Cruising and Missing School

[Mjasp]

I agree with mamagoogle, I would send them the first week and then pull them out as like she said they won't be the "new" kid and the "1st" day of school is under their belt.

I have no problem pulling my 2 DD's out, one is in middle school 6th grade and one in 2nd. The teachers have never given us work to make up and they have never missed a beat. So go and enjoy.


Joanna

 

[FOJMO]

It depends a lot on how old the child is and what year of school they're in. My DD (17) told me that she NEVER wants to be taken out of school again for vacation because it was extremely difficult when she returned, even though she got makeup work from teachers.

She missed explanations of things and fell behind so much, that she had extreme pressure on her when we returned to catch back up.

This year, we're waiting until she's out of school (May 21st) and leaving that Saturday (May 24th) for the Western Caribbean!

Then she has summer internship when the week after we return. Busy, busy!!!

 

[bennett]

I know I am in the minority here--Personally, we would never pull our children out of school for more than a day or two--NEVER for a week no matter the grade they are in. And, no matter how well they do-I have always made school a very high priority-which I am sure all of you do also, we have four children--the high school ones don't like missing school at all- and the two younger ones-if I said we would miss school for any reason other than sickness, appointments, etc., I know they think that would be wrong. I am not comfortable with that at all. I would love to do it to save money but would feel too guilty inside. My own opinion

 

[winddancer]

We sail in 2 weeks and I have no regrets about taking my DD out of school for the trip. I'm a teacher in a year-yound school and she attends a magnet school on a traditional calander. I have worked it out with her teacher and we have set up lesson plans for the trip. She has Language Arts, Math, Science, Social Studies, Geography, Arts, and PE all set up. She hates this but I told her it was that or she stayed home with my dad. We are also traveling in the week that her school is administering California's latest attempt at a decent standardized test. She won't be missing much.

 

[Buckaroo's Dad]

Hi winddancer.

we have set up lesson plans for the trip. She has Language Arts, Math, Science, Social Studies, Geography, Arts, and PE all set up.

This doesn't sound like much of a vacation for either your DD or you, in my opinion...

She hates this but I told her it was that or she stayed home with my dad.

Unless he's an ogre, this might be a better idea!

We are also traveling in the week that her school is administering California's latest attempt at a decent standardized test.

I'm not sure if I'd even take a free cruise at this point, but that's just me.

she attends a magnet school

What is a "magnet school?" I'd think such a facility would be located in DUE NORTHERN California rather than southern...

 

[mobetsy]

There's no doubt it comes down to trade-offs, and to each family evaluating what has priority in their life at that particular time, what finances will allow, and what each child's personality and school situation will permit.

When kids are out of school, it's not just the work they miss, but the instruction from teachers; there's no way to re-capture that. On the other hand, there is much to be said for an uninterrupted period of family time together, doing something that is, by all accounts, truly amazing. No one need ever apologize for simply saying, "I want the opportunity to do something really special with my children, and this is when it will work out."

I'm sure everyone here places a high value on education; however, education comes in many forms, and school and a cruise (potentially) provide two different varieties. It requires only a small stretch of the imagination to see how some excellent lessons in almost any subject could be easily worked into a cruise (during, before, and/or after); several people here have given good examples. There's no absolute way to say one is more valuable than the other.

It does help to keep it all in perspective; that's what we had to do ultimately. Being in school is good for our children. Being on a family vacation is good for our children. There's usually not a wrong choice in these matters, just what works best for each family.

 

[BeeSkip]

Wow, Thanks for all the replies to my original post and appeal for advice. It's such a tough situation. We investigted alternate weeks but the summer is SO EXPENSIVE and so are the holidays. March is much more affordable with the early booking discount and the weather is good. I don't know what we'll do about this issue but I really appreciate everyone's point of view. Thanks, Bee

 

[aprilgail2]

We have a cruise booked for next May, our schools here don't get out until the last week of June. By then one will be in high school and one in preschool....I have no concerns about taking the one out of high school. When her brother was alive we used to take them out of school every year from the time they were young and honestly I never felt guilty about it and once her brother passed away at 14 I was happy that we always did that. You never know what life is going to throw your way or their way, enjoy them while you can and let them have some great life experiences while they are able to. By the time my little daughter was 3 she had some great trips under her belt and she will keep going places and seeing new things every year because you never know..., have a sick child in your life and you realize how important family time is. Another peeve of mine has always been that the schools "recommend" that you plan all family vacations for weeks the school has off....well that would be just fine if even during those weeks they did load up the kids with so much homework that you couldn't go anywhere anyway! The winter recess they had homework that was related to the leibrary system so they had to do it in the public library so even if you wanted to take your kids away they had work that had to be done at home....

 

[Gillian]

I can't wait until my kid(s) start school! It sounds like such a pain...

A friend of mine has a 5 yo & a 3 yo. Even at that age she won't take them out of school. They get about an hour of homework every night already! I think it's extreme, but it's their choice.

