Moral Dilemma - School !
Jan 30th 2013, 12:13 am
#16
BE Forum Addict
Joined: Jan 2008
Location: Toasty in Texas
Posts: 4,240
Re: Moral Dilemma - School !
Seeing as he's only 11 and therefore not in high school yet, I'd definitely let him miss the last "day".
I used to be a school teacher and always told my parents that there's more to education than what can be taught in the classroom.
I would send a polite but firm letter to the school principal explaining that, due to the information given to you by the school board you went ahead and made your transatlantic travel plans. Now, due to the unforeseen changes your child will be unable to attend the final day of school.
I've found that US school principals love it when you suck up to them.....they're not used, at least in my kids school district, to parents writing to them explaining why their kids won't be in school.
I used to be a school teacher and always told my parents that there's more to education than what can be taught in the classroom.
I would send a polite but firm letter to the school principal explaining that, due to the information given to you by the school board you went ahead and made your transatlantic travel plans. Now, due to the unforeseen changes your child will be unable to attend the final day of school.
I've found that US school principals love it when you suck up to them.....they're not used, at least in my kids school district, to parents writing to them explaining why their kids won't be in school.
Jan 30th 2013, 12:19 am
#17
Lost in BE Cyberspace
Joined: Jan 2008
Posts: 41,518
Re: Moral Dilemma - School !
Just go with a simple explanation to the school.
No need to drag suggestions about the district office into it.
I think the money was found due to Proposition 30 passing.
No need to drag suggestions about the district office into it.
I think the money was found due to Proposition 30 passing.
Jan 30th 2013, 12:44 am
#18
The worse half of Weeze
Joined: Mar 2012
Location: Back in TX
Posts: 3,231
Re: Moral Dilemma - School !
Go early. Spend a portion of the $700 on improving the lot of a child somewhere else in the city, state or world. Your son will miss out on nothing, someone else possibly has a dramatic improvement in their life. You make the entire world a tiny bit better.
Jan 30th 2013, 1:20 am
#19
The Kwisatz Haderach
Joined: Aug 2008
Location: North Wales
Posts: 8,080
Re: Moral Dilemma - School !
Well slattern of a mother that I am I was going to do the same thing (only worse) this summer.
If the house hasn't sold and we are still here I was going to book flights for Dd (age 8) and myself to fly to UK for the hols, I was going to book for the 5th in the evening. She's 2nd grade and the last week of school is full of fun and playing games, signing year books and other fun stuff. She'll miss a half day Weds (pick up after lunch), all of Thursday and half day Friday (mini day)
I have no qualms doing this, I think her moms mental health is more important, that and her Aunt has booked concert tickets for the Sunday for just the two of us and even though I really don't care for the band I want to have some fun for a change.
I will mention it in passing to the teacher and knowing her like I do she will not give a hoot.
If the house hasn't sold and we are still here I was going to book flights for Dd (age 8) and myself to fly to UK for the hols, I was going to book for the 5th in the evening. She's 2nd grade and the last week of school is full of fun and playing games, signing year books and other fun stuff. She'll miss a half day Weds (pick up after lunch), all of Thursday and half day Friday (mini day)
I have no qualms doing this, I think her moms mental health is more important, that and her Aunt has booked concert tickets for the Sunday for just the two of us and even though I really don't care for the band I want to have some fun for a change.
I will mention it in passing to the teacher and knowing her like I do she will not give a hoot.
Jan 30th 2013, 2:03 am
#20
Lost in BE Cyberspace
Joined: Oct 2003
Posts: 22,105
Re: Moral Dilemma - School !
Hello collected wisdom of BE.
I find myself in a moral dilemma and need your thoughts.
My son's school district had 5 furlough days planned this year, one for the last day of the school year, Friday 7th June.
Because of this, Thursday 6th June was now a "minimum" day, finishing at 12.35. That meant that we could get back to see family in the UK earlier than usual, so we went ahead and booked flights leaving SFO at 18.50 on the 6th.
Now, we are pretty cross about furlough days - it is a spiteful and petty way of dealing with budget problems. And given that we both come from families stacked full of teachers, we are very much against anyone taking their children out of school for any reason.
So imagine our annoyance when we get a letter from the superintendent of the school district telling us that they'd been able to save money, and the remaining three furlough days for 2012/13 are canceled !
That means that the 7th June is an "end-of-year" day - in other words, 3 1/2 hours tuition.
Quick call to Virgin Atlantic reveals that we CAN change our flights to leave on the Friday, but at a cost - nearly $700. But, it's school so it's important, and if we don't, then our son will loose his 100% attendance record, we will be just-as-bad as the other parents that pull their kids out of school at the drop of a hat, etc, etc.
We are stuck, annoyed, broke, etc.
What Do We Do ? (in other words, what would YOU do ?)
Ta muchly.
I find myself in a moral dilemma and need your thoughts.
My son's school district had 5 furlough days planned this year, one for the last day of the school year, Friday 7th June.
Because of this, Thursday 6th June was now a "minimum" day, finishing at 12.35. That meant that we could get back to see family in the UK earlier than usual, so we went ahead and booked flights leaving SFO at 18.50 on the 6th.
Now, we are pretty cross about furlough days - it is a spiteful and petty way of dealing with budget problems. And given that we both come from families stacked full of teachers, we are very much against anyone taking their children out of school for any reason.
So imagine our annoyance when we get a letter from the superintendent of the school district telling us that they'd been able to save money, and the remaining three furlough days for 2012/13 are canceled !
That means that the 7th June is an "end-of-year" day - in other words, 3 1/2 hours tuition.
