Vent...is this common..PS related

[LucyStoner]

Just this. I can't imagine dealing with those rules.

 

So basically during your senior year of high school, not even your PARENTS can let you miss school, and then the next year at college no one pays attention to if you show up for class or not.

This is a very keen observation. One of the strong educational outcomes that my high school was measured as having (compared to other area public and private schools) was students maintaining high GPAs on entering the local 4 year university. My school was in the top 2 or 3 on that metric most every year. I can't help but think that 4 years of being treated like young adults who needed to navigate their own schedule and learn that it was on them to get any missed material helped that considerably. The teachers didn't coddle the students or treat them like they were 12. You had the freedom to not come to this or that class but you'd pay the consequences performance wise if you made it a habit. When you throw kids into the freedom of college without any practice, it shouldn't be shocking many kids screw up.

[NoPlaceLikeHome]

Exactly!! And why in the world is someone who is clearly on the public school police task force on a homeschooling forum anyways!!

 

If I thought it was my job to tell everyone what to do with their children, and how they must educate them, I would work for the board of education, and not be wasting my time talking to a bunch of homeschoolers- unless I just wanted a daily dose of trying to feel superior to everyone else.

 

Seriously. Join the freaking PTA already.

 

It is none of your business what I do with my children, or when, or why- period. The. End.

Actually there are many folks here who afterschool here or who used to homeschool including me. I see this as an education board and not just a homeschool board.

 

In Spycar's defense there are plenty who bash public schools with a very broad brush which in my opinion is not a fair assessment. There are plenty of good public schools and yes there are plenty of good public schools which ridiculous truancy policies IMHO.

[SparklyUnicorn]

Exactly!! And why in the world is someone who is clearly on the public school police task force on a homeschooling forum anyways!!

 

If I thought it was my job to tell everyone what to do with their children, and how they must educate them, I would work for the board of education, and not be wasting my time talking to a bunch of homeschoolers- unless I just wanted a daily dose of trying to feel superior to everyone else.

 

Seriously. Join the freaking PTA already.

 

It is none of your business what I do with my children, or when, or why- period. The. End.

 

I don't have a problem with anyone being here and there are lots of non homeschoolers here.  But I don't think it is fair to say you understand someone else's situation.  Having 1 kid and two highly attentive parents is not the same as having 6 where the most attentive may be the mother (since she is obviously the one in charge of these details).

[Lang Syne Boardie]

 

 

It becomes more and more clear to me why university kids are having problems with anxiety.

 

In my neck of the woods, the most striking thing about back-to-school season this year is the horrible anxiety among elementary students. I know little children who are regressing in their speech skills, bedwetting, crying through their school day, seeing therapists...it's all school-related, the parents have told me.

 

I also knew many public schooled juniors and seniors last year who were struggling with anxiety over graduation and college.

 

People only get one childhood.

[FaithManor]

This is a very keen observation. One of the educational outcomes that my high school was measured as having (compared to other area public and private schools) was students maintaining high GPAs on entering the local 4 year university. My school was in the top 2 or 3 on that metric most every year. I can't help but think that 4 years of being treated like young adults who needed to navigate their own schedule and learn that it was on them to get any missed material helped that considerably. The teachers didn't coddle the students or treat them like they were 12. You had the freedom to not come to this or that class but you'd pay the consequences performance wise if you made it a habit. When you through kids into the freedom of college without any practice, it shouldn't be shocking many kids screw up.

I think this is spot on! In the past five years, our local high school has reported an average of only 15-20% of graduates matriculating to college, and another 25% go on to vocational training and professional licensing programs. Of those, according to the town newspaper, only 10-15% of the students successfully complete their programs and failing out was cited as a recurring theme. I have to wonder if the insane micromanaging and infantilizing of the student body in this high school is a main cause.

 

It just really should be a life skill to know how to miss the lecture, the meeting, the whatever, and procure notes from another student, self study the book, pamphlet, video, etc., complete the assignment and turn it in on time. Too many students do not know how to do this due to lack of being allowed to experience it!

[Bluegoat]

I don't have a problem with anyone being here and there are lots of non homeschoolers here.  But I don't think it is fair to say you understand someone else's situation.  Having 1 kid and two highly attentive parents is not the same as having 6 where the most attentive may be the mother (since she is obviously the one in charge of these details).

