Attendance pressure

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The messaging about the importance of attendance is getting more and more aggressive. And now also kind of racist.

"December Attendance
Every year, absences spike in the weeks before and after winter break. It’s time to break that cycle. Give your child the gift of attendance and help build a habit of attendance.

We recognize that holidays are an important time for reconnecting with families far away and exposing your children to your home and language, whether you grew up in another part of the United States or a different country. The price of plane tickets often influences when you want to travel. But keep in mind the costs to your children’s education if they miss too much school.

Make sure your child is in school every day, right up until vacation starts. Our teachers will be teaching, and our students will be learning. But it’s harder to teach and it’s harder to learn when too many students are absent.

Two weeks to go! Let's finish strong. Winter break is December 22nd through January 2nd. School resumes on January 5th, 2026."

This letter is not aggressive and every part of it is true. When I taught in buildings where kids were going to their home countries over break, we had kids who missed 3-4 weeks of school on either side of the break. About 3-5% of our kids missed 40+ days of school each year. That makes learning impossible. And no, I'm not referring to kids with chronic health issues. If a kid misses one day before or after break and only missed 5-8 days over the course of the year, they'll be fine. But when we start talking more than 5% of the year, that's a problem. It's a problem particularly for kids who are below level. Fyi, I think teacher attendance is just as important.

Well the part that isn’t true is the statement “our teachers will be teaching” considering how many are out next week.

How many do you think will actually be out? I'm guessing it'll be fewer than 5% will be out at all (unless they are sick), and fewer than 1% will be out the entire week.

Probably over 5% and it doesn’t even matter. One teacher abroad is permission for one class (probably a grade) of parents to do the same. No one is interested in penalizing their kids to meet the suckers half of a double standard.

A single teacher out is "so many" that you feel it will affect an entire grade?

So if a single chemistry teacher is out, that means the entire tenth grade is affected? You can't actually be that deluded, can you? Come on.

Affected academically, no, but fully aware this “prioritize school over vacation!” isn’t applied to the teachers. So when there’s another email the whole grade will remember Mr. Jones was out, and when there’s a cheap flight to Europe this Spring parents will not think twice about booking it.

Let’s say 5% of the teachers are out. That means 95% of them are at work, doing exactly what you want them to do. They aren’t prioritizing vacations, yet you’re acting as if all teachers are taking part in some huge double standard.

For my part, my kids are staying in school.

I don’t “want” them to do anything. Their boss says families should spend money to travel on the most expensive days of the year to prioritize being in the classes they’re not teaching because they wanted those cheaper flights he talks about in his email.

I’m glad they’re getting time with their families, and will have absolutely no problem taking time with mine, with exactly the same regard to the principals email that the absent teachers showed.

Get help.

Your twisting of words, catastrophizing, being hyperargumentative, holding grudges, and using hyperbole are manipulation tactics (like gaslighting or word twisting) and cognitive distortions (such as catastrophizing and black‑and‑white thinking). There isn’t a single neat label that covers all of them, but they fall under the umbrella of toxic communication patterns and maladaptive cognition. Therapy is remarkably effective.

Gosh even chat GPT can’t make a cogent argument for you. I’m sorry the idea that parents won’t tolerate this — and more importantly, that they don’t have to— is so catastrophic for you.

I had no problem understanding it. Maybe fewer vacations and more time in the classroom would help you?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The messaging about the importance of attendance is getting more and more aggressive. And now also kind of racist.

"December Attendance
Every year, absences spike in the weeks before and after winter break. It’s time to break that cycle. Give your child the gift of attendance and help build a habit of attendance.

We recognize that holidays are an important time for reconnecting with families far away and exposing your children to your home and language, whether you grew up in another part of the United States or a different country. The price of plane tickets often influences when you want to travel. But keep in mind the costs to your children’s education if they miss too much school.

Make sure your child is in school every day, right up until vacation starts. Our teachers will be teaching, and our students will be learning. But it’s harder to teach and it’s harder to learn when too many students are absent.

Two weeks to go! Let's finish strong. Winter break is December 22nd through January 2nd. School resumes on January 5th, 2026."

This letter is not aggressive and every part of it is true. When I taught in buildings where kids were going to their home countries over break, we had kids who missed 3-4 weeks of school on either side of the break. About 3-5% of our kids missed 40+ days of school each year. That makes learning impossible. And no, I'm not referring to kids with chronic health issues. If a kid misses one day before or after break and only missed 5-8 days over the course of the year, they'll be fine. But when we start talking more than 5% of the year, that's a problem. It's a problem particularly for kids who are below level. Fyi, I think teacher attendance is just as important.

Well the part that isn’t true is the statement “our teachers will be teaching” considering how many are out next week.

How many do you think will actually be out? I'm guessing it'll be fewer than 5% will be out at all (unless they are sick), and fewer than 1% will be out the entire week.

Probably over 5% and it doesn’t even matter. One teacher abroad is permission for one class (probably a grade) of parents to do the same. No one is interested in penalizing their kids to meet the suckers half of a double standard.

A single teacher out is "so many" that you feel it will affect an entire grade?

