Recently my friend Christine Boyett Barr's family was struck with a horrible tragedy. Her 5 year old niece, and her son's cousin, after being missing for several hours was found under a dock near the family boat. She had drowned.
http://www.houstonchronicle.com/news/houston-texas...
It is every parent's worst fear realized. Naturally all of the nearby family wished to attend their young relative's funeral. Unfortunately now, the Katy Independent School District's attendance policy is adding insult to Christine's injury. Despite what emotional impact the death of his young cousin's passing might have had, KISD refuses to excuse the absence as a cousin is not a "nuclear family member."
In her words Christine told me and other friends and family:
"I received notification that because of unexcused absences, we might be charged with a Class C violation and brought to court. When my husband called to get it cleared up, they told him all the absences except the funeral would be excused. The funeral would not be excused because it was not for a nuclear family member.I feel the policy should be changed and that PARENTS should be allowed to decide which funerals are important for their children to attend. Biology is not the most important factor."
If you agree, like I do, I hope you will sign this to send a message to the KISD leadership that not only should Christine's son's absence be excused but the policy needs to be rewritten in the interest of the emotional well being of families and the right of parents to decide what is best for their children.
What's more if you would like to contact KISD directly, here are some of the contact numbers you would need:
Superintendent: Alton Frailey Contact: B. J. Alvarez Phone: 281-396-2304
Assistant Superintendent, Student Support Services :Dr. Linda Menius Contact: Cheryl Winters Phone: 281-396-2495
http://www.katyisd.org/Pages/departments.aspx
Updates
Reached 250 supporters
May 16, 2015
Reached 100 supporters
May 9, 2015
129 Comments
Your funeral policy is cruel and inhumane. It is for families to decide which funerals are important for their children to attend. What learning could be more important than paying last respect to your five year-old cousin who tragically drowned. Shameful!
This is a heartless policy to impose on a grieving family. My cousins were like siblings to me and in this day and age families are more complicated than your simplistic policy allows. Have a heart and do the right thing.
As an alumni of KISD I think parents should be able to choose what's best for their kids in situations like this. What will this child remember in 10 years? Being with his family in this difficult time or one more average day of classes?
In a case such as this, the greater travesty on the well being of the student would have been to mandate his attendance at school. When it comes to death and dying, parents surely know their children better than a school board regulation.
As an educator, the emotional wellbeing of my students and their families is of he utmost importance. I beseech you to allow families to mourn the loss of anyone they choose, and to excuse any absence of students of KISD during times of mourning.
Lighten up, Katy Independent School District. Attending a dear friend's funeral is the human thing to do.
This is absurd that attending a first cousin's funeral is not an excused absence. Likewise, some children have living great grandparents. That too would be a violation. The school district needs to get rid of such absurd restrictions.
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Recently my friend Christine Boyett Barr's family was struck with a horrible tragedy. Her 5 year old niece, and her son's cousin, after being missing for several hours was found under a dock near the family boat. She had drowned.
http://www.houstonchronicle.com/news/houston-texas...
It is every parent's worst fear realized. Naturally all of the nearby family wished to attend their young relative's funeral. Unfortunately now, the Katy Independent School District's attendance policy is adding insult to Christine's injury. Despite what emotional impact the death of his young cousin's passing might have had, KISD refuses to excuse the absence as a cousin is not a "nuclear family member."
In her words Christine told me and other friends and family:
"I received notification that because of unexcused absences, we might be charged with a Class C violation and brought to court. When my husband called to get it cleared up, they told him all the absences except the funeral would be excused. The funeral would not be excused because it was not for a nuclear family member.I feel the policy should be changed and that PARENTS should be allowed to decide which funerals are important for their children to attend. Biology is not the most important factor."
If you agree, like I do, I hope you will sign this to send a message to the KISD leadership that not only should Christine's son's absence be excused but the policy needs to be rewritten in the interest of the emotional well being of families and the right of parents to decide what is best for their children.
What's more if you would like to contact KISD directly, here are some of the contact numbers you would need:
Superintendent: Alton Frailey Contact: B. J. Alvarez Phone: 281-396-2304
Assistant Superintendent, Student Support Services :Dr. Linda Menius Contact: Cheryl Winters Phone: 281-396-2495
http://www.katyisd.org/Pages/departments.aspx
Updates
Reached 250 supporters
May 16, 2015
Reached 100 supporters
May 9, 2015
129 Comments
Funerals are very important in the grieving process and should not be denied to a child. Cousins might not be part of the nuclear family but they are an important part of the family and the first friends that a child has.
Your funeral policy is cruel and inhumane. It is for families to decide which funerals are important for their children to attend. What learning could be more important than paying last respect to your five year-old cousin who tragically drowned. Shameful!
This is a heartless policy to impose on a grieving family. My cousins were like siblings to me and in this day and age families are more complicated than your simplistic policy allows. Have a heart and do the right thing.
As an alumni of KISD I think parents should be able to choose what's best for their kids in situations like this. What will this child remember in 10 years? Being with his family in this difficult time or one more average day of classes?
In a case such as this, the greater travesty on the well being of the student would have been to mandate his attendance at school. When it comes to death and dying, parents surely know their children better than a school board regulation.
As an educator, the emotional wellbeing of my students and their families is of he utmost importance. I beseech you to allow families to mourn the loss of anyone they choose, and to excuse any absence of students of KISD during times of mourning.
Lighten up, Katy Independent School District. Attending a dear friend's funeral is the human thing to do.
This is absurd that attending a first cousin's funeral is not an excused absence. Likewise, some children have living great grandparents. That too would be a violation. The school district needs to get rid of such absurd restrictions.
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Funerals are very important in the grieving process and should not be denied to a child. Cousins might not be part of the nuclear family but they are an important part of the family and the first friends that a child has.