Anyone else feeling guilty about the kids missing School?!

[Willowwind]

I grew up in Illinois, we vacationed in Disney at *least* once a year. And my family always took me out of school, I turned out just fine.

I think it's fine to take kids out of school to do special things, as long as while you're doing them you try to slip in a little education when they're not looking. There's no reason to feel guilting about giving your children an educational experience that they can't get in the classroom.

Many children these days are completely deprived of any "cultural" lessons. Traveling provides a wonderful classroom for your kids to experience the diversity that this world offers.

When we went I usually ended up taking one of the classes that Disney offered, or writing a report on something from my trip for some extra credit. It was always a lot of fun, I would take pictures and interview castmembers, then when I got back to school I'd get to "show off" with my cool vacation.

 

[DreamsDoComeTrue]

My kids' school won't even allow advance homework to be given out pre-vacation. They are really strict on this. I envy all of you with easier going teachers/districts. Our kids grow up so fast, and daily schedules are so full, we need to get in quality family experiences as much as possible, and a Disney cruise during school is the only affordable way to go. Adding in cultural lessons (one will be, well in this country, nudity on the beach is acceptable, and in other countries, wearing shorts and showing your arms is not) is of great value.

One thing that a teacher mentioned to me, and I think it's a good point, is that a trip journal and research, etc., should be presented to the teacher, only. Unless for instance, they ask for a presentation that coincides with the curriculum. By sharing the incredible fun that they had to the whole class, while those classmates were sitting at desks, can seem pretty unjust. It also upsets parents who are following the guidelines of the school policy, which STRONGLY advises having wonderful family vacations ... during vacation time.
These parents have to hear their kids come home and repeat all of the wonderful things "Johnny" got to do, and why can't they do it too? The parents have to bite their tongue not to answer "Well, Johnny's parents broke the rules"
I think, as parents, we need to stick together and try not to hurt each other's kids. Let's ask our children to tone down the "showing off."

 

[FOJMO]

I definitely will NEVER take my child out of school again for any vacation, if it can be helped. This is not only my decision, but my DD's REQUEST! She suffered much from missing just 5 days of school. She said, please don't schedule vacation again during the school year. We are going on our 3rd cruise, therefore, just after school is out next May and we'll all truly be ON VACATION!

Of course, I have to stress that it depends on several factors --

What grade the child is in -- our DD is in high school and she missed crucial explanations of complex math and chemistry problems and found it hard to figure out when returning. They move at such a fast pace in high school, that sometimes there's little time to catch up!

What kind of teachers they have -- we were assured by all of my DD's teachers that she could make up the work, etc. when she returned. Well, they weren't as cooperative after she got back as they were before we left! See, your vacation in the middle of the school year means a "glitch" in the teacher's lesson plan and they don't seem to like that very much. Everything is planned out and they don't like to have to reorganize and go back.

I would also never want to have to have my child bring school work along with them on a vacation! I would never want my boss to give me "work" to do while away to relax! They need to have a true break just like the rest of us. I'm sorry to say, but the ideas about learning about other countries, etc. while away on vacation really just doesn't cut it in the school curriculum. If their current study program doesn't specifically apply to the country, etc., that your visiting, it's moot when they return to school. Yes, they have definitely learned something, but it's not helping them when they get back, unless they happen to be studying about Mexico, stingrays, flora & fauna of St. Thomas, etc. etc.

Lisa36 mentioned about not even telling the children about the cruise until they are picked up from school and are on the way to the airport! I couldn't imagine having someone spring that on a child without giving them any preparation! Good luck when you return after they miss 7 days of school and they feel the pressure of trying to catch up.

Lastly, I agree whole-heartedly with DreamsDoComeTrue about not "sharing" scrapbooks and pictures with the whole class. A few choice friends and the teacher, OK. But, depending on the age of the children, this can lead to animosity, jealousy and hurt feelings of children who are not as fortunate, or can lead to a "can you top this" attitude. I've seen it happen to the best of children.

 

[TacoBill]

fojmo, RELAX! I seriously doubt that because your kid was absent a week from school and missed out on "crucial explanations of complex math and chemistry problems" that her professional career will now be in jeopardy.

Just Chip, go and have fun. Believe me, the week your 4th grader (and surely the kindergartener) misses, will have zero effect in their future career. On the other hand, going on a Disney Cruise MAY leave them with a lasting magical effect.

 

[lisa36]

WE do not plan on them getting behind the entire week..
with cooperation from thier teachers...and a "little white lie"
from parents they will be as up to date as possible with their
schoolwork...The children will be lead to believe that they
are visiting relatives....Uncle Mickey will be the surprise relative!

 

[manchurianbrownbear]

We took our two DS's (4th grade and kindregarten at the time) out for a week at WDW 10/31-11/7 in 2000. No problem for a kindergarten student and cooperation from the teacher made things relatively easy for the 4th grader. We were able to get almost all work ahead of time so there was very little catching up when we returned. In fact, the work done ahead of time may have been a little higher quality than usual because we were able to threaten that working slowly or sloppily before the trip could result in having to do homework at WDW! That's leverage!

 

[nedleycan]

I was taken out of school 3 times (and probably more) as a child. My parents took us to Europe every 4 years (for an entire month) to visit our relatives. One time that I definitely remember is taking 1 month off for the entire month of September (the beginning of the school year in 4th grade). Our teachers knew ahead of time and we were very good students (I actually skipped a year that year). I don't ever remember doing homework, but my memories will live on forever. I remember castles, rivers, mountain walks, my grandparents, cousins, and I don't think it effected my schooling. I think, also, that my parents played a big part of it. They always made homework fun, so I think we continued learning all summer long, and therefore were way ahead by September (every year, not just vacation years).

 

[BriarfoxinWA]

We're planning on taking our DS's 1st grade & 7th grade out of school the week before spring break. The only have 2 full days of school and 3 half days. From what's happened in the past they really don't do anything on the half days - why they bother to make them show up at school is beyond me

I figured the stuff the will learn on the cruise is way more important than any word search puzzles or games they play the week before spring break.

 

[imgoingtodisney]

No I dont feel guilty at all taking DS10 to St Marten & St Thomas. He certainly isnt going to learn the culture in a school book! I wish I did 1/2 as much travelling as our DS does.
DH & I took him out of 4th grade last year for 5 days - this year doing the same.
DH did comment though that we better see how his 5th grade teacher reacts to him being taken out this year before we make our reservations for next school year.

 

[mickeymom629]

In Oct./ Nov. 1999 we took our kids out of school for a two week vacation to WDW. DS12, DS10, DD8 and DS5. I felt guilty, but we had a great time, of course, and the kids kept up their grades. I thought we would not take the kids out of school again because they were nearing high school age. We went to WDW in July 2000 (HOT!!) and this past April during Spring break (CROWDED!!). But I have a 4 night cruise booked for Jan. 26 and the kids will miss 3 days of school (there is no school on Mon or Tues and we're going to spend Thurs and Fri nights at HH using our DVC points on the way driving home). My oldest is now in 10th grade, but it will be the beginning of a new semester and so after finals (otherwise I'd be in a dilema). I feel guilty about planning them missing school again, but it seemed like a perfect week to do something we have never done before (and affordable). Unfortunately, I will have to tell the high school that my DS was ill so that they will let him make up missed school work. I'm sure many of you will think that's awful. (hopefully none of us will really be sick, but it will be winter time . . . ) Another friend of mine did that for her daughter for a trip to WDW at Thanksgiving time years ago, and she didn't suffer and will be starting college this year. Sorry this is so long.