 

And parental availability is going to be a factor in deciding how to do kids appointments as well.  There is a big difference between a working parent taking off one morning, or even one day, to get all three of their kids dental checks done - if they have to take a whole day they can always do other awkward errands as well and use the time.

 

Taking time on three separate days - even if each of them isn't as long, is often not as easy.  Anything where there will have to be someone else brought in to cover the work it is probably going to mean missing a shift.  taking three whole vacation days for appointments that take a short while is just crazy. 

 

It's often going to be much more sensible to take all kids at one time, even if it means one longer time of being out..

[FaithManor]

In my neck of the woods, the most striking thing about back-to-school season this year is the horrible anxiety among elementary students. I know little children who are regressing in their speech skills, bedwetting, crying through their school day, seeing therapists...it's all school-related, the parents have told me.

 

I also knew many public schooled juniors and seniors last year who were struggling with anxiety over graduation and college.

 

People only get one childhood.

This! It has become far too stressful for children.

[Bluegoat]

I think this is spot on! In the past five years, our local high school has reported an average of only 15-20% of graduates matriculating to college, and another 25% go on to vocational training and professional licensing programs. Of those, according to the town newspaper, only 10-15% of the students successfully complete their programs and failing out was cited as a recurring theme. I have to wonder if the insane micromanaging and infantilizing of the student body in this high school is a main cause.

 

It just really should be a life skill to know how to miss the lecture, the meeting, the whatever, and procure notes from another student, self study the book, pamphlet, video, etc., complete the assignment and turn it in on time. Too many students do not know how to do this due to lack of being allowed to experience it!

 

This is something that my teaching friends have commented on specifically.  The students in their classes expect them to have the whole content of the class written up in notes which are made available to the students online.

 

Now - most of these are liberal arts classes - they are discussing literature and philosophy.  Yes - there are things that the prof is covering according to plan, but it is actually a discussion where the interaction - moving the student along with the argument - is probably the most important thing going on.  Not the points that might appear on a test.

 

[*lifeoftheparty*]

Actually there are many folks here who afterschool here or who used to homeschool including me. I see this as an education board and not just a homeschool board.

 

In Spycar's defense there are plenty who bash public schools with a very broad brush which in my opinion is not a fair assessment. There are plenty of good public schools and yes there are plenty of good public schools which ridiculous truancy policies IMHO.

Agreed. But I wouldn't get on a public school education and support forum just to tell all those people how to properly homeschool, and that they are irresponsible parents for sending their children to public school every day.

[SKL]

I'm just glad Bill isn't making policy for my kids' school.  We would be kicked out for sure.  :P

[SKL]

I kind of like the old-fashioned thought that most parents care about their kids' education.  Naive, I know....

[Haiku]

I'm just glad Bill isn't making policy for my kids' school.  We would be kicked out for sure.  :p

 

As would we. But strangely, despite my not adhering to Bill's rigid and apparently entirely necessary standards, my dd not only graduated high school with STEM honors, but also went on to earn $34k per year in scholarships to study biology in college. She gleefully missed school for doctor's appointments, weeks at a camp for children with the same medical condition she has, family trips, school internships, illnesses, etc., and still did very well in school.

 

I simply can't figure it out. ;)

[Alessandra]

I haven't read all the latest posts, but I can quote from our local district (which sends more than 95% of graduates to college, btw).

 

Medical appointments should be scheduled outside of regular school hours "whenever possible." That kind of policy makes sense to me.

 

Also, in middle and elementary, attendance is by day, so a student who is in school for at least 4 hours counts as present for the day. In high school, attendance is by day and by class, so a student who is officially present for the day could still have class absences. High school is much trickier to navigate, imo.

[Haiku]

Medical appointments should be scheduled outside of regular school hours "whenever possible." That kind of policy makes sense to me.

 

Of course it makes sense. It's just that some people believe that "whenever possible" means it's always possible. And it isn't.