The only concession to school I am making this year is waiting until my 3 yo gets settled into his new preschool before taking a trip (probably october). I'd prefer to go the second week in September, but I realize that isn't the best thing for him. I guess I'll have to find a new favorite time to travel!

 

[winddancer]

Originally posted by Buckaroo's Dad


This doesn't sound like much of a vacation for either your DD or you, in my opinion...

She has a journal of her trip that she has to keep to share with her classmates. She will convert that to a report of the trip with pictures and stuff when we return. A worksheet of math per day (stuff she has been having trouble with recently), a map to chart her travels, she also will walk 2 laps around the walking track (her idea), and draw pictures in her journal, and make a list of where people that she meets (servers, staff, etc.) are from.

Actually, my dad is kind of an ogre. He didn't really like kids when I was little. Now that he's older, he doesn't know what to do with them. She is too enegetic for him.

I have no regrets with my decision to take my free cruise now. I am switching tracks next school year (July) and won't get any off-track time until October. But I get to keep kindergarten that way.

As for the magnet school: Some places call them Charter Schools. Ours is one school in our school district that is geared especially for GATE Students. The curriculum is set higher and it is an Arts-integrated school, where my DD gets studio, choir, Musical theater, Drama, Dance, ceramics and other classes. I teach in a school that is in a low SES area with a lot of ELL (English Language Learner) students. There is more emphasis on teaching the children to read and speak English and somewhere in there, the native speakers get lost.

I, and many other teachers choose to send our kids to the other school, instead of keeping them at our school where they would be bored.

 

[Buckaroo's Dad]

As for the magnet school: Some places call them Charter Schools.

Never heard that terminology before. Thank you.

Actually, my dad is kind of an ogre.

Sorry. Mine is dead, but when alive he was quite the opposite.

I have no regrets with my decision to take my free cruise now.

And I wish you a most enjoyable time!

 

[rae519]

Our principal said that there is no better education than a practical one and for a student to have the ability to go to a foreign country is one of the best educations that can be given.

For my own 2 cents, I took my son (7) out twice already this year (Sept and Dec) for Disney cruises PLUS will be doing it again in 3 weeks.

The lessons he is learning from travel to "which fork to use" and how to interact with people from other nations is invaluable.

And thanks to Fidelio's influence and ability at Dueling Pianos, my son is now taking piano lessons!!!! And he starts horseback riding lessons in May!

Might not be everybody's "THING" but it's sure the way we are handling it!!

Rae

 

[Mjasp]

Rae...My DD's teacher has said the same thing. I took my DD out this year also and she said the same thing. Now the principal, even if she agreed would never say it as the school will lose out on the state money. The state pays only if the child is in attendance. Hey but on Long Island the school taxes are so high, I feel she is in private school anyway. LOL


Joanna

 

[rae519]

Ohhh, yes, those school tax dollars! Hey, I pay whether I homeschool my kids or not, so feel pretty comfortable in my decisions.

Glad your school agreed because it is more valuable than sitting for hours in a classroom (BORING!).

Good for you!!!!

Rae

 

[keith & co.]

Couldn't help but to put in my 2 cents worth..........
I taught for 10 years and will be returning to teaching when my 4 yr old begins full time this fall.......... I would never hesitate to pull them out!! What they learn while traveling and seeing other places just can't be done in the classroom. The lesson learned from seeing a dolphin or stingray in person can't be compared to a film or book. Actually seeing how people in other countries live, work, and play can only be done in other countries!
One of my favorite cruise memories happened when my DD10 (then 6) met a girl her age in the straw market. She had the exact same school uniform that my daughter wore!! They talked school and by the time we were ready to leave they were playing clapping games ........ Four years later she talks about her "Bahama" friend-- But she has no idea what she was doing on any given day in school that year! We pulled her again in 2001 for the 7-day and again she learned so much from the trip, not to mention we had her grandparents along. The time spent with family cannot be discounted.... In the days we are living in now it is so important to make every day count...... TAKE THE TRIP!! School will be there when you get back.
Tell her... "A teacher said so!"

 

[rae519]

Hey keith and co, are you our May 3 cruiser?!!!!!!!!!!

If so - wow! Great!

And if not, well, I still think you have the right stuff to be an excellent teacher!!! HURRAH!!!

Rae

 

[Mjasp]

Well said Keith and co.

 

[keith & co.]

Rea,
Yes, and Hello! My name is Barbara and my DH is Doug..... I believe you have already talked to my DD Chelsea.......
So gald to hear we are of the same mind when it comes to school...... We actually had fellow passengers ask us if it "was legal" to pull our kids out of school on our last 7-day!! We just laughed, gave a shrug and said.. "We'll find out when we get home!" Ofcourse we had checked it out and gotten the big thumbs up from every teacher -- one sent a shopping list for a unit on the sea she was doing during water play week (It gets hot here in TX!!) and one even said forget the makeup work just have her bring pictures!!
Looking forward to meeting you,
Barbara

 

[rae519]

Hi Barb!

I am putting you on my 5/3 cruisers list! Again, welcome!!!!

Rae