Am I being selfish??

[WsPrincess]

Where are your schools? Not where mine are. The kids really have lots of work and really progress. Most go on to college and they aren't going to go to college if they don't do anything in elementary or middle school.

Not where mine are either. Even the youngest kids in school have a lot going on and missing time is hard. Do I think missing a couple days for a vacation will ruin their schooling, no, but I know in my district every day is important and when a student misses there is a lot to make up.

 

[k3chantal]

Not where mine are either. Even the youngest kids in school have a lot going on and missing time is hard. Do I think missing a couple days for a vacation will ruin their schooling, no, but I know in my district every day is important and when a student misses there is a lot to make up.

Got to jump on the boat....elementary school is very important....totally okay to miss a few days for a family vacation but don't dismiss what you learn there.

 

[tarak]

Most elementary schools teach very little, so if the kids are young take them and go. The kids are just lumped in classes with slow learners and sit all day so missing won't harm them. They could miss a month and not be behind.

Once the kids start taking algebra, chemistry and the like, missing a few days can really matter. It's not worth losing an "A" over.

I realize it depends heavily on the state in which you live as well as the school district. But my kids have homework Monday through Thursday nights starting with kindergarten. My oldest daughter just finished third grade and she had homework on the weekends.

That said, we've taken our kids out of school for Disney vacations every two years or so. They had to make a photo essay of what they learned in addition to making up their missed homework. This next January will probably be the last time we do it. We're fortunate that the school is closed the Monday before Thanksgiving through the Monday after. So we'll save our pennies and go then.

 

[MakiraMarlena]

the OP is the grandparent, not the parent - what do the parents want to do? Assuming the OP doesn't have custody of the kids. Agreed, the school policy is the school policy...shouldn't expect the school to change it or allow an exception just for this situation.

If the parents don't want to pull the kids out of school, then reschedule for a time when everybody can go, even if it means you need to go in the summer. Are the grandparents (who are providing the trip apparently, or at least the lodging) so against going in the summer that they are considering pressuring the parents to take the kids out of school despite the policy? Have the parents even told the grandparents how they feel about it yet? What will the OP do if their son or daughter says "Sorry, we can't pull the kids from school for this vacation." Go without them? Reschedule? Get angry with them? These are things to think about while there is still time before booking.

All you can do is talk to the parents and tell them "This is when we want to have the reunion at WDW" and let them make their own decision.

 

[crisi]

Most elementary schools teach very little, so if the kids are young take them and go. The kids are just lumped in classes with slow learners and sit all day so missing won't harm them. They could miss a month and not be behind.

Once the kids start taking algebra, chemistry and the like, missing a few days can really matter. It's not worth losing an "A" over.

My kids started algebra in third grade. Simple algebra, but they were doing spiral math and so advanced concepts came very young.

My daughter had multi variable equations in forth.

 

[disneyobessed]

Most elementary schools teach very little, so if the kids are young take them and go. The kids are just lumped in classes with slow learners and sit all day so missing won't harm them. They could miss a month and not be behind.

Once the kids start taking algebra, chemistry and the like, missing a few days can really matter. It's not worth losing an "A" over.

I cant say this is the case in Massachusetts.. As a previous post had said, my kids started homework in kinderg. By 2nd grade kids are placed with peers at similiar levels in math and reading...

 

[Mississippian]

I realize it depends heavily on the state in which you live as well as the school district. But my kids have homework Monday through Thursday nights starting with kindergarten. My oldest daughter just finished third grade and she had homework on the weekends.

Oh, my kids have had lots of busywork over the years, but that is quite different from something being covered in class that they didn't already know. I suppose by missing school they could miss some homework assignments, but in elementary school there would certainly be no risk of being behind.

My kids started algebra in third grade. Simple algebra, but they were doing spiral math and so advanced concepts came very young.

My daughter had multi variable equations in forth.

My kids started pre-algebra in sixth grade, and I will say it is a class where it is important to keep up. Until then, no challenges. My son is now in eighth-grade geometry and advanced English, but all of his other classes are geared for slow learners. I think next year he can leave the slow learners completely behind.

But my point is until kids get into the harder classes, they simply aren't going to miss anything because they aren't learning anything.

 

[Brian Noble]

Most elementary schools teach very little, so if the kids are young take them and go. The kids are just lumped in classes with slow learners and sit all day so missing won't harm them. They could miss a month and not be behind.

That was certainly not my experience. If this came even vaguely close to describing my kids' school, I would have wasted no time getting them placed somewhere else---either a school of choice or a private school.

