull them, there is nothing we can do. It is up to you though that the kids catch up with what is missed. They may have tests the first week back, essays due, projects due, etc. They will have content they missed.

FCPS has statistics on the impact of chronic absenteeism - 17% of chronic absent were reading proficiently in grade 3 compared to 64% with good attendance. Longitudinally students not reading proficiently in grade 3 were 4 times more likely to drop out. Academic Matters 11/14/24 https://go.boarddocs.com/vsba/fairfax/Board.nsf/files/DAZRKV6E4756/$file/School%20Board%20Presentation%20SY25%20-%20Student%20Attendance%20and%20Engagement.pdf

FCPS tried year round school as part of it's Modified Calendar Program starting in the late 1990's. First was Timber Lane. That cut down on some January absences since in some countries [ie in Central America] the school year ran late Jan or early Feb through November or to mid Dec. Students could get opt outs with transportation to specific standard calendar schools. AAP was then the smaller GT which got expanded in 2002 and now is the really broad AAP.

FCPS published % of chronic absenteeism for the 2018-19 school year as part of a governance work session on 10/2/2019. Odd place to see the actual statistics but here it is: https://go.boarddocs.com/vsba/fairfax/Board.nsf/files/BGKMJ45B69C8/$file/ChronAbsenteeismCivicEngagementImpact_AlphaRegion_v2.pdf

Chronic absenteeism is not equivalent to pulling your kids from school for 3-5 days once a calendar year for a vacation. Chronic absenteeism is 10% or more of a school year, so a minimum of 18 absences.

Give me a break. You don't have the statistics. FCPS does and I learned about the January absenteeism problem at FCPS meetings. 1-3 weeks or more some are out in Jan. Not 2-4 days plus some sick days scattered throughout the year. Expectations on school attendance flexibility included in another person's post "Families with international jobs, families of immigrants, families of military/transient DC residence— all very well represented in the area— can’t fly to visit relatives in the 1 and 2 and .5 day breaks that are all over the calendar. "

So you all want FCPS to universally revert to the Mofidied Calendar or year round school with perhaps July off? Pay for intersessions?

Interesting. I taught in DOD schools overseas. The kids did not take off and go visit Grandma during the School year.

[Anonymous]

I'm so confused why parents are complaining about a school system encouraging your kids actually showing up to school?!?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I'm so confused why parents are complaining about a school system encouraging your kids actually showing up to school?!?

You’re not really confused though, any more than the poster who keeps posting about attendance based funding. You’re confused why parents are no longer buying FCPS’ narratives and the answer is:

2025-2026 Calendar
Boundary Survey
Parents who were here in COVID

Hope this helps with your confusion

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I'm so confused why parents are complaining about a school system encouraging your kids actually showing up to school?!?

You’re not really confused though, any more than the poster who keeps posting about attendance based funding. You’re confused why parents are no longer buying FCPS’ narratives and the answer is:

2025-2026 Calendar
Boundary Survey
Parents who were here in COVID

Hope this helps with your confusion

Yes, but those are days built into the school calendar, and the assumption is students show up on other days.
COVID was a once in a lifetime situation. regardless of political affiliation or whether we think FCPS dealt well with it or not, we are not going to keep students home forever from here on out. Just common sense.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

If I encountered it I would probably discuss our plans with our pediatrician and see whether they thought the kids socioemotional health was best served by being in school or with family.

If your child does not need the instruction and is not missing anything important--then why are you worried about it being excused? Why are you demanding that the teacher provide work if she is not teaching? PP claims her child will be just fine academiclally.

If she’s not teaching there wont be any assignments to provide.

If i was taking a long flight or had significant downtime I’d ask for the material. If i got pushback id seek an excused absence. I wouldn’t follow an arbitrary rule so a teacher felt powerful not doing what others do hsppily.

So, who is the one here claiming to be powerful?

What a weird reaction— parents get work for their traveling kids every day. Isn’t this what you want? Parents working with their kids out of school?

Really nothing will satisfy you. Don’t take kids out — even if there is a sub or non important materials. Don't fall behind but don’t keep up!