[mommymilkies]

 

As for the girl changing clothing, she was mortified. She was even more embarrassed when her mom came to the school. I don't know her cycle history but I believe this was not expected at all. Again, I am not sure if she was regular or not but I can't help but think that it shouldn't matter. She was back at the school in 15 min. with the office knowing why she left. As for carrying a change of clothing, that can happen in your backpack but it has to be a school approved uniform not sweatpants. I know in elementary the schools have extra in the office to borrow in case of accidents which happen regularly but for highschool, they don't and the sizing varies so much it would be difficult imo. While we could afford an extra uniform if needed, it is an unjustifiable expense imo besides the fact that it is just another thing to stuff in an already overstuffed bag. The thing that I find strange is the other rules stress the need for the student to be in school making it extremely difficult if they are not yet the no check-ins rule limit that possibility unless you have an excuse. If it is so important that you have to micromanage my timing for excused absences, shouldn't you allow a child to check in regardless of the reason they are late?

 

I had a very embarrassing problem with flooding and dysmennorhea as a teen.  So much so that I required one major abdominal surgery and two minor surgeries.  I would have to change a couple times a day sometimes.  I do not blame that girl for going home. It's traumatizing enough when it's happening. :(

 

 

 

When did this change? We only got one a year growing up?

 

Same here, but that's the new recommendations as far as I can tell.  It's what my kids get now. 

[SKL]

I guess I have no right to talk, since I kept my kids out of school yesterday to attend a conference in DC.  Naughty naughty!

 

PS, my kids only get one dental cleaning per year, because I don't love them as much.  :P

[Joanne]

I tried reading the OP as a school administrator and to give a reasonable perspective on the policy from a b&m standpoint.

 

I couldn't.

[Lady Florida.]

 

 

I wonder...my son is leaving school early today for an eye doctor appointment. At his physical in June (scheduled for when school was out), he failed his vision test. The pediatric eye doctor could not offer us an appointment until September. I called every week during the summer to see if they had a cancellation. They did not. I took the last appointment of the day. It's still during school hours. I suppose I could have waited until Christmas break to have him seen. However, allowing him to go without glasses that long WOULD have been irresponsible. Taking him out of school to get the problem checked is not. Same thing for routine care and appointments with other specialists. I do my best to schedule appointments that don't interfere with school. I'm also competing with dozens of other families for those same appointments. That's just reality.

 

Oh no. Don't you know it was irresponsible of you to not wait, thereby taking him out of school  :rolleyes:

 

 

 

 ultimately I like living my life on the edge. The thrill I get from taking six kids to a dentist appointment that takes a full day is too thrilling to pass up.  

 

 

 

I bet one of your favorite parts of that day is keeping the ones who are not currently in the dentist chair occupied. Yeah, I can see where that would be a barrel of fun. You're such a wild woman.

[TranquilMind]

This was a routine teeth cleaning—after a long summer. There is NO EXCUSE for not getting the cleanings accomplished prior to the start of school.

 

This was not an dental emergency.

 

Bill

And you ignored all other issues except this minor one. 

[Butter]

Irresponsible people are the root of the problem with tough attendance policies. Making a dental cleaning after school starts (instead of the weeks and months before) is not excusable. Then to "vent" about it? Absurd!

 

Bill, I really get the feeling you did not actually read the OP.  She very clearly said that one of the dental cleanings is in the summer.  Here is exactly what she said:

 

 

Last year we had an issue with the school wanting the doctor's excuse time stamped so they could determine if you had ample time to return to school that same day. I scheduled my son a dentist appointment middle of the day along with the rest of my 6 children. We make one trip to the dentist twice a year for cleaning, once in summer. 

The dental cleaning in question was during *last school year.*  It was not, as you continue to insist, in the time since school started for the year.  In fact, a dental cleaning did in fact occur during the summer while school was not in session.  She is concerned about him having an unexcused absence when he has his next cleaning which should be due in January or February most likely.

 

Let me be doubly clear since I already stated this in my pp but you continued to ignore it.  He DID have a dental cleaning during the summer.  It was not in the weeks since school started for this school year.  The OP made this clear in her very first post.

 

 

When I was in school, we wore our uniform tops with jeans on game days. It was an easy way to generate game-day hype without breaking dress code. I was under the impression that only TV cheerleaders ever actually wore their skirts in school.

