Eighth grader penalized for missing school, singing at Bush Event

WRTV ^ | 05/16/2003 | www.wrtv.com

[IAmNotAnAnimal]

This is my first post, bear with me. ...a student's absence can be excused for an illness, a family death, or an educational experience...Singing in a choir for the president of the United States, as Westfield Middle School eight grager, Brianna Tull, learned, dosen't count...was told she couldn't earn crdit for homewrok, tests and quizzes given that day

[Alamo-Girl]

Jeepers... Thanks for the heads up! Great letter, Jeff!

[freedom4ever]

We took our daughter out of school for a week to attend Bush's inauguration and spend time in DC. The school officials said wonderful, she'd probabaly get a better education doing that than being in school.

[capitan_refugio]

Thanks for the link. Here is the E-mail I sent to the Superintendent:

Dr. Keen:

I happened to see the news item on IndyChannel.com concerning Brianna Tull. It seems that the residents of your area disagree with your decision by a ratio of 9:1, according to the "insta-poll results."

For a young person to represent their community or school in a special event, such as entertaining the President of the United States when he is visiting the area, is very much an "educational experience." Possibly I am being presumptuous, but I wonder if your PhD is in Administration; because anybody with an advanced degree and half a brain would have avoided this type of issue like the plague. Your have caused your District nationwide embarassment.

(signed)
C.R.

[Robert_Paulson2]

Somebody severely NEEDS a harsh a$$-kicking.

Keen is probably gay though, so it would be considered a hate crime for freepers to even call and complain...

ah yessss... the stench of festering anti-president-bush bigotry, rotting in the vast expanse and expense of our nation's public education system...

[Zavien Doombringer]

After all, the experience of shooting yourself in the eye with a bb gun is educational.

As long as it's a Daisy "Red-Rider"! With a compass in the stock.

[blackdog]

The only unexcused absence we are talking about here is the absence of Mr. Keene's lack of good judgement and skill as a professional educator(whatever that is).

[ChemistCat]

Welcome to FR. Excellent first post.

My kids are in an excellent private school. Today, they are going to go sing for nursing home residents. (I suppose they're actually doing it right now.) I consider that a fine use of their time, and as far as I know, there won't be a President in the audience. Not one!

[P-Marlowe]

The solution is to remove your child from the government school.

Wrong. The solution is to remove government from the schools.

[Mister Baredog]

Perhaps if the Eight grader just took a sick day? there wouldn't be any problems...

Yea teach her to lie, the school won't mind that, as long as she is made to "feel good" about herself, after all self-esteem is the goal of education now, learning is out, don't want to pressure the poor babies.

[Hillary's Lovely Legs]

" I am not an animal!"

[week 71]

I know the super works for a government school, but he should be able to figure out what may be learned at an event like this. Here are a few examples:
How to handle yourself in a intense situation with lots of pressure. How a president with integrity carries himself. If the President spoke; then learn what the current president is concerned about. One could easily learn by comparing and contrasting this president with the previous one.

[Zavien Doombringer]

Yea teach her to lie

NO,no no! I am not advocating lying. Sick days should have been in quotes. In the corporate world don't we take those "sick" days because we have them to use?

[jhw61]

In 1963, Bill Klintoon was a selected delegate of the American Legions Boy's Nation and was invited to the White House where he met JFK. The ALBN was a youth program for students to learn about government. But his report card probably shows perfect attendance (sacasm).

[headsonpikes]

"That's plenty educational."

The best part of her education was finding out what a pack of hypocritical control freaks operate public schools.

Hopefully, that will stick.

[firewalk]

Thanks for the ping Jeff

& Welcome to FR IAmNotAnAnimal

[GOPrincess]

Some of what she learned that day is that many school adminsitrators are stupid.

She'll remember this event long after whatever her class did that day has been forgotten.

[IAmNotAnAnimal]

Thanks for the pics...I'm already hearing that we're making them have an awwwwwful long day in Westfield. Thanks Freepers

[Roscoe]

"We're in school for 180 days to provide an education," Keen said. "Going to see the president is certainly an experience, but what did the child learn from that?"

She learned a valuable lesson about leftist hypocrisy.

[Utah Girl]

I don't know if you've seen this story or not.