Do You Take Your Kids Out of School to Go to Disneyland?

[cymbaldiva]

Stuns me to see how many folks will pull their kids out of school to avoid lines - I mean, you made the choice to have children, isn't it your responsibility to get them to school to educate them?

 

[sophies*mom]

Stuns me to see how many folks will pull their kids out of school to avoid lines - I mean, you made the choice to have children, isn't it your responsibility to get them to school to educate them?

I didn't realize kids missing a few days of school a year made them uneducated...
http://www.disboards.com//www.pinterest.com/pin/create/extension/

 

[junmatno]

Stuns me to see how many folks will pull their kids out of school to avoid lines - I mean, you made the choice to have children, isn't it your responsibility to get them to school to educate them?

We communicate with our kids teachers and they work on homework while we travel and when we get home. It's also my responsibility to raise MY children, and my choice to take them out for a few days of school if I CHOOSE TO.
Also I'm not avoiding lines, I'm there in the prime time so don't make Assumptions....

 

[TheLanes]

Stuns me to see how many folks will pull their kids out of school to avoid lines - I mean, you made the choice to have children, isn't it your responsibility to get them to school to educate them?

thankfully our children are smart enough to handle 5-6 days a year without being edumacated by their teachers.

 

[mummabear]

Stuns me to see how many folks will pull their kids out of school to avoid lines - I mean, you made the choice to have children, isn't it your responsibility to get them to school to educate them?

I dare say that children who have been lucky enough to travel-even if it is just to another city within their own country are more educated than those who never get that opportunity but never miss a day of school.
There are plenty of ways to be smart, plenty of ways to educate children and plenty of places to do it. Life skills as well as "smarts" and plenty of education time that can be done on a Disney trip especially for Elementary students.

 

[lovebug33]

Stuns me to see how many folks will pull their kids out of school to avoid lines - I mean, you made the choice to have children, isn't it your responsibility to get them to school to educate them?

The best part is when parents get back after their children have missed a week so they can go to Disneyland and then complain because their kids don't understand the material. Even better are the parents who have asked me to stay after school and tutor said children and take away from my time with my family because they chose to pull their kids out. Or when I'm supposed to spend hours getting material ready for them to take on their trip.

 

[starjazz]

Or when I'm supposed to spend hours getting material ready for them to take on their trip.

My child is in 2nd grade. Is it inappropriate for me to ask her teacher for some extra work so that she stays on top of things while we're gone? Does it really take HOURS to get that together? If so, we can tutor her using other material, but I always figured a teacher appreciated a parent who asked for some of that so that the kid can keep up.

And yeah, I think a week out of school is worth the quality break in the dead of winter. Short of a 45/15 calendar, many kids need it. And I'll do it to avoid the summer crowds and heat every time. If that makes me a terrible parent by some standards, ah well, I'll still sleep tonight.

 

[disneychrista]

Honestly, I think the average elementary kids can afford to take a week off of school. If your child is already struggling, then NO you shouldn't pull them out for Disneyland. As kids get further in school the harder it becomes. The last year I pulled was 4th/6th grade. After that we bit the bullet and did trips during breaks, even if that meant crowds and heat.

 

[lovebug33]

My child is in 2nd grade. Is it inappropriate for me to ask her teacher for some extra work so that she stays on top of things while we're gone? Does it really take HOURS to get that together? If so, we can tutor her using other material, but I always figured a teacher appreciated a parent who asked for some of that so that the kid can keep up.

And yeah, I think a week out of school is worth the quality break in the dead of winter. Short of a 45/15 calendar, many kids need it. And I'll do it to avoid the summer crowds and heat every time. If that makes me a terrible parent by some standards, ah well, I'll still sleep tonight.

Yes, it does take hours. I don't do worksheets in my class, so trying to find something would take a long time. Although in our district we are not allowed to give out extra work unless there is an illness or death in the family.

 

[beachdreamr1229]

Yes, it does take hours. I don't do worksheets in my class, so trying to find something would take a long time. Although in our district we are not allowed to give out extra work unless there is an illness or death in the family.

I don't know. Maybe it depends on the district and type of class. I'm excited for my students when I hear they will be going to Disneyland or anywhere else for that matter. There are a lot of learning opportunities in the theme park. As a semi-local teacher with many students frequently going to Disneyland for the day, I've developed activities for my students to do at Disneyland that tie in to our concepts. So, even if I don't make a huge packet of busy work, they're still learning key concepts from the curriculum and having fun while doing it. Also, I have my lessons planned out a few weeks in advance, so if my students are going out of town or are hospitalized/sick, I can easily pull up a list of what needs to be assigned.

