Just e-mailed the principal

[smidgy]

Catnip rules that is what I was trying to say. For our district that's all you need. Now if I were to take my kid of vacation and not let the school know, then they would be unexcused, but as long ad they know there is no truancy penalties involved. I live in Illinois.

I live in Illinois. in the 90's, in high school, you could have 10 unexcused absences.per semester. after that, you didn't get credit for the semester. vacation (however educational) was not an excuse. a doctor's note was.

my word was not. if my son was sick, I had to take him to the dr. and pay $40 for the dr. to tell me that he had a fever, have him drink fluids and get plenty of rest.

when I was in high school in Illinois (back in the early 70's, private school) my mom used to let me "cut" for opening day at Wrigley field . (see, there was her big mistake...had it been Comiskey...I married a white sox fan). (I got good grades, so she thought it was ok)

one year the school counselor went to the game to "spot" truants. (tough job for him, huh?) I was seen and suspended. my mom had to come to school and she raised holy heck. the Dean said calling in wasn't enough,she should have written a letter ahead of time requesting it, as other parents would do so for a family vacation and it was excused. my mom said I had her permission and it wasn't their business why.

so I guess laws in Illionois have gotten stricter. (maybe cause of my mom!)

 

[DopeyDame]

my mom said I had her permission and it wasn't their business why.

This seems to be the only logical point of view. So help me the first time someone tries to give me a hard time about when I do and do not take my child out of school.

I'm happy to accept the school's consequences for absence as far as his academic records - if DS misses school for a vacation and he can't make up a test or gets points off for missed class participation, I'm AOK with that. If that means he gets a C instead of a B, that's a risk you take when you miss school. But to have some truancy officer get involved. Nope. That would be the day DS is removed from that school.

 

[ccgirl]

This seems to be the only logical point of view. So help me the first time someone tries to give me a hard time about when I do and do not take my child out of school.
I'm happy to accept the school's consequences for absence as far as his academic records - if DS misses school for a vacation and he can't make up a test or gets points off for missed class participation, I'm AOK with that. If that means he gets a C instead of a B, that's a risk you take when you miss school. But to have some truancy officer get involved. Nope. That would be the day DS is removed from that school.

Bolded mine. See, this is the part I don't get. Parents are given the handbook. So, you know what your child can and can't do before even sending them. By sending your child, you accept all the school's consequences not just the academic ones.

Unfortunately, school funding is tied to attendance. That is what it comes down to. If you have a school that has low attendance, their funding is going to get pulled. Then, the same parents that keep their kids out will complain how they don't have the best books etc.

As the OP of this thread did, know your handbook before sending your child and adhere to it.

 

[DopeyDame]

As the OP of this thread did, know your handbook before sending your child and adhere to it.

Oh I did know the handbook before sending my kid to the school he's attending. I did a TOOOOON of research, including their attendance policies. However, we're fortunate in that private schools are an option for us, and one of (among many) reasons we chose his private school is because of their respect for family time and the importance of outside-of-school education.

And if, due to a change in administration or whatever, the school ends up threatening truancy because he misses a few days of school for vacation, we have the ability to put him into a different school.

However, not all families have the ability to pay for private schools or to chose the school their kids go to. Many families have to send their kid to the local public school. So it's not really reasonable to suggest that most parents have some choice in the vacation policy before sending their kid to that school.

 

[kt_mom]

Oh I did know the handbook before sending my kid to the school he's attending. I did a TOOOOON of research, including their attendance policies. However, we're fortunate in that private schools are an option for us, and one of (among many) reasons we chose his private school is because of their respect for family time and the importance of outside-of-school education.

And if, due to a change in administration or whatever, the school ends up threatening truancy because he misses a few days of school for vacation, we have the ability to put him into a different school.

However, not all families have the ability to pay for private schools or to chose the school their kids go to. Many families have to send their kid to the local public school. So it's not really reasonable to suggest that most parents have some choice in the vacation policy before sending their kid to that school.

I agree and was going to say the same thing. We are fortunate that we can send DD to a private school and I think their policy is 15 days a semester. So taking her out for a week in the fall gives us plenty of wiggle room should she get sick or have some other kind of emergency during the year. In fact we could take a vacation in the fall and the spring if we wanted. We often let her miss a day here or there for other things as well. She's always allowed to make up all of her work. Its very common at her school for kids to be out for vacations.

I feel bad for families that live in areas where the policies are so strict and that don't the ability or the options to send their kids elsewhere. I would not be able to handle that. THere is no way I'm paying a $30 copay for a Dr. to tell me what I already know just to appease the school.

 

[SaraJayne]

I wouldn't call it militant, but I guess I'd rather have it that way than the lax attendance rules some of the posters here have. While you may be the parent who does actually educate your child on those days you don't want to send her to school, for every one of you, there is another parent who just doesn't bother. Having strict truancy rules helps keep that in check.
If your school policy is everything is excused that is great, but for the ones that don't have that policy, I don't think parents should be trying to excuse a family vacation under the guise of it being for education. It isn't, its a family vacation. The fact that it could be educational has nothing to do with the reason you are taking your child out of school. Like the pp said, you could say that about anything, where do you draw the line?