So if a single chemistry teacher is out, that means the entire tenth grade is affected? You can't actually be that deluded, can you? Come on.

Affected academically, no, but fully aware this “prioritize school over vacation!” isn’t applied to the teachers. So when there’s another email the whole grade will remember Mr. Jones was out, and when there’s a cheap flight to Europe this Spring parents will not think twice about booking it.

Let’s say 5% of the teachers are out. That means 95% of them are at work, doing exactly what you want them to do. They aren’t prioritizing vacations, yet you’re acting as if all teachers are taking part in some huge double standard.

For my part, my kids are staying in school.

I don’t “want” them to do anything. Their boss says families should spend money to travel on the most expensive days of the year to prioritize being in the classes they’re not teaching because they wanted those cheaper flights he talks about in his email.

I’m glad they’re getting time with their families, and will have absolutely no problem taking time with mine, with exactly the same regard to the principals email that the absent teachers showed.

Okay? Then stop making it about the teachers. They didn’t send the email and most (the huge majority) are staying at school.

If you’re so offended, then write the principal and tell him. Then take a vacation out of spite and be done with it.

You’re confused— it’s the teachers making it about themselves. The principal is in the wrong for sending the email and thats what started the thread. A few DCUM victims had to join and say how parents really should consider how unfair their vacations were on the poor teachers.

+1,000,000

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Don't tell us parents what to do! We will take vacation whenever we want to and you can't stop us! Ad nauseam for 35 pages.

Why is that a problem for you on a message board for parents?

[Anonymous]

FYI another one of my kids’ teachers will be out starting Thursday of this week. The other one is overseas and left videos for the sub and my kid has a quiz based on one of the videos this week. My kid is confused and didn’t understand some of the concepts from the video. Very frustrated as I cannot help as this is high school. Wish there was no quiz when there is no instruction by a sub. This sucks.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:FYI another one of my kids’ teachers will be out starting Thursday of this week. The other one is overseas and left videos for the sub and my kid has a quiz based on one of the videos this week. My kid is confused and didn’t understand some of the concepts from the video. Very frustrated as I cannot help as this is high school. Wish there was no quiz when there is no instruction by a sub. This sucks.

My middle schooler also has several subs this week, content she doesn't understand, and quizzes/tests administered by these subs

[Anonymous]

DS reports no subs, presentations and exams this week. A few parties on Thursday and Friday. He as at least one essay due in class on Friday.

Teachers being in class is always variable. It has been rare for DS to have subs during this week over the 9 years he has been in school but that could be an anomaly. The data shows that this is a week where there are lots of subs and lots of absences. Do your thing, just don’t expect that the teachers are required to get your kid caught up. I think most make an effort to get missed work to kids but they don’t have to.

I remember being in school in the 80’s and asking friends to let me know what the assignments were and to give me copy of notes when I missed school for some reason. The teacher wasn’t providing that info, I called and asked a friend. I am not sure why things would be different today.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:DS reports no subs, presentations and exams this week. A few parties on Thursday and Friday. He as at least one essay due in class on Friday.

Teachers being in class is always variable. It has been rare for DS to have subs during this week over the 9 years he has been in school but that could be an anomaly. The data shows that this is a week where there are lots of subs and lots of absences. Do your thing, just don’t expect that the teachers are required to get your kid caught up. I think most make an effort to get missed work to kids but they don’t have to.

I remember being in school in the 80’s and asking friends to let me know what the assignments were and to give me copy of notes when I missed school for some reason. The teacher wasn’t providing that info, I called and asked a friend. I am not sure why things would be different today.

Parents should write the board and request the number of subs this week. They should send it to the principal as well as gatehouse to discourage further rude and badly received communication.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:DS reports no subs, presentations and exams this week. A few parties on Thursday and Friday. He as at least one essay due in class on Friday.

Teachers being in class is always variable. It has been rare for DS to have subs during this week over the 9 years he has been in school but that could be an anomaly. The data shows that this is a week where there are lots of subs and lots of absences. Do your thing, just don’t expect that the teachers are required to get your kid caught up. I think most make an effort to get missed work to kids but they don’t have to.

I remember being in school in the 80’s and asking friends to let me know what the assignments were and to give me copy of notes when I missed school for some reason. The teacher wasn’t providing that info, I called and asked a friend. I am not sure why things would be different today.

Nope, that is literally their job. If my child has an accused absence, they can provide make up work.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:DS reports no subs, presentations and exams this week. A few parties on Thursday and Friday. He as at least one essay due in class on Friday.

Teachers being in class is always variable. It has been rare for DS to have subs during this week over the 9 years he has been in school but that could be an anomaly. The data shows that this is a week where there are lots of subs and lots of absences. Do your thing, just don’t expect that the teachers are required to get your kid caught up. I think most make an effort to get missed work to kids but they don’t have to.

I remember being in school in the 80’s and asking friends to let me know what the assignments were and to give me copy of notes when I missed school for some reason. The teacher wasn’t providing that info, I called and asked a friend. I am not sure why things would be different today.

