RIP School Survival Forums
August 2001 - June 2017

The School Survival Forums are permanently retired. If you need help with quitting school, unsupportive parents or anything else, there is a list of resources on the Help Page.

If you want to write about your experiences in school, you can write on our blog.

To everyone who joined these forums at some point, and got discouraged by the negativity and left after a while (or even got literally scared off): I'm sorry.

I wasn't good enough at encouraging people to be kinder, and removing people who refuse to be kind. Encouraging people is hard, and removing people creates conflict, and I hate conflict... so that's why I wasn't better at it.

I was a very, very sensitive teen. The atmosphere of this forum as it is now, if it had existed in 1996, would probably have upset me far more than it would have helped.

I can handle quite a lot of negativity and even abuse now, but that isn't the point. I want to help people. I want to help the people who need it the most, and I want to help people like the 1996 version of me.

I'm still figuring out the best way to do that, but as it is now, these forums are doing more harm than good, and I can't keep running them.

Thank you to the few people who have tried to understand my point of view so far. I really, really appreciate you guys. You are beautiful people.

Everyone else: If after everything I've said so far, you still don't understand my motivations, I think it's unlikely that you will. We're just too different. Maybe someday in the future it might make sense, but until then, there's no point in arguing about it. I don't have the time or the energy for arguing anymore. I will focus my time and energy on people who support me, and those who need help.

-SoulRiser

The forums are mostly read-only and are in a maintenance/testing phase, before being permanently archived. Please use this time to get the contact details of people you'd like to keep in touch with. My contact details are here.

Please do not make a mirror copy of the forums in their current state - things will still change, and some people have requested to be able to edit or delete some of their personal info.


Post Reply 
 
Thread Rating:
  • 0 Vote(s) - 0 Average
  • 1
  • 2
  • 3
  • 4
  • 5
I wish attendance wasn't such serious business.
Author Message
Drowzee64 Offline
Defiant

Posts: 8
Joined: Sep 2010
Thanks: 0
Given 0 thank(s) in 0 post(s)
Post: #1
I wish attendance wasn't such serious business.

Seriously. If I'm not going to do the work, I'm not going to do it. Therefore, why should I even be IN school if I'm not doing anything?

I know, I know - There's a whole bunch of reasons related to brainwashing for future employers and stuff like that. But really.

I left class for 15 minutes, came back during the same period, and stayed for the rest of the school day. My mother decided to punish me with the same fierceness as when I skip school entirely. I barely dodged the same school punishment (ISS *shudder*) that I would have gotten had I skipped the entire day, too.

Note to self: Next time, just skip the entire goddamn school day.
09-22-2010 03:39 AM
Find all posts by this user Quote this message in a reply
HeartofShadows Offline
Fanatic

Posts: 8,557
Joined: Dec 2006
Thanks: 0
Given 80 thank(s) in 73 post(s)
Post: #2
Re: I wish attendance wasn't such serious business.

Back in the day it wasn't a big deal.

But now the school gets money based on the head of every kids attendance and literally they are money hungry so that's why they go ape shit over all your attendance.

Back in the day you could skip class entirely and come in for the final exam and whatever grade you made on it was your grade for the class but administration got butthurt because they made money off your heads so that's why they brought up this all this bullshit over whether you show up or not.

[Image: WARZONES_subs_hostility.png]
image hosting jpg
09-22-2010 03:53 AM
Find all posts by this user Quote this message in a reply
genuine anarchist Offline
Revolutionary

Posts: 439
Joined: Mar 2010
Thanks: 0
Given 12 thank(s) in 6 post(s)
Post: #3
Re: I wish attendance wasn't such serious business.

HeartofShadows Wrote:Back in the day it wasn't a big deal.

But now the school gets money based on the head of every kids attendance and literally they are money hungry so that's why they go ape shit over all your attendance.

Back in the day you could skip class entirely and come in for the final exam and whatever grade you made on it was your grade for the class but administration got butthurt because they made money off your heads so that's why they brought up this all this bullshit over whether you show up or not.

How do they make money off of attendance? Just curious, I have a friend who graduated school in the 90s, and she played hooky almost all the time, yet she told me they didn't care. At all. Now, I can't miss more than 9 days a semester, even if the absences are excused. Hell, I already used up one of my "absences" this quarter because I missed 3 classes in the afternoon. That's it. Albeit, it was just to hang out with some friends, but I made up the work, and it was pointless of me to be there if I wasn't going to do anything.

