Rebelling against mandatory attendance

[houseelf]

Re: Rebelling against mandatory attendance

Me too!
I'm completely up for a little hell raising where public education is concerned.

I totally agree that children can learn more from experience and travel as long as the parent takes an active role. Unfortunately in public schools they cannot afford to give parents a benefit of the doubt.

I think that this is the pivotal point. Is the parent constantly letting the student skip school along with not taking an active part in the educative process? Or is the parent engaged and involved in the student's academic and intellectual growth? Private schools are in a better position to make individual decisions on each student's progress and familial involvement. Public schools have to take what they get by law. Thus they have to be stricter. It is a sad statement that money affords some more privileges where a child's education is concerned, but it is true.

Kelly

[Flynn]

Re: Rebelling against mandatory attendance

Me too!
I'm completely up for a little hell raising where public education is concerned.

I totally agree that children can learn more from experience and travel as long as the parent takes an active role. Unfortunately in public schools they cannot afford to give parents a benefit of the doubt.

I think that this is the pivotal point. Is the parent constantly letting the student skip school along with not taking an active part in the educative process? Or is the parent engaged and involved in the student's academic and intellectual growth? Private schools are in a better position to make individual decisions on each student's progress and familial involvement. Public schools have to take what they get by law. Thus they have to be stricter. It is a sad statement that money affords some more privileges where a child's education is concerned, but it is true.

Kelly

YES!

Additionally, the minute a public school gives a family "leave" for an educational trip -- it CAN become a class issue.

If a family makes it educational is it due to one parent being at home all the time and as a result having time to create and research the experience more? Is it a visit to another country which immediately suggests (but does not prove) a certain financial stability?

I've seen public high schools say no to kids skipping school to RESEARCH COLLEGES WITH THIER FAMILIES. Why? The parents who cannot afford college got a lawyer and said college was a choice and if their kids can't miss school for reasons pertaining to THEIR family, future college kids shouldn't be able to either.

People are nuts.

[poky]

Re: Rebelling against mandatory attendance

I've seen public high schools say no to kids skipping school to RESEARCH COLLEGES WITH THIER FAMILIES. Why? The parents who cannot afford college got a lawyer and said college was a choice and if their kids can't miss school for reasons pertaining to THEIR family, future college kids shouldn't be able to either.

People are nuts.

I'm pretty sure that in that situation, my parents would have taken me anyway, and written me a note saying I'd been sick. That's ridiculous.

[PrincessFiona]

Re: Rebelling against mandatory attendance

Actually, schools can be pretty accomodating about absensces like the one that you described.

We have friends who go every other year to germany for a semester. Their 3 children are in elementary school, and the public schools have no problem with it. We are currently planning a trip to Germany and we'll be staying for 3 months of school time with the kids. It is unlikely that the kids will be able to keep up academically in the german schools simply because of language issues, but so far the schools (public and private) have made no issue about it at all. We may have to bring math stuff with us....

Kris

[Meenah]

Re: Rebelling against mandatory attendance

We are currently planning a trip to Germany and we'll be staying for 3 months

What???????????? Are you staying with MIL?

Re: Rebelling against mandatory attendance

We are currently planning a trip to Germany and we'll be staying for 3 months of school time with the kids.

Wow. Do they give you a packet for each child to complete while away?

What I'm about to do is wrong. Extremely wrong. But I'm going to take over this 747 now.

I just can't help myself. It is extremely self-indulgent. It is also off-topic (hence the hijack warning).

So....stop reading now if off-topic, self-indulgent reverie will make you mad at me.


I mean it. Stop reading now.

Okay, my best friend in high school spent half a year in Spain (Salamanca) during ninth grade. His mother was from Columbia and was a university spanish professor. So, he went on a semester away with college students from the U.S.

Upon his return, I heard only tales of the Spanish girlfriend he met. Being the skeptic that I was, I envisioned a homely girl. Heck, I was so skeptical I wondered if she even existed.

Imagine my suprise when the summer before we went away to college, I was invited to house to meet his Spanish girlfriend and a foreign exchange student from France. I pulled up to the driveway, and heard my friend yelling from the street.

