Seattle's mayor thinks kids should be able to skip school for victory parade

If you're a young kid in Seattle you probably love the city's mayor, Ed Murray.

Why?

He thinks you should be allowed to skip school without punishment in order to attend the Seahawks' Super Bowl parade on Wednesday.

It is my hope that the school district will excuse absences for students who want to join their family during the #celebrate48 events
— Ed Murray (@Mayor_Ed_Murray) February 4, 2014

Murray's statement seemed to help sway Seattle Public Schools superintendent Jose Banda to change his stance on the issue. Banda initially said that academics should come first and that any student who skipped school for the parade would be dinged for an unexcused absence.

Banda's stance was not well received by many people in Seattle.

Public Schools superintendent has revised his position on letting kids go to the Seahawks parade.

Instead of automatically dinging student parade-goers with an unexcused absence, Banda said school principals will have the "€œdiscretion"€ to excuse students who skip school for Seattle'€™s downtown victory parade.

"I want you to have the flexibility to do what you feel is best for your school community," Banda wrote to his principals, after 12th Man outrage erupted over his initial announcement.

So have fun, kids. Enjoy the parade. And write a thank you note to your city's mayor.

Ed Murray is the man.