Where would the fingers have been pointed if your child had been in some type of abusive situation (which I am not at all implying she was). All fingers would go to the school..why didn't they follow up? Call in social services?

This family in Loudon County probably felt the same way you did until they ended up in court! though, that was for a few minutes' tardiness daily, not whole days off of school.

http://www.loudountimes.com/news/article/waterford_parents_go_to_court_for_kids_constant_tardiness123

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I wouldn't worry about it. But I also could not possibly care any less what "the school" thinks about my parenting decisions. If I want to keep my kid out of school, I will. I do not owe the school any kind of explanation .

If you do it often enough you may owe the legal system an explanation.

I've heard that before. I would LOVE for the county to take me to court. Absolutely love it. I think one of the biggest problems with this country is that people just accept arbitrary rules without argument. We are talking about MY children. I've only two real issues with schools and it wasn't in D.C. We were living in Raleigh and my daughter had a miss a bunch of school. For whatever reason she just kept catching virus after virus. None of them were serious. But she had fever and just could not go to school. I took her to the doctor when I was concerned, but mostly just treated it at home. The school sent me a letter demanding that I provide doctors notes for the absences because she had missed over 10 days. I actually could have, but I chose not to. When they sent me the threatening letter, I responded back with a very nice version of "suck it". Never heard another word from the school.

The second time was also in North Carolina. My daughter had a vision screening done in second grade. I am thankful for the screening because she did need need glasses and I had no idea. Of course I immediately took her to the eye doctor and got her glasses. The school sent me a letter requesting "proof" that she had seen a doctor. Really? How is that not a violation of privacy? Also, the glasses weren't proof enough. Again, I nicely informed the school that I would not be providing any such proof.

I am a rule follower generally. We get all the vaccines on time. We always do homework and class projects. I follow all the school rules and policies about dress code, pick up, .... I always send a note explaining absences. I am not anti-establishment. But I feel like schools have really, really crossed the line. If I want to keep my child out of school, I'll do it.

Anonymous wrote:I wouldn't worry about it. But I also could not possibly care any less what "the school" thinks about my parenting decisions. If I want to keep my kid out of school, I will. I do not owe the school any kind of explanation .

If you do it often enough you may owe the legal system an explanation.

But reality...

Anonymous wrote:Until you have a HS kid that fails a class because they got a zero on a test because they were not allowed a makeup by a teacher that is sick of having to give makeups to accomodate family vacations.

So petty.
In the rest of the real world you can work weekends or late to get your work done early.

Thanks. I have a good relationship with the teacher, so I am not worried. It is also at the start of the new quarter. We were planning to go over the day off the kids have at the end of March, then my office told me I had to be in something there on Monday, so we can't get back (unless I send the 8 year old home with my 81 y.o. mother, which is unworkable). The bonus is that the company will pay for the hotel.

As for the PP who dismissed the business trip as idiotic, you seem rather judgmental. You must not have many friends.

Don't worry about it in ES. The teacher more than likely will allow your child to make up the work.

Until you have a HS kid that fails a class because they got a zero on a test because they were not allowed a makeup by a teacher that is sick of having to give makeups to accomodate family vacations.

I wouldn't worry about it. But I also could not possibly care any less what "the school" thinks about my parenting decisions. If I want to keep my kid out of school, I will. I do not owe the school any kind of explanation .

In theory a teacher does not have to allow your child to make up any work that was done..in practice they probably will. Let them know a few days in advance.

Business trip? That's idiotic.

Also, it may not be excused, some districts offer some "vacation" days (up to 4 or 5) that can be used as excused absences.

But, even if it is unexcused, there is no need to worry. The system is only concerned about those kids with several unexcused absences.

You don't.

Child is in elementary school, so that may make a difference. I am taking DD on a business trip with me and we won't be able to get her back in time for school on the day we return. I plan to tell the teacher and have her do whatever school work she gets, but do I need to be concerned she has 1 day of unexcused absence for the year? I'll be taking her out of school a couple of hours early the day we travel as well.