 

The girls at the high schools here wear their cheerleading uniforms on game days.  I saw one the other day on her way to school.  The skirts are just short enough that the briefs show a tiny bit.  They are against dress code, but the dress code specifically allows super short skirts if it is a cheerleading uniform on a member of the cheerleading squad.  It was the same where we lived in MD.

 

For the record, they started a new online payment program this year and it takes 24 hrs for payments to be applied with a small service fee on the payments. I think it was $2.

 

I would have a serious issue with there being a fee and no other way to add money to the account.  $2 is a little more or a little less (depending on grade level) than the cost of an entire meal.  Also, some people do not use debit or credit cards at all.  I actually know someone who completely refuses to use either.  She would be barred from putting money on her kids account or forced to get a card that she does not want.

 

When did this change? We only got one a year growing up?

 

It was always two for me.  Some insurances do up to 3 a year now.  I have a friend (without dental insurance) who only does one for her kids, but that's her personal choice.

 

In my neck of the woods, the most striking thing about back-to-school season this year is the horrible anxiety among elementary students. I know little children who are regressing in their speech skills, bedwetting, crying through their school day, seeing therapists...it's all school-related, the parents have told me.

 

I also knew many public schooled juniors and seniors last year who were struggling with anxiety over graduation and college.

 

People only get one childhood.

 

I actually wrote about some of that in a blog post on Monday.  Two of my kids regressed in their social skills while they were in school.  My then-second grader quit talking at all at school and mostly at home because he was so worried about going down on the behavior chart.  His anxiety was through the roof.  My then-ninth grader says she mostly quit talking at school because people are negative and use mean words so much when talking to each other (and people ask homeschoolers how they will possibly socialize properly if they are not in public school).  Kids shouldn't have to deal with stuff like that.

[EKS]

People only get one childhood.

 

This, in a nutshell, is why we homeschool.

[Mama Geek]

I have a great solution...homeschool :laugh:   I know not it isn't right for everyone...but still...I couldn't deal with that.

[PinkTulip]

I may or may not pull my kids out of school once or twice a year because our family is suffering from "powder fever." This illness only occurs on a clear blue-sky morning the day after we have received 1-2 feet of snow. The only known cure can be found 30 minutes away at the nearest ski resort. 😉

[happi duck]

...One was a finalist in American Idol and missed a lot of school...

 

I love American Idol (waaayyy too much)!

 

Who is it?!

[Tarreymere]

Yeah, a responsible parent takes care of that before school resumes for summer, not after. It really is that simple.

 

Bill

 

I simply must inform the dental association in my area that they are singlehandedly responsible for the epidemic of truancy in the schools because of their joint refusal to offer appointments after 4 pm or on weekends during the school year, and that they simply must stop closing their offices for Christmas break. And, oh yes, I almost forgot. It is also a necessity that they must somehow squeeze all children in for one dental check up and cleaning in the summer months. No more long vacations out of state at that time.

 

I'm not sure when that second cleaning is supposed to take place...Perhaps families can troop out to the dental clinic on snow days and hope a passing hygienist will take pity on them...

 

Yes, clearly it's irresponsible parents doggedly pursuing preventative care for their children that has led us to this terrible predicament of rapidly escalating truancy, teen pregnancy, drug use, and the rise of insecticide-resistant lice.  A truly responsible parent would study Youtube videos of dental cleaning techniques and have her own set of instruments for times like these when non-school time appointments are not available.

 

I made appointments for my two kids in February, and the first available date was in October. I'm lucky if I'm actually able to get two appointments in eighteen months, let alone two in twelve or thirteen months. Clearly more of us need to urge our children to consider dental school, and an after hours practice after that.

[1GirlTwinBoys]

We don't have rules like that either.

[Tsuga]

No.

 

I think this is a regional thing, though, not a PS thing.

 

We have open campus, open carry, open marriage, privatized pot and privatized alcohol on SUNDAYS, yeaaaah. No road checkpoints.

 

I think it is a question of what people are willing to accept...

 

True, you have to fill out paperwork for everything, but I like the freedom.

 

 

[Valley Girl]

I simply must inform the dental association in my area that they are singlehandedly responsible for the epidemic of truancy in the schools because of their joint refusal to offer appointments after 4 pm or on weekends during the school year, and that they simply must stop closing their offices for Christmas break. And, oh yes, I almost forgot. It is also a necessity that they must somehow squeeze all children in for one dental check up and cleaning in the summer months. No more long vacations out of state at that time.