Your kid actually can’t “keep up” with 4 weeks of packet work. What we can’t send along is all the instruction and activities we do to help them learn the content and master the skills that work should assess. At BEST we can send 4 weeks of busy work which is pointless to ask us to put together and pointless for your kid to do. We can’t send the next 4 weeks of lessons and new content. I’ve mentioned in this thread before the kid who went to India for over a month last year and the dad wanted us to have 1:1 Google meet lessons (this was denied). But we did post all the work for him online, even though in my class no assignments are even done online. Nevertheless I did it. He emailed us saying his son was having trouble understanding the material posted in Schoology. No duh!! He was not here to be taught it!

Wait a second— we just had a retired teacher tel us that busywork was SO IMPORTANT that kids should come to school to receive instruction from her pre-positioned busywork folder instead of spending time with their families.

LOL! I'm the retired teacher whose words you have conveniently twisted. You skipped the part about the detailed plans and the materials for the lessons that were left on my desk. The folder of "busy work" was "just in case."

But, the part I really don't understand is the parent who thinks that lessons go in "lock step." This assumes that every lesson is a complete success and that all of the students clearly "get" it. Gee, sometimes a lesson needs repetition and more practice--and sometimes, the kids get it so quickly that you can skip along to the next one.

But, PP has decided that the teacher is supposed to anticipate exactly what her child needs.

And, as preparing the lesson for the kids with "strep." If she cannot see the difference here, then she cannot be helped. And, kids are seldom out sick for weeks--and, believe me, most teachers would lovingly do as much as possible to help that kid. But, traveling mom thinks this is the same thing. And, FWIW, a sick child definitely suffers and a really sick child is going to need lots of extra help on return--because they likely have not been able to keep up because he does not feel well.

As for the doctor--sounds like a quack if he is giving excuses for travel.

If you don’t know how over FCPS most local pediatric practices are you’re living under a rock. There are memes about them printed out in the nurses station of ours.

Is it a school’s responsibility to keep pediatricians happy?

No.

Of course, not, but don’t be shocked that many pediatricians are more than happy to make sure their patients aren’t being arbitrary penalized by FCPS. They remember being at work while their kids were at home “learning”

Ah one of the idiotic “Schools were closed during a pandemic when millions of people were dying” geniuses. I can’t wait for you rkid to get to college and watch the Professors laugh at her COVID is the excuse of everything attitude.

COVID may not be the reason for everything but its definitely the reason my pediatricians office has FCPS memes on the wall and has no problem keeping their patients insulated from dumb policies.

They also require vaccination so don’t worry its not only MAHA fringe who is over FCPS.

Complaining about COVID policies on the one hand and claiming that expecting kids not to take extended vacations while school is in session is a little ironic.

I hated the COVID policies and think they made terrible decisions. I also think kids should be in school when school is in session.

It may seem ironic. You concluded that kids should be in school whenever FCPS decides they feel like having school. I concluded that FCPS doesn’t remotely care about the well-being of their students or their families, and so that— and not FCPS’ whims— is my primary concern. It’s in my child's best interest and mu families best interest that we travel and spend time together. That this doesn’t help FCPS meet their attendance metric is for them to worry about.

You do realize that the attendance metric influences funding for your child’s school?

You keep saying this. Here’s an easy fix:

The day before winter break has a very high absence rate. Next year make that a teacher planning day. Now the school average attendance is higher!

Why doesn't FCPS take the steps within their control?

DP. Not the sharpest tool in the shed, are we? If you make that day a planning day, parents will treat that as the start of winter break and take their kid out a day earlier.

Try it and see. Or put planning days on other high-absence days like the Monday after Thanksgiving. FCPS has 100% control over where those days are and 0% credibility with parents, so start making the decisions within their control, it will help with both problems.

Parents already take off days before and after planning days so all that would happen is instead of taking off Friday if is a planning day, parents would take off Thursday on same theory as being used in thread now. Will fix nothing and parents wanting 3 weeks or 4 or whatever want in Dec will still be mad.

Or obvious answer: go in the summer

Or, again, go. But, your child's education is on you. You obviously think he is missing nothing.

This isn’t your logic when teachers vacation during the school year.

That is extremely rare. I was a teacher--I only took a week off once for an extreme family emergency. It was far from a vacation.

I know two teachers who did midweek Disney last year and I’m a different poster than the earlier one who posted about Orlando.

It’s clearly not that rare.

I agree it’s not rare. I’m a retired teacher substitute and I’ve done a few 5 day jobs this year for teachers away on vacation. I think it’s more common for teachers to be out multiple personal days in a row now than it used to be. I don’t blame them though. I retired with way too many hours of accumulated leave. I should have used more of it when I was younger.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

If I encountered it I would probably discuss our plans with our pediatrician and see whether they thought the kids socioemotional health was best served by being in school or with family.

