Am I wrong to do this?

[dizprincess27]

Ok I know this has been discussed many times b4, but I need some new perspectives here. I'm taking my 11 yr old dd out of school for not one week but OMG 2 next May for a land/sea vacation adding 3 nights to the land portion. Am I a horrible Mom or what?

Here is my theory: We're going in the beginning of May and school lets out the in middle of June so I'm thinking 4th quarter grades will mostly be in. The price is waay lower than going Summer break or Easter break so I'm able to do the Poly with a Verandah room I was planning on having her do the necessary work one week prior and one week after we return to make up what she missed. She is a Silver Honor Roll Student (A's & B's) but she does have to study and she tends to be a bit lazy. I'm thinking since this whole trip is a Christmas present, I'll just make sure she does what she has to to get the schoolwork done. I just didn't realize that I'm actually adding 4 days of missed school onto the trip and then it hit me.

Any of you out there that would do the same? Please give me some reassurance that this will be okay? Thanks.

 

[justmestace]

We took our two (ages 10 & 13) out of school for 10 days last fall when we went to Jamaica & Bonaire.
I did what you're planning....had them do some work ahead of time, and then some "catch-up" work. I met with the teachers ahead of time, and neither one of mine are quite that good a student. It worked out great. I did make them write a journal of all that they had seen and done, just so they were doing something similar to home work each night. They shared their journals at school, and ended up getting extra credit for them.
I was amazed at what they had written. It helped me with writing on my pictures (to remember where we were at the time).
That's how good a job they did.
As long as you meet with the teacher, and make sure you get her to do some of the work ahead of time, so she's not totally over loaded.....see if the teacher will let her do a "report" of her trip.......it should be fine. Make sure you check to see that you won't be over the number of days that they're allowed to be absent. Our kids have to be in school for "X" amount of days in order to pass.

 

[dinnysuw]

Hi, I am a fellow "awful" mother who is taking her 9 year old twins out for a week this september-we took them out last october for a WDW week as well. We just requested in advance the shoolwork as well as homework that they needed and discussed it with them prior to leaving, letting them know that this would be included in their vacation-after the parks we would come back to the cabin and there was no TV or play ytime until that days work was done! I heard on the Magic 7 day cruisers can use the library-i plan on having them do it in the room so i can keep an eye on them. we too are saving money going on the off season-school will have been in for just under a month when we leave. I am sure you'll get mixed opinions but IMHO I say- you (we) are great mothers! come on.. a trip to WDW AND a cruise does it get any better? You ROCK! (as my DD would say) Just make a plan on when the work will be done and talk with the teachers a few weeks in advance-most are happy to oblige. BTW my kids grades weren't affected in the least! Hope this eases your mind (guilt) a bit!
Darcy

 

[traycie2201]

you'll get various responses on this i'm sure , i know it's been posted before, i'll be taking DS 13 out for nearly 3 weeks in october, and frankly it's my choice and i'll live with it , in the UK we can apply for 2 weeks holiday per school year and he didn't take any time out last year, he's ahead in school can catch up easily and will learn more about geographical locations on a cruise and stay than he can from text books, he'll have fantastic experiences and writing a few trip reports when he comes home will help too, i don't plan on having him do any homework on holiday , after all i won't be taking my work with me, but thats not a flame for other posters who do choose that option it's just each to their own so please don't take offense. I wouldn't take him out at exam time either but i won't be losing sleep over my choices and i for one certainly don't think youre a bad mum and i'm sure your kids don't either . Have a wonderful holiday and enjoy. the schoolwork will still be there when you get home

 

[webray]

You are a great mom..we took all three of ours out of school for 2 weeks every year..midmay for a disney vacation. They loved it...they got most of their work ahead of time..we usually drove, so they did it in the car on the way down. Whatever the teachers didn't have ready...they made up when they got home.

Vacations are such a great learning experience...how can you go wrong.

 

[yodasdabomb]

I don't think it is a problem to take kids out but I would call the school May is usually when Standardized test take place... at least here, and if your children miss them it can hurt the school. I think as long as you let the school know way in advance it will be fine though. It is an experience that most kids don't get and I think they can learn a lot from it. Just be prepared to face some un happy teachers. I myself would understand if I was teaching but I have worked with teachers who wouldn't. Good Luck !

