Link: http://www.mystatesman.com/news/news/local/students-warned-not-to-ditch-school-for-acl-festiv/nbFTx/?icmp=statesman_internallink_textlink_apr2013_statesmanstubtomystatesman_launch
Category: Students and Teachers and ACL Festival
Level of Problem: Local
A Problem Individuals and Families Face
How it affects: Students will not be given an excused absences for missing Oct. 4th for any reason. Teachers are proposing they are only going to be gone because of the ACL festivities
My Views: All though a lot of the students in Austin are going to be missing school for ACL, I don't think that it is right to punish the students that actually are missing school for the right reasons, like doctor's appointments or being sick. Students are expected to come to school with a doctor's note that day for being gone and if it is not they are unexcused. An unexcused absence is not the end of the world for these students, they might just have to take their exams at the end of the semester but if a student is actually sick the school should note that and give them their excused absence... i am sure they would much rather be at ACL anyways instead of in their bed, coughing. As for teachers missing school on the Friday of ACL that is their choice. My mother is a teacher and they work Monday-Friday 9 out of the 12 months, they deserve a Friday off here and there and they can take it when they want. Any full time job allows PTO days and their own sick days. They only reason i see a difference in for students and teachers is that high school students need to discipline, that they can not just ditch school for some really cool band festival, you have to work hard and you earn it. Teachers have worked hard and work hard everyday and they deserve a fun day!
I agree that these students that are actually ill or have a legitimate excuse should not be penalized. There are a lot of other events that go on that people miss school for and ACL shouldn't be an exception. Since the flu is going around there are probably a lot of students that are actually sick. Teachers are grown adults who should be able to make their own choices. If this begins to hurt their teaching level or becomes noticeable that they are consistently absent then action should be taken. One day out of the semester should not hurt them or penalize them.
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