 

[mrsbicewdw]

I don't know. Maybe it depends on the district and type of class. I'm excited for my students when I hear they will be going to Disneyland or anywhere else for that matter. There are a lot of learning opportunities in the theme park. As a semi-local teacher with many students frequently going to Disneyland for the day, I've developed activities for my students to do at Disneyland that tie in to our concepts. So, even if I don't make a huge packet of busy work, they're still learning key concepts from the curriculum and having fun while doing it. Also, I have my lessons planned out a few weeks in advance, so if my students are going out of town or are hospitalized/sick, I can easily pull up a list of what needs to be assigned.

:thumbsup: You sound like an awesome teacher! We only have one in preschool right now, and a toddler. But from the time my kids could pay attention/interact, I was pointing out things to them. From counting apples at the store to searching for letters on signs as we drive, I am trying to teach them something every day. Disneyland, like you say, is a great opportunity for kids to learn at any age.

I had to take a family trip in high school and miss some class. One of my teachers assigned me a journal to keep, for creative writing practice. My math teacher gave me all the homework for the week and I looked up online how to do what I didn't understand. I stayed on the Deans list and had a good trip.

 

[westcoastminnie]

We have and will continue to take our child out of school for "off-season" visits - at least until high school. Elementary I didn't think twice - we didn't even ask for homework. Now in middle school we talk to the teachers a few weeks in advance, but to date other than keeping a journal for English and bringing our Animation Academy drawings to his Art teacher, he hasn't been assigned homework (and not because the teachers are unwilling, they just feel one week is not enough to truly get behind). This year our child will do the "Concours Oratoire" (French public speaking competition) on one of our favourite subjects: Walt Disney I think our off-season trips *may* come to an end in about Grade 10 due to Provincial exams and more intense semesters, but we'll cross that bridge when we come to it - never say never I think as long as the child is doing well and there is an open line of communication with the teacher about expectations, I don't think it's a big deal.

 

[sophies*mom]

Yeah, if there was something important happening in school like midterms/finals or something that would seriously jeopardize their grades, then obviously we wouldn't take our kids out. I think most parents are responsible enough (or have enough common sense) to realize their kids shouldn't miss school for things like that.

 

[StyledSugar]

I don't think anyone needs to rationalize anything when it comes to taking a kid out of school for a day or a week for a family vacation. It's a family vacation and a week off of school isn't going to damage them for the remainder of the year. It's a week!

Anywho, we went at the start of September one year (about a week after school went back) and it was fantastic! The weather was great and the crowds were LOW. I would definitely go back at that time!

We are doing Feb 4-11 this year and I am hoping for lower crowds than we had during the week following Presidents Day about 9 years ago. It was BUSY! This is pre-DIS and everyone kept telling us how slow it was during February. We definitely picked the wrong dates in February during that trip! Certainly not what we expected!

 

[lovebug33]

I don't know. Maybe it depends on the district and type of class. I'm excited for my students when I hear they will be going to Disneyland or anywhere else for that matter. There are a lot of learning opportunities in the theme park. As a semi-local teacher with many students frequently going to Disneyland for the day, I've developed activities for my students to do at Disneyland that tie in to our concepts. So, even if I don't make a huge packet of busy work, they're still learning key concepts from the curriculum and having fun while doing it. Also, I have my lessons planned out a few weeks in advance, so if my students are going out of town or are hospitalized/sick, I can easily pull up a list of what needs to be assigned.

I'm curious what grade you teach. As a fifth grade teacher, there is no way I could plan my lessons weeks in advance. We sometimes don't get to a lesson and then we are behind. I'm still teaching plans I made before Christmas because my kids didn't get the math. I don't care if anybody takes their kids out. My point is don't come to me expecting me to feel sympathy for your child when they fail a test because they weren't here. Or ask me to tutor your child because they weren't here. Or give extra work. If you want to leave, have at it, but don't expect me to do extra work. I do wish, though, that people would respect the job that teachers do. You can't replicate the teaching in the classroom by going to Disneyland. 99 percent of what you do at Disneyland is not educational. Many of these posts end up being I can yank my kid because I can do a few worksheets and make up the work. What I do is far beyond a few worksheets. And elementary school does do important work. We lay the ground work for middle and high school. Is one week going to hurt your child? Depends on the child. But respect the teachers.

