This is an article from our local paper today. Every time I read something like this, it makes me happier we homeschool and don't have to deal with the hullaballo!

Charleston, SC Latest Local News: Thousands of students miss 1st day

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Why would a parent intentionally miss the first day of school? Something is amiss, either in communications from the school to parents or expectations on either/both sides. It doesn't make sense. Our kids started at the beginning of August, which most parents disagree with (temps are around 110, and the a/c cost alone must be ridiculous), but we know our kids have to be there. And asking the police to get involved? Talk about an abuse of resources. Something's up.

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I have never heard of such a thing. No one ever wants to miss the first day of school!!! Of course our school never starts until after labor day anyway.

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Yep- that's my school district! I was able to enjoy this lovely article over breakfast this morning. And, honestly, this school district has many and varied problems that make missing the first day seem trivial. That was a major factor for me in deciding to homeschool.

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That's just odd - and the article says it's part of a national trend, but it's the first I have ever heard about it.

Now our schools here have a problem at the end of the year - I can't believe how many kids leave for vacation before school ends. I know that they aren't learning much new at that time anyway, but I still think it gives kids the wrong idea about the importance of school if you let them miss a whole week for a vacation.

This is the first I've ever heard of that. When kids miss school here it's because they haven't gotten their immunizations. "No shots, no school, no kidding."

My daughter was supposed to have 16 kids in her Kindergarten class. The target class size is 22, but she is going half day and fewer families choose that option so the classes tend to be smaller. When we went to the orientation the day before school started, the class was down to 13 kids, and four families didn't show up for the orientation. She has had two days of school so far, and I think only 9 kids have shown up to date. I think that the kids may have moved over the summer.

Today is the day after Labor Day and the third day of school. We'll see today.

What kills me is how unfair this is to the school system. It's difficult enough for the town to budget and plan for the school year, and it makes it impossible if they don't know how many kids will be in the classes!

Probably depends on what kind of school system people have their kids in. That doesn't happen in our schools. My kids LOVE to go to school and wouldn't miss the first day for anything. Plus their parents wouldn't let them. So I think it's a reflection of that community's values, not schooling as a whole.

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