Quick call to Virgin Atlantic reveals that we CAN change our flights to leave on the Friday, but at a cost - nearly $700. But, it's school so it's important, and if we don't, then our son will loose his 100% attendance record, we will be just-as-bad as the other parents that pull their kids out of school at the drop of a hat, etc, etc.
We are stuck, annoyed, broke, etc.
What Do We Do ? (in other words, what would YOU do ?)
Ta muchly.
While we make school high priority in our house and it always will be, I wouldn't change a planned vacation (especially when that day had been previously cancelled!)
Jan 30th 2013, 6:25 am
#21
Lost in BE Cyberspace
Joined: Oct 2003
Location: My Old KY Home!
Posts: 6,498
Re: Moral Dilemma - School !
Really? The last day of school is nothing but watching movies in class. There is not any teaching going on, so your son isn't going to miss a thing except socializing.
Jan 30th 2013, 12:17 pm
#22
Forum Regular
Joined: Feb 2009
Location: LA, now back in London
Posts: 145
Re: Moral Dilemma - School !
Honestly, as you are what I would do, I wouldn't even think about it, let alone feel I have a moral dilemma to deal with.
Jan 30th 2013, 12:20 pm
#23
BE Enthusiast
Joined: Mar 2010
Location: Oakland County, Michigan
Posts: 846
Re: Moral Dilemma - School !
I would pull him out of school - no questions. If I felt inclined to be awkward, I'd send a letter in saying that I didn't expect his 100% attendance award to be penalized because of the school changing their schedule). My stepdaughter's school has their half days on Monday afternoons, once every 6 weeks or so. Parents are incensed about it (the half days used to be Friday afternoon which was much more convenient for long weekends visiting family etc) and some don't even bother sending their child in, to the point that the school no longer bothers doing anything academic and uses the short days for special assemblies/school dances/ other pointless stuff.
Jan 30th 2013, 1:48 pm
#24
Lost in BE Cyberspace
Joined: Feb 2009
Location: North Charleston,SC. born in Stockport,UK.
Posts: 10,109
Re: Moral Dilemma - School !
It's not that big a deal really!! 100% attendance in school at age 11 will not even make it on the application forms when he is trying out for colleges!! If he had to take final exams during those last few days, that would be a moral dilemma', but a half day socializing and cleaning classrooms is not worth $700!!!
or even a minutes worth of your time worrying about it.
or even a minutes worth of your time worrying about it.
Jan 30th 2013, 1:57 pm
#25
Chocoholic !
Joined: Jun 2007
Location: Houston, TX - Officially Not Shit since 2009
Posts: 2,324
Re: Moral Dilemma - School !
It's not that big a deal really!! 100% attendance in school at age 11 will not even make it on the application forms when he is trying out for colleges!! If he had to take final exams during those last few days, that would be a moral dilemma', but a half day socializing and cleaning classrooms is not worth $700!!!
or even a minutes worth of your time worrying about it.
or even a minutes worth of your time worrying about it.
Jan 30th 2013, 2:18 pm
#26
Rootbeeraholic
Joined: Aug 2009
Location: Houston, Tx
Posts: 2,280
Re: Moral Dilemma - School !
It's not that big a deal really!! 100% attendance in school at age 11 will not even make it on the application forms when he is trying out for colleges!! If he had to take final exams during those last few days, that would be a moral dilemma', but a half day socializing and cleaning classrooms is not worth $700!!!
or even a minutes worth of your time worrying about it.
or even a minutes worth of your time worrying about it.
Pull them out of school for the day and let them watch movies on the plane the same as they would be if they were at school. Call it plane-schooling if you will!
Jan 30th 2013, 2:49 pm
#27
BE Forum Addict
Joined: Apr 2011
Location: Ohio
Posts: 1,834
Re: Moral Dilemma - School !
Total no-brainer - you made bookings around the schedule you were given, you clearly don't make a habit of it, there's zero chance of giving the wrong 'who gives a monkey's about school?' impression to either your son or the teachers. Completely justifiable, and I hope you have a lovely trip.
<tangential rant>
I strongly dislike 100% attendance awards and fuss; my kids' school does this too and it irritated me at Leavers' Day no end. Best case, you're rewarding a child for lucking into good genetics, which is like getting a certificate and applause for being blond. Worst, and far more likely case, the parent has been sending their sick child to school - really, 7 years of elementary and not one temperature-raising or vomiting virus, ever? - due to lack of child care options; or the very motivated, very studious child has been insisting on attending and the parent has let them rather than stepping up and pointing out it's irresponsible and selfish.
</tangential rant>
<tangential rant>
I strongly dislike 100% attendance awards and fuss; my kids' school does this too and it irritated me at Leavers' Day no end. Best case, you're rewarding a child for lucking into good genetics, which is like getting a certificate and applause for being blond. Worst, and far more likely case, the parent has been sending their sick child to school - really, 7 years of elementary and not one temperature-raising or vomiting virus, ever? - due to lack of child care options; or the very motivated, very studious child has been insisting on attending and the parent has let them rather than stepping up and pointing out it's irresponsible and selfish.
</tangential rant>
Jan 30th 2013, 3:04 pm
#28
He/him
Joined: Dec 2006
Location: WA
Posts: 18,839
Re: Moral Dilemma - School !
Pressure for a 100% attendance starts from the school management, it looks good for them.
Jan 30th 2013, 3:15 pm
#29
Lost in BE Cyberspace
Joined: Jan 2008
Posts: 41,518
Re: Moral Dilemma - School !
In our district, they do lose funding when a child is absent. That puts a lot of pressure on attendance.
Jan 30th 2013, 3:21 pm
#30
Lost in BE Cyberspace
Joined: Feb 2009
Location: North Charleston,SC. born in Stockport,UK.
Posts: 10,109
Re: Moral Dilemma - School !
