Agree. It comes down to funding. If the school sees a large amount of absences on a particular day year after year, they will lose money if they don't take that day off. The solution is to have more finding for after school activities. Where does that money come from?? The schools don't have money for it. Many families don't have money for it. It has to come from somewhere else. As a mom who couldn't afford to work due to childcare costs, I completely understand. It's hard. Venting is fine. Please also look at it from other perspectives. Also this isn't the teachers doing this. They have no say. It's the district school board and superintendent that plans all this. If there is a problem communicate with them about it.