Cutting school to go skiing?

[retired]

When I checked the webcam for Gunstock Friday morning, opening day, I noticed a lot of kids skiing. Then in Saturday's Laconia Sun, they had a picture of some school age kids on the front page from Friday at Gunstock. Schools around the lake were open on Friday. Is it a tradition to cut school on opening day to go skiing? When my boys were in elementary school in Belmont they had a winter sports day on Fridays. Why so many kids on a school day?

[chachee52]

Originally Posted by retired

When I checked the webcam for Gunstock Friday morning, opening day, I noticed a lot of kids skiing. Then in Saturday's Laconia Sun, they had a picture of some school age kids on the front page from Friday at Gunstock. Schools around the lake were open on Friday. Is it a tradition to cut school on opening day to go skiing? When my boys were in elementary school in Belmont they had a winter sports day on Fridays. Why so many kids on a school day?

My wife said about 25% of the Jr high weren't in school Friday to go skiing. Basically now if it's a good day to ski, kids go. Same with vacations, if families want to take a week's vacation, they do. It's the way of the schools now

[Descant]

Getting school age kids out for great exercise, away from their cell phones is time well spent. I hope a few faculty members will join them for social interaction outside the classroom. Private schools and public charter schools often have ski days. Why should public school kids be left out? (See the discussion from Garcia, a school superintendant, about the value (not) of counting the numbertf of days of school as a gauge of success.).

[retired]

They couldn't wait one day until Saturday to ski? The conditions suck now anyway.

[Outdoorsman]

Shouldn't the parents be the ultimate decision makers?

Heck, if the kids did in fact skip school, bought a day pass, found a way to get themselves and ski equipment to the mountain.... They are doing OK in my book.

It beats skipping school for nefarious purposes which dominates the media these days.

There are too many "Karen's" and "Darren's" in today's world!

[pondguy]

We need think to weigh in on this?

[thinkxingu]

Originally Posted by pondguy

We need think to weigh in on this?

I started responding a few times earlier and got caught up shopping!

I'm all for kids taking days here and there to do cool things. The problem is that those days are added to others that students historically would not have taken.

For example, I have students who have taken days to visit colleges—great!—but who have also taken days for driving lessons/tests, doctor/dentist appointments (that most certainly could have been scheduled after school), birthdays, "mental health days," etc.

So, when the "special" days aren't planned for when taking the other days, absenteeism becomes a problem...but, as mentioned above, that's the culture (at least for American students—which is a whole other discussion).

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[BillTex]

Looking back on my (many) decades on this planet: another day in a classroom would not have changed anything, I would remember a beautiful day outside!

[John Mercier]

Problem is that they take that attitude into adulthood and it does more economic damage than can be conceived.

[thinkxingu]

Originally Posted by John Mercier

Problem is that they take that attitude into adulthood and it does more economic damage than can be conceived.

Yup. Gen Z workers are getting fired at an exponentially higher rate than any other generation.

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[LoveLakeLife]

Originally Posted by thinkxingu

I started responding a few times earlier and got caught up shopping!

I'm all for kids taking days here and there to do cool things. The problem is that those days are added to others that students historically would not have taken.

For example, I have students who have taken days to visit colleges—great!—but who have also taken days for driving lessons/tests, doctor/dentist appointments (that most certainly could have been scheduled after school), birthdays, "mental health days," etc.

So, when the "special" days aren't planned for when taking the other days, absenteeism becomes a problem...but, as mentioned above, that's the culture (at least for American students—which is a whole other discussion).

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haha I’m glad you put “mental health days” in quotes, Think. I hope the school system sees them the same way.


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[John Mercier]

Originally Posted by thinkxingu

Yup. Gen Z workers are getting fired at an exponentially higher rate than any other generation.

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I'm seeing it in every generation.

I may not fire you; but if I can't count on you... that is going to be resolved with lower wage gains.

Because one in four residents in NH were over 60 (probably closer to one in three in the Lakes Region); wage gains were almost automatic.

[retired]

My concern about kids cutting school mid-week is purely self-centered. Their parents can worry about their education. As a 71-year-old, I continue to ski but have grown more cautious about getting into a skiing accident. At my age a bad fall could result in broken bones and serious injury. I only ski mid-week to avoid the crowds of crazy weekend skiers who bomb the hill with reckless abandon. Today's kids fall into that category. They race each other down the mountain, whizzing way to close to other skiers. Frankly they scare the hell out of me. It would be nice if they would stay in school during the week and off the slopes.