 

 

You may be onto something. Perhaps holding office hours from 4 p.m. until, oh, say, midnight would help them accommodate the millions of children who can no longer miss even an hour or two of school for daytime appointments. Of course, then we'll hear about irresponsible parents who let their children stay up late on school nights to get their teeth cleaned.

 

Clearly I'm getting punchy. Good night, all.

[Reefgazer]

2 Per year was the norm when I was growing up.  My dentist later recommended 3/year for me, but insurance won't pay for that third one.

I think this depends a bit where you were - I can remember them changing the recommendation here when i was still a child - before that kids only got two a year if they had problems with their teeth.

 

I've never fully satisfied myself that this is really something that everyone needs or its just better for dentists.

 

[TechWife]

There are roughly 180 days of school during a year, so roughly 180 days in the year when there is no school. And there are after school hours. Work it out.

 

Routine dental cleanings are not a valid reason to miss an entire day of school.

 

Bill

 

 

But who are you to decide what is valid for this family? That should be up to the parents. 

 

Every person is unique and is placed in  a unique family.  This parent wants to exercise her autonomy and decide what is best for her family as a whole and she shouldn't have to fight for this autonomy. Schools should support our family culture, not the other way around. 

 

I find it humorous that you think every school aged child should be able to get their appointments on their off days of school. I live in a mid sized city with excellent access to health and dental care. I have no idea how many dentists there are in the county, but there is no shortage. There are roughly 160,000 children in our county school system (we haven't reached census day for this school year). That means, on average, 889 students must get their teeth cleaned on each of those 180 days off you mentioned. Additionally, the 18,475 school system employees would need to do this as well, adding 103 people per day. I can't even imagine what kind of hours the dentists would have to work to pull this off, in addition to seeing preschool aged and adult patients, doing dental treatments and handling emergency dental care. This schedule requirement would also require dentists to never have a summer vacation, fall, winter or spring break vacation or even merely take a day off while their own kids are out of school. Yeah, that'll work.  :closedeyes:

 

 

ETA: Our dental office gives preference to college students for summer and December/early January appointments because they aren't in town to come any other days. That means they are in the front of the line for those appointment times and school aged children come in behind them in the priority list. A high percentage of high school graduates in our area go on to college, so that is a lot of people. 

 

[TechWife]

 

 

People have appointments.  Kids are people.  School is not more or less important than going to the doctor or the dentist.

 

 

 

For routine teeth cleanings? Bullroar!

 

Bill

 

Bill, 

 

If I understand you right, you think that sitting in a classroom is more important than basic health care? You do realize that dental care, including routine cleanings, is basic health care, don't you? I'm just flummoxed at this attitude. 

[TechWife]

A root canal is ordinarily an emergency procedure, yes? Not something one can plan on in advance. Emergencies happen.

 

Planning to miss school for a routine cleaning? That is bad planning or complete lack of caring.

 

Please don't make dumb arguments. Get the teeth cleaning before school starts, not the week after. Simple.

 

Bill

 

No, root canals are often planned, Bill. I've had several of them (due to lack of routine dental care as a child). Dentists can do something (I honestly forget what it is) that relives immediate pain and put the patient on antibiotics while they wait for an appointment and/or approval for care from their insurance company. 

 

Root canals also take a couple of hours and require two follow up appointments to have a crown fitted and placed (although the crown is often delayed until growth has stopped). Yeah - skipping that dental cleaning can wreck havoc on a school schedule. 

[EKS]

There are roughly 180 days of school during a year, so roughly 180 days in the year when there is no school. And there are after school hours. Work it out.

 

Actually, no.

 

180 school days.  185 non school days.  Approximately 2/7 of those days will be weekend days, so no dental appointments (leaving 132 days).  And every dentist around here that I know about works four day weeks, takes two weeks off in August and another week off at Christmas, which leaves roughly 91 days.  And when you remove the 4th of July, that gets you to 90.

 

That said, when my kids were in school I never scheduled an appointment during the school day.  Of course, that was also the year that they missed their second dental cleaning and my winter birthday son missed his well child check.  So which makes me a worse mother--removing them from school for those things or skipping them altogether?

