Either you're sick in bed or you're in school. Those were my two choices growing up, but it sounds like a lot of families are making the whole school attendance idea more complicated than it needs to be.
As we write in today's editorial, poor attendance is costing Valley schools millions every year. The schools are thinking creatively, coming up with incentives to sweeten the idea of gaining perfect attendance.
Step one toward that goal is for the adults to be adults. School attendance is not optional; it's the law. Parents have this job in the morning: get the children up, dressed, fed, and off to school with their supplies on time. Every child has a right to go to school. Except in case of emergency -- say once a year, not once a week -- children should not be kept out of school to babysit other children in the family. That's what mothers and fathers are for.
If the children have attitude problems that affect attendance, it's smart to get help from mentor parents, experienced teachers and counselors. Over the years, they have many methods that can be used to entice students in class.
The basic fact is this: a child cannot learn if she's not in school.
".... Poor attendance is costing Valley schools millions every year...."
Symptomatic of our educational system: Concerned about the money, not the kids.
"Symptomatic of our educational system: Concerned about the money, not the kids."
Symptomatic of what passes for conservative thought these days - focus on a sound bite and ignore the context. Gail's last sentence proves you wrong.
That's kind of dumb .... a child (or an adult) can learn anywhere, anytime; Life is an education; One never stops learning (Although some liberal bloggers might be an exception to that general rule!).
"The illiterate of the 21st century will not be those who cannot read and write, but those who cannot learn, unlearn, and relearn" - Alvin Toffler; "The important thing is not to stop questioning"- Einstein. Or as Harry Truman reportedly said, "It's what you learn after you know it all that counts."
...well, that last sentence was a bit grandiose,Gail.
oh wait, that's the kettle calling the stove black,...sorry kid
"That's kind of dumb .... a child (or an adult) can learn anywhere, anytime; "
What's your point? That it's not important for kids to be in school because (theoretically, anyway) they can learn anywhere?
So they might as well be home watching TV, at the mall, or anywhere else kids go when they cut school?
They might be learning, all right. But learning what?
If the government didnt do this kind of incentive, do you think the teachers would care if your kids went to school? Probably not, 1/2 the classes would probably be empty and the teachers would be happy because only the smart ones would be there. Well at least the ones who has parents who cares about their childrens education.
It all comes down to if you dont care, why should the school (that is if money wasnt involved).
As a teacher I can't tell you how important attendance is. You'd be amazed to hear the reasons kids stay home. (In 2nd grade they're very honest!) Although skills are reviewed constantly, just missing the important introduction of a skill can haunt a child for years. Believe me...the idea of the school getting dollars for attendance never crosses my mind. For teachers our concern is for what the child has missed.