[Garcia]

If Gen Z is struggling, isn't it really Gen X's fault? After all, we are the ones that raised them, played a significant role in what is an isn't acceptable in school and society, and model the behaviors we want our children to emulate.

I've always been intrigued by one generation criticizing another, as the earlier generations' influence, good and bad, plays an outsize role in future generations.

Of course all of us raised our kids well and continue to uphold high standards at home, work, and in the community, right?

[chachee52]

I will also add, when I was a college professor, if people just took days off from class, they often would come back and slow the rest of the class down because they would ask questions about what was gone over the class that they missed. And at times, they would miss pop quizzes (which most of the time I hinted to them so they weren't so pop as it states) and then complain that they couldn't make it up.
My wife could talk more about lower level schools, but I would think that it's close to the same. The more the kids are out, this may slow the other children down from teaching, and put more stress on the teachers to do more.
I am not saying that an occasional day out isn't good, but at the child gets older, it is more important to be in school. When I was young the honor of having no absences was one that we all kind of strived. Times change.

[thinkxingu]

Originally Posted by Garcia

If Gen Z is struggling, isn't it really Gen X's fault? After all, we are the ones that raised them, played a significant role in what is an isn't acceptable in school and society, and model the behaviors we want our children to emulate.

I've always been intrigued by one generation criticizing another, as the earlier generations' influence, good and bad, plays an outsize role in future generations.

Of course all of us raised our kids well and continue to uphold high standards at home, work, and in the community, right?

While I do think there are generational shifts in parenting that lead to different—both good and bad—outcomes, the smartphone had/is having a completely unforseen/unprecedented impact on culture/kids/politics (insert all here?).

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[BillTex]

Get off my lawn!

[BillTex]

It is very likely these kids are part of a school program, or home schooled (lots of that in NH).

Ski, freeze, then die!

[retired]

I was waiting for someone to say "Get off my lawn". It should be get off my snow.

[John Mercier]

Originally Posted by Garcia

If Gen Z is struggling, isn't it really Gen X's fault? After all, we are the ones that raised them, played a significant role in what is an isn't acceptable in school and society, and model the behaviors we want our children to emulate.

I've always been intrigued by one generation criticizing another, as the earlier generations' influence, good and bad, plays an outsize role in future generations.

Of course all of us raised our kids well and continue to uphold high standards at home, work, and in the community, right?

I don't think anyone intends to raise their children badly.
Taking time to go skiing appears harmless to them; but it sets a standard that recreation matters more than school/work.

[fatlazyless]

Gunstock is big with night skiing ..... www.gunstock.com/winter/night-sessions/ ..... under the lights.

Daytime school ...... night time, hit the slopes ..... and hit the books on the chairlift ride up ...... yo-yo-yo!

Ski Gunstock at night under the lights, and skiing becomes SKI MAGIC!

[Triboro]

It depends on the kid. I allowed my daughter to skip school every Friday from 4th through 8th grade to train for ski racing. She kept up with all her schoolwork and actually skipped a grade. She finished college in three years and now has an excellent job. She works remote which still allows for the occasional mid week ski day.

[John Mercier]

That would be dependent on the job.
Higher levels here need to be available almost 24/7.
I may be able to handle it remotely, or I may need to be on-site.

No AI replacement, which would be nice.

[rsmlp]

The forum must be running out of ideas.

[Outdoorsman]

Originally Posted by thinkxingu

I started responding a few times earlier and got caught up shopping!

I'm all for kids taking days here and there to do cool things. The problem is that those days are added to others that students historically would not have taken.

For example, I have students who have taken days to visit colleges—great!—but who have also taken days for driving lessons/tests, doctor/dentist appointments (that most certainly could have been scheduled after school), birthdays, "mental health days," etc.

So, when the "special" days aren't planned for when taking the other days, absenteeism becomes a problem...but, as mentioned above, that's the culture (at least for American students—which is a whole other discussion).

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https://forum.chat-avenue.com/thread...-staff.957478/

The entire student body is not making up school days for a single students absenteeism..

[TomC]

off-season doldrums...

[John Mercier]

Just switching seasons.

[VitaBene]

Ski team! My kids did it in Moultonborough.