OP, I completely agree with you. School is a fucking waste of time, especially when you've got your homework done for the next 3 weeks, and you've finished your book, and you're not allowed to talk to your friends. What am I supposed to do for the next hour, then? If I were at home, I could pick up another book, work on my website, or do something productive.
09-22-2010 12:54 PM
Find all posts by this user Quote this message in a reply
HeartofShadows Offline
Fanatic

Posts: 8,557
Joined: Dec 2006
Thanks: 0
Given 80 thank(s) in 73 post(s)
Post: #4
Re: I wish attendance wasn't such serious business.

genuine anarchist Wrote:
HeartofShadows Wrote:Back in the day it wasn't a big deal.

But now the school gets money based on the head of every kids attendance and literally they are money hungry so that's why they go ape shit over all your attendance.

Back in the day you could skip class entirely and come in for the final exam and whatever grade you made on it was your grade for the class but administration got butthurt because they made money off your heads so that's why they brought up this all this bullshit over whether you show up or not.

How do they make money off of attendance? Just curious, I have a friend who graduated school in the 90s, and she played hooky almost all the time, yet she told me they didn't care. At all. Now, I can't miss more than 9 days a semester, even if the absences are excused. Hell, I already used up one of my "absences" this quarter because I missed 3 classes in the afternoon. That's it. Albeit, it was just to hang out with some friends, but I made up the work, and it was pointless of me to be there if I wasn't going to do anything.

OP, I completely agree with you. School is a fucking waste of time, especially when you've got your homework done for the next 3 weeks, and you've finished your book, and you're not allowed to talk to your friends. What am I supposed to do for the next hour, then? If I were at home, I could pick up another book, work on my website, or do something productive.

Yep back in the good old days but then I guess the district got creative like cut spending on schools with bad standardized test scores and bad attendance and that's where your problem comes from.

[Image: WARZONES_subs_hostility.png]
image hosting jpg
09-22-2010 01:02 PM
Find all posts by this user Quote this message in a reply
Prince Rilian Offline
attic fan

Posts: 2,229
Joined: Mar 2010
Thanks: 0
Given 57 thank(s) in 47 post(s)
Post: #5
Re: I wish attendance wasn't such serious business.

Drowzee64 Wrote:I left class for 15 minutes, came back during the same period, and stayed for the rest of the school day. My mother decided to punish me with the same fierceness as when I skip school entirely.
How did she even know?

Life is good. Jeta është e mirë. Goingcrazy
Die lewe is goed.
Het leven is goed.

Zoidberg: What is it, already? What's the cause of your anger?
Leela: I guess I would have to say, I hate you!
09-22-2010 01:31 PM
Find all posts by this user Quote this message in a reply
CrayolaColours Offline
Fanatic

Posts: 9,744
Joined: May 2009
Thanks: 0
Given 28 thank(s) in 25 post(s)
Post: #6
Re: I wish attendance wasn't such serious business.

Unless we have a doctors note, we can only miss three days every six weeks. I missed all three, counting today. So now I can't miss any more for two weeks. Or I'll have to make up seat time in every class that gives a shit (all of them, mostly). Which is about an hour of some program, mostly. Some just have you write a paper.

[Image: True-Blood-Banner-true-blood-2196368-500-82.jpg]
Faith o' Meter
-{|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||}-
2
Quote:Riddle me this, riddle me that. Give me a straight answer, you pain in the ass cat.
09-22-2010 01:37 PM
Find all posts by this user Quote this message in a reply
Pieman Offline
Pie Deity

Posts: 3,501
Joined: Oct 2007
Thanks: 3
Given 28 thank(s) in 23 post(s)
Post: #7
Re: I wish attendance wasn't such serious business.

The school board is full of idiots. For the past few years, they've been deciding ridiculous things that they believe are supposed to "improve" schools.

1- Attendance.

There was already bad attendance at schools, so the Board decides to make severe punishments for students who don't come to school while earning more money for teachers for the students who do at the same time. Sure this would be partially good if the teachers actually spent the money wisely..

2- Money from test scores.

Around November last year, the school board decided because the test scores in various states were low, and the teachers were already hurting from two budget cuts, they said " Okay, we're going to make your salaries decided on what the students score on tests! " And well..I don't really have to say anymore.

" I never knew until that moment how bad it could hurt to lose something you never really had. " ~From the television show The Wonder Years
09-22-2010 01:59 PM
Find all posts by this user Quote this message in a reply
monkey Away
Fanatic

Posts: 1,830
Joined: Jan 2008
Thanks: 0
Given 26 thank(s) in 17 post(s)
Post: #8
Re: I wish attendance wasn't such serious business.

Skipping is pretty possible for me to do. The auto dialing system is really lame and they have already screwed up so if my mom does answer it I will be like, Lol they screwed up again. But unless I can craft an excuse I would have to have detention the next day which would suck. Although I could serve it out without my mom finding out.

So, Eh If I really need to skip for a day I can but unless I have a really awesome reason or come up with a procedure to dodge it. It's not worth it.

