An Open Letter to the New Moore Public School System:

[notjohnsmith]

Over the past twenty-two months, I feel that I’ve become a hardened veteran of the vagaries and exigencies of life in New Moore. Over that same span of time, I hope that school faculty and administrators have come to know me well enough to testify that I’m not the sort to find meaningless excuses to avoid schoolwork. In fact, my dedication to extracurricular activities means I’ve had to go far out of my way to avoid absences, so that my participation would be permitted. The penalties for missing a day are far more severe than anything levied by the school, and the consequences more dire than facing up to even something as serious as a meningitis scare.

With that in mind, please take the following proposal seriously: during upsetting anomalies, even if it’s impractical to cancel school, please treat all unexpected absences as excused. It might be impractical to take a drastic step like erasing school vacations to schedule them at the drop of a metaphysical hat, but short of that it has to be argued that during such creative reversals of the natural order, students might have any manner of reasons for incomplete attendance, many of which are left better unexplained, but nonetheless solid in their validity. Whatever steps are required to institute this change, even with only seven months until my graduation, I’ll gladly undertake them. Fill out paperwork, distribute a petition, lobby the school board or even run for a seat myself: whatever it takes. Immediate action is required, and I’ll be unflinchingly sure to do whatever I must.

That said, I know it’s pre-emptive, but regardless of the final decision, I won’t be coming into school today, and as outrageous and presumptuous an action as it may seem, I must strongly urge my fellow members of the Amelia Earhart Memorial Student Body to do the same.

Comments

[rule_britannia]

You do realise, lad, that the number of staff affected by this most recent upheaval is likely high enough as to render attendance utterly useless in any case? In fact, that does tend to be the matter every time something such as this occurs.

I am personally not in any position to be disciplining students over unauthorised absences when I'm unable to attend, myself, and it seems rather sensible to not venture into an enclosed area with a group of people who may or may not be suffering a supernatural condition.

[notjohnsmith]

I appreciate the thoughts.

[rule_britannia]

Hm.
One would think that the school system would be constructed to cope with such unexpected interruptions.

[veryproud]

In order to effectively keep up with the non-fictional schools and meet all requirements, making every absence excused during all shenanigans would require removal of summer vacation as a whole. You sure you want to implement that?

We used up all of your snow days this year.
You're welcome.

[notjohnsmith]

On the one hand, as much as I appreciate summer vacation, I appreciate surviving through to the summer more. On the other hand, if I were responsible for the removal of summer vacation, I could reasonably expect my martyrdom at the hands of the student body to be imminent.

'The Lady and the Tiger' stops being a dilemma when there's a tiger behind each door. Unrealistic as it may be, I want a third option.

[veryproud]

Let me know if you come up with a third option.

PS It wouldn't be the hands of the student body. I'd probably take you out.

[notjohnsmith]

... I appreciate the candor.

[veryproud]

You're welcome.

[ifatfirst]

Are we allowed to do that? It seems rude to the people who still came in even though they were sick...

[notjohnsmith]

There are greater concerns than what's allowed and what isn't, like our continued health and well-being.

[ifatfirst]

You're right...I'm sorry for being so careless. I don't mind losing summer vacation if it means everyone stays safe.

[notjohnsmith]

It doesn't seem very likely to happen. Although I suppose in a place like this that might just mean it's more likely to happen.

[ifatfirst]

[ A small laugh, because that attitude. ]

Ehe....well, at home we didn't have a long break. Maybe we can get more work done if we lose all those months.

[notjohnsmith]

Maybe. Or it could just be that much longer to procrastinate in... it's hard to say until it happens.

[callbacks]

whoa whoa whoa yeah you are not offering up my summer vacation to the institution
damn right thats impractical
unless someone wants me to get practical on their ass with a sword

[notjohnsmith]

I haven't been given any special negotiating authority. And I think it's fairly obvious that the suggestion isn't likely to be accepted with open arms.