There are truants, and then there are truants

[BOP]

Clearly she's a juvenile delinquent! Put her in jail and execute her parents, by gawd! Pianist!? She's probably a terrorist! Plus, she's making her fellow students feel bad for not being nearly as accomplished, and we can't have that.

http://www.washingtonpost.com/local...bdfb-de4104544a37_story.html?tid=pm_local_pop

Avery Gagliano is a commanding young pianist who attacks Chopin with the focused diligence of a master craftsman and the grace of a ballet dancer.

The prodigy, who just turned 13, was one of 12 musicians selected from across the globe to play at a prestigious event in Munich last year and has won competitions and headlined with orchestras nationwide.

But to the D.C. public school system, the eighth-grader from Mount Pleasant is also a truant. Yes, you read that right. Avery’s amazing talent and straight-A grades at Alice Deal Middle School earned her no slack from school officials, despite her parents’ begging and pleading for an exception.

“As I shared during our phone conversation this morning, DCPS is unable to excuse Avery’s absences due to her piano travels, performances, rehearsals, etc.,” Jemea Goso, attendance specialist with the school system’s Office of Youth Engagement, wrote in an e-mail to Avery’s parents, Drew Gagliano and Ying Lam, last year before she left to perform in Munich.

 

[officeguy]

DCPS is run by idiots.

 

[Vince]

Straight A's and a prodigy and the idiots running the school system want to punish her. We have become a nation run by morons.

 

[Radiant1]

^^ Agreed. Common sense isn't common anymore.

 

[Hijinx]

Straight A's and a prodigy and the idiots running the school system want to punish her. We have become a nation run by morons.

Hey man: Lighten up.
It's Washington DC, and we both know who runs Washington DC.

Do you really expect anything better?

 

[justiceforall]

This is pretty ridiculous, but I find it hard to believe that a private school in D.C. wouldn't give this kid a scholarship either!

 

[This_person]

This is pretty ridiculous, but I find it hard to believe that a private school in D.C. wouldn't give this kid a scholarship either!

If there's so many performances, why need a scholarship? Use the money earned.

 

[Vince]

Hey man: Lighten up.
It's Washington DC, and we both know who runs Washington DC.

Do you really expect anything better?

Not really. :shrug: I really shouldn't be surprised at the lack of intelligence and/or common sense.

 

[Merlin99]

If there's so many performances, why need a scholarship? Use the money earned.

Because a free education is a right, just ask a couple of thousand recent immigrants.

 

[This_person]

Because a free education is a right, just ask a couple of thousand recent immigrants.

True.

It just strikes me that this is a self-imposed problem. There is a huge number of children throughout the United States that spend a great deal of time out of school for a plethora of reasons. They make appropriate arrangements for their own situations and don't expect the rest of the world to conform to their individual needs. This prodigy actually is a truant. I see no reason for special consideration.

 

[GURPS]

Clearly she's a juvenile delinquent! Put her in jail and execute her parents, by gawd! Pianist!?

obviously an elitist snob ... Piano :shrug: really

if she was a rap star who cares

 

[BOP]

True.

It just strikes me that this is a self-imposed problem. There is a huge number of children throughout the United States that spend a great deal of time out of school for a plethora of reasons. They make appropriate arrangements for their own situations and don't expect the rest of the world to conform to their individual needs. This prodigy actually is a truant. I see no reason for special consideration.

Not real clear on the meaning of the word "truant," I see.

You should educate yourself.

 

[This_person]

Not real clear on the meaning of the word "truant," I see.

You should educate yourself.

Truant. It requires both the parental permission and school definition of an allowed absence. Thus, she meets the definition of a truant. Also, there are group responsibilities when in a public school (not just "A's" on one's report card), and by routinely not being there as allowed by the school rules, she is derelict in that responsibility. Thus she meets two definitions. I stand by my position.

 

[BOP]

Truant. It requires both the parental permission and school definition of an allowed absence. Thus, she meets the definition of a truant. Also, there are group responsibilities when in a public school (not just "A's" on one's report card), and by routinely not being there as allowed by the school rules, she is derelict in that responsibility. Thus she meets two definitions. I stand by my position.

So basically you're saying that when it comes to the welfare of a child, the state's power is always greater than the parents'. Good to know.

 

[Chris0nllyn]

 

[b23hqb]

obviously an elitist snob ... Piano :shrug: really

if she was a rap star who cares

Rap star.

But you're right. If she was of an African color instead of Asian, she would have performed at the WH by now, with obama guaranteeing her school path to be successful.

Love this part:

"School officials who are deciding to enforce the policy for some and not others, who refuse to take a holistic look at the child and her life in and outside school — whether it be at international concerts or in homeless shelters — should be held accountable for their short-sighted decision-making."

This school board is as ignorant as the government in the same town. Short-sightedness is actually a compliment to those who rule in DC.

 

[Chris0nllyn]

Rap star.

But you're right. If she was of an African color instead of Asian, she would have performed at the WH by now, with obama guaranteeing her school path to be successful.

Love this part:

"School officials who are deciding to enforce the policy for some and not others, who refuse to take a holistic look at the child and her life in and outside school — whether it be at international concerts or in homeless shelters — should be held accountable for their short-sighted decision-making."

This school board is as ignorant as the government in the same town. Short-sightedness is actually a compliment to those who rule in DC.

According to the article, days missed = truancy based on your zip code.

Relisha Rudd was mentioned in the article.

This is what happens when you rely on a one size fits all approach to education. You get schools not wanting to highlight a student success story, and you have kids being suspended for eating a pop tart in the shape of a gun.

DC should be more worried that they are spending almost $30,000 per student, and 83% of them are not proficient in English.

 

[catlingirl]

She might just as well be homeschooled if she's gone that long for rehearsals etc.

 

[officeguy]

She might just as well be homeschooled if she's gone that long for rehearsals etc.

Home schooling in DC is like owning a handgun. Possible in theory but wrapped up in layers upon layers of red-tape.

 

[b23hqb]

Home schooling in DC is like owning a handgun. Possible in theory but wrapped up in layers upon layers of red-tape.

And typical of the bogus law and discrimination against those that do not agree with liberal DC decrees.