Im just going to go with the old. "Ugh I don't feel good agh Im sick"

Had to move on. Account is dead.
09-22-2010 02:15 PM
Find all posts by this user Quote this message in a reply
genuine anarchist Offline
Revolutionary

Posts: 439
Joined: Mar 2010
Thanks: 0
Given 12 thank(s) in 6 post(s)
Post: #9
Re: I wish attendance wasn't such serious business.

Pieman Wrote:The school board is full of idiots. For the past few years, they've been deciding ridiculous things that they believe are supposed to "improve" schools.

1- Attendance.

There was already bad attendance at schools, so the Board decides to make severe punishments for students who don't come to school while earning more money for teachers for the students who do at the same time. Sure this would be partially good if the teachers actually spent the money wisely..

2- Money from test scores.

Around November last year, the school board decided because the test scores in various states were low, and the teachers were already hurting from two budget cuts, they said " Okay, we're going to make your salaries decided on what the students score on tests! " And well..I don't really have to say anymore.

There's actually some schools that pay students to attend. Seriously. Or was it for making good grades?
09-23-2010 01:48 PM
Find all posts by this user Quote this message in a reply
Jesusaurisrex Offline
Fanatic

Posts: 1,493
Joined: May 2009
Thanks: 0
Given 19 thank(s) in 15 post(s)
Post: #10
Re: I wish attendance wasn't such serious business.

our nazi attendance policy -

3 unexcused absences in a semester = call home
6 unexcused absences in a semester = F for the semester
3 tardies = 1 absence (note, a tardy is given for being 1 second late to class)
If you are more than 15 minutes late = absence

School Doors automatically lock the second school starts, so if you are one second late for school you cant get into the building unless you go through the office complex. if you go through there you have to wait in line while they log you into the database as late. this will generally takes about 15 minutes, so when we get to class you get an added absence just for being 1 second late to school. oh, and they dont care if you got in a car accident or there was traffic or really any reason as to why you where late.

also the school is pushing to make parking at the school only available to students with eligibility. if that is not a clear and deliberate attempt at the school trying to weed out "unsuccessful students" I dont know what is.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qmXMA34CeoQ
09-23-2010 03:22 PM
Find all posts by this user Quote this message in a reply
username01462781 Offline
Pariah

Posts: 816
Joined: May 2009
Thanks: 0
Given 8 thank(s) in 7 post(s)
Post: #11
Re: I wish attendance wasn't such serious business.

I stayed home 28 days last semester. I'm failing everything, but I'm trying to move schools so oh well.
09-23-2010 05:28 PM
Find all posts by this user Quote this message in a reply
Pieman Offline
Pie Deity

Posts: 3,501
Joined: Oct 2007
Thanks: 3
Given 28 thank(s) in 23 post(s)
Post: #12
Re: I wish attendance wasn't such serious business.

If we miss four days of school in a semester, we're not allowed to exempt any of our exams. They're also marked as detentions [which nobody tells us about until it's too late. No papers, no warnings or anything] and puts us in danger of Academic Probation, which basically means we get expelled if it keeps happening.

" I never knew until that moment how bad it could hurt to lose something you never really had. " ~From the television show The Wonder Years
09-24-2010 04:45 AM
Find all posts by this user Quote this message in a reply
CrayolaColours Offline
Fanatic

Posts: 9,744
Joined: May 2009
Thanks: 0
Given 28 thank(s) in 25 post(s)
Post: #13
Re: I wish attendance wasn't such serious business.

Pieman Wrote:If we miss four days of school in a semester, we're not allowed to exempt any of our exams. They're also marked as detentions [which nobody tells us about until it's too late. No papers, no warnings or anything] and puts us in danger of Academic Probation, which basically means we get expelled if it keeps happening.
How long is a semester? (We use a trimester system)

[Image: True-Blood-Banner-true-blood-2196368-500-82.jpg]
Faith o' Meter
-{|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||}-
2
Quote:Riddle me this, riddle me that. Give me a straight answer, you pain in the ass cat.
09-24-2010 06:27 AM
Find all posts by this user Quote this message in a reply
Pieman Offline
Pie Deity

Posts: 3,501
Joined: Oct 2007
Thanks: 3
Given 28 thank(s) in 23 post(s)
Post: #14
Re: I wish attendance wasn't such serious business.

CrayolaColours Wrote:
Pieman Wrote:If we miss four days of school in a semester, we're not allowed to exempt any of our exams. They're also marked as detentions [which nobody tells us about until it's too late. No papers, no warnings or anything] and puts us in danger of Academic Probation, which basically means we get expelled if it keeps happening.
How long is a semester? (We use a trimester system)

36 weeks. Grading periods spit up into sets of 6.