 

[jenanderson]

I work at a school (teach computers) and experience this all of the time. I am thrilled for my students who are getting to experience something new. I also pull my own kids out for vacations. The one thing that you can do to be sure that you give the most consideration to the teacher is let them know way ahead of time. Also, just let them know that you are willing to help them think up assignments as well. For example - I had a student who went to WDW at the end of the year. He missed 2 weeks of my math class. Instead of me having to take time to write lessons that were special just for him (extra work for me), his mother and I talked about having him keep a journal of math used on the trip. Examples of the journal he brought back included; figuring out elapsed time (if they got up at 7:00 and wanted to be to a show at 9:20, how much time did they have to ride rides), estimation of people in lines, figuring the price of his meals, and more neat ideas. The mom actually came to me with the idea and I thought it was wonderful. It was a great review of all the math we had done all year in 2nd grade and gave him a very unique journal of his trip.

A lot of teachers complain about kids being pulled more because they usually find out last minute and then have to come up with all of the homework. Often the work that is done in the classroom cannot be done on vacation so it means that the teacher has to plan special lessons for just one child.

So, I have rambled on about this but I think it is important to be sure you let the teacher know as soon as you can and be willing to help think of creative things your child can do that does not require the teacher to make new lessons. Have a super time and don't worry about missing school!

 

[TheWog]

GO FOR IT!!!! I'm in the "awful parent" category. I took my son out for a week plus a day and would (and will) do it again in a heartbeat. Have a great trip and don't worry... but you are right you will get some who will loudly disagree. Keep cruisin'

 

[dizprincess27]

Thank you fellow "Great Moms" I feel much better about my decision now and will definitely tell the teachers at the beginning of this year!! Hopefully we can come up with a plan that works for both my dd and the school. I'm soooo excited because this is a Christmas Gift to her and I didn't want to have to worry about pulling her out of school!!

Thanks again.

:

 

[kellimomo3]

We are pulling our kids out of school for two weeks in January. They will be in 2nd grade, 1st grade and preschool. I am planning to tell their teachers at their September conferences and work with them to get the work done. I think the experience we will have as a family is priceless and have never once second guessed our decision!! Go & Have Fun!!!


Kelli

 

[invaderzim]

We took my daughter out of school every single year during elementary school for two weeks in October to visit my in-laws in Tennessee. Never gave it a second thought -- family comes first. Then when she entered middle school, we went to WDW and Disney Cruises for the next four years during Jersey week (much cheaper) (first week of November) -- causing her to miss 2-1/2 days of school. Never gave it a second thought.

The teachers were always understanding and she made up whatever she missed when she got back. She is a H.S. senior this year and we are taking our cruise in August -- the first time in 4 years that we aren't going in November and the first time in 10 years that she will not miss any school.

So don't sweat it -- make sure the kids get their make-up work (ask for it ahead of time so they can get a head start), inform the teachers and the principal -- AND HAVE A BLAST. They will only be young once. Make the most of it -- whatever month you go.

 

[disneyjunkie]

If you can do it without it hurting you daughter's grades, then go for it.

We don't have that option. We have to travel during school break or not go at all. If my son missed two weeks of school, he'd fail every class. He's going into the 8th grade. They'll have to take 2 regents exams next June(earth science and 9th grade math)plus 4 state exams during the year( Ela, 8th grade math, science and social studies).

Each family has to do what works best for them.

I say go and have a great time.

 

[TheWog]

Hey, I'm a Dad, but apparently just one of the girls......

 

[Scratch42]

And you know what the funny thing is, DD was off for vacations 2 weeks total plus 2 weeks because of a virus she caught after she got back from one of our little jaunts.

When she brought her report card home, the first thing we both noticed ~ Total Days Abscent = 3.5 days!

Go Figure!

And they were trying to tell me DD needed Math Help!

Life Experience outweighs classroom anyday!

Enjoy your cruise!

Say Hi to Uncle Mickey!

Don't Worry About it!

