<p>I’m wondering what people think about this article from the New York Times (8/1/07). I originally posted this in the high school forum to see what others thought, but I’m curious to hear some parents’ views as well. </p>
<p>To give you a quick overview, the article is about a high school senior who failed her math class due to, among other things, missing numerous days of class and not turning in homework assignments. She didn’t even show up for her final exam. Thus, her teacher failed her. When she and her mom complained, the school ruled that the teacher should allow her to take the final (after a 2-day private tutoring session with another teacher–which none of the students who took the original final had the luxury of). She still did miserably, failing by the teacher’s standards. However, the principal reversed the decision, allowing the student to graduate. Ultimately, the teacher left the school in protest of their actions.</p>
<p>You can read the full story here: <a href=“http://www.nytimes.com/2007/08/01/ed…?ref=education%5B/url%5D”>http://www.nytimes.com/2007/08/01/ed…?ref=education</a>. What do you think about the principal’s decision? Any thoughts?</p>
<p>What a load of poo! The principal should be called on the carpet and be made to explain him/herself to the rest of the graduating class. We had a similar siuation here at the HS where I teach.</p>
<p>Calif. Ed Code says that attendance can not be linked directly to the grade a student gets on assignments. However, unexcused absences can be tied into a participation grade which can efffect the overall grade. Out situation was a kid who had participated in an unauthorized Sr. ditch day and had not brought in a Drs note to excuse it (all Srs absent that day had to supply one). This dropped the student’s grade to failing. However he still had his Sr. Board presentation to go and as long as he received a 80% or better he would have been passing. He went in to the presentation and totally winged it and got a “C”. From that point on his mother waged a campaign to get her son a passing grade. His walking in graduation was paramount for her and it’s all that mattered. The administration held firm under the rantings and ravings of this woman until…she produced a Drs note which excused her son from his absence. The boy had admitted that he cut school that day and I don’t want to think about about how she got that quack to write a note for her son but he walked in graduation ceremonies…disgusting but true.</p>
<p>What bothers me is the take home lesson this boy got. In addition if this particular mother had given her son the attention throughout his life that she gave to getting his absence excused, he would probably have never been in the situation in the first place.</p>
<p>historymom,
Does your district require you to get a doctor’s note for every absence? We only have to get it for an extended absence. A student can miss one day of school and a note from mom is sufficient- although the note should say he wasn’t feeling well or there was a death in the family.</p>
<p>I can’t imagine how disruptive (and expensive) it would be to have to see a doctor everytime your kid misses a day of school because they have a routine cold or 24 hr. gastro problem.</p>