Attendance pressure

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The school did not send that message because of racism or discrimination. They sent it for 2 reasons, 1: Attendance rate is a part of a schools accreditation. FCPS wants to ensure all of its schools are accredited. 2. Their is a direct correlation between attendance and gpa. Sure there are some outliers but the majority of students need to be in school to do well and missing school creates gaps in their learning.

This actually isn’t true for smart kids. The curriculum moves so slowly and there is so much “makeup” time built into the schedule (for all the slackers) that a bright kid can easily miss school here and there without missing a beat. Towards the end of a quarter or near a longer break teachers will often announce it’s going to be a “catch up day” and I don’t make my kids go because they have nothing to “catchup.”

Nothing you say contradicts the other post. THE MAJORITY of kids need to be in school. This is true. *Your kid* may be an outlier who has mastered all the grade level content already but that is NOT the case for the majority of students. The issue is every parent thinks their kid can afford to miss the instruction - most of them are wrong about that.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The school did not send that message because of racism or discrimination. They sent it for 2 reasons, 1: Attendance rate is a part of a schools accreditation. FCPS wants to ensure all of its schools are accredited. 2. Their is a direct correlation between attendance and gpa. Sure there are some outliers but the majority of students need to be in school to do well and missing school creates gaps in their learning.

This actually isn’t true for smart kids. The curriculum moves so slowly and there is so much “makeup” time built into the schedule (for all the slackers) that a bright kid can easily miss school here and there without missing a beat. Towards the end of a quarter or near a longer break teachers will often announce it’s going to be a “catch up day” and I don’t make my kids go because they have nothing to “catchup.”

I have to imagine that your kids are not in high school yet or if they are in high school they may not be one of the "smart kids." Kids in AP classes work, then entire year. Kids in the lower level regular classes have make up days because they need them. If they are not in high school yet, keep them in school so they have the standard that they will need to be there because one day they will need to.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The school did not send that message because of racism or discrimination. They sent it for 2 reasons, 1: Attendance rate is a part of a schools accreditation. FCPS wants to ensure all of its schools are accredited. 2. Their is a direct correlation between attendance and gpa. Sure there are some outliers but the majority of students need to be in school to do well and missing school creates gaps in their learning.

This actually isn’t true for smart kids. The curriculum moves so slowly and there is so much “makeup” time built into the schedule (for all the slackers) that a bright kid can easily miss school here and there without missing a beat. Towards the end of a quarter or near a longer break teachers will often announce it’s going to be a “catch up day” and I don’t make my kids go because they have nothing to “catchup.”

I have to imagine that your kids are not in high school yet or if they are in high school they may not be one of the "smart kids." Kids in AP classes work, then entire year. Kids in the lower level regular classes have make up days because they need them. If they are not in high school yet, keep them in school so they have the standard that they will need to be there because one day they will need to.

They are. Senior and Freshman in all honors/APs. The amount of catchup/makeup time given is absurd. We do not swear missing school here and there as needed. Senior is top 5% of her class.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My problem is the uniform treatment given to a failing student with 20 absences and a straight A student with 6. The tone and lecture I receive when I pick up my child early from school is absurd and they can pound sand. I am the parent and will do as I see fit.

It has nothing to do with grades. To many absences and the school can get investigated by the state.

The fact that attendance is put on the schools is ridiculous. Parents control this. Schools cannot force kids to come to school.

But in theory they can force teachers to do so? Don’t have high-volume sub days (which are public information) because your staff wants to get cheaper flights to their families, but then send a screed when the parents want to. Hypocrisy isn’t a good way to get people to trust you.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My problem is the uniform treatment given to a failing student with 20 absences and a straight A student with 6. The tone and lecture I receive when I pick up my child early from school is absurd and they can pound sand. I am the parent and will do as I see fit.

It has nothing to do with grades. To many absences and the school can get investigated by the state.

The fact that attendance is put on the schools is ridiculous. Parents control this. Schools cannot force kids to come to school.

But in theory they can force teachers to do so? Don’t have high-volume sub days (which are public information) because your staff wants to get cheaper flights to their families, but then send a screed when the parents want to. Hypocrisy isn’t a good way to get people to trust you.

I don't understand this post. States don't set attendance standards for teachers, they do for students. That's the focus, who cares about where trust falls in that equation? Teachers earn leave and can take it like any other profession.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My problem is the uniform treatment given to a failing student with 20 absences and a straight A student with 6. The tone and lecture I receive when I pick up my child early from school is absurd and they can pound sand. I am the parent and will do as I see fit.

It has nothing to do with grades. To many absences and the school can get investigated by the state.

The fact that attendance is put on the schools is ridiculous. Parents control this. Schools cannot force kids to come to school.

But in theory they can force teachers to do so? Don’t have high-volume sub days (which are public information) because your staff wants to get cheaper flights to their families, but then send a screed when the parents want to. Hypocrisy isn’t a good way to get people to trust you.

I don't understand this post. States don't set attendance standards for teachers, they do for students. That's the focus, who cares about where trust falls in that equation? Teachers earn leave and can take it like any other profession.

The message says:

“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.”

But parents know it a lie because of all the subs. Most workplaces have policies which guide when employees can use their earned leave— so make a policy that says no personal days in the week before winter break. Then we’ll know they care about “teachers teaching”

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Just ignore. I ignore it all. My kids take mental days off when they need to, which happens rarely. We hardly ever miss school for vacation.

That’s not what the memo is about

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It’s not racist. I had students of all races take off for two or three weeks in January. Yes, white children, too. The family was always on another continent. Always.

