Entire state would be a stretch, but many school districts within a 75 mile drive of Louisville have built in No-School days for Oaks Day.

 

Not much difference.

Truth.

I have no problem if a parent takes their kid out for their high school participating, but personally, I think taking kids out of school for the tournament when there is no affiliation is a bit much. That said, no one knows what is better for a kid than their parent, so who am I to tell them what to do.

 

The state cancelling all schools for the Sweet 16 is a bit over-the-top in my opinion. Actually, not a bit over, but a lot over-the-top.

Not to skew the thread, but along the same line, I have heard rumblings of districts taking spring break away due to amount of school missed by snow days. Several parents I have heard say that it didn't matter, they were going on break anyway because they'd had it planned for a long time. Do we feel the same way there? Can't miss school for a vacation can we if we can't miss it for Sweet 16. Curious if we would have any pause about that scenario? You're talking about an entire week, more than the 3 days of the tourney.

Not to skew the thread, but along the same line, I have heard rumblings of districts taking spring break away due to amount of school missed by snow days. Several parents I have heard say that it didn't matter, they were going on break anyway because they'd had it planned for a long time. Do we feel the same way there? Can't miss school for a vacation can we if we can't miss it for Sweet 16. Curious if we would have any pause about that scenario? You're talking about an entire week, more than the 3 days of the tourney.

 

I think it is hard to tell a family that has pre-paid for a Disney trip that they can't go now because of too many snow days.

I was out of school from probably 6th grade on every year for the

state tournament whether my school went or not. I learned alot of

life lessons especially once I was of driving age and spending mostly

my own money. I can't say there weren't some bad experiences, but I

learned real quick not to spend all your money the first 2 days you were

at the tournament.

 

Not the state tournament but maybe my sophomore or junior year my mom

took both my brother and I out of school for a week for Daytona. This was

during speedweeks and my mom being a nurse was able to provide my

brother and I with Dr. excuses. As I walked into the principals office to have

him sign my excuse for the upcoming week he (being a racing fan) laughed

and told my brother and I to have fun at the races. I still went to the state

tournament a month later and didn't have a problem making up any assignments.

I think it is hard to tell a family that has pre-paid for a Disney trip that they can't go now because of too many snow days.

 

I understand. A room at the Hyatt is as much or more than the Disney trip. Still, the sentiment is the same, school comes first. You think a teacher is more understanding of the latter?

The state cancelling all schools for the Sweet 16 is a bit over-the-top in my opinion. Actually, not a bit over, but a lot over-the-top.

 

I agree whole-heartedly.

 

However if a team plays a noon or 1:30 game then the school administration should allow the students to be out to attend. If it is a night session then that's more of a matter of how far the school is from Lexington.

 

Scott County is only 15 miles while McCracken County is 260 miles. LOTS of variables to take into consideration.

I hate this crap. We have becomes just so freaking soft as a society.

 

I missed every Friday for the State Football Finals and every Friday of the Sweet 16 growing up. I still do, and going again this Friday.

 

....that teacher needs to get a life.

 

That kid is going to remember being at the Sweet 16 with his Dad/Mom/Both and friends more than he will her class.

 

I heard NBC's Bob Costas address this once upon a time; he was talking about how he can remember his elementary school teacher putting one of the Mets World Series games in the 60's on the radio......said he couldn't tell you one thing that went on that year in her classroom, but he remembers everything about that day.

 

Some of these academic Nazis people are so out of touch with reality.

What if an educational class field trip was planned since the beginning if the school year, and students chose to go to the Sweet 16 instead?

 

I think that the hard working teachers who fought hard to get the funding and make that happen deserve more respect.

Without necessarily disagreeing about students being allowed to attend the tournament, as a basketball fan who is also an educator I’d like to throw in a few cautionary notes:

1. When it comes to quizzes and exams, every absence is a potential opportunity for someone to gain an unfair advantage. In the age of the smart phone, any student can send an absent classmate information on an exam’s content or even photos of the exam itself. Yeah, I know, it’s not my kid or your kid, it’s our neighbors’ kids. Actually, recent studies suggest it’s at least six out of every ten high school students, with approximately one-third admitting they do it repeatedly.

2. On a more important and less cynical note, if we excuse students from class to attend a basketball tournament because it’s a learning experience – and I’m not saying it isn’t – then we must consider dozens of other learning experiences. What about a speech by a public figure? An auto show? A out-of-town Miley Cyrus concert? (Okay, bad choice – maybe a Peter Gabriel concert?) How many make-up assignments for how many students for how many reasons amount to too many? This could be a pretty slippery slope, friends.

3. I absolutely support the idea that learning is not confined to the classroom, and that sports provide important life lessons. However, we fans should remind ourselves that the lessons learned by playing or observing sports often can be learned elsewhere as well. Teamwork is just as crucial in concert band as it is in football, and using preparation to conquer fatigue is as big a part of a forensics competition as it is a basketball tournament. And no sports experience enables a student to solve a quadratic equation or identify the capital of the Czech Republic.

