tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9188674.post4262613039686170764..comments2024-03-27T04:00:02.294-04:00Comments on EditorMom: The Politics of Germs in SchoolsKatharine O'Moore-Klopfhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14699159708036532202noreply@blogger.comBlogger9125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9188674.post-6115013898723322362006-12-28T14:22:00.000-05:002006-12-28T14:22:00.000-05:00School districts usually have a form letter they a...School districts usually have a form letter they are required to send out whenever a student reaches X number of absences. Seems they could be a bit more careful with the wording. The flip side is that, in cases of actual educational neglect/chronic truancy (e.g., multiple letters ignored), the school district can refer the parents for intervention through the judicial system.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9188674.post-21182725928808752792006-12-24T14:02:00.000-05:002006-12-24T14:02:00.000-05:00Same here with the public schools, although quite ...Same here with the public schools, although quite a few folks choose private kindergarten for their kids.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9188674.post-74146738866016665802006-12-22T23:08:00.000-05:002006-12-22T23:08:00.000-05:00That's what's so ironic, Kathy: New York state law...That's what's so ironic, Kathy: New York state law doesn't require children to attend school until they're 6 years old. Lots of school districts here do offer full-day kindergarten, though, and most people do send their children to public kindergarten.Katharine O'Moore-Klopfhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14699159708036532202noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9188674.post-54952364416483442552006-12-22T22:52:00.000-05:002006-12-22T22:52:00.000-05:00Good for you, Katharine! It's quite likely that y...Good for you, Katharine! It's quite likely that your persistence will at least prevent another parent from receiving that particular form letter. I hope your sweetie feels better soon.<br /><br />A friend faced a similar situation a couple of years ago with a child who has ongoing respiratory problems -- but he was in middle school at the time. I can't imagine getting so concerned about kindergartners missing school. In Alabama, children aren't required to attend public kindergarten anyway.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9188674.post-2397589956023780372006-12-20T13:20:00.000-05:002006-12-20T13:20:00.000-05:00Never fear, Songbird. I've snail-mailed the princi...Never fear, Songbird. I've snail-mailed the principal a modified version of my post and am awaiting her response. I guess I'd been spoiled by the principal's predecessor, who was in place for years before retiring and who knew my family well.Katharine O'Moore-Klopfhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14699159708036532202noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9188674.post-27295453057331780462006-12-20T13:10:00.000-05:002006-12-20T13:10:00.000-05:00I would be right there at the door of her office, ...I would be right there at the door of her office, letter in hand. No one will convince me that the principal is too busy to speak to me ever again, after a situation with a bully escalated for my middle child. That principal claimed she had no idea what was going on! Sometimes the trouble is inattention; sometimes it is the gatekeeper. <br />And as KathyF points out, sometimes it's W.Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08235049965406944684noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9188674.post-7381278587836218972006-12-19T15:07:00.000-05:002006-12-19T15:07:00.000-05:00I suspect this is all related to NCLB. They track ...I suspect this is all related to NCLB. They track absences, and too many make a school score poorly. <br /><br />And that means less funding. <br /><br />In other words, this is all George Bush's fault.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9188674.post-24368641054601861172006-12-19T10:11:00.000-05:002006-12-19T10:11:00.000-05:00Yes, it's probably a computer-generated letter tha...Yes, it's probably a computer-generated letter that ends up in a stack of papers that the principal has to sign. She probably didn't even read it. Still, if they want good school–parent relationships, they need to think hard about the language their form letters use.Katharine O'Moore-Klopfhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14699159708036532202noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9188674.post-80069748100624963162006-12-19T09:46:00.000-05:002006-12-19T09:46:00.000-05:00I think it's more an incompetent principal than an...I think it's more an incompetent principal than anything of broader scale. We're on our 4th principal at Trixie's elementary school (they come for 2 years as a VP -- that's all the district considers our program deserves -- then move on to a full principalship elsewhere. The first 3 were great. This one sucks. i'm glad this is our last year there.<br /><br />Also, remember than in any bureaucracy, there are guidelines, but not for every possibility, just the more worrisome ones. A kid not going to school because they are sick alot isn't as big a problem as a kid whose family doesn't see the importance in a good education.Imperatrixhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11748228447190366632noreply@blogger.com