If your child does not need the instruction and is not missing anything important--then why are you worried about it being excused? Why are you demanding that the teacher provide work if she is not teaching? PP claims her child will be just fine academiclally.

If she’s not teaching there wont be any assignments to provide.

If i was taking a long flight or had significant downtime I’d ask for the material. If i got pushback id seek an excused absence. I wouldn’t follow an arbitrary rule so a teacher felt powerful not doing what others do hsppily.

So, who is the one here claiming to be powerful?

What a weird reaction— parents get work for their traveling kids every day. Isn’t this what you want? Parents working with their kids out of school?

Really nothing will satisfy you. Don’t take kids out — even if there is a sub or non important materials. Don't fall behind but don’t keep up!

Your kid actually can’t “keep up” with 4 weeks of packet work. What we can’t send along is all the instruction and activities we do to help them learn the content and master the skills that work should assess. At BEST we can send 4 weeks of busy work which is pointless to ask us to put together and pointless for your kid to do. We can’t send the next 4 weeks of lessons and new content. I’ve mentioned in this thread before the kid who went to India for over a month last year and the dad wanted us to have 1:1 Google meet lessons (this was denied). But we did post all the work for him online, even though in my class no assignments are even done online. Nevertheless I did it. He emailed us saying his son was having trouble understanding the material posted in Schoology. No duh!! He was not here to be taught it!

Wait a second— we just had a retired teacher tel us that busywork was SO IMPORTANT that kids should come to school to receive instruction from her pre-positioned busywork folder instead of spending time with their families.

LOL! I'm the retired teacher whose words you have conveniently twisted. You skipped the part about the detailed plans and the materials for the lessons that were left on my desk. The folder of "busy work" was "just in case."

But, the part I really don't understand is the parent who thinks that lessons go in "lock step." This assumes that every lesson is a complete success and that all of the students clearly "get" it. Gee, sometimes a lesson needs repetition and more practice--and sometimes, the kids get it so quickly that you can skip along to the next one.

But, PP has decided that the teacher is supposed to anticipate exactly what her child needs.

And, as preparing the lesson for the kids with "strep." If she cannot see the difference here, then she cannot be helped. And, kids are seldom out sick for weeks--and, believe me, most teachers would lovingly do as much as possible to help that kid. But, traveling mom thinks this is the same thing. And, FWIW, a sick child definitely suffers and a really sick child is going to need lots of extra help on return--because they likely have not been able to keep up because he does not feel well.

As for the doctor--sounds like a quack if he is giving excuses for travel.

If you don’t know how over FCPS most local pediatric practices are you’re living under a rock. There are memes about them printed out in the nurses station of ours.

Is it a school’s responsibility to keep pediatricians happy?

No.

Of course, not, but don’t be shocked that many pediatricians are more than happy to make sure their patients aren’t being arbitrary penalized by FCPS. They remember being at work while their kids were at home “learning”

Ah one of the idiotic “Schools were closed during a pandemic when millions of people were dying” geniuses. I can’t wait for you rkid to get to college and watch the Professors laugh at her COVID is the excuse of everything attitude.

COVID may not be the reason for everything but its definitely the reason my pediatricians office has FCPS memes on the wall and has no problem keeping their patients insulated from dumb policies.

They also require vaccination so don’t worry its not only MAHA fringe who is over FCPS.

Complaining about COVID policies on the one hand and claiming that expecting kids not to take extended vacations while school is in session is a little ironic.

I hated the COVID policies and think they made terrible decisions. I also think kids should be in school when school is in session.

It may seem ironic. You concluded that kids should be in school whenever FCPS decides they feel like having school. I concluded that FCPS doesn’t remotely care about the well-being of their students or their families, and so that— and not FCPS’ whims— is my primary concern. It’s in my child's best interest and mu families best interest that we travel and spend time together. That this doesn’t help FCPS meet their attendance metric is for them to worry about.

You do realize that the attendance metric influences funding for your child’s school?

You keep saying this. Here’s an easy fix:

The day before winter break has a very high absence rate. Next year make that a teacher planning day. Now the school average attendance is higher!

Why doesn't FCPS take the steps within their control?