It’s discrimination, if you prefer that word. I want to take my kid out for just three extra days so they can spend a little more time with their grandparents. They’re elderly, and I genuinely don’t know how much longer my child will have the chance to be with them. We’re white, and the grandparents live overseas and cannot travel.
And now I’m being told that these three days of school—during a period when teachers are mostly focused on supporting underachievers—are somehow more important than my straight-A+ student spending irreplaceable time with aging grandparents?

It’s not racist. It’s not discrimination. To remove kids at this time of year is a) disruptive to your own kid’s learning; b) disruptive to teachers; c) disruptive to school
Administration and d) disruptive to other students. It’s not all about you! Our private had very serious rules about this just for these four reasons.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It’s not racist. I had students of all races take off for two or three weeks in January. Yes, white children, too. The family was always on another continent. Always.

It’s discrimination, if you prefer that word. I want to take my kid out for just three extra days so they can spend a little more time with their grandparents. They’re elderly, and I genuinely don’t know how much longer my child will have the chance to be with them. We’re white, and the grandparents live overseas and cannot travel.
And now I’m being told that these three days of school—during a period when teachers are mostly focused on supporting underachievers—are somehow more important than my straight-A+ student spending irreplaceable time with aging grandparents?

It’s not racist. It’s not discrimination. To remove kids at this time of year is a) disruptive to your own kid’s learning; b) disruptive to teachers; c) disruptive to school
Administration and d) disruptive to other students. It’s not all about you! Our private had very serious rules about this just for these four reasons.

How can it be disruptive to absent teachers?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My problem is the uniform treatment given to a failing student with 20 absences and a straight A student with 6. The tone and lecture I receive when I pick up my child early from school is absurd and they can pound sand. I am the parent and will do as I see fit.

It has nothing to do with grades. To many absences and the school can get investigated by the state.

The fact that attendance is put on the schools is ridiculous. Parents control this. Schools cannot force kids to come to school.

But in theory they can force teachers to do so? Don’t have high-volume sub days (which are public information) because your staff wants to get cheaper flights to their families, but then send a screed when the parents want to. Hypocrisy isn’t a good way to get people to trust you.

I don't understand this post. States don't set attendance standards for teachers, they do for students. That's the focus, who cares about where trust falls in that equation? Teachers earn leave and can take it like any other profession.

The message says:

“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.”

But parents know it a lie because of all the subs. Most workplaces have policies which guide when employees can use their earned leave— so make a policy that says no personal days in the week before winter break. Then we’ll know they care about “teachers teaching”

Once again, schools have to meet certain requirements for students attendance. If your kid doesn't go to school it hurts that school and in return it hurts your community. On their worst days schools will have 10-15% of their teachers out, which means the vast majority of teachers are there doing what the school is asking of them. Schools need to build trust with their community so that they can get buy-in from the stakeholders. The best schools are the schools with the most community support. Building trust is not about convincing you to participate in the system, that is a standard and an expectation. None of these things apply to the families that are missing less than 5 days a year, it is for the families whose students miss enough school to be considered chronically absent. The definition of chronically absent is a standard set by the state government. If your student hasn't missed school this year and you want to take them out a few days, then take them out. If they have then don't.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It’s not racist. I had students of all races take off for two or three weeks in January. Yes, white children, too. The family was always on another continent. Always.

It’s discrimination, if you prefer that word. I want to take my kid out for just three extra days so they can spend a little more time with their grandparents. They’re elderly, and I genuinely don’t know how much longer my child will have the chance to be with them. We’re white, and the grandparents live overseas and cannot travel.
And now I’m being told that these three days of school—during a period when teachers are mostly focused on supporting underachievers—are somehow more important than my straight-A+ student spending irreplaceable time with aging grandparents?

It’s not racist. It’s not discrimination. To remove kids at this time of year is a) disruptive to your own kid’s learning; b) disruptive to teachers; c) disruptive to school
Administration and d) disruptive to other students. It’s not all about you! Our private had very serious rules about this just for these four reasons.

How can it be disruptive to absent teachers?

Not every teacher is absent you dodo bird

[Anonymous]

This isn't a FCPS-wide message or issue. Why are we spending so much mental space trying to figure it out. It could even be just a rogue principal who sent this out. I'd just put it to rest if it isn't a FCPS-wide email or issue. Best to spend time on stuff that is a problem for everyone.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:This isn't a FCPS-wide message or issue. Why are we spending so much mental space trying to figure it out. It could even be just a rogue principal who sent this out. I'd just put it to rest if it isn't a FCPS-wide email or issue. Best to spend time on stuff that is a problem for everyone.

The attitude of disrespect towards families and their resources, as well as the lack of self-awareness from FCPS, is certainly a problem for everyone.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:This isn't a FCPS-wide message or issue. Why are we spending so much mental space trying to figure it out. It could even be just a rogue principal who sent this out. I'd just put it to rest if it isn't a FCPS-wide email or issue. Best to spend time on stuff that is a problem for everyone.

The attitude of disrespect towards families and their resources, as well as the lack of self-awareness from FCPS, is certainly a problem for everyone.

+100

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My problem is the uniform treatment given to a failing student with 20 absences and a straight A student with 6. The tone and lecture I receive when I pick up my child early from school is absurd and they can pound sand. I am the parent and will do as I see fit.

It has nothing to do with grades. To many absences and the school can get investigated by the state.

The fact that attendance is put on the schools is ridiculous. Parents control this. Schools cannot force kids to come to school.

But in theory they can force teachers to do so? Don’t have high-volume sub days (which are public information) because your staff wants to get cheaper flights to their families, but then send a screed when the parents want to. Hypocrisy isn’t a good way to get people to trust you.

How do you find high volume sub days?