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]

Thanks for the warm welcome, I had to double my blood pressure meds after I heard this this morning. Greg Garisson, our local Conservative news guy is sending this to O'Reilly.

[The Wizard]

"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 she goes to a screwed up, democrat NEA failure of a school.....

[Mo1]

ALSO .. correct me if I am wrong, but don't schools give kids work to do for missing a week from school to go on vacation to Disneyworld??

I know my neighbor's child did when they went on vacation ..

[Zavien Doombringer]

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

[FReepaholic]

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

She learned that her school wants her to learn about presidents and current events only from books, not from direct experience where she can form her own opinions.

She learned that school officials can be petty and narrow-minded.

[Just mythoughts]

Wonder how many non-productive assemblies this school has in the 180 days school session.

[Zavien Doombringer]

Where are my manners?... Welcome to FreeRepublic! I am sort of new too!

[B Knotts]

Contact Info can be found here:

http://www.wws.k12.in.us/admin.htm

and here:

http://www.wws.k12.in.us/wms/staff_directory.htm

[ican'tbelieveit]

Oh, but see, those have very important education value. They teach kids how to behave in social environments... I think... oh well. Bless this little girl, getting to sing for the President.

[Nevermore]

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

And maybe she learned that next time it would be better if she lied, and say "Brianna is sick today." That's always a good lesson for the tots. Brilliant, Mr. Keen.

[microgood]

"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?"

Welcome to FR.

With a Superintendent that stupid, it is a wonder children learn anything in this country anymore. When I was a kid, I got out of school to go deer hunting. But then America's best days are definitely behind her.

[Living Free in NH]

She should've attended a Gay Pride rally instead - extra credit for sure.

[kaylar]

This site gives people's reaction to the decision. You can post your thoughts.

[gubamyster]

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

Yes, she probably missed that all important “how to put a condom on a banana” lesson.

[Grampa7030]

My wife and I take our granddaughter out of school one day a year to go to an event we think she will learn something from. Yes, we could probably take her on a weekend, but this makes it more special. Besides, all these were attended by many school kids, anyway. We took her to the Anne Frank travelling exhibit, the Titanic display, and this year an art musueum tour. She learns much more from this than regular school and we always buy reading materials that she can devour. If she had the chance to draw paintings for the President (since that his her talent) I would certainly take her for the "learning" experience. Since when is music not part of the school curriculum?

[hattend]

What's wrong with this school? Chelsea Clinton got a degree at Stanford without ever being in class.

[CajunConservative]

"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?"

UMM let's see, there's history, current events, music obviously since this was a choral performance, civics, speech, english (write a paper about the experience) for starters.

[Paul Ross]

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

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.

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?

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.

[Protagoras]

The thing I always did was tell the school, "My child will not be there tomorrow". None of their business why.

[Cordova Belle]

I'm with you, BMW!

What you want to bet there are financial records somewhere which show this Superintendent donates to the Democratic party?

"What did she learn from the experience?"

That supporting the "wrong" person isn't cool in this NEA-controlled world.