DP. Not the sharpest tool in the shed, are we? If you make that day a planning day, parents will treat that as the start of winter break and take their kid out a day earlier.

Try it and see. Or put planning days on other high-absence days like the Monday after Thanksgiving. FCPS has 100% control over where those days are and 0% credibility with parents, so start making the decisions within their control, it will help with both problems.

Parents already take off days before and after planning days so all that would happen is instead of taking off Friday if is a planning day, parents would take off Thursday on same theory as being used in thread now. Will fix nothing and parents wanting 3 weeks or 4 or whatever want in Dec will still be mad.

Or obvious answer: go in the summer

Or, again, go. But, your child's education is on you. You obviously think he is missing nothing.

This isn’t your logic when teachers vacation during the school year.

That is extremely rare. I was a teacher--I only took a week off once for an extreme family emergency. It was far from a vacation.

I know two teachers who did midweek Disney last year and I’m a different poster than the earlier one who posted about Orlando.

It’s clearly not that rare.

I agree it’s not rare. I’m a retired teacher substitute and I’ve done a few 5 day jobs this year for teachers away on vacation. I think it’s more common for teachers to be out multiple personal days in a row now than it used to be. I don’t blame them though. I retired with way too many hours of accumulated leave. I should have used more of it when I was younger.

.

If teachers can be out taking vacations, so can students. Adapt.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

If I encountered it I would probably discuss our plans with our pediatrician and see whether they thought the kids socioemotional health was best served by being in school or with family.

If your child does not need the instruction and is not missing anything important--then why are you worried about it being excused? Why are you demanding that the teacher provide work if she is not teaching? PP claims her child will be just fine academiclally.

If she’s not teaching there wont be any assignments to provide.

If i was taking a long flight or had significant downtime I’d ask for the material. If i got pushback id seek an excused absence. I wouldn’t follow an arbitrary rule so a teacher felt powerful not doing what others do hsppily.

So, who is the one here claiming to be powerful?

What a weird reaction— parents get work for their traveling kids every day. Isn’t this what you want? Parents working with their kids out of school?

Really nothing will satisfy you. Don’t take kids out — even if there is a sub or non important materials. Don't fall behind but don’t keep up!

Your kid actually can’t “keep up” with 4 weeks of packet work. What we can’t send along is all the instruction and activities we do to help them learn the content and master the skills that work should assess. At BEST we can send 4 weeks of busy work which is pointless to ask us to put together and pointless for your kid to do. We can’t send the next 4 weeks of lessons and new content. I’ve mentioned in this thread before the kid who went to India for over a month last year and the dad wanted us to have 1:1 Google meet lessons (this was denied). But we did post all the work for him online, even though in my class no assignments are even done online. Nevertheless I did it. He emailed us saying his son was having trouble understanding the material posted in Schoology. No duh!! He was not here to be taught it!

Wait a second— we just had a retired teacher tel us that busywork was SO IMPORTANT that kids should come to school to receive instruction from her pre-positioned busywork folder instead of spending time with their families.

LOL! I'm the retired teacher whose words you have conveniently twisted. You skipped the part about the detailed plans and the materials for the lessons that were left on my desk. The folder of "busy work" was "just in case."

But, the part I really don't understand is the parent who thinks that lessons go in "lock step." This assumes that every lesson is a complete success and that all of the students clearly "get" it. Gee, sometimes a lesson needs repetition and more practice--and sometimes, the kids get it so quickly that you can skip along to the next one.

But, PP has decided that the teacher is supposed to anticipate exactly what her child needs.

And, as preparing the lesson for the kids with "strep." If she cannot see the difference here, then she cannot be helped. And, kids are seldom out sick for weeks--and, believe me, most teachers would lovingly do as much as possible to help that kid. But, traveling mom thinks this is the same thing. And, FWIW, a sick child definitely suffers and a really sick child is going to need lots of extra help on return--because they likely have not been able to keep up because he does not feel well.

As for the doctor--sounds like a quack if he is giving excuses for travel.

If you don’t know how over FCPS most local pediatric practices are you’re living under a rock. There are memes about them printed out in the nurses station of ours.

Is it a school’s responsibility to keep pediatricians happy?

No.

Of course, not, but don’t be shocked that many pediatricians are more than happy to make sure their patients aren’t being arbitrary penalized by FCPS. They remember being at work while their kids were at home “learning”

Ah one of the idiotic “Schools were closed during a pandemic when millions of people were dying” geniuses. I can’t wait for you rkid to get to college and watch the Professors laugh at her COVID is the excuse of everything attitude.

