When I went to a private school, there was something similar in place but you could be excused from this by bringing the teacher a doctor's note or some other proof of a legit absence. This made it so kids who skipped and didn't get caught couldn't get away with it. I think I would be having a fit about now too. I don't remember what I had for lunch let alone to remind my child they missed school so they need to run laps. Put your foot down and question why they a punishing children for being sick when it's not like they want to be.
The irony of commitment is that it’s deeply liberating-in work, in play, in love. The act frees you from the tyranny of your internal critic, from the fear that likes to dress itself up and parade around as rational hesitation. To commit is to remove your head as the barrier to your life. --Anne Morris
The policy is that the child is penalized 5 points for the grading cycle UNLESS they run an extra mile for the day missed. Apparently this is in the handbook (along with a million other details) that we got in August - and it probably WAS announced to the kids that first week.
And also to be fair, the whole athletics program has been in disarray because of one coach who is seriously ill with cancer frequently hospitalized. So the other coaches are often doing double duty to take her classes.
The main problems I still have with this is:
1) Although I'm sure they meant to, the staff did not publicize this policy well and reminders are not given for those in jeopardy. In fact the coach emailing me said "Many of our students have the same question when their grade falls because of excused absences." Well - duhhhh! - surely that's an indicator they didn't understand.
2) The premise is that the kids basically get a 100 for every day they dress out, follow the rules, and participate. Our grading period is 6 weeks, so 30 days. Theoretically - just an example - if someone refused to participate they could get zero for the day, which over the course of the period would affect their average 3.33 points. But if they are absent and MISS a day, they lose 5 points.
The coaching staff are bewildered as to why I find this harsh. (Note - I don't mind the makeup running. But it's only fair to make sure the students KNOW they need to do that. And I think 5 points is too much.)
The good news is that they made a special point to go over the policy with all the athletes today. So at least my fuss might save someone else.
One of the most frustrating things I find about middle school is that the staff really just do not understand how disconnected the parents are from information. THEY - of course - understand it all because they deal with it every day. But if we were told something once in the chaotic first week, and then never need that little gem of knowledge for 5 months, too bad. We "should have known."
That's ridiculous! I could see deductions for things like not dressing out, not participating in activities, etc., but to penalize a child because they are sick is just plain wrong. If this happened to my straight-A perfectionist daughter, she would be very upset(in tears). Throw a fit Mom!!!
What does your District Handbook say? I would argue this practice, especially with the absences being excused.
It sounds to me like someone is using adult work practices on children. And no matter how you look at it, 5 points is too much for an excused absence. Even work places aren't that severe, usually using only a deduction of a 1/2 point occurance for excused absences!
This purely non-PTO venting, but I'd love some feedback.
My straight-A daughter (7th grade) brought home her report card with an 85 in Athletics this term. Basically, their grading is based on the premise that if the kids dress out, participate, follow all the rules, and try hard - they get a 100.
When I asked her about the grade, she said that they told her it was for absences - that if you missed, they deducted 5 points per day, excused or not. She missed 3 days, so got an 85.
Ugghhh! Does anyone else face a policy like this?
She's currently in off-season, so this class is little more than glorified PE. I gather the policy is somewhat subjective and they start applying it if you've had a few absences.
My daughter was sick with a respiratory virus at the end of grading cycle 2 and missed two days. That didn't affect her grade - she made 100. Two weeks later, she had a severe eye infection which the doctor said was actually the same infection moved on to her eyes in another stage. She missed 3 days in Cycle 3. So apparently the first time was her "grace" period", but this one counted. (Both episodes were excused absences.)
I'm pursing it through channels, but I'd love to hear from some of you.
