Present and correct

[SPUGGIE J]

We would all like to be sure that our offspring are in school getting and education but though there are many ways this made me laugh. Picked up the weekly rag and these two stories made the front page and made for a good start to my day.


PUPILS are getting top marks for turning up to school as a crackdown on poor attendance shows results.
Texts and the threat of parents being prosecuted has cut truancy rates, while the number of families taking their children out of class for holidays during term-time is also down.

But Falkirk Council's acclaimed text alert system to let parents know if a pupil is not in class short-circuited this week when EVERY family with a youngster in a high school's first year received a message to say their child was absent.

Instead of getting in touch with just 15 families, 221 with youngsters in S1 at Denny High were contacted through the Groupcall system.

Rector Stephen Miller apologised for Monday's mix-up and said steps were being taken to ensure it didn't happen again.

He said: "Groupcall has been very successfully used on a daily basis to inform parents of the welfare of their child. Unfortunately, we experienced a problem with the system on Monday morning.

http://www.falkirkherald.co.uk/news/...ect.3160675.jp

A SCHOOLBOY was praised for perfect attendance ... even though he has lived in America for the last four years!
Stuart Fox was sent a letter from education director Julia Swan congratulating him for going to Graeme High School every day during the 2006/07 session.

He was sent a 'Present and Correct' pen, as well as a free pass to use at Falkirk Council's swimming pools until the end of the year.

However, the teenager might find it a bit costly to take up the offer of free swimming as he has lived on the other side of the Atlantic since 2003.

He moved from Fullerton Drive, Polmont, to the United States with his parents and younger brother when his dad took up a new job.

The present owners of the house were bemused when the latest letter arrived congratulating him on his 100 per cent attendance.

Janie Irvine said: "We have received mail for them in the past and on at least two occasions sent it back with covering notes saying the family no longer lives at this address."

A spokeswoman for education services blamed a clerical error.

http://www.falkirkherald.co.uk/news/...ten.3160657.jp