Check out the absentees in Hillsborough

The final count speaks for itself: Almost 60 percent of Hillsborough students skipped classes on the first day in years that the district has held school on Good Friday.

The spread between schools is interesting. Could different schools have sent different messages about the value of showing up? Check out the numbers and let us know. Download StudentAbsences3-21-08.pdf

Comments

[Timmy!]

"Could different schools have sent different messages about the value of showing up?"

Could it also be that religious conviction is stronger in some areas?

As a student nothing a principal ever said to me carried any weight.

[jwt]

What about teachers and their right to choose any personal day--it's personl.

[John]

Seems to me if the teacher contract says secondary teachers teach 300 minutes per day and we do. The same contract says that a teacher has 6 personal days to take off for personal reasons. Because a number of teachers took off for a religious observance should tell the school board to plan the schedule better.

[teacherlady]

Pinellas schools have had increased absenteeism on Good Friday for some time now. I teach in St. Petersburg, and sixty percent fewer students attended my classes yesterday, too. It turned out, by the way, to be a great opportunity for those who attended; they got one-to-one reteaching sessions and time to catch up on missed assignments.

I don't believe the absences can be attributed to strong religious faith among students or school employees. Most teachers I know who took the day off did so because they expected increased student absenteeism. Most students I polled had little idea what was being observed on Good Friday, or even how the day is traditionally observed. Moreover, Pinellas schools inform students that they have a right to have the day excused as a religious holiday. All they have to do is bring in a note from their parent. I had ONE student take advantage of this policy; the rest chose to take an unexcused absence.

Maybe if we stop making such a big issue of this in the media and in our schools, we'd see absences level off to numbers we'd reasonably expect to see for a religious observance that doesn't even take place until 3:00 in the afternoon.

[CD]

WHat I don't understand is how this is getting turned around on teachers. I had 4 students 1st period and one for 5th.

I had no plans to change what I did until the school board made it so easy for kids to call out by reassuring them their exam exemptions would not be affected. Perhaps for elementary, this would have been easier to cope with, but not for high school.

The school board is the cause of this. Once schools realized how many kids would be absent, we adjusted what we were doing. What would be the point in having a "normal" day for just 6 out of my 150 students?

It is idiotic that stories are implying that teachers are behind the students staying home. Sure, we changed from a normal day, but again, only after students by the score called out for "religious" reasons.

[ForReal]

Ummm, my child went to school in Pinellas yesterday. If any day, my child would have off on the equinox-so a special time. Parents I work with that live in Tampa have had their children tell them the teachers encouraged then to to take the day off. There are some serious questions about ethics here. So, yessir, some teachers are guilty as charged. Let's not give all teachers a bad rap though (I know many balanced ones!). I hadn't realized Good Friday turned into an all day celebration. Come on Christians, where's the party, I'd like to go too....

[Timmy!]

Geez, you believe kids when they say the teachers told them to stay home? My kid tried that, once. How long have you and your friends been teen "tools"?

If you're gullible enough to believe them then at least be sensible enough NOT to post it.

Man up "ForReal" or choose a different name.

BTW: are you keeping them home for "Easter Monday"?

[Chris W]

You know, the school board could have just made Good Friday a teacher planning day. If they did it for next year, they could give the teachers back some much-needed planning time that the superintendent and the administration ripped off to make their budget work.

[Julia]

I am in Pinellas. My friend said only 2 kids were out of my daughter's class. I am a Christian. I don't think this should be a holiday for everyone. You should have to have a note from a parent or pastor. Parents, if you do keep them home, really send them to service.That's what I did.I don't like hearing about kids going to the beach. GF is nothing new - it is thousands of years old. GF was the day we believe Jesus was crucified on the cross. There are all day vigils and ongoing services at church on GF that real Christians take very seriously.I agree there doesn't need to be a day off for everyone, but please show some respect. I actually don't like everyone having the day off because as a praciticing Christian, it cheapens and commercializes a very serious holiday. Esp when people are going to the mall or beach. For Real and Timmy, do some research and show some respect. No, there is no Easter Monday.Google Good Friday, it's not that hard.