Scratch

 

[RebeccaLovesDisney]

I think as long as you give the school plenty of notice and communicate with the teacher about missed assignments, etc. you should be fine.

We are having a similar dilemma on our December cruise. We are already taking our kids, a 4th grader and a 1st grader, out for our Dec. 11 cruise. They will miss 4 school days that week, since Friday is the first day of their winter break. I have no reservations about them missing these days since the week before Christmas tends to be very non-academic. However, we also want to visit WDW and I think most would agree that visiting the parks before the cruise is preferable. But that would mean more days missed of school. So we will be making the same decision that you are

Good luck!!

 

[musicgirl]

GO, GO, GO

I may not be a classroom teacher, but I am a teacher just the same! If the calendar is available, try to check to see that she is not missing an important activity at school.

We just got back from our 3rd cruise (1st 7 night) and feel that it was an incredible experience to learn about other cultures and for our family.

Of course, I'm hooked. But as a teacher in our schools, I can not just take off and go during the school year when the rates are alot cheaper.

The only times for us are peak times. We're brainstorming how to go again perhaps in the summer of 2006

I know I am blessed to have been able to go, so I'm not complaining one bit. If I never get to go again, then that's life.

So off my soapbox, Go and take advantage of the price break.

Lorie

 

[hydster]

I say go for it as well! Our kids have missed at least 1 week of school every year since Kindgergarten and honestly I think it has made them better students because they prioritize better. The experiences our kids have had while on vacation have been priceless and ones that they couldn't get at school...like learning how a locksmith works on a rental car LOL and learning what to do when you credit card gets stolen, your passport gets lost or you have to spend 150 dollars of "free" money to buy clothes when your luggage ended split open and stuff was missing! I don't think you can substitute a "real" education in the world for sitting behind a desk adding 2+2 or learning the value of X. If taking your kids out is a bad mom then count me in the mix as well! I'd make it clear to your kids teachers that they will be going and tell them you'd appreciate their help. When I was a Sr. in High School my dad took my whole family on our first cruise. I am the baby so I was the only one in public school and all of my teachers were great except one who told my dad I couldn't go. I was heartbroken but my dad just told him to shove it and took me anyway. The teacher threatened to fail me and he did give me a D but I survived it, got into college and ALMOST got my bachelors degree but then an unscheduled pregnancy happened and I've never gone back.

Go and have a great time! They are only little once!
Heidi

*edited to add..it's easier sometimes to ask for forgivness rather than permission! *

 

[bobsuzla]

My thought process works a little like this: Quality family time is every bit as important as education, I, unfortunately, work in a job where I have seaonal requirements; ie blackout periods; for vacation... I am not permitted to use any of my 3 weeks vacation during the summer months, therefore we vacation in Oct-April.

I have actually even let my daughter play hooky from school once or twice to have a Mommy daughter day when I was coming off 2or3 55 hr work weeks in a row... It makes me a better parent to have some quality time to truly know what is going on inside of her brain!!!

 

[tiggrbaby]

I would check to see what the attendance policy is in your district. You may need to be very sure that your daughter does not use a lot of sick days before the trip in case your district has a limit on the number of days a student can miss and still get credit for the year. It would be a good idea to speak with the teachers individually (or as a team if it is a true middle school) about the time off. Teachers don't always know exactly what the assignments will be three weeks ahead of time (or have their copywork back!), but if they post homework online or have a homework hotline, you could get assignments as you go. Offering to do an extra assignment in addition to make-up work before and after is a very good idea. It lets them know that you realize that eduacation is important. I would think that they could appreciate your effort at making sure your daughter is keeping up with the class.

 

[PeachyK]

I have taken my kids out because I could not possibly afford peak time. I always made sure it wasn't a conflict with testing or any other required time.

The only part I would mention is that my kids teachers would not give me the work ahead of time only after we had returned which made it stressful, because they were working double time for about two weeks. We did it in May and I probably wouldn't take them out a week at that time of year again, we get out the first week of June so the timing ended up being stressful.

We're going in March this time so I am hopeful it will work a bit better, even with the hectic return it was worth it. IMHO

Enjoy your trip!