Actually, the fact we have a pretty lax attendance policy is why people don't take advantage of it, but we're lucky in that our school lets us decide what is right for our families.

 

[ccgirl]

Oh I did know the handbook before sending my kid to the school he's attending. I did a TOOOOON of research, including their attendance policies. However, we're fortunate in that private schools are an option for us, and one of (among many) reasons we chose his private school is because of their respect for family time and the importance of outside-of-school education.

And if, due to a change in administration or whatever, the school ends up threatening truancy because he misses a few days of school for vacation, we have the ability to put him into a different school.

However, not all families have the ability to pay for private schools or to chose the school their kids go to. Many families have to send their kid to the local public school. So it's not really reasonable to suggest that most parents have some choice in the vacation policy before sending their kid to that school.

I hear you. If you do not like the handbook then you try to change it. If you can't you need to live with it. But, a vacation to WDW is not a requirement. If you ( a general you) are breaking the "rules" by going during school you need to accept all the "punishment" that is might bring. School is 180 days a year. That leaves 185 "non-school" days to on vacation.

In the case of the OP, she was not breaking the rules. Quite the opposite. She wrote the letter as requested.

 

[kt_mom]

I hear you. If you do not like the handbook then you try to change it. If you can't you need to live with it. But, a vacation to WDW is not a requirement. If you ( a general you) are breaking the "rules" by going during school you need to accept all the "punishment" that is might bring. School is 180 days a year. That leaves 185 "non-school" days to on vacation.

In the case of the OP, she was not breaking the rules. Quite the opposite. She wrote the letter as requested.

I disagree. Often times those rules are not for the benefit of the child but for financial reasons for the districts. I think parents should have the final say in attendance. Yes there are some deadbeat parents out there, but in many areas I would think that's the minority. And some of the policies I've read on here are beyond strict. They leave almost no wiggle room at all for parents to use their own judgement regarding "their" children. I know my daughter and I know that she can handle missing a week of school. I have friends that know the exact opposite about their child and choose not to take time away from school. Thankfully our school allows each of us to make that decision regarding our own children.

 

[ccgirl]

I disagree. Often times those rules are not for the benefit of the child but for financial reasons for the districts. I think parents should have the final say in attendance. Yes there are some deadbeat parents out there, but in many areas I would think that's the minority. And some of the policies I've read on here are beyond strict. They leave almost no wiggle room at all for parents to use their own judgement regarding "their" children. I know my daughter and I know that she can handle missing a week of school. I have friends that know the exact opposite about their child and choose not to take time away from school. Thankfully our school allows each of us to make that decision regarding our own children.

My school allows the time away as well. It still doesn't change the fact that public school funding is tied to attendance. What if a parent decides their child is okay to miss 10 days a semester? That could decrease funding for all students. I don't think anyone on here has a school where a child cannot miss 5 days of school.

OP - have a great vacation.

 

[sk!mom]

I read this and left and have come back a few times trying to decide what to say and how to word it.
I'm incredibly insulted at your thoughtless and callous words. You have no idea what relationships I have with my childs educators and the leadership at her school and your speculations and assumptions are outrageous. Yeah- it's the internet and you can write whatever you want behind your faceless screen, but come on...

I honestly apologize that I hurt you feelings. I should have worded my post more gently.

However, I stand by the intent of my message which was to make the point that, to me, the note was over the top. I've been to WDW many times and you really stretched the boundaries of believability. I seriously doubt that the note was taken seriously.

But you're correct, I do not know you or your overall relationship with the school.

 

["Cinder" Ella's Mom]

I live in Illinois. in the 90's, in high school, you could have 10 unexcused absences.per semester. after that, you didn't get credit for the semester. vacation (however educational) was not an excuse. a doctor's note was.

my word was not. if my son was sick, I had to take him to the dr. and pay $40 for the dr. to tell me that he had a fever, have him drink fluids and get plenty of rest.

when I was in high school in Illinois (back in the early 70's, private school) my mom used to let me "cut" for opening day at Wrigley field . (see, there was her big mistake...had it been Comiskey...I married a white sox fan). (I got good grades, so she thought it was ok)

one year the school counselor went to the game to "spot" truants. (tough job for him, huh?) I was seen and suspended. my mom had to come to school and she raised holy heck. the Dean said calling in wasn't enough,she should have written a letter ahead of time requesting it, as other parents would do so for a family vacation and it was excused. my mom said I had her permission and it wasn't their business why.

so I guess laws in Illionois have gotten stricter. (maybe cause of my mom!)

Omg . Are you Ferris Buehler??

 

["Cinder" Ella's Mom]

Just want to add one more thing: I hope those of you who are pulling your kids out of school for a week at a time are aware of the extra work you are causing for their teachers. A little gift from Disney(and a sincere thank you) would not be out of line...especially those who are so understanding to your "family time."

