Don’t Let School Stand in the Way of Education

Re “Schoolwork in the Balance,” Sept. 8:

I was struck by the arrogance of a teacher who believes that what she has to offer is paramount in a child’s education. During my 43-year tenure as a public school teacher, when parents took children out of school for an extended vacation, I always adopted the view, “Don’t let school stand in the way of an education.”

Often the vacation involved visiting a historic place in a foreign land that could only serve to enhance a background for a developing student. Generally the children who were taken out of school were from homes where the welfare of the child was extremely important to the parents. I am not minimizing the importance of a well-planned unit of study with clearly defined objectives. However, just as the teacher’s student has forgotten his experience at the United Nations building, I would guess there are other students who have forgotten many of the units that the teacher so carefully prepared. As teachers, it is extremely important that we bring the world to our students’ experience, but when the students are going to the world, we as teachers should not stand in their way.

Ben Boelman

Placentia

*

Elizabeth Triana’s commentary on kids missing school really hit home with me. As a teacher I, too, have seen students who miss many school days. One student last year missed 56 out of 180 days. She and her parents were referred to the Student Attendance Review Board. Her parents did not show up for the scheduled meeting.

When students do not come to school, not only do they miss out on important learning opportunities; the school loses money. Schools receive money from the state based on student attendance. Lost money means fewer supplies, books and other materials.

Currently there is no consequence for parents who keep their kids out of school. I propose that these parents be billed for days their students are not in school and not out sick.

We are under constant pressure to raise student achievement. It is very difficult to raise the achievement of a child who is not in school regularly.

Linda Summers

Brea