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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.