COVID may not be the reason for everything but its definitely the reason my pediatricians office has FCPS memes on the wall and has no problem keeping their patients insulated from dumb policies.

They also require vaccination so don’t worry its not only MAHA fringe who is over FCPS.

Complaining about COVID policies on the one hand and claiming that expecting kids not to take extended vacations while school is in session is a little ironic.

I hated the COVID policies and think they made terrible decisions. I also think kids should be in school when school is in session.

It may seem ironic. You concluded that kids should be in school whenever FCPS decides they feel like having school. I concluded that FCPS doesn’t remotely care about the well-being of their students or their families, and so that— and not FCPS’ whims— is my primary concern. It’s in my child's best interest and mu families best interest that we travel and spend time together. That this doesn’t help FCPS meet their attendance metric is for them to worry about.

You do realize that the attendance metric influences funding for your child’s school?

You keep saying this. Here’s an easy fix:

The day before winter break has a very high absence rate. Next year make that a teacher planning day. Now the school average attendance is higher!

Why doesn't FCPS take the steps within their control?

DP. Not the sharpest tool in the shed, are we? If you make that day a planning day, parents will treat that as the start of winter break and take their kid out a day earlier.

Try it and see. Or put planning days on other high-absence days like the Monday after Thanksgiving. FCPS has 100% control over where those days are and 0% credibility with parents, so start making the decisions within their control, it will help with both problems.

Parents already take off days before and after planning days so all that would happen is instead of taking off Friday if is a planning day, parents would take off Thursday on same theory as being used in thread now. Will fix nothing and parents wanting 3 weeks or 4 or whatever want in Dec will still be mad.

Or obvious answer: go in the summer

Or, again, go. But, your child's education is on you. You obviously think he is missing nothing.

This isn’t your logic when teachers vacation during the school year.

That is extremely rare. I was a teacher--I only took a week off once for an extreme family emergency. It was far from a vacation.

I know two teachers who did midweek Disney last year and I’m a different poster than the earlier one who posted about Orlando.

It’s clearly not that rare.

I agree it’s not rare. I’m a retired teacher substitute and I’ve done a few 5 day jobs this year for teachers away on vacation. I think it’s more common for teachers to be out multiple personal days in a row now than it used to be. I don’t blame them though. I retired with way too many hours of accumulated leave. I should have used more of it when I was younger.

.

If teachers can be out taking vacations, so can students. Adapt.

What, are you serious?? This makes no sense. Teachers have already been students themselves and have completed their education. They are working professionals no different than the rest of us. They earn vacation time to use as part of their jobs. Students are students. They have not completed their education and do not have employment that grants them vacation time. You can't compare teachers taking vacations to students.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

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If I encountered it I would probably discuss our plans with our pediatrician and see whether they thought the kids socioemotional health was best served by being in school or with family.

If your child does not need the instruction and is not missing anything important--then why are you worried about it being excused? Why are you demanding that the teacher provide work if she is not teaching? PP claims her child will be just fine academiclally.

If she’s not teaching there wont be any assignments to provide.

If i was taking a long flight or had significant downtime I’d ask for the material. If i got pushback id seek an excused absence. I wouldn’t follow an arbitrary rule so a teacher felt powerful not doing what others do hsppily.

+1

So, who is the one here claiming to be powerful?

What a weird reaction— parents get work for their traveling kids every day. Isn’t this what you want? Parents working with their kids out of school?

Really nothing will satisfy you. Don’t take kids out — even if there is a sub or non important materials. Don't fall behind but don’t keep up!

Your kid actually can’t “keep up” with 4 weeks of packet work. What we can’t send along is all the instruction and activities we do to help them learn the content and master the skills that work should assess. At BEST we can send 4 weeks of busy work which is pointless to ask us to put together and pointless for your kid to do. We can’t send the next 4 weeks of lessons and new content. I’ve mentioned in this thread before the kid who went to India for over a month last year and the dad wanted us to have 1:1 Google meet lessons (this was denied). But we did post all the work for him online, even though in my class no assignments are even done online. Nevertheless I did it. He emailed us saying his son was having trouble understanding the material posted in Schoology. No duh!! He was not here to be taught it!

Wait a second— we just had a retired teacher tel us that busywork was SO IMPORTANT that kids should come to school to receive instruction from her pre-positioned busywork folder instead of spending time with their families.

