Would you expect a school to authorise an absence to attend a parent's graduation?

[CottageBearskin]

Just that really.

Child is 13, so non GCSE year
Parent is getting their doctorate

Surely it’s seeing them working hard and doing well that is celebrating educational success rather than sitting in a hall watching strangers walk across a stage though!

Don't know.

But I'd still take the child anyway

Yes our school do and I've heard of others as well, it's a special event and not one you have any choice over the date with

I would think mine would but it’s one day, if you want to take them just do it.
It will be an incredibly boring day for them though! Endless streams of people they don’t know walking across a stage and then 30 seconds of their dad - unless you think they would really enjoy it I’d send to school and then go out for a really special meal. It’s definitely worth celebrating such an achievement - congrats to your dh!!

I wouldn't ask them.

100% this

I completed my education before DD was born. DH supported me through a PhD, I remember how much I needed it and I'm so grateful to him.

DH really started his higher education when DD was a toddler. She's grown up with him working full time and studying for various qualifications alongside. This will be DHs achievement, but he's had us cheering him along and making it possible for him to give it his all.

Yes.

Do it! This is how we promote lifelong learning. Also - it's a big deal to get your doctorate and you should be able celebrate it with your family.

I would 100% take them out for a doctorate graduation authorised or not. That’s the sort of thing he’ll tell his own children/grandchildren about.

There's always one who'll suggest lying about being sick.

They probably won't authorise it but go for it if you want to.

Erh ... "authorise"?

Surely a note (perhaps email?) to the form teacher/school office would suffice: "Annie will be absent on (date), attending her mother's/father's graduation ceremony. Kind regards, op." No?

Do people really think schools need to "authorise" parental agency regarding their children like that? Why, if so?

(These days I'm more of a grandparent than a hands-on parent. Have things really changed so much? ... Genuine question; am I just outdated? What happened, if so?)

Because they can fine you for unauthorised absences?

I wouldn't expect it, no. However, having been the child at a graduation, I remember the sheer boredom and would have preferred not to go in hindsight. I opted out of my postgraduate graduations as I was even bored at my own first one. A meal or similar afterwards would be better imo.

Nowadays it's pretty important if the absence is officially authorised or not. Unauthorised absences can lead to fines. It's nothing like the old days unfortunately.

What?!

You mean there are schools which might prosecute parents in court if children were to stay off school for such reasons? Surely no jury (or magistrate) would countenance such a prosecution? They'd be laughed out of court, surely?

Please tell me the world hasn't gone quite that mad!

No

My graduation is in January and all my kids will be attending whether school agrees or not. Its one day, they can catch up. They went without things whilst i was writing assignments and they had to keep themselves busy. They went without a summer holiday this year as i was finishing up my degree. They were supportive and understanding. They deserve to come and see why it was so important to me.

Yeah that's my take.

@negeme Where did you get prosecution from?! 😆 It's only a fine. You can be fined for unauthorised absences, not jailed.

Because they would see it as unnecessary unfortunately
I’d just take my children anyway 😃

I think some (all?) schools only fine if the kid misses 5 full days. This would more than likely go down as an unauthorised day and OP would be fined if they took them out for 4 full days more without authorisation. This is what I've heard anyway. There is no law of appeal against the fines either.

Actually you can be jailed. But it would be for prolonged or repeated absence.

Does it matter? Let school know they won't be in. Let them record it how they like.

Well, you can be prosecuted for unpaid fines. I mean, I sincerely doubt OP would be fined for taking him out for one day in the context of otherwise regular attendance, but she theoretically could be fined and could be prosecuted for not paying that fine. That’s presumably academic (ahem) in the family setup OP describes!

Yes I would expect them to but I don’t think they would. Parents make the final decision though.