THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Friday, August 25, 1995 TAG: 9508240146
SECTION: VIRGINIA BEACH BEACON PAGE: 06 EDITION: FINAL
TYPE: Letter
LENGTH: Short : 42 lines
ACE, Adults Concerned with Education, a new grass-roots parents group, supports the premise that regular school attendance is important and that the student bears the sole responsibility to make up any missed class assignments in a timely fashion when an excused absence is necessary. In addition, the teacher has the responsibility to have assignments in a format that is readily available to students and parents so the parents can reinforce and also accept the responsibility to assist the student with make-up work.
However, ACE does not support the recently adopted attendance policy in which legitimate absences are not recognized as such. The fact that it does not distinguish between excused and unexcused absences is punitive, demoralizing in nature and has negative ramifications for students and their families.
ACE requests that the School Board revisit the attendance policy issue and provide our school district with a humanistic policy that recognizes legitimate absences without administratively stripping a student of his/her earned grades (assigning a failing ``E'') and gives immediate consequences for unexcused absences.
If your child participates in extracurricular activities (i.e., band, tennis, soccer, football, ice skating, dancing, etc.) or has special, extenuating circumstances that may cause him or her to be absent or late to school, your child is at academic risk from the School Board attendance policy.
The School Board meets Sept. 5 at 7 p.m. in the school administration building. Interested parents should contact ACE at 498-2465.
Larry A. Smith
Virginia Beach by CNB