This Dad Just Pw3ned His Kids' Principal - All Teachers, Parents and Travelers Should Read His Letter

Jack Rossi just returned from a family vacation to Boston -- and found a letter from his two elementary school children's principal saying that his kids' absence was not excusable. (Even though the primary purpose of the visit was to attend the funeral of a family member...) It read: 

Dear Mr. and Mrs. Rossi,


I understand your family recently took a family vacation. I want you to be aware that the Abington School District does not recognize family trips as an excused absence, regardless of the activities involved in the trip. The school district is not in the position of overseeing family vacations or evaluating the educational nature of a family trip. The dates that your children were absent were recorded as unexcused. An accumulation of unexcused absences can result in a referral to our attendance officer and a subsequent notice of a violation of the compulsory attendance law. 


Please contact me if you have any questions. Thank you.

Jack is a dad who understands the importance of travel. He understands that the best way to give your child a creative, entrepreneurial mind has nothing to do with flashcards. He understands that, by 1979 standards, most children today are physically and emotionally stunted. And he understands that childhood can be a magical, enriching journey... if parents don't let irrational fears and mindless obedience to authority interfere. 

So he wrote this perfectly-worded reply: 

Dear Madam Principal,

While I appreciate your concern for our children's education, I can promise you they learned as much in the five days we were in Boston as they would in an entire year in school.

Our children had a once-in-a-lifetime experience, one that can't be duplicated in a classroom or read in a book.

In the 3 days of school they missed (which consisted of standardized testing that they could take any time) they learned about dedication, commitment, love, perseverance, overcoming adversity, civic pride, patriotism, American history culinary arts and physical education.

They watched their father overcome, injury, bad weather, the death of a loved one and many other obstacles to achieve an important personal goal.

They also experienced first-hand the love and support of thousands of others cheering on people with a common goal.

At the marathon, they watched blind runners, runners with prosthetic limbs and debilitating diseases and people running to raise money for great causes run in the most prestigious and historic marathon in the world.

They also paid tribute to the victims of a senseless act of terrorism and learned that no matter what evil may occur, terrorists can not deter the American spirit.

These are things they won't ever truly learn in the classroom.

In addition our children walked the Freedom Trail, visited the site of the Boston Tea Party, the Boston Massacre and the graves of several signers of the Declaration of Independence.

These are things they WILL learn in school a year or more from now. So in actuality our children are ahead of the game.

They also visited an aquarium, sampled great cuisine and spent many hours of physical activity walking and swimming.

We appreciate the efforts of the wonderful teachers and staff and cherish the education they are receiving at Rydal Elementary School. We truly love our school.

But I wouldn't hesitate to pull them out of school again for an experience like the one they had this past week.

Thank you for your time.

Sincerely,
Michael Rossi
Father

As someone who missed about a month of elementary school per year to travel with my family, I understand the value of real-world learning. I understand the difference between learning about fish in a book, and swimming beside them in the Pacific Ocean. I know where white sand comes from, because I've seen it being... excreted. I got my first (and, probably only) hickey ever after I scratched my leg with the same hand I'd been eating ceviche with, and the stringray picked up the scent and went after it. 

I've always, always had a deep sense of appreciation for culture, nature and the arts -- due entirely to learning experiences that happened outside of the classroom. 

So way to go, Michael Rossi! You just won my Dad of the Month award!