"Vicki" wrote in message
news
Today we received a warning letter for truancy for our 2nd grader. The
principal said she was concerned about dd's absences. I am not concerned
about dd's absences--she is bright, she knows the material [she's missed
five days this month, but received 100 on her test for materials covered.]
I don't think the teacher is concerned. But the principal said dd is only
allowed 5 excused absences per semester.

I'm not happy about the possibility of legal sanctions for keeping dd home
(she was sick this month, but I wouldn't hesitate to take her out of
school
for other things we feel are important.)

You are teaching your daughter that it is OK to skip out on things that she
*has* to do in order to do things she (or you ) *wants* to do.


Can they prosecute us for truancy
when dd is top of her class? I don't see the harm to anyone in dd not
going. And she *will* miss more school at Thanksgiving (important family
time.)

There might be repercussions from other kids who think that your DD is
getting "special treatment" in being allowed to miss days of school to go to
museums, trips, etc., something that not everyone else gets to do.

We had planned to talk at school conferences about keeping dd home one day
per week, or bi-weekly, to enhance her education. But from what I've read
about truancy laws tonight, this doesn't seem to be allowable. Has anyone
done this or know if it is doable?

dd does not want to homeschool full-time--she likes seeing her friends at
school and we think this is good for her. We have discussed getting
appropriate challenge in her classroom--the teacher has been helpful, but
there is only so much she can do. We chose not to skip dd to the next
grade
as she is already the youngest in her class.

There there schools that still skip children? I though this was pretty much
abandoned by now. I skipped first grade (parents strongly pushed for it) ,
and while there were benefits, there were also significant drawbacks for me
throughout my school career.

Have others faced this truancy problem? How do you approach it? If this
is
a law (5 days/semester,) does the principal have much leeway in enforcing
it? If not, then who do we talk with? The DA? Is it possible to
homeschool part-time (the days dd misses) and avoid a truancy enforcement?
Could we test out of second grade and attendance be optional?

dh is calling the principal next week, and we will meet with dd's teacher
in
three weeks. I'd like to have a sense of our options before we go so we
do
what's right by dd and cause the least distress to her teacher and
principal
(who are quite nice.)

I bet they cringe when they see YOU coming!

Any help would be greatly appreciated.
Thank you.
Vicki