Nope, that is literally their job. If my child has an accused absence, they can provide make up work.

excused

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:DS reports no subs, presentations and exams this week. A few parties on Thursday and Friday. He as at least one essay due in class on Friday.

Teachers being in class is always variable. It has been rare for DS to have subs during this week over the 9 years he has been in school but that could be an anomaly. The data shows that this is a week where there are lots of subs and lots of absences. Do your thing, just don’t expect that the teachers are required to get your kid caught up. I think most make an effort to get missed work to kids but they don’t have to.

I remember being in school in the 80’s and asking friends to let me know what the assignments were and to give me copy of notes when I missed school for some reason. The teacher wasn’t providing that info, I called and asked a friend. I am not sure why things would be different today.

Parents should write the board and request the number of subs this week. They should send it to the principal as well as gatehouse to discourage further rude and badly received communication.

There is a ton of sickness going around. Lots of teachers sick right now.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:DS reports no subs, presentations and exams this week. A few parties on Thursday and Friday. He as at least one essay due in class on Friday.

Teachers being in class is always variable. It has been rare for DS to have subs during this week over the 9 years he has been in school but that could be an anomaly. The data shows that this is a week where there are lots of subs and lots of absences. Do your thing, just don’t expect that the teachers are required to get your kid caught up. I think most make an effort to get missed work to kids but they don’t have to.

I remember being in school in the 80’s and asking friends to let me know what the assignments were and to give me copy of notes when I missed school for some reason. The teacher wasn’t providing that info, I called and asked a friend. I am not sure why things would be different today.

Parents should write the board and request the number of subs this week. They should send it to the principal as well as gatehouse to discourage further rude and badly received communication.

For what, exactly? Do you want the schools to be closed all of December? Then another group of parents would be upset. Teachers are professionals that are allowed to take vacation days off also.

[Anonymous]

I know as of just a few years ago at least, our ES had a parent handbook that said teachers would not provide work in advance of planned student absences.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:DS reports no subs, presentations and exams this week. A few parties on Thursday and Friday. He as at least one essay due in class on Friday.

Teachers being in class is always variable. It has been rare for DS to have subs during this week over the 9 years he has been in school but that could be an anomaly. The data shows that this is a week where there are lots of subs and lots of absences. Do your thing, just don’t expect that the teachers are required to get your kid caught up. I think most make an effort to get missed work to kids but they don’t have to.

I remember being in school in the 80’s and asking friends to let me know what the assignments were and to give me copy of notes when I missed school for some reason. The teacher wasn’t providing that info, I called and asked a friend. I am not sure why things would be different today.

Parents should write the board and request the number of subs this week. They should send it to the principal as well as gatehouse to discourage further rude and badly received communication.

For what, exactly? Do you want the schools to be closed all of December? Then another group of parents would be upset. Teachers are professionals that are allowed to take vacation days off also.

So they don’t come at parents about taking vacations early when all their teachers are doing it. Duh.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:DS reports no subs, presentations and exams this week. A few parties on Thursday and Friday. He as at least one essay due in class on Friday.

Teachers being in class is always variable. It has been rare for DS to have subs during this week over the 9 years he has been in school but that could be an anomaly. The data shows that this is a week where there are lots of subs and lots of absences. Do your thing, just don’t expect that the teachers are required to get your kid caught up. I think most make an effort to get missed work to kids but they don’t have to.

I remember being in school in the 80’s and asking friends to let me know what the assignments were and to give me copy of notes when I missed school for some reason. The teacher wasn’t providing that info, I called and asked a friend. I am not sure why things would be different today.

Parents should write the board and request the number of subs this week. They should send it to the principal as well as gatehouse to discourage further rude and badly received communication.

For what, exactly? Do you want the schools to be closed all of December? Then another group of parents would be upset. Teachers are professionals that are allowed to take vacation days off also.

Yes, teachers can take vacations, and so can parents. If a principal is going to say “our teachers will be teaching” he should have more respect for the parent body that to lie.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:DS reports no subs, presentations and exams this week. A few parties on Thursday and Friday. He as at least one essay due in class on Friday.

Teachers being in class is always variable. It has been rare for DS to have subs during this week over the 9 years he has been in school but that could be an anomaly. The data shows that this is a week where there are lots of subs and lots of absences. Do your thing, just don’t expect that the teachers are required to get your kid caught up. I think most make an effort to get missed work to kids but they don’t have to.

I remember being in school in the 80’s and asking friends to let me know what the assignments were and to give me copy of notes when I missed school for some reason. The teacher wasn’t providing that info, I called and asked a friend. I am not sure why things would be different today.

Parents should write the board and request the number of subs this week. They should send it to the principal as well as gatehouse to discourage further rude and badly received communication.

For what, exactly? Do you want the schools to be closed all of December? Then another group of parents would be upset. Teachers are professionals that are allowed to take vacation days off also.

Yes, teachers can take vacations, and so can parents. If a principal is going to say “our teachers will be teaching” he should have more respect for the parent body that to lie.

Yup. They are most definitely not teaching right up until break. They are administering tests or bs group projects to kill time or have subs. lol.