[Serenade]

 

 

 

When did this change? We only got one a year growing up?

 

 

Growing up in the 70s, my dentist scheduled appointments every 8 months.  I thought that was the standard until I was an adult and learned of the every-six-months scenario.  I imagine back in the old days, it varied from dentist-to-dentist.  Now eery 6 months seems to be universally standard.

[Dmmetler]

What I find humorous is that my former (inner city) school would set up the health department dentists in the school for several weeks and all the kids who were on state health coverage would get their exams, cleaning and sealants at school, missing class. The same happened for vaccinations and basic physicals. So obviously, the school district didn't see a problem with pulling kids out of class for health care! Even when I was growing up, I remember vision, hearing, and scoliosis screenings during the school day, and we were a school where most of the kids did have a family physician and got yearly physicals.

[Pippen]

Actually, no.

 

180 school days.  185 non school days.  Approximately 2/7 of those days will be weekend days, so no dental appointments (leaving 132 days).  And every dentist around here that I know about works four day weeks, takes two weeks off in August and another week off at Christmas, which leaves roughly 91 days.  And when you remove the 4th of July, that gets you to 90.

 

That said, when my kids were in school I never scheduled an appointment during the school day.  Of course, that was also the year that they missed their second dental cleaning and my winter birthday son missed his well child check.  So which makes me a worse mother--removing them from school for those things or skipping them altogether?

 

In time we came to realize that our opthamologist and ENT took off every single day school holiday to be with their families, in addition to spring break and the week of July 4th. Even if I did schedule those days months in advance, their office would call to reschedule us.

[momof4babes]

I've finally read through the whole thread, and all I have to say is wow!

 

Since when did parents hand over custody of their kids during school hours?!

 

Why did a parents wishes become obsolete?

 

I can't believe that people are arguing over dental/medical appointments.

 

When my kids were in school, we took an entire week off to go on vacation. We also took "mental stress days" on occasion. If my kids were ill, they stayed home.

I believe that is my prerogative as a parent. I can't imagine having to get a doctors note to prove my child was sick!

 

When I was in high school this was not even a question. As long as the material was understood, and assignments were completed you were good to go. If you missed 30+ days, they would have a meeting.

 

When we received our books to read on the first day, I finished it that night. Many full classes were spent with the teacher reading the book to the class, and time to answer the appropriate chapters questions. This was a total waste of my time, and I often took those periods to do other things.

 

It's not a wonder so many of these kids cannot function as adults. Too many rules, too little common sense!

[Word Nerd]

I had pneumonia when I was a sophomore. I missed a week or two of school with the initial illness. Even after returning to school, I missed more days because I had no energy at all and it took so long to fully recover. I don't think my parents had to produce a doctor's note even for that many missed days, but maybe they did. In any case, my unusual number of absences that semester had no effect on my grades.

[Kalmia]

 

This kind of proliferation of idiotic regulation is a sign of seriously bad leadership.  It is never restricted to one thing, it always permeates the whole system - people that make up stupid rules about changing will also make up stupid rules about learning.  Bad rules aren't neutral, the harm the community, they are unjust to individuals, they inappropriately invoke authority.  These are not things people should get used to.

 

 

I think I love you, Bluegoat.

[HRAAB]

What I find humorous is that my former (inner city) school would set up the health department dentists in the school for several weeks and all the kids who were on state health coverage would get their exams, cleaning and sealants at school, missing class. The same happened for vaccinations and basic physicals. So obviously, the school district didn't see a problem with pulling kids out of class for health care! Even when I was growing up, I remember vision, hearing, and scoliosis screenings during the school day, and we were a school where most of the kids did have a family physician and got yearly physicals.

 

I recall being pulled out of class for vaccinations, vision and hearing exams.  Parents would have been notified and given permission.  Of course, this was a long time ago.  I think it was worthwhile; it's how my eyesight problems were identified.  This was a not a poor area, just middle class.  I wonder if many schools still provide those screening exams?

[Matryoshka]

I recall being pulled out of class for vaccinations, vision and hearing exams.  Parents would have been notified and given permission.  Of course, this was a long time ago.  I think it was worthwhile; it's how my eyesight problems were identified.  This was a not a poor area, just middle class.  I wonder if many schools still provide those screening exams?