 

[smjj]

Ok, let me(OP) clairify a few things about this trip. All families were onboard for this time originally and were looking forward to it and had already told the kids and they are excited about it. These cousins are very close and we just don't want to break it up into two seperate vacations where we take one family and turn around and take another when they can go later. It is a money and points issue and I would not want to be the one to tell one set of kids their cousins are going now and you must wait another 6 months before you get to go. They are not old enought to understand that. The school board here just this last month changed the policy and threw the monkey wrench in to this time period and now all this is up in the air. One set of parents is not affected and one is(different school districts). Both still want to go. Our daughter is still trying to pry out of the scholl just how strict is this policy and since we had already aggreed on this time what now. No one is pressuring anyone else but all interested parties are giving their opinions as should be expected. All have gone during the summer and do not want to repeat that mess with crowds, hot weather and waiting in 1+ hour long lines with small kids in tow.
We as the grandparents believe this may be the last time we can get all together for this Disney family vacation and really want to work something out and are working to do just this. No one is demanding this or that or pressuring others we are just trying to make it work, ok....smjj

 

[Starr W.]

My son is now in eighth-grade geometry and advanced English, but all of his other classes are geared for slow learners. I think next year he can leave the slow learners completely behind.

But my point is until kids get into the harder classes, they simply aren't going to miss anything because they aren't learning anything.

That certainly doesn't sound like my school district, and I have a HS student and 5th grader. And yes we have pulled the kids out for Mon-Tues of T-giving week for years and 3rd grade and up they have had homework, that I wouldn't classify as "busy work".



If I were you I would be looking at my private school options.

 

[crisi]

Oh, my kids have had lots of busywork over the years, but that is quite different from something being covered in class that they didn't already know. I suppose by missing school they could miss some homework assignments, but in elementary school there would certainly be no risk of being behind.


My kids started pre-algebra in sixth grade, and I will say it is a class where it is important to keep up. Until then, no challenges. My son is now in eighth-grade geometry and advanced English, but all of his other classes are geared for slow learners. I think next year he can leave the slow learners completely behind.

But my point is until kids get into the harder classes, they simply aren't going to miss anything because they aren't learning anything.

By sixth grade my daughter was doing advanced algebra....my son (not as advanced) started it in seventh.

They got Greek and Latin roots starting in forth grade. Their first research paper was written in third grade. Had they shown up in middle school needing to learn how to write a research paper, they would have been moved to remedial English.

These are ordinary Minnesota public schools.

 

[Mississippian]

That was certainly not my experience. If this came even vaguely close to describing my kids' school, I would have wasted no time getting them placed somewhere else---either a school of choice or a private school.

Our local schools -- and perhaps all in our state -- are under federal court order not to have any sort of ability grouping in the early grades. The kids do learn, they just don't learn nearly as much as they could if they were grouped by ability and then taught at a level that was slightly more advanced that what they had already mastered. My experience is that the private schools don't have the resources to do a very good job, either. The situation starts to reverse a little in middle school, and in high school they can select their courses and escape the slow students.

By sixth grade my daughter was doing advanced algebra....my son (not as advanced) started it in seventh.

They got Greek and Latin roots starting in forth grade. Their first research paper was written in third grade. Had they shown up in middle school needing to learn how to write a research paper, they would have been moved to remedial English.

These are ordinary Minnesota public schools.

The cutoff score to be a National Merit Scholar in Minnesota is between 213 and 215 depending on the year. The cutoff score for Mississippi or West Virginia or South Dakota runs 202-205. This is a reflection of the fact that our best students just aren't getting a rigorous education.

The good news is that it doesn't take much for a bright student who is pushed a bit to be a NM finalist in Mississippi. In Minnesota I'm not sure my kids would make the cut, but as long as they don't have a bad test day I feel good about there chances here.

We're totally off thread, but I hope this explains my cynicism about elementary grades. In many states they just are not very challenging on purpose. That story changes with the kids get in jr. high and high school and actually are allowed to take some harder courses. So I wouldn't hesitate to take kids out of elementary grades, but eighth-grade math (if algebra or above) will go on their graduation g.p.a., and I would think parents would want to keep those grades as high as possible.

 

[tarak]

Oh, my kids have had lots of busywork over the years, but that is quite different from something being covered in class that they didn't already know. I suppose by missing school they could miss some homework assignments, but in elementary school there would certainly be no risk of being behind.

The third grader started geometry and algebra last year. My first grader had mostly reading and spelling, but also some math. I didn't consider it busy work since she now reads chapter books independently. I can understand your frustration with the elementary schools. It's just my opinion that ours are fairly challenging.

smjj - I hope you're able to work things out for your family and everyone is able to go and enjoy the World!

 

[Jacksonev1]

My school district allows for 1 week of pre approved family leave per student per year-as long as the student has all B's or higher.

With that said, I have taken my son out of school to visit Disney one week each year. We prefer to spend a little less time waiting in lines during our vacations.

My son is able to make up his work, and go on. Please keep in mind that he is going into the 3rd grade this year. We have a vacation planned for late September, so I sure do hope he keeps his grades up!

 

[turkeymama]

Wow, what a great school policy! I wish more schools would do things like this.