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

[IAmNotAnAnimal]

www.theindychannel.com

[Pan_Yans Wife]

Well, perhaps she can put it on her college resume, some day, as a "life/historical experience". This school sounds really mean-spirited and sad.

[randog]

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 homework, tests and quizzes given that day...

...protesting the President, however, would have earned her extra-credit.

[stands2reason]

From the article:

The Tulls said they notified the school about the event ahead of time. But the school decided an excused absence wasn't warranted, saying the event wasn't an educational activity.

"I'm not sure what was gained from an educational value," Superintendent Mark Keen told RTV6's Vicki Duncan.

"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?"

[July 4th]

Link: http://www.theindychannel.com/news/2207721/detail.html

[Faith]

Unbelievable. The superintendent must believe that students can only learn when sitting within the confines of the school building.

[Tijeras_Slim]

Did good. Welcome to FR.

[July 4th]

"Going to see the president is certainly an experience, but what did the child learn from that?" said the Superintendent

More than she would have learned in your piss-poor classrooms.

[LurkedLongEnough]

Welcome to FR.

The school decision was outrageous! Luckily, the poll (on the link) indicates that 91% of respondents think the school made the wrong decision.

[stands2reason]

Imagine! A school actually concerned with "educational value"...I'm suuuure they are all about English, math, and science 24/7!

[sirshackleton]

"I'm not sure what was gained from an educational value," Superintendent Mark Keen told RTV6's Vicki Duncan

He could very well be talking about thepublic school system in general....

[Mo1]

"I'm not sure what was gained from an educational value," Superintendent Mark Keen told RTV6's Vicki Duncan.

Getting a chance to meet the President of the United States is not an educational value????

[steveo]

There's a poll on the original story page. Voting against the school is running 92%

[areafiftyone]

Welcome to Free Republic! :-)

[Cicero]

Here's the rest of the story. The whole thing can be posted since it's not on the forbidden list. Freepers who want can go to the link and register a vote whether the school did the right thing.

---

School: President's Visit No Excuse For Absence
Student Penalized For Missing School, Singing At Bush Event

POSTED: 7:07 p.m. EST May 15, 2003
UPDATED: 12:42 p.m. EST May 16, 2003

WESTFIELD, Ind. -- In the Westfield-Washington school district, 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 eighth-grader Brianna Tull learned, doesn't count.

Tull, who missed school Tuesday to sing with the Indianapolis Children's Choir during President Bush's appearance at the Indiana State Fairgrounds, was told she couldn't earn credit for homework, tests and quizzes given that day. She and her parents are crying foul.

"It's totally ridiculous," said her father, Ken Tull, "that you can't take your kids out of school for something this important. The president doesn't come here every day."

The choir sang before Bush addressed about 7,000 people at the fairgrounds coliseum. The president visited Indianapolis and other U.S. cities to tout a $550 billion tax cut plan.

The Tulls said they notified the school about the event ahead of time. But the school decided an excused absence wasn't warranted, saying the event wasn't an educational activity.

"I'm not sure what was gained from an educational value," Superintendent Mark Keen told RTV6's Vicki Duncan.

"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?"

Brianna Tull's parents said they think highly of Westfield schools, but still disagree with the use of the absentee policy in this case.

Brianna Tull (pictured, above) said the presidential event was educational.

"I bet that I'm going to remember this forever and tell my kids. It's an historical thing," she said.

Keen said the unexcused absence will stand, though the school system may review its policy in the future.

[Nevermore]

"Going to see the president is certainly an experience, but what did the child learn from that?"

Well, Brianna learned that her school superintendent is a liberal Bush-hater.

[SJackson]

There’s a survey at the Site. Currently.

An eighth-grader missed school to sing in a choir in front of President George W. Bush in Indianapolis. The school decided the absence is unexcused. Did the school make the right decision?

Yes 262-- 8%

No 2828--92%

===========================================

WESTFIELD, Ind. -- In the Westfield-Washington school district, 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 eighth-grader Brianna Tull learned, doesn't count.

Tull, who missed school Tuesday to sing with the Indianapolis Children's Choir during President Bush's appearance at the Indiana State Fairgrounds, was told she couldn't earn credit for homework, tests and quizzes given that day. She and her parents are crying foul.

"It's totally ridiculous," said her father, Ken Tull, "that you can't take your kids out of school for something this important. The president doesn't come here every day."

The choir sang before Bush addressed about 7,000 people at the fairgrounds coliseum. The president visited Indianapolis and other U.S. cities to tout a $550 billion tax cut plan.

The Tulls said they notified the school about the event ahead of time. But the school decided an excused absence wasn't warranted, saying the event wasn't an educational activity.

"I'm not sure what was gained from an educational value," Superintendent Mark Keen told RTV6's Vicki Duncan.

"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?"

Brianna Tull's parents said they think highly of Westfield schools, but still disagree with the use of the absentee policy in this case.

Brianna Tull (pictured, above) said the presidential event was educational.

"I bet that I'm going to remember this forever and tell my kids. It's an historical thing," she said.

Keen said the unexcused absence will stand, though the school system may review its policy in the future.

[Luna]

"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?"

Maybe she learned that publik skewls are biased against conservative ideals and activities. Maybe she learned that publik skewls are not good places to get an education.

[bmwcyle]

Get the phone number and addresses. It time to Freep this piece of crap.

[Zavien Doombringer]

And and entire class of 1300 students in Kentucky can attended a 3 day field trip to a revival and be excused!