School Absenteeism

 I understand that school absenteeism has really blossomed since the end of the pandemic.  I certainly think that many people learned that school isn't all that necessary and I have to say that I wonder what academic work is actually being done within the school.  There are lots of valuable things going on inside the school, but I really don't feel that my grandchildren in Canada have a good understanding of the geography of Canada and how our own country "fits" together.  It's something that they should know by eighth grade.  Their knowledge of history is also limited.  

In our family, to complicate matter even further, both of the grandsons are heavily involved in ski racing.  One of them is participating in both nordic and downhill racing.  The meets occur almost every weekend of the winter season which means they often miss TWO days of school - the meets are comprised of events on Friday, Saturday and Sunday - and there is a day of travelling involved, often.  In March, the boys are going to Smithers, BC (over 500 km away) for some ski races.  It happens to be "winter break" in Smithers.  They will get back from Smithers and begin their two week "spring break" for the last 2 weeks of March.  They are going to have nearly a month away from school.  It's bizarre.  

I DO feel that they get a good learning experience from ski racing and they are meeting lots of new people.  The boys aren't particularly academically-oriented so perhaps it doesn't even matter.  I'd really like to see a return to some regular consistency in the school year that devotes itself to the three Rs but I don't think that is to be.  And perhaps I'm just way too "old school" for this generation.   At least they get to experience the winter wonderland of Canada!