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gpsyeyes
She's my world!!!
Member since 8/06 1184 total posts
Name:
Karen
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Schools & cutting classes...(long vent)
Does anyone with a H.S. age child have a problem with the school not telling the parent's that they are cutting classes? My school is driving me insane - this happened about a year and a half ago (with my nephew) and now with my child. She is a good student with decent grades, no disciplinary issues at home or school, but I just found out that she has cut some of her classes (some on numerous occassions) and the school didn't tell me! I received a warning letter the other day for what turned out to be a class she wasn't even in and this led to a printout from the attendance office. I just found out that since September she had cut about 8 times & even was given detention once and they didn't tell me. No cut slip, no phone call, nothing. Apparently the teachers don't notify anyone when a student isn't in class and according to one of her teachers, she can't always keep track of it, though she knows she's supposed to! It is very frustrating, to say the least and when I spoke with the AP today, and after straighening out the issue with my child, I asked him overall, what was going to be done about the school policy in this regard, he had the nerve to tell me that he didn't have time to talk to me about that - he was only returning my call about my child. He said things have gotten better since last year and to prove it, he said, last year he would have seen my message to call him and he would have thrown it out! He said they are all much more on top of things this year! I am so tired of fighting for what is right & telling people how to do their jobs that I don't think I have the energy to now deal with the Principal (he said try talking to him, maybe he could do something).
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Posted 10/30/06 1:35 PM  |
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BaroqueMama
Chase is one!
Member since 5/05 27530 total posts
Name:
me
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Re: Schools & cutting classes...(long vent)
I will tell you this, if they sent the letter home or left a message, it's very easy for a student to intercept those things so that their parent does not notice. That being said, I think you need to be a very big presence in her school if this is a problem, which it seems to be. Get intouch with all her teachers and ask them to call you or email you when she's not in class. Give them your cell number and email address so she can't have access to it.
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| Posted 10/30/06 1:44 PM |
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gpsyeyes
She's my world!!!
Member since 8/06 1184 total posts
Name:
Karen
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Re: Schools & cutting classes...(long vent)
The AP told me that he is sending each of her teachers a note to contact me if she is not in class. It just drives me crazy to think that it is so easy to get away with this - I spoke to two of my sisters with HS kids in much bigger districts who said that their school will call at the end of the day just to confirm that you called the child in sick earlier that day! My school takes my word for it that I am who I say I am when I have called to let them know she is out sick. They don't verify in any way. I can just imagine how many kids have called themselves in or had a friend do it for them. There is absolutely no accountablity on the school's part. I could see if calls or mail were intercepted, but that's not the case - they told me that nothing was done at all to contact me!
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| Posted 10/30/06 1:50 PM |
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preciouslove
I love my DS!!!
Member since 5/05 9340 total posts
Name:
Blank
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Re: Schools & cutting classes...(long vent)
Posted by prncssrachel
I will tell you this, if they sent the letter home or left a message, it's very easy for a student to intercept those things so that their parent does not notice. That being said, I think you need to be a very big presence in her school if this is a problem, which it seems to be. Get intouch with all her teachers and ask them to call you or email you when she's not in class. Give them your cell number and email address so she can't have access to it.
Oh yeah it is definitely easy for them to intercept the mail no doubt. DH is a HS english teacher. He is always calling the students homes when they cut or are in danger of failing his class. They always say "oh thank you for calling me I will make sure my son/daughter does the work and comes to class"...But unfortunately the behavior continues. Then come parent teacher night they want to know why their child is failing. He reminds them that he's called their homes numerous times to let them know that they were in danger of failing. Thank God DH always backs up what he says with records of the child's attendance sheet, and test scores. And he also keeps track of who has handed in the assignment and projects that he gives.
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| Posted 10/30/06 2:31 PM |
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gpsyeyes
She's my world!!!
Member since 8/06 1184 total posts
Name:
Karen
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Re: Schools & cutting classes...(long vent)
I agree - the teachers or someone from the school should be calling - they have mine & my husband's work & cell numbers, but they don't. I know many parents don't care and blame the school for everything, but this is not the case - I am trying to be involved and make her accountable for her behavior, but I can't if I don't know about it. They have this million dollar system in the district to make one phone call by computer to notify parents of school issues - like an early closing (which is already on the school calendar), but they don't have the resourses or maybe the desire to keep track of attendance and contact parents. I don't get it!
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| Posted 10/30/06 2:37 PM |
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preciouslove
I love my DS!!!
Member since 5/05 9340 total posts
Name:
Blank
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Re: Schools & cutting classes...(long vent)
Message edited 10/30/2006 3:02:51 PM.
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| Posted 10/30/06 3:00 PM |
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preciouslove
I love my DS!!!
Member since 5/05 9340 total posts
Name:
Blank
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Re: Schools & cutting classes...(long vent)
The school should be calling the parents if their child is cutting or failing. A note in the mail just doesn't cut it, don't they realize that that is something a student can intercept.
Message edited 10/30/2006 3:02:25 PM.
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| Posted 10/30/06 3:00 PM |
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MrsJ
I love my Katie Bug
Member since 5/05 11357 total posts
Name:
Kathy
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Re: Schools & cutting classes...(long vent)
Well just speaking from experience (as a kid who cut classes)...I'd do anything to get home early and get the mail to intercept cut notices...and I'd delete calls from the school on my answering maching.
Maybe you could have the school call your CELL number and mail letters to your work address?
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| Posted 10/30/06 3:26 PM |
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gpsyeyes
She's my world!!!
Member since 8/06 1184 total posts
Name:
Karen
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Re: Schools & cutting classes...(long vent)
This is all true, but the problem is that the school doesn't even attempt to call or write letters! They told me today that they haven't tried to call and haven't sent any letters for the cuts - this is the crazy part. Now, though, they tell me they will make sure I am contacted if it happens again. What about all the other parents - they make it seem like I am getting special treatment because I called them on it!