LOL! I'm the retired teacher whose words you have conveniently twisted. You skipped the part about the detailed plans and the materials for the lessons that were left on my desk. The folder of "busy work" was "just in case."

But, the part I really don't understand is the parent who thinks that lessons go in "lock step." This assumes that every lesson is a complete success and that all of the students clearly "get" it. Gee, sometimes a lesson needs repetition and more practice--and sometimes, the kids get it so quickly that you can skip along to the next one.

But, PP has decided that the teacher is supposed to anticipate exactly what her child needs.

And, as preparing the lesson for the kids with "strep." If she cannot see the difference here, then she cannot be helped. And, kids are seldom out sick for weeks--and, believe me, most teachers would lovingly do as much as possible to help that kid. But, traveling mom thinks this is the same thing. And, FWIW, a sick child definitely suffers and a really sick child is going to need lots of extra help on return--because they likely have not been able to keep up because he does not feel well.

As for the doctor--sounds like a quack if he is giving excuses for travel.

If you don’t know how over FCPS most local pediatric practices are you’re living under a rock. There are memes about them printed out in the nurses station of ours.

Is it a school’s responsibility to keep pediatricians happy?

No.

Of course, not, but don’t be shocked that many pediatricians are more than happy to make sure their patients aren’t being arbitrary penalized by FCPS. They remember being at work while their kids were at home “learning”

Ah one of the idiotic “Schools were closed during a pandemic when millions of people were dying” geniuses. I can’t wait for you rkid to get to college and watch the Professors laugh at her COVID is the excuse of everything attitude.

COVID may not be the reason for everything but its definitely the reason my pediatricians office has FCPS memes on the wall and has no problem keeping their patients insulated from dumb policies.

They also require vaccination so don’t worry its not only MAHA fringe who is over FCPS.

Complaining about COVID policies on the one hand and claiming that expecting kids not to take extended vacations while school is in session is a little ironic.

I hated the COVID policies and think they made terrible decisions. I also think kids should be in school when school is in session.

It may seem ironic. You concluded that kids should be in school whenever FCPS decides they feel like having school. I concluded that FCPS doesn’t remotely care about the well-being of their students or their families, and so that— and not FCPS’ whims— is my primary concern. It’s in my child's best interest and mu families best interest that we travel and spend time together. That this doesn’t help FCPS meet their attendance metric is for them to worry about.

You do realize that the attendance metric influences funding for your child’s school?

You keep saying this. Here’s an easy fix:

The day before winter break has a very high absence rate. Next year make that a teacher planning day. Now the school average attendance is higher!

Why doesn't FCPS take the steps within their control?

DP. Not the sharpest tool in the shed, are we? If you make that day a planning day, parents will treat that as the start of winter break and take their kid out a day earlier.

Try it and see. Or put planning days on other high-absence days like the Monday after Thanksgiving. FCPS has 100% control over where those days are and 0% credibility with parents, so start making the decisions within their control, it will help with both problems.

Parents already take off days before and after planning days so all that would happen is instead of taking off Friday if is a planning day, parents would take off Thursday on same theory as being used in thread now. Will fix nothing and parents wanting 3 weeks or 4 or whatever want in Dec will still be mad.

Or obvious answer: go in the summer

Or, again, go. But, your child's education is on you. You obviously think he is missing nothing.

This isn’t your logic when teachers vacation during the school year.

That is extremely rare. I was a teacher--I only took a week off once for an extreme family emergency. It was far from a vacation.

I know two teachers who did midweek Disney last year and I’m a different poster than the earlier one who posted about Orlando.

It’s clearly not that rare.

I agree it’s not rare. I’m a retired teacher substitute and I’ve done a few 5 day jobs this year for teachers away on vacation. I think it’s more common for teachers to be out multiple personal days in a row now than it used to be. I don’t blame them though. I retired with way too many hours of accumulated leave. I should have used more of it when I was younger.

.

If teachers can be out taking vacations, so can students. Adapt.

What, are you serious?? This makes no sense. Teachers have already been students themselves and have completed their education. They are working professionals no different than the rest of us. They earn vacation time to use as part of their jobs. Students are students. They have not completed their education and do not have employment that grants them vacation time. You can't compare teachers taking vacations to students.

+1
Its a wild take to say that a working professional can't take a vacation.