Do You Pull Your School Aged Kids out of School?

[lat]

For the people who count on the school to take care of their children during the day while they work, do you pull your kids from school?

I can see if I don't work, then I will have less concern pulling my DD5 out of kindergarten to go on vacation. However, since DH and I both work full time, if we pull her out of school, then we are left with additional days that we have to figure out who can stay home to watch her.

When I see that early Dec. is such a popular time for DVCer, I am wondering how other people do it. Wouldn't this be close to final time (if my kids are older)? How do you juggle to take additional time off when they are off from school?

I just found out DD has the President's Day week off and checked on airfare to go to Orlando, non-stop flight is up to almost $500 from NJ!!! This will be our first time going on vacation based on her school holidays. What a rude awakening!!!

 

[JimC]

We never pulled the girls out of school for vacations. We vacationed during school holidays. It did make some trips more expensive, but others were less, and scheduling required a bit more planning. But it is really not a big deal.

In my opinion you set a bad example for the kids if you blow off the importance of education relative to a vacation.

 

[westjones]

It will cost more to go on vacation during school holiday/vacation times. We go on the Disney Cruise every year and the difference in price from August to September is remarkable! September is much lower (and it happens to be my twins' birthday, so we sail the week of their birthday).

We are homeschooling this year, so we can go at off times. Last year we went during the school break and we visited WDW in March during spring break. We stayed at BCV and HH the last week of March. We had a great time at both.

The number of points for a studio isn't all that much different from spring break to off season. But if you want a 1 bedroom or 2 bedroom, the points are quite different.

On the other hand, in March (which is our spring break), HH points aren't bad at all. We were able to enjoