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Lesson Plans


Re: truancy

[ Thread ][ Subject ][ Author ][ Date ]
Teresa Tipton (ttipton.wa.us)
Sun, 20 Apr 1997 19:40:50 -0700 (PDT)

There was a state case where a student who was given a bad grade for not
attending class, sued the teacher. His position was that attending school
did not have anything to do with his grade because he was able to
demonstrate the learning without attending class. He won his case. It has
sent ripples through the educational system ever since so that this
administrator maybe taking their cues from this. We've gotten around it by
requiring "participation" instead of "attendance." That way, if you aren't
there, you can't participate. It's a round-about way of requiring it
without being direct.

Teresa Tipton

On Sat, 19 Apr 1997, sidnie miller wrote:

> I'm totally amazed at your post. I can't imagine an administration
> that doesn't care about truancy--don't they receive state funding
> based on average daily attendance. That is the case in Nev. and
> believe me, truancy is a big deal. Principles even go out searching
> homes for skippers. Senioritis is a well-known disease and
> frankly I don't think you can do anything about it. Having a senior
> myself, I find that they must be finished learning because they
> KNOW EVERYTHING!! I think you (all teachers since this
> must be a concern for everyone) should rally support in the
> community and talk to school board members to get some
> action. Perhaps you should activate friends of yours in the
> community who are not teachers to be the movers and shakers
> on this since there may be repercussions for you when you work
> under the superintendant. We used to have a principal who
> blamed everthing on the teachers --"what are you doing in your
> classroom that these students would rather fight than listen to
> your lecture, etc." Basicially he couldn't deal with the problem
> students so he forced them back on the classroom teachers.
> Good luck!
>