[Tampa Parent]

My son goes to school with the son of an Assistant Principal and his kid took the day off. Something's wrong here!!!

[pvmichaels]

I agree with cd! I went to school and I only had few students all day! The district told them that if they wanted 'to observe' this day they can, and it won't effect their exams. So why go to school? My advance students told me that 'why go to school when we won't be penalized for skipping?'

Why is there so much blame put on the teachers? Several teachers at my school decided to take off since most of the kids wouldn't be there. They wanted to take a day off where it wouldn't interfere much on learning. Well, as everyone found out, there was not much learning happening at most schools friday!

[michelle]

I'd love to see a story on how packed the Christian churches were on Friday verses attendance at Florida theme parks.

[settergirl]

The media should ask to see the "auto-opener" email that was sent to every school district computer at least 3 times last week. It reiterated the no-penalty policy for being absent for religious reasons on Good Friday as well as warning teachers that we could not give tests and that any work we presented had to be made available to those who were absent to make up. Now tell me, if 75% of your workforce were absent which was the approximate number of my students which were absent, would you present any crucial material that you had to present again once everyone returned? Of course not!! Do not blame the teachers for using common sense. Put the blame where it belongs --- on the school board, the superintendent, and district officials who are trying to pass the buck of responsibility. And remember this when it comes time to elect new school board members. Teachers WANT to teach, but the district made that impossible by the announcement they sent repeatedly about no penalty for the students' absences. If you were those teens, you know you'd have taken the day off -- the teachers didn't tell them to do it, the district did.

[Carol]

The School Board insisted on holding school on a day where teachers were not allowed to schedule a test or quiz, could not review for a test or quiz, and could not cover any new material. And people wonder why the vast majority of high school and middle school students took the day off?

When students ask a teacher what the policy is about Good Friday, is the teacher supposed to lie and tell them it's just a normal school day? No. So students and parents who knew the truth, that missing Friday would mean nothing academically, found more productive things to do. Go figure!

[Timmy!]

Julia, you baffle me. You talk about observing Good Friday yet want to deny others the chance. "real Christians" sounds a little elitist to me.

This article also refers to Hillsborough so I'm not sure 2 absences in a Pinellas classroom lends much to the argument.

I think those adults that wanted to take the day off were able. Why make it hard? Unless you are tired of having the kids at home and really don't want them in church.

Teach them Julia. Christians just don't happen. I bet you didn't "get" Good Friday until you got older. Let's provide the kids an opportunity for some spiritual growth Julia.

BTW How am I being disrespectful to those with conviction? Like I said, you baffle me.

[Julia]

Timmy - the is there a "Easter Monday" bothered me. Good Friday is a real thing.

I did keep my kids home. We also went to church services at 11 AM.

Sadly, not many people observe these holidays anymore. Or understand what they mean after reading the responses here. Do people even realize what Easter is? Easter Sunday is the 3rd day after Good Friday where we believe Christ rose from the grave. It is the core belief of Christianity in terms of forgiveness of sins and life after death.

I spread the Word as much as I can, including explaining the basics of the Easter holiday here. With as few people praciticing Christianity anymore, I don't feel we deserve a special day off for it anymore than another faith such as Judaism or Islam. You are free to keep your child home and really take them to services.Just don't complain about how you don't have an extra day off anymore and go to the beach. It cheapens it for those of us who really believe.

Even though I am a Christian, I also have a healthy respect for the separation of Church and State. I don't really want other religions intruding in public schools. I am a fair minded person and can see how non-Christians might not appreciate my faith being pushed on them in a public institution. Make sense?

I let my kids stay home only because their teachers told them that most kids would be absent and that all they would be doing is watching movies all day.

[Timmy!]

Julia,
"Make sense?"

Lots of sense. Happy Easter.

[Timmy!]

12:26AM

Geez, you believe kids when they say the teachers told them to stay home? My kid tried that, once. How long have you and your friends been teen "tools"?

If you're gullible enough to believe them then at least be sensible enough NOT to post it.

[Bill]

LAZY BUMS.