Unbelievable!!! Student Penalized for THIS?????
Posted: Fri May 16, 2003 2:57 pm
A Westfield eighth-grader’s singing appearance during President Bush’s visit struck a sour note with school administrators who refused to treat her missed classes as an excused absence.
Brianna Tull won’t be allowed to make up any work or get credit for the classes she didn’t attend because she was singing with the Indianapolis Children’s Choir during Bush’s appearance Tuesday at the Indiana State Fairgrounds.
Chris Tull, mother of the Westfield Middle School student, was incensed by Principal Ed Mendoza’s decision.
“As parents, this is the straw that broke the camel’s back,” Tull said. “With this new (attendance) policy we can’t take our children out of school for virtually anything.”
Mendoza, who was not at school today, was unavailable for comment. However, district superintendent Mark Keen said Brianna’s case didn’t meet the standard for excused absences.
However, Tull argued that it did fit under “other educational activity” as described in school policy.
“If attending a presidential speech isn’t educational, I don’t know what is,” Tull said. “She is working on a report about the experience that we are going to present to Mr. Keen.”
School policy defines “other educational activity” as “relevant to the child’s academic growth and equivalent to the child’s school activities/experiences.” The absence requires 30-day notice and must be approved by the building principal.
Brianna sang during Bush’s appearance at the fairgrounds. The president spoke about the war on terrorism and pushed his tax-cut plan in his speech in the Pepsi Coliseum.
Brianna Tull won’t be allowed to make up any work or get credit for the classes she didn’t attend because she was singing with the Indianapolis Children’s Choir during Bush’s appearance Tuesday at the Indiana State Fairgrounds.
Chris Tull, mother of the Westfield Middle School student, was incensed by Principal Ed Mendoza’s decision.
“As parents, this is the straw that broke the camel’s back,” Tull said. “With this new (attendance) policy we can’t take our children out of school for virtually anything.”
Mendoza, who was not at school today, was unavailable for comment. However, district superintendent Mark Keen said Brianna’s case didn’t meet the standard for excused absences.
However, Tull argued that it did fit under “other educational activity” as described in school policy.
“If attending a presidential speech isn’t educational, I don’t know what is,” Tull said. “She is working on a report about the experience that we are going to present to Mr. Keen.”
School policy defines “other educational activity” as “relevant to the child’s academic growth and equivalent to the child’s school activities/experiences.” The absence requires 30-day notice and must be approved by the building principal.
Brianna sang during Bush’s appearance at the fairgrounds. The president spoke about the war on terrorism and pushed his tax-cut plan in his speech in the Pepsi Coliseum.
I can't believe this. What were they thinking?