[Sandy]

School Officials To Reconsider Student's Absence

Superintendent: Wrong Decision Possibly Made Over Girl Who Sang For President

WESTFIELD, Ind. -- Westfield-Washington school officials will reconsider a decision to not excuse an eighth-grader who missed classes to sing for President George W. Bush this week, Superintendent Mark Keen said Friday.

Keen, in a change from remarks he made Thursday, said it may have been wrong to tell Westfield Middle School student Brianna Tull that she couldn't earn credit for work she missed.

"It seems like the wrong decision was made," Keen told RTV6's Kristi Tedesco Friday.

Tull missed school Tuesday to sing with the Indianapolis Children's Choir during Bush's appearance at the Indiana State Fairgrounds.

She was told her absence wouldn't be excused, so Tull and her parents told her story to RTV6. Keen said he then received at least six phone calls and 150 e-mails about the decision. Keen said Friday that administrators will meet in the next few weeks to decide whether the absence should be excused.

"One of the things we're doing is going back and looking at this, but we need to know all the factors that were taken into account and talk amongst ourselves as an administrative team," Keen said.

The school district's attendance policy allows for excused absences for certain educational activities if a written notice is submitted to the principal at least 30 days in advance.

But the Tulls said they didn't know the choir was going to sing for Bush until Friday. The parents said they notified the school after they knew of the event.

Keen said Thursday the event didn't qualify as an educational activity anyway, though he indicated Friday to RTV6 that he may have changed his mind.

According to the district's attendance policy, an educational activity that would excuse an absence is something that "is relevant to the child's academic growth and equivalent to the child's school activities/experiences."

A student who misses school for an approved educational activity must make up the missed work and "submit a report to the principal about the...curriculum-relevant learning that took place during the absence," according to the policy.

[IAmNotAnAnimal]

Sandy, thanks...Never dreamed I would get this much response on my first post...Wonder how many of those e-mails were from FReepers....hmmm.

[petitfour]

According to the district's attendance policy, an educational activity that would excuse an absence is something that "is relevant to the child's academic growth and equivalent to the child's school activities/experiences. Y'all know that the Supe was correct. Singing for the President of the United States is far and away superior to any school activities/experiences. Parse parse parse. I remember a time or two when x42 flew right over the school where my children were in attendance. I think they were allowed to leave their classrooms to see Air Force One. (the principal was NOT a liberal.) I even took my children who were at home outside, so they could see it as it flew by. It was really cool, no matter the occupant. We were able to watch it on tv, and in the air, and then x42 got in a smaller plane which then flew over. The children learned all about what it means for a plane to be Air Force One. Not the same as singing for a POTUS, but it was fun. This whole situation is funny to me. Gary Hart visited my high school the week he announced and then unannounced his candidacy for POTUS. We were taken out of Calculus to do a photo-op with Senator Hart. Years earlier, we were taken on a field trip to hear Jimmy Carter's Mama speak at a high school during the 1980 election cycle. And we came from conservative schools!

[GOPrincess]

Why do I have a feeling they may have received more emails than 150? :)

[MadeInOhio]

This retreat by Keen was predictable. He now realizes he'll be the punchline of every talk-radio voice in America. Worse for him, he'll probably draw the attention of both Leno and Letterman.

The idea that participating at a presidential visit to your locale doesn't qualify as an educational activity is foolishness.

If you want the definition of what doesn't qualify as an educational activity for eighth graders, check out the history (excuse me, social studies) textbooks they must study.

[Teacher317]

Keen said he then received at least six phone calls and 150 e-mails about the decision.

Well, now just WHO could have done all that?!?!? Some Vast Right Wing Conspiracy?? ;^)

[prisoner6]

Keen said he then received at least six phone calls and 150 e-mails about the decision.

That's ALL? Come on folks...we're slipping! A few years ago his mailbox would have been hit with thousands of messages.

prisoner6