 

[TheLanes]

I'm curious what grade you teach. As a fifth grade teacher, there is no way I could plan my lessons weeks in advance. We sometimes don't get to a lesson and then we are behind. I'm still teaching plans I made before Christmas because my kids didn't get the math. I don't care if anybody takes their kids out. My point is don't come to me expecting me to feel sympathy for your child when they fail a test because they weren't here. Or ask me to tutor your child because they weren't here. Or give extra work. If you want to leave, have at it, but don't expect me to do extra work. I do wish, though, that people would respect the job that teachers do. You can't replicate the teaching in the classroom by going to Disneyland. 99 percent of what you do at Disneyland is not educational. Many of these posts end up being I can yank my kid because I can do a few worksheets and make up the work. What I do is far beyond a few worksheets. And elementary school does do important work. We lay the ground work for middle and high school. Is one week going to hurt your child? Depends on the child. But respect the teachers.

Like students, some teachers are better than others. Some teachers may have their plans laid out well in advance and are good enough to stick to them. Some may be flying by the seats of their pants.

I do agree with the last sentence...

 

[KalamityJane]

Disneyland can be educational if you are looking for it. I'm always looking for ways to tie in and help my kids learn (granted, my kids are still young). For instance, talking about centrifugal force and how it keeps Screamin cars on the tracks through the loop. Why in World of Color, you can see the lights on the spray of the water. The history in Frontierland, and how things were back then. Reading Tom Sawyer and then going to TS Island. That sort of thing.

 

[emily94]

I'm curious what grade you teach. As a fifth grade teacher, there is no way I could plan my lessons weeks in advance. We sometimes don't get to a lesson and then we are behind. I'm still teaching plans I made before Christmas because my kids didn't get the math. I don't care if anybody takes their kids out. My point is don't come to me expecting me to feel sympathy for your child when they fail a test because they weren't here. Or ask me to tutor your child because they weren't here. Or give extra work. If you want to leave, have at it, but don't expect me to do extra work. I do wish, though, that people would respect the job that teachers do. You can't replicate the teaching in the classroom by going to Disneyland. 99 percent of what you do at Disneyland is not educational. Many of these posts end up being I can yank my kid because I can do a few worksheets and make up the work. What I do is far beyond a few worksheets. And elementary school does do important work. We lay the ground work for middle and high school. Is one week going to hurt your child? Depends on the child. But respect the teachers.

Would you have the same response to a child who was pulled out of school for a family emergency, hospital visit, etc.? (totally agree with your last sentiment, my aunt teaches elementary and my mom is a college professor)

 

[Minniesgal]

I'm curious what grade you teach. As a fifth grade teacher, there is no way I could plan my lessons weeks in advance. We sometimes don't get to a lesson and then we are behind. I'm still teaching plans I made before Christmas because my kids didn't get the math. I don't care if anybody takes their kids out. My point is don't come to me expecting me to feel sympathy for your child when they fail a test because they weren't here. Or ask me to tutor your child because they weren't here. Or give extra work. If you want to leave, have at it, but don't expect me to do extra work. I do wish, though, that people would respect the job that teachers do. You can't replicate the teaching in the classroom by going to Disneyland. 99 percent of what you do at Disneyland is not educational. Many of these posts end up being I can yank my kid because I can do a few worksheets and make up the work. What I do is far beyond a few worksheets. And elementary school does do important work. We lay the ground work for middle and high school. Is one week going to hurt your child? Depends on the child. But respect the teachers.

r

Respect the teachers wholeheartedly agree

But maintaining a parents right to make what try believe is the best decision for their child an family is not disrespecting teachers

Is school important heck yeah of course it is but is is family. Family is around long after formal education has ended and good relationships with parents and siblings last a lifetime. School is important but not the be all and end all to a child's life. If mine needed to miss a week of school to have a week of connected family time I would do it and work with them myself on return to catch up

All family simply cannot afford to travel during school holidays and those children should not miss out

 

[lovebug33]

Would you have the same response to a child who was pulled out of school for a family emergency, hospital visit, etc.? (totally agree with your last sentiment, my aunt teaches elementary and my mom is a college professor)

Of course not. An illness or a death in the family is not something you can plan for. And then you have to leave. A vacation can be taken at times when a child is not at school. I think it's funny people who say that all kids deserve a vacation. I have taught students who are so poor, they haven't ever even gone to a restaurant, let alone a vacation. Disney trips are truly a privilege that we are lucky to have. I think we often forget that.