Change Katy Independent School District's Attendance Policy Regarding Funerals
129 Comments
M
melissa gillette
11 years ago
Get real texas! Family is family! It does not matter if they are a cousin, Aunt, Uncle or even a close family friend. When you are close to someone and they pass, you should be able to attend the funeral without it being unexcused.
K
Kristin Petersburg
11 years ago
I am shocked and appalled. Just utterly speechless at this school's insensitivity.
S
Shawn Rutherford
11 years ago
Texas, the state of family values. Cousins don't count unless your married to one.
R
Rose M. Wilson
11 years ago
These school districts in Texas are insane. Please, if for any reason, I should, somehow, have to go to Texas, I hope someone would put me out of my misery before that happens. Where is the empathy for this grieving family? The entire family. There is none.
A
Aaron Montgomery
11 years ago
The only siblings I've had in my life are cousins and close friends. No one should judge which relationships should be the important ones in another's life.
R
Rodger Griffiths
11 years ago
What in the world are you folks thinking?
A
Anonymous
11 years ago
The school does not have the right to define "family" nor should it restrict a student's participation in a religious event.
M
Mary Anna Hilden
11 years ago
And Texas is all about family values... right?
S
Samuel Trevino
11 years ago
Ridiculous, and irritatingly unnecessary policy. I suspect this kind of policy is a result of laws that try to keep kids in school, but it appears to have over reached. To tell a family members who've lost a loved one they risk legal action for their child to attend a funeral is the height of absurdity; someone with some intelligence should have parsed this request and said "That's reasonable. " Instead the school threatens the family with legal action. This is something that all school districts with similar policies should change, and if it's the result of a law then let's change the law.
D
Daria Blackwell
11 years ago
It is a travesty that a school can deliver such a negative message to a child and his family experiencing a tragic situation and massive grief. If this is what our local governments are espousing, then we need radical change. My family is my life. And I decide what constitutes my family in my culture. Not the state. And what if it was my neighbor, who I saw every day? Does that person not count? Wrong. Just wrong.
S
Sarah White
11 years ago
I am shocked and dismayed at the school and school district representatives to decide at who may attend a family members funeral. The loss of Kitty has been publicized world wide in many forums. Is this really the perspective you would like to portray to society? I can sure tell you that I would not move to your school district and believe there will be a website to discourage such. Shame on Katy School District! There really is no good response from them but to authorize the child's absence to be counted as excused. Really, Katy District? #shameonKatyschooldistrict
J
Janet Lee Knizner-Enders
11 years ago
We consider family more than immediate family. This law needs to be changed...it is BS.
S
SUZANNE BIELY-REITER
11 years ago
It is unconscionable, cold hearted and mean spirited of this Katy Texas school administration to treat this family as it has. Be aware. This has gone viral. Not only are the eyes of Texas but the eyes of the World are upon you in this matter. Your conduct in this matter is heartless, disquieting and serves no good purpose other than to shine a light on the ignorant ugly people that run and administer that school and school district.
M
Marcia Coy
11 years ago
It's a horrible message to send to a child that some lives are worth mourning, while others are not.
Think about that and what *not* learning compassion and empathy could mean in thier futures... the kind of adults they will become.
S
sharon davis green
11 years ago
Compassion seems to be in short supply all over Texas politics.
A
Anonymous
11 years ago
There should be a way for these things to be evaluated on a case by case basis.
D
Delores Wilson-Ross
11 years ago
Please have the humane and civilized response to our Kitty's little cousin being allowed to join his mourning family to help him accept the tragic death of his beloved cousin. I am certain that you understand the "the law was made for people, not people for the law". Please change district policy to be accepting of traditional mourning social contracts in our society. Thank you, Delores Wilson-Ross
S
Sharon Runge
11 years ago
Policies like this put parents in the position of either lying or battling the school district.
T
Tammy Nielsen
11 years ago
How dare you decide what is right for this family.
L
Lisa Falk
11 years ago
PARENTS know which people are important in a child's life. Not a school, nor a teacher. A SUDDEN TRAGIC DEATH OF A COUSIN absolutely should be an excused absence. Period.
Get real texas! Family is family! It does not matter if they are a cousin, Aunt, Uncle or even a close family friend. When you are close to someone and they pass, you should be able to attend the funeral without it being unexcused.
I am shocked and appalled. Just utterly speechless at this school's insensitivity.
Texas, the state of family values. Cousins don't count unless your married to one.
These school districts in Texas are insane. Please, if for any reason, I should, somehow, have to go to Texas, I hope someone would put me out of my misery before that happens. Where is the empathy for this grieving family? The entire family. There is none.
The only siblings I've had in my life are cousins and close friends. No one should judge which relationships should be the important ones in another's life.
What in the world are you folks thinking?
The school does not have the right to define "family" nor should it restrict a student's participation in a religious event.
And Texas is all about family values... right?
Ridiculous, and irritatingly unnecessary policy. I suspect this kind of policy is a result of laws that try to keep kids in school, but it appears to have over reached. To tell a family members who've lost a loved one they risk legal action for their child to attend a funeral is the height of absurdity; someone with some intelligence should have parsed this request and said "That's reasonable. " Instead the school threatens the family with legal action. This is something that all school districts with similar policies should change, and if it's the result of a law then let's change the law.
It is a travesty that a school can deliver such a negative message to a child and his family experiencing a tragic situation and massive grief. If this is what our local governments are espousing, then we need radical change. My family is my life. And I decide what constitutes my family in my culture. Not the state. And what if it was my neighbor, who I saw every day? Does that person not count? Wrong. Just wrong.
I am shocked and dismayed at the school and school district representatives to decide at who may attend a family members funeral. The loss of Kitty has been publicized world wide in many forums. Is this really the perspective you would like to portray to society? I can sure tell you that I would not move to your school district and believe there will be a website to discourage such. Shame on Katy School District! There really is no good response from them but to authorize the child's absence to be counted as excused. Really, Katy District? #shameonKatyschooldistrict
We consider family more than immediate family. This law needs to be changed...it is BS.
It is unconscionable, cold hearted and mean spirited of this Katy Texas school administration to treat this family as it has. Be aware. This has gone viral. Not only are the eyes of Texas but the eyes of the World are upon you in this matter. Your conduct in this matter is heartless, disquieting and serves no good purpose other than to shine a light on the ignorant ugly people that run and administer that school and school district.
It's a horrible message to send to a child that some lives are worth mourning, while others are not. Think about that and what *not* learning compassion and empathy could mean in thier futures... the kind of adults they will become.
Compassion seems to be in short supply all over Texas politics.
There should be a way for these things to be evaluated on a case by case basis.
Please have the humane and civilized response to our Kitty's little cousin being allowed to join his mourning family to help him accept the tragic death of his beloved cousin. I am certain that you understand the "the law was made for people, not people for the law". Please change district policy to be accepting of traditional mourning social contracts in our society. Thank you, Delores Wilson-Ross
Policies like this put parents in the position of either lying or battling the school district.
How dare you decide what is right for this family.
PARENTS know which people are important in a child's life. Not a school, nor a teacher. A SUDDEN TRAGIC DEATH OF A COUSIN absolutely should be an excused absence. Period.