 

[smidgy]

[QUOTE="Cinder" Ella's Mom;46286983]Omg . Are you Ferris Buehler??[/QUOTE]





by the way, I didn't give an opinion about taking kids out for a week.. I mentioned that the high school my sons attended in the 90s in Illinois was pretty strict about attendance. a parent's permission was not an excused absence.


and the day I "cut school" (with my parents' permission) it was only one day. I did enjoy the game, though!

 

[luvmy3]

Actually, the fact we have a pretty lax attendance policy is why people don't take advantage of it, but we're lucky in that our school lets us decide what is right for our families.

Our school lets us decide as well. We are free to take our kids out of school for vacation, nobody is telling us we can't. We are not free to have that absence excused though.

 

[jlhansen]

Okay, very rarely do I post, but started to read this and am appalled. I am in awe that the original poster has received so many insensitive and over the top responses. In my opinion I don't believe she was asking for anyone's input, criticism nor opinions in regards to her letter.

She was sharing a great moment for her family and that's what DIS boards are all about. Yes, I know there are many, many people who think Disney is not educational, kids should not be taking out of school etc...and to those people I respect your opinion, but it's not mine end of story. If you don't like her letter, keep quiet and move onto another post.

To the original poster, ignore the people who are on their high horses as they have too much time on their hands. I think your letter was great and good for you for doing it! Have fun in Disney.

 

[luvmy2babies]

Personally my only concern was her getting held to all the details in the letter. I know we went for 10 days and I had plans change and some things we had planned we missed entirely. I wondered if she'd be given a hard time if her daughter didn't have those conversations with CMs in World Showcase for example.

She said she wouldn't.

I agree it can be educational. My daughter is a very hands on learner so I find ways to get learning into every trip we take. She's not much on documenting what she picks up though and I have two empty journals from previous trips to prove it. She can tell me orally.

I can't personally do it because my daughter and I couldn't handle it. She's Dyslexic and we already have a lot of accommodations at school. We have to work very hard already. She is already extra work for her teacher. It's best she is there every day she is able.

If I had a child I could do that with, I probably would, not for a whole week, but I can see adding two days on to a break like say the fall break they have every year.

 

[luvmy3]

Okay, very rarely do I post, but started to read this and am appalled. I am in awe that the original poster has received so many insensitive and over the top responses. In my opinion I don't believe she was asking for anyone's input, criticism nor opinions in regards to her letter.

She was sharing a great moment for her family and that's what DIS boards are all about. Yes, I know there are many, many people who think Disney is not educational, kids should not be taking out of school etc...and to those people I respect your opinion, but it's not mine end of story. If you don't like her letter, keep quiet and move onto another post.

To the original poster, ignore the people who are on their high horses as they have too much time on their hands. I think your letter was great and good for you for doing it! Have fun in Disney.

The OP is below. She was not asking input, she was informing us of what she did. Clearly she has reservations about whether it would be well received by the school as she "gulps" and "hopes it works!"
So, just as she is free to inform all the people who read this public message board, we are all free to share our opinions about what she did. That is how it works. She didn't ask for anything, she came here announcing something. Sorry but if all you are expecting are pats in the back, tell your IRL friends, don't announce it to strangers on the internet

Just e-mailed the principal to try and get credit for my daughter for three of the six days she'll miss at school from our Disney trip. I hope it works!
I wrote a one page letter detailing everything she'd be learning at all of the parks. *gulp*

 

[ccgirl]

[QUOTE="Cinder" Ella's Mom;46287030]Just want to add one more thing: I hope those of you who are pulling your kids out of school for a week at a time are aware of the extra work you are causing for their teachers. A little gift from Disney(and a sincere thank you) would not be out of line...especially those who are so understanding to your "family time."[/QUOTE]

I'm sorry, I don't agree with this. What exactly would I be thanking the teacher for? Should the teacher also bring back gifts for all students when he/she goes on vacation?

In my DD's case there is no "extra" work for the teacher. She gets nothing ahead of time. It all sits in a box and waits for her return.

In many other posters case, they were asked to keep a journal so not sure of all the "extra" work there either.

 

[SaraJayne]

[QUOTE="Cinder" Ella's Mom;46287030]Just want to add one more thing: I hope those of you who are pulling your kids out of school for a week at a time are aware of the extra work you are causing for their teachers. A little gift from Disney(and a sincere thank you) would not be out of line...especially those who are so understanding to your "family time."[/QUOTE]

"Extra work"? How exactly is putting a sheet of paper in a pile to be picked up when we return creating "extra work?"

 

[dillydilly]

My school allows the time away as well. It still doesn't change the fact that public school funding is tied to attendance. What if a parent decides their child is okay to miss 10 days a semester? That could decrease funding for all students. I don't think anyone on here has a school where a child cannot miss 5 days of school.

OP - have a great vacation.

This is one reason why we left public school and imho why schools have become so strict in their policies (and perhaps feel the need to tell parents what to do with their kids). It boils down to money. When my oldest 2 went to a certain public school, the teachers encouraged parents to bring sick children for attendance (which several did, they would sit in the back of the classroom away from other students). They would then walk to the office afterwards and pull their kids out of school because they were sick. I took my kids out on rare occasion for a day trip to DL (which was closer to my home) with the school's blessing. The only thing they asked for was that I was there for attendance.