I came inside for the planned festivities -- dinner with my friend, his girlfriend, and the exchange student from France. My friend often had the run of the house. His parents were world travelers and laissez-faire parents. My high school years were far from rowdy, but anything approaching rowdy always took place at his casa.

Once inside, my friend told me he'd been arguing all day with his girlfriend, Monica. To this day, I can't remember the name of the French exchange student. I suppose I was to be her "date" for the evening.

I do remember laying my eyes on the most beautiful girl (at that time in my life) I'd ever seen. Monica was heavenly. She was slim, with jet black hair and a bearing that well exceeded her years.

As the evening progressed, with plenty of drink (as will happen when the parents are away), some form of cultural/linguistic fray transpired between the Spanish lovely and the Francophone.

But, I hardly even remember that exchange. I do remember as I left to head home for that evening, Monica running up the stairs to see me out. At the top of the stairs, she asked if she'd see me the next day. I said, "yes" as I planned to go for a swim at the pool my other friend was minding for the summer.

She said we should keep in touch and kissed both of my cheeks.

I melted.

She then gave me her address.

The next day, we went to the pool my friend was keeping for the summer. Monica appeared in a white bikini. To this day, I have never seen a woman smoke a cigarette in such a sultry way. It really was like watching a 40s movie star puff away on a black and white reel.

I turned down the opportunity to go camping with my friend, Monica, and the French girl. I was a little worried about sharing a pup tent with her (French student)!

Then, I went away to college. A few weeks into school, I wrote a letter to Monica that I never sent. Here it gets really cheesy. Please cue the Moody Blues (Letters I've written never meaning to Send...."). Yeah, you guessed I didn't send the letter.

So, I think sending your children abroad (especially at high school age) could possibly benefit some of their friends -- if they arent' big enough schmucks to never send a letter).

ETA: High school friend and I have fallen out of touch. However, with the miracle of the internet, I see he is into design, has made a name for himself and seems to be openly homosexual. Meanwhile, I'm a happily married straight guy who will never tell my wife about my letter not sent to Monica.

[houseelf]

Re: Rebelling against mandatory attendance

Oh, I'm all about the hard bodied foreigner fantasy! Except now, I hear "Coo, coo, katchoo, Mrs. Robinson" in my head when I think about these sort of things.

Kelly

[rainbabies]

Re: Rebelling against mandatory attendance

i feel like i need to take a shower.

Re: Rebelling against mandatory attendance

Next time I will not afflict the readers with my return to the high school years! I promise the next set of reveries will be from college and grad school. :P

On a serious note, can't you readers see this was soul-stirring and heartfelt? :P

I feel you've cheapened the memory of Monica! :P

[DCJenn]

Re: Rebelling against mandatory attendance

I thought it was a lovely story. I will share my story of the young Army Lieutenant on my journey across Germany some day.

Jenn

ETA: the same young Army Lt. for whom all of my passwords are named TO THIS DAY...

Re: Rebelling against mandatory attendance

I await the tales of past loves!

On an unrelated note, since he is your current love, did I really read that Rick is coming to Baltimore?

You should make it a family trip!

But either way, if I'm around and Rick is up to it, we could head out and about town.

How about some crabs up the street from me here:
http://www.lpsteamers.com/

Or a beer or six here (even closer to where I live both doable on foot): http://captainlarrys.com/default.php

And don't forget those loveable losers the Orioles. We could walk there too.

[Meenah]

Re: Rebelling against mandatory attendance

I was going to suggest she come with him to. The trip to Baltimore is an easy one for me.

Re: Rebelling against mandatory attendance

That's great. Luanne - so is Balto about 3 1/2 hours from you?

Are you up for crabs and beer?

All I need to do that month (June) is keep DW happy on the 28th (fifth wedding anniversary) and her birthday on the 30th.

For all I know, she'll be on call!

If not, we have several months for me to come up with a way to explain why I'm going to meet these women I've met on the internet in real life.

[Meenah]

Re: Rebelling against mandatory attendance

Yes, about 3 hours. I love crabs & beer. I'll drag DH along if it makes you feel better!!!!! We can take Rick out for dinner after boards. Hey Jenn, we are making plans for you!

[Meenah]

Re: Rebelling against mandatory attendance

The American Academy of Nurse Practitioners national conference is in National Harbor, MD June 26-July1.