I’m a high-ranking administrator at an MCPS high school, AMA

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My Junior sometimes misses school to do work (usually related to extracurriculars) or just to catch up on sleep. Like a full day each quarter. They come after first period (their easiest class) once or twice a quarter. They are a very very high performer and sometimes I just say, ok, fine by me. Their grades are great and they are well liked by some teachers (maybe not first period, which they find easy and kind of coast through and do the minimum). Do you hate them or me for this?

This is normal, OP. My kids did this as well. No one at school batted an eye. It's actually a good thing for teens to learn what to prioritize in their lives. I don't think anybody at school begrudges a high-performing kid looking to get into a good college for their absences, considering that college admissions is determined in large part by what kids do OUTSIDE of school. Schools are worried about low-performing students who skip school.

No its not normal and I don't allow it. They will not go to their activities if they get behind. Simple.

Then you're in the tiny, crazy, minority. I've had two kids go through high school, and parents usually encourage their kids to stay home in order to recuperate from illness or stress, finish work for school or other institutions, participate in competitions, etc. I haven't met one teacher who wasn't supportive of this as well. My kid has missed school to attend violin competition in NYC or other places, for example. Her friend missed several days to fly to a different continent to attend a science competition final. If the kids are getting straight As in their AP classes and not missing one iota of homework for school, there is absolutely no reason to place more importance on school attendance than these important extra-curriculars.

But my guess is that you don't have kids in high school, PP. Otherwise you'd know this.

As a teacher, I would be OK with the trips you have mentioned, but not stress, finishing work for school or other institutions, college apps, etc. Frequent absences mean that the classes move slower (even those AP classes you mention are being substantially watered down), so it means nothing that your child has done their homework and has an A. It is so interesting to me that the same DCUM posters will lament the downhill slide of American education, but always think their own child is unaffected. 180 days aren't that many. They can do it.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I can translate this thread for those who have not had the misfortune of working closely with these crooks.

The district leadership over the last 10 years has only been about perceived perception. These misguided leaders always choose image over substance, and antagonize and demonize parents and students in their efforts to champion whatever cause they think makes them look righteous. (Ironically, teaching kids to read, write and do math and science at high levels is the last cause this group cares about.). These people post on this page to try to influence public opinion.

When Taylor came into office, there were 2 associate superintendents who desperately wanted to be the right hand man of Taylor. In a battle of con-men, the one with the loosest relationship with integrity would get the job. The lower integrity guy would be Moran, who gets the job by lying and smearing the competition (Monteleone), who is exiled back to a school.

The smear campaign cannot be finished until Monteleone is all the way gone and Monteleone knows this. He also knows this board is monitored 24/7 by Moran and his wing man Sean McGee, so he decided to post that he is fed up and will answer any questions about the elites in the school system. McGee then tried to embarrass him by stating that the OP is Damon.

Haha. If this is true then Sean McGee and Peter Moran are pathetic and hilarious!

It also means DCUM is way more powerful than people on here would like to admit.

Any B-CC family could have told you