taterheads
DIS Veteran
- Joined
- Aug 3, 2013
Yikes! That's insanely poor planning and horrible presumption on that students family to expect that over night.Please know that the majority of the time, the rule doesn't come from the educators, but rather from the state. In our state, it's actually illegal to not allow kids to make up tests and quizzes. My students are always taking vacations, and I'm happy to give them the work ahead of time. They'll learn a lot of valuable things on those trips. When the kids get back, the class enjoys hearing where they've been and what they've learned. As a teacher, I appreciate being given advance notice. Last year, a student told me the day before that he was leaving for India, and could he please have the work he'd miss for the next four weeks?
I am aware that some states have mandates about missed school. That is not the case in our state with the exception that there are to be no more than 10 unexcused absences in a semester. There is no homework policy at a grade school level in our district. Decisions concerning homework are made by the teacher. That is why I always suggest miss as little time as possible, give plenty of notice, and then be flexible as to what works best for the teacher.
I am glad to see that as an educator you see the importance of learning through travel. I didn't mean my statement to be a generalization of all educators by any means whatsoever. I only meant that I find it disappointing that when their isn't a firm policy or law that an educator would take an authoritarian rule type stance in such a situation. I tend to still view my child's education as my responsibility and not solely the responsibility of law makers or administrators. I appreciate their hard work and effort and the education my child receives but I view it as a team approach where parents should have an active part in decisions being made- not merely turning over their children to be raised and educated within a system. Fortunately where I live this is how our school functions. I have wonderful relationships with everyone from my children's teachers and principal to the members on the school board. I am aware that we are spoiled here compared to other places but I couldn't imagine it any other way. I am very thankful for the opportunity for my kids to go to school in such a well functioning school and district.