 

Our high school must still do at least vision exams, as I got a panicky note sent home that my dd had failed the eye exam (with her glasses on).  Yeah, we know.  She's been in glasses since 18mos, had VT, sees the developmental optometrist regularly, and that eye isn't getting any better.  Fortunately, the other eye seems to work okay (with glasses, at least).

 

But obviously they must have checked!

[Word Nerd]

They still do vision and hearing checks in our district.

[Katy]

The thing is by the time they are seniors most of them are legally adults.  They can't force the kids to do anything at that point.  Why do the students even put up with it? 

 

Heck, my high school had such terrible food the kids arranged a food strike and brought a vendor into the student parking lot every day until the school relented & brought in good food.  And my state had open enrollment, so kids who could arrange to get themselves to a different school could go, and take their education dollars with them.  Are schools with rules like this not in open enrollment states?

[HRAAB]

The only thing I can find my school district does is screening for children ages 3-5 with developmental concerns.

[Bluegoat]

The thing is by the time they are seniors most of them are legally adults.  They can't force the kids to do anything at that point.  Why do the students even put up with it? 

 

Heck, my high school had such terrible food the kids arranged a food strike and brought a vendor into the student parking lot every day until the school relented & brought in good food.  And my state had open enrollment, so kids who could arrange to get themselves to a different school could go, and take their education dollars with them.  Are schools with rules like this not in open enrollment states?

 

They put up with it because they have lost their agency.  They are controlled all day at school.  The rest of the time their cell phone is an umbilical to their parents and peers. 

 

In my more anarchist moments I am inclined to think that producing a population without agency may be the point.

[Katy]

<snip>

In my more anarchist moments I am inclined to think that producing a population without agency may be the point.

 

And that is one of the reasons we home school.

[Mrs. B]

Have only skimmed bits and pieces of this thread, but I lightly considered sending our kids to elementary school for just this year since it is the last year they will both be elementary students. Then I heard from multiple students in different grades they often don't get recess because the teachers will cancel it unless everyone in class finishes their worksheets. At 1st I thought it was one teacher when a mom vented, then the neighbor kids of different grades said their classes were the same way, they were venting to me about it when I took them in the car with our kids, I didn't ask. They only get recess 3 times/week anyway because they don't have PE and recess on the same day. I quickly dismissed my temptation to send my kids there over that one issue. Other issues would have bothered me, but this would have crawled up my skin.

 

There are some insane rules that drove me crazy when my oldest was in Kindergarten. My husband initially didn't want us to homeschool elementary because we have decent schools and our kids are good friends with so many of the students through community activities and within the neighborhood. I was on the fence with pros and cons for either option. Those silly rules that make it seem the school owns the child and the parents need to be guided like children is what turned us both into pro homeschooling parents.

[shawthorne44]

I recall being pulled out of class for vaccinations, vision and hearing exams.  Parents would have been notified and given permission.  Of course, this was a long time ago.  I think it was worthwhile; it's how my eyesight problems were identified.  This was a not a poor area, just middle class.  I wonder if many schools still provide those screening exams?

 

Yeah, I distinctly remember the scoliosis check at school because they found a problem.   I have a soft spot for school nurses as a result.   I did get a yearly physical and after the nurse flagged me for a potential problem my mom asked if the regular doc had ever done that.  Nope.  Our theory is that he couldn't charge extra for it.   

[MBM]

I love American Idol (waaayyy too much)!

 

Who is it?!

 

Here are some clues:

 

-- fresh faced

-- still a teen

-- acts in a tv series for kids

-- major role in a movie also for kids, not yet released

 

That's all I'm going to say! ;)

 

An alum from the same high school was also recently on American Idol. And two other alums were on a different singing show.

 

A lot of musicians, actors and theater people have gone to this school (public).

[happi duck]

Here are some clues:

 

-- fresh faced

-- still a teen

-- acts in a tv series for kids

-- major role in a movie also for kids, not yet released

 

That's all I'm going to say! ;)

 

An alum from the same high school was also recently on American Idol. And two other alums were on a different singing show.

 

A lot of musicians, actors and theater people have gone to this school (public).

Oooo! I love puzzles!

 

Thanks! :)