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Extreme Veteran
Posts: 464
 
| Our High School Finals (middle school division) is this weekend. There are 3 performances, and 2 slacks. this is spread out over Friday, Saturday, and Sunday. I made a request (in writing) back in mid April, for my daughter to excused from the Friday performance, and make her runs in one of the other 4 performances. The reason for the request, is she has had perfect attendance Kindergarten through 6th grade. She would need to leave school early to make it to the friday performance. For some reason, one of her major goals is to have perfect attendance all the way through school. The board denied the request this weekend. They approved some other students for Prom, and graduation. (I totally understand, and am very happy for those children). There is no need in suggesting going to the principal, central office, or school board. That is not an option. She is faced with attending finals, or staying at school. She has very good chance at buckles in all 4 of her events, and the rookie. Possibly all around. No need in beating a dead horse on was the decision right, should the school distrct excuse it, or what your state does. What decision would you make? Attend school, or the finals? | |
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 Serious Snap Trapper
Posts: 4275
Location: In The Snow, AZ | It is her goal to have perfect attendance. So I would think that the final decision should be your daughters. She sounds like a strong willed child. She will make the right choice either way. If it were me, I'd attend the Finals. But perfect attendance was not my strong suit. Good luck. | |
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Extreme Veteran
Posts: 464
| I left it to her. | |
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 Cute Little Imp
Posts: 2747
Location: N Texas | Just my opinion, but in the whole scheme of things, perfect attendance is really not that big of a deal. I get it that it's an important goal for your daughter, but there's no guarantee that she will never be sick or need to miss for something super important later on.
One of my cousins had perfect attendance, then a close relative died, and her parents were actually conflicted about taking her out of school for the funeral because it would ruin her perfect attendance.
Does anyone (college, employers, etc) actually care about perfect attendance? I'm just curious what the benefit is, other than being able to say you did it.
ETA: just wanted to add that I think it's admirable that your daughter finds it very important, since so many kids try everything they can to get OUT of going to school, she just needs to look at the big picture and decide if it's really worth missing out on certain things.
Edited by Gunner11 2016-05-24 10:15 AM
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Extreme Veteran
Posts: 464
| Gunner11 - 2016-05-24 10:11 AM
Just my opinion, but in the whole scheme of things, perfect attendance is really not that big of a deal. I get it that it's an important goal for your daughter, but there's no guarantee that she will never be sick or need to miss for something super important later on.
One of my cousins had perfect attendance, then a close relative died, and her parents were actually conflicted about taking her out of school for the funeral because it would ruin her perfect attendance.
Does anyone (college, employers, etc) actually care about perfect attendance? I'm just curious what the benefit is, other than being able to say you did it.
Ne benefit, beyond personal pride. My fault, I drilled it in them at an early age. 23 years in the same career, and never missed a day. | |
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 Miss Laundry Misshap
Posts: 5271
| While perfect attendance is a good goal to have, I think I'd go to Finals.
The only reason I'd push her to stay at school is if it's one of the last days of school and she has final tests.
Otherwise, she's worked way too hard on the rodeo goals to throw them away for 1/2 day attendance. Grades are what colleges look at for scholarships and such...she MIGHT get a certificate for attendance, or nothing at all....but her knowledge of it. | |
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Extreme Veteran
Posts: 464
| I should add, I am a teacher, and my wife is an administrator. | |
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Miss Laundry Misshap
Posts: 5271
| Bigfoot - 2016-05-24 10:13 AM Gunner11 - 2016-05-24 10:11 AM Just my opinion, but in the whole scheme of things, perfect attendance is really not that big of a deal. I get it that it's an important goal for your daughter, but there's no guarantee that she will never be sick or need to miss for something super important later on. One of my cousins had perfect attendance, then a close relative died, and her parents were actually conflicted about taking her out of school for the funeral because it would ruin her perfect attendance. Does anyone (college, employers, etc) actually care about perfect attendance? I'm just curious what the benefit is, other than being able to say you did it. Ne benefit, beyond personal pride. My fault, I drilled it in them at an early age. 23 years in the same career, and never missed a day.
So you've never gone on vacation? Never been to a funeral? Never took care of a sick kid? Never had to take off to take an animal to the vet?
Spent so much time working that your family doesn't see you?? If she's in middle school and you have to take her to the rodeo...doesn't that mean you'll miss that day of work too?? | |
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Miss Laundry Misshap
Posts: 5271
| Bigfoot - 2016-05-24 10:16 AM I should add, I am a teacher, and my wife is an administrator.
I'm a teacher too. | |
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Cute Little Imp
Posts: 2747
Location: N Texas | Bigfoot - 2016-05-24 10:13 AM
Gunner11 - 2016-05-24 10:11 AM
Just my opinion, but in the whole scheme of things, perfect attendance is really not that big of a deal. I get it that it's an important goal for your daughter, but there's no guarantee that she will never be sick or need to miss for something super important later on.
One of my cousins had perfect attendance, then a close relative died, and her parents were actually conflicted about taking her out of school for the funeral because it would ruin her perfect attendance.