 

Again, I’m not saying it’s a bad thing to let students attend this type of event. I just think there’s a bigger picture to be considered. [descends from soapbox]

What if an educational class field trip was planned since the beginning if the school year, and students chose to go to the Sweet 16 instead?

 

I think that the hard working teachers who fought hard to get the funding and make that happen deserve more respect.

Is that trip mandatory? If not, I'd be there would be a majority of students who'd chose the field trip.

Without necessarily disagreeing about students being allowed to attend the tournament, as a basketball fan who is also an educator I’d like to throw in a few cautionary notes:

1. When it comes to quizzes and exams, every absence is a potential opportunity for someone to gain an unfair advantage. In the age of the smart phone, any student can send an absent classmate information on an exam’s content or even photos of the exam itself. Yeah, I know, it’s not my kid or your kid, it’s our neighbors’ kids. Actually, recent studies suggest it’s at least six out of every ten high school students, with approximately one-third admitting they do it repeatedly.

2. On a more important and less cynical note, if we excuse students from class to attend a basketball tournament because it’s a learning experience – and I’m not saying it isn’t – then we must consider dozens of other learning experiences. What about a speech by a public figure? An auto show? A out-of-town Miley Cyrus concert? (Okay, bad choice – maybe a Peter Gabriel concert?) How many make-up assignments for how many students for how many reasons amount to too many? This could be a pretty slippery slope, friends.

3. I absolutely support the idea that learning is not confined to the classroom, and that sports provide important life lessons. However, we fans should remind ourselves that the lessons learned by playing or observing sports often can be learned elsewhere as well. Teamwork is just as crucial in concert band as it is in football, and using preparation to conquer fatigue is as big a part of a forensics competition as it is a basketball tournament. And no sports experience enables a student to solve a quadratic equation or identify the capital of the Czech Republic.

 

Again, I’m not saying it’s a bad thing to let students attend this type of event. I just think there’s a bigger picture to be considered. [descends from soapbox]

Terrific post. I'll add to that. When I was in school, from middle school til I graduated, I never (EVER) was in school the first day of rabbit season. Ever. Or deer season. Also sports seasons, of a different ilk. Granted, that didn't help me learn where Qatar was on the map, but when advanced biology came around and the rest of the class was peeling the hide millimeter by millimeter off their fetal pigs, I had mine skinned, musculature identified, and on to organs. Finished 3 weeks before anyone else.

Will the sweet16 do something similar? No idea. Maybe the simple competitive spirit will be kindled. Perhaps the drive to work as a unit to achieve a goal will be enhanced. Maybe the desire to sacrifice to achieve an improbable goal becomes a driving force and spills over in other areas of their lives, including schoolwork. Either way, I think kids who have shown themselves solid students should be allowed to go given the opportunity to take trips like this one, annually or otherwise.

 

And for full disclosure, I've picked up my youngest son on numerous occasions from school with a boat on the back of the truck pointed south. Before he goes, he completes his assignments, and often takes tests AHEAD OF TIME, so that there's no issues when he's gone.

 

Just my opinion, I'm sure there will be dissenting ones.

I don't see the problem with missing a day to attend the state tournament. I know some schools grant an excused absence for students to attend the State Fair, so why not the Sweet 16? Me, my father, and my children always attend the first day of the sweet 16. This year my daughter is missing a test but the teacher said she could make it up. It has not hurt either one of my children's education to miss one day for the tournament. This is something that all of us look forward to each year.

Terrific post. I'll add to that. When I was in school, from middle school til I graduated, I never (EVER) was in school the first day of rabbit season. Ever. Or deer season. Also sports seasons, of a different ilk. Granted, that didn't help me learn where Qatar was on the map, but when advanced biology came around and the rest of the class was peeling the hide millimeter by millimeter off their fetal pigs, I had mine skinned, musculature identified, and on to organs. Finished 3 weeks before anyone else.

Will the sweet16 do something similar? No idea. Maybe the simple competitive spirit will be kindled. Perhaps the drive to work as a unit to achieve a goal will be enhanced. Maybe the desire to sacrifice to achieve an improbable goal becomes a driving force and spills over in other areas of their lives, including schoolwork. Either way, I think kids who have shown themselves solid students should be allowed to go given the opportunity to take trips like this one, annually or otherwise.

 

And for full disclosure, I've picked up my youngest son on numerous occasions from school with a boat on the back of the truck pointed south. Before he goes, he completes his assignments, and often takes tests AHEAD OF TIME, so that there's no issues when he's gone.

 

Just my opinion, I'm sure there will be dissenting ones.

 

No dissent here -- great post! The fetal pig example alone is worth the price of admission (though I'll never look at a pork chop the same way again).

Fetal Pig very nice. My boss lives in the U.P. of Michigan

and the kids are always out of school for a couple of days I know

for sure of deer season. I think alot of the plants in the area also

run with minimal employees during deer season.

I understand. A room at the Hyatt is as much or more than the Disney trip. Still, the sentiment is the same, school comes first. You think a teacher is more understanding of the latter?

 

Yes, I think a teacher / principal is more understanding of a pre-booked and pre-paid Disney trip than they would be 5 days at the Lexington Hyatt to watch the Sweet 16. I could be all wet, but that is my opinion.