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| Posted 10/30/06 3:29 PM |
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Shelly
She's 7!!!
Member since 8/05 14624 total posts
Name:
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Re: Schools & cutting classes...(long vent)
Is there someone else you can take this issue up with? Perhaps the school board or a superintendant? Maybe there is an open school board meeting. The school should be aware of kids cutting school. Its a liability issue. If a child gets injured/assaulted or worse while they were supposed to be in school and the school was not aware that the child wasn't there, the school could be held liable.
In this day and age, there should be someone knowing who is cutting school. Since so many parents are online now- why can't they shoot the parent an e-mail? Kids may have gotten more tech savvy, but so should parents and teachers.
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| Posted 10/30/06 3:47 PM |
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gpsyeyes
She's my world!!!
Member since 8/06 1184 total posts
Name:
Karen
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Re: Schools & cutting classes...(long vent)
Posted by Shellyesq
In this day and age, there should be someone knowing who is cutting school. Since so many parents are online now- why can't they shoot the parent an e-mail? Kids may have gotten more tech savvy, but so should parents and teachers.
Exactly! I am waiting to hear back from the principal about this, though, when I went through this with my nephew about 1 1/2 years ago, I wrote to the Superintendent and was assured they would make changes... so much for that!
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| Posted 10/30/06 3:58 PM |
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Maathy317
Grammie's Little Man
Member since 2/06 3235 total posts
Name:
D
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Re: Schools & cutting classes...(long vent)
Posted by gpsyeyes
This is all true, but the problem is that the school doesn't even attempt to call or write letters! They told me today that they haven't tried to call and haven't sent any letters for the cuts - this is the crazy part. Now, though, they tell me they will make sure I am contacted if it happens again. What about all the other parents - they make it seem like I am getting special treatment because I called them on it!
I would contact the District Office and ask what the policy of your school district is regarding cutting of classes. If what they say differs from what you were told, I would, definitely, let them know what you are dealing with. There is no excuse for such a lazy attitude such as this.
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| Posted 10/30/06 6:01 PM |
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mommysboy
my beautiful baby is here :-)
Member since 9/05 1136 total posts
Name:
amanda
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Re: Schools & cutting classes...(long vent)
I have to say I grad HS about 5 yrs ago and I was a bad kid I cut all the time and they never called the only time they called or sent home a letter was when I got ISS and I intercepted both the letters and the calls. my mom had an arrangement with the guidance office after a while of this that made my teachers sign a preformance paper everyday and that proved I was in class and they would also write down what my hw assignments were. I tell it worked I straighten my but out and graduated on time.
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| Posted 10/30/06 6:09 PM |
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nrthshgrl
It goes fast. Pay attention.
Member since 7/05 57538 total posts
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Re: Schools & cutting classes...(long vent)
Posted by gpsyeyes
Posted by Shellyesq
In this day and age, there should be someone knowing who is cutting school. Since so many parents are online now- why can't they shoot the parent an e-mail? Kids may have gotten more tech savvy, but so should parents and teachers.
Exactly! I am waiting to hear back from the principal about this, though, when I went through this with my nephew about 1 1/2 years ago, I wrote to the Superintendent and was assured they would make changes... so much for that!
I would follow up your conversation with the AP with a short letter detailing what he said. For example,
"This is to confirm our October 30th conversation in which you stated Jane's teachers would contact me if she was not in class. I would like to request that I receive this phone call no later than XX so that the issue can be addressed immediately.
Thank you again for your consideration & concern regarding my child's attendance. I am sure Riverdale High School is as concerned as I am with regard to her safety."
If you really want to put him on notice, send it certified.
Message edited 10/30/2006 6:16:11 PM.
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| Posted 10/30/06 6:15 PM |
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gpsyeyes
She's my world!!!
Member since 8/06 1184 total posts
Name:
Karen
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Re: Schools & cutting classes...(long vent)
Posted by nrthshgrl
I would follow up your conversation with the AP with a short letter detailing what he said. For example,
"This is to confirm our October 30th conversation in which you stated Jane's teachers would contact me if she was not in class. I would like to request that I receive this phone call no later than XX so that the issue can be addressed immediately.
Thank you again for your consideration & concern regarding my child's attendance. I am sure Riverdale High School is as concerned as I am with regard to her safety."
If you really want to put him on notice, send it certified.
Thanks - that is exactly my plan for today! I appreciate everyone's input!
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| Posted 10/31/06 8:12 AM |
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annie
This is how I play basketball!
Member since 6/05 1980 total posts
Name:
Stephanie
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Re: Schools & cutting classes...(long vent)
Posted by gpsyeyes
This is all true, but the problem is that the school doesn't even attempt to call or write letters! They told me today that they haven't tried to call and haven't sent any letters for the cuts - this is the crazy part. Now, though, they tell me they will make sure I am contacted if it happens again. What about all the other parents - they make it seem like I am getting special treatment because I called them on it!
You're absolutely right- they should be contacting you. I am a HS teacher & we have a process for cuts- I fill out a discipline form & call the parent, then the issue goes to the AP for detention. However, in your district they don't do this. So it is up to you entirely. You must contact every teacher and tell them how concerned you are & that you expect a phone call if your child has cut. Call periodically to check in. Sometimes teachers/schools are not as responsible as they should be. Then it's time for the parent to take it into their own hands. I think that if you don't take control of the situation right away, it may continue to escalate. As annoying as all the parent phone calls are, I do appreciate a parent who is very involved in their childs life & calls me to get updates. It also reminds me to pay more attention to their concerns about their child.
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| Posted 10/31/06 10:42 PM |
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