Unexcused absence

For the record:

MNPS Addresses “Great American Boycott of 2006”

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (April 26, 2006) – The administration of Metropolitan Nashville Public Schools issued a statement today regarding the “Great American Boycott of 2006,” a May 1 nationwide protest regarding proposed federal immigration legislation.
“While we understand the passion of this issue, parents need to appreciate how valuable classroom time is and how important it is for children to be in school, studying, taking tests and focusing on academic progress” said MNPS Director Pedro E. Garcia, Ed. D. “All of our 132 schools will be open with normal schedules May 1; we will not be giving excused absences to children who miss school due to the boycott. (emphasis added)
“We know this is a matter of great concern for many in our community, but we can’t afford to lose any of the critical time we have for teaching children,” Garcia said. “We are hopeful all parents will recognize how important it is for children to be in school, and that we can’t shut down our district whenever there’s a debate on proposed local, state or federal legislation.”
Garcia said the district would encourage schools throughout the district to discuss the issue in government, history and other classes.
“It’s important for our children to discuss topical issues; that is a cornerstone of good citizenship,” he said. “We believe conversations on important matters are healthy for children to learn and grow. Our goal, as a district, is to permit these conversations in an orderly way that benefits the learning process.” (snip)