Does anyone (college, employers, etc) actually care about perfect attendance? I'm just curious what the benefit is, other than being able to say you did it.
Ne benefit, beyond personal pride. My fault, I drilled it in them at an early age. 23 years in the same career, and never missed a day.
I just don't want her to miss out on something so important when she could miss more days later on for things out of her control, so then she missed out for nothing. I personally think it's an awesome goal, but you really have to weigh the pros and cons.
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Extreme Veteran
Posts: 464
| Looking like I'm in the minority. I am personally missing finals, to watch my students graduate. Bad Dad, I know.
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I just read the headlines
Posts: 4483
| I would have done the same thing - left it up to my child. It's not what is important to everyone else, it is what is important to her. She set a goal, probably several, now she has to decide which one is more important TO HER. As adults our goals usually are much different than a child's. I know as an adult, I would probably have done several things differently as a child, but I did what was right for me at that moment. Kudos to you for raising a child that is able to set goals and then not give up on them, AND has the ability to decide for herself which is more important to her. Either way she chooses, she'll be able to feel good about herself.  | |
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 Expert
Posts: 2097
Location: Deep South | I was sitting at a high school graduation last week barely paying attention as they called out hundreds of names to walk across the stage. I heard only two of the names. My little brother's, which is the reason I was there. And one young lady who as they called her name they recognized her for having perfect attendance from Kindergarten through 12th grade. She had not missed a single day of school in thirteen years! The entire stadium erupted into applause. It truly is a remarkable accomplishment.
I would be willing to bet any future employer will think so too. Buckles? Not so impressive on a resume.
That being said, I missed plenty of school growing up to go to rodeos. I still went to college on academic scholarships, and now have a great job. I don't think there's a wrong decision here.
Edited: because now I see that you left it up to her!
Edited by BamaCanChaser 2016-05-24 10:26 AM
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| I would think that as long as she is there part of the day it should still count as a day for attendance purposes, even if she left a few hours early?
Edited by LAC 2016-05-24 10:33 AM
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  Damn Yankee
Posts: 12390
Location: Somewhere between raising hell and Amazing Grace | 20 years from now, perfect attendance won't even be a memory. It will be forgotten, nobody will really care, and it won't really matter.
20 years from now, her memories from the finals, and possibly any awards she could win, will be a highlight for her to share with her children (or 30 years from now depending on her dad)......
I applaud you for leaving it up to her, but just a thought to share. | |
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 Undercover Amish Mafia Member
Posts: 9991
Location: Kansas | missroselee - 2016-05-24 11:13 AM 20 years from now, perfect attendance won't even be a memory. It will be forgotten, nobody will really care, and it won't really matter.
20 years from now, her memories from the finals, and possibly any awards she could win, will be a highlight for her to share with her children (or 30 years from now depending on her dad)......
I applaud you for leaving it up to her, but just a thought to share.
I agree.
This could really be a huge experience for her, and a memory of a lifetime. If she has excellent grades, I'd say go for it. But good idea on leaving the choice up to her.
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Location: Not Where I Want to Be | Life choices are tough, but you have to make them.
Good luck to her, what ever she decides.
Oh and to directly answer your orginal question.
What would I do? The answer is Nothing.. | |
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Extreme Veteran
Posts: 464
| LAC - 2016-05-24 10:32 AM
I would think that as long as she is there part of the day it should still count as a day for attendance purposes, even if she left a few hours early?
Unfortunatly, it doesn't work like that. I checked. | |
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Extreme Veteran
Posts: 464
| Nateracer - 2016-05-24 10:17 AM
Bigfoot - 2016-05-24 10:13 AM Gunner11 - 2016-05-24 10:11 AM Just my opinion, but in the whole scheme of things, perfect attendance is really not that big of a deal. I get it that it's an important goal for your daughter, but there's no guarantee that she will never be sick or need to miss for something super important later on. One of my cousins had perfect attendance, then a close relative died, and her parents were actually conflicted about taking her out of school for the funeral because it would ruin her perfect attendance. Does anyone (college, employers, etc) actually care about perfect attendance? I'm just curious what the benefit is, other than being able to say you did it. Ne benefit, beyond personal pride. My fault, I drilled it in them at an early age. 23 years in the same career, and never missed a day.
Spent so much time working that your family doesn't see you?? If she's in middle school and you have to take her to the rodeo...doesn't that mean you'll miss that day of work too??
Been fortunate, I guess. Children were born either in summer, and one on fall break. Didn't even have to miss for that. Grandparents were gone by the time I started teaching, and parents are still alive. | |
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 Saint Stacey
| I'm glad you are letting her decide. I personally think the rodeo is more important. Especially if she has achance at Rookie or qualifying for Nationals. My daughter missed her high school graduation for a rodeo. Her choice. The people in the school and community were mad. They all made her life miserable and told her she'd regret not walking across that stage. 4 years later, she still has no regrets and would do the same thing in a heartbeat. When she was deciding what to do, I told her it was her choice but once she made it to never look back and say What If. | |
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