" I never knew until that moment how bad it could hurt to lose something you never really had. " ~From the television show The Wonder Years
09-24-2010 01:12 PM
Find all posts by this user Quote this message in a reply
CrayolaColours Offline
Fanatic

Posts: 9,744
Joined: May 2009
Thanks: 0
Given 28 thank(s) in 25 post(s)
Post: #15
Re: I wish attendance wasn't such serious business.

A SEMESTER is 36 weeks?

I'm confused as fuck now.

[Image: True-Blood-Banner-true-blood-2196368-500-82.jpg]
Faith o' Meter
-{|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||}-
2
Quote:Riddle me this, riddle me that. Give me a straight answer, you pain in the ass cat.
09-24-2010 01:16 PM
Find all posts by this user Quote this message in a reply
Prince Rilian Offline
attic fan

Posts: 2,229
Joined: Mar 2010
Thanks: 0
Given 57 thank(s) in 47 post(s)
Post: #16
Re: I wish attendance wasn't such serious business.

Yeah, where I come from, a semester is 18 weeks.

And speaking of the six-weeks thing, right before I moved away my first elementary school switched to a nine-weeks grading period. What the hell was the point of that?

Life is good. Jeta është e mirë. Goingcrazy
Die lewe is goed.
Het leven is goed.

Zoidberg: What is it, already? What's the cause of your anger?
Leela: I guess I would have to say, I hate you!
09-25-2010 09:27 AM
Find all posts by this user Quote this message in a reply
Aviator Offline
Pariah

Posts: 538
Joined: Nov 2008
Thanks: 0
Given 7 thank(s) in 6 post(s)
Post: #17
Re: I wish attendance wasn't such serious business.

Haha - the phone call home for missing a class is stupid. They screw up my attendance at least once a week, and call my mother saying that I've missed some period or another. She gets kinda mad, but, it's not like I ditch. I am in class, and I don't give her a reason to think otherwise.

So, that's good if I ever DO decide to ditch.

But otherwise it's not worth it. But, one day, I did go down to the office, on my mothers request, to find out why they called my house so often. Nobody had any records of it at all, which I found to be interesting. Rolleyes They're all stupid. Moronic schools.

It is better to ask for forgiveness than for permission. - Neal Vitale
I'd rather laugh with the sinners than cry with the saints. The sinners are much more fun.
Everyone can back up their opinions. Some people just do it a whole lot better than others. - Rebelnerd
Here's to the men and women who did what was considered wrong, in order to do what they knew was right.
'Of course it is happening inside your head, but why on earth should that mean that it is not real?'" - JK Rowling
09-29-2010 12:43 PM
Find all posts by this user Quote this message in a reply
Oukami_Ryuu Offline
Rebel

Posts: 16
Joined: Aug 2010
Thanks: 0
Given 0 thank(s) in 0 post(s)
Post: #18
Re: I wish attendance wasn't such serious business.

At my school they just call home and you get dentention which makes you inelgiable... I don't know what that exactly does. However now there are even more police officiers so if they catch you ge like a $600 ticket and show up to court and possible serve community service hours. I'm using a school computer.
09-30-2010 01:49 AM
Find all posts by this user Quote this message in a reply
Post Reply 


Possibly Related Threads...
Thread: Author Replies: Views: Last Post
  Schools That Snoop Around Kid's Business Off-Campus ColossalBlocks 2 2,646 02-07-2017 02:35 AM
Last Post: Superkamiguru
  Could these people read? He says it wasn't during 'school hours'. ..V.. 0 1,923 04-02-2013 12:04 PM
Last Post: ..V..
  Is Keeping Good Attendance Worth It?? EnemyOfTheState 7 2,898 12-11-2010 02:07 PM
Last Post: Prince Rilian
  Stay out my business you fuck! CrayolaColours 8 4,035 09-09-2010 03:04 PM
Last Post: CrayolaColours
  Attendance and 'Truanting' laser 13 3,119 03-22-2010 09:04 AM
Last Post: Leon Kinotolian
  Good attendance Matters (Propaganda) The Apathy 5 2,551 11-03-2008 06:40 AM
Last Post: Elfy
  Business Letter help? Slick 3 2,091 05-13-2008 12:41 PM
Last Post: monkey
  Sub Business Teacher Confrontation The Apathy 3 2,037 05-11-2008 11:39 AM
Last Post: La Barata
  Brainwashed and can't mind her own business KitsuneSefam 7 2,516 03-29-2008 05:57 AM
Last Post: Jackass McAwesome

Forum Jump:


User(s) browsing this thread: 1 Guest(s)

Contact Us | School Survival | Return to Top | Return to Content | Mobile Version | RSS Syndication