Dear Parent:
Your student has requested that I sign a permission slip for an extended absence for a trip or to be a camp counselor. I have some concerns about this request that I want to share with you.
Missing a week of any class can cause students academic difficulties, but math in particular is a real problem. Your student is enrolled in a fast-paced challenging course. We cover new material almost every day. While most of that material is also covered in the textbook, I find that students often have difficulty mastering topics from the book alone. In-class explanations make a real difference, and I often discuss topics or show techniques for handling specific types of problems that the book does not cover. While reading the text and working the assigned problems is a very important part of the course, those activities alone are not enough for most students to master the material.
If you are requesting that your student leave school for a week, here are some specific possible consequences you should be aware of:
1. Missing this much class usually has an adverse affect
on students’ grades.
2. Your student will be required to do all assignments
as scheduled; all work is due on
the first day back.
3. If your student misses any quiz or test, he/she must
make it up on the first day back.
4. I will not be able to give any extra time to
help your student catch up or fill in the gaps of missed topics beyond the
normal course of my teaching
day.
While I recognize that some activities have their own educational results, I am concerned that this extended absence may cause more problems than benefits overall. If you are still in support of this absence, please sign and return this letter for my file. As soon as your student brings me this letter signed by a parent, I will sign the permission slip.
Sincerely,
Northgate Math Department
________________________________________________________________________
I have read this letter and ask you to please approve of my student’s extended
absence.
___________________________________________ _______________________
(parent signature)
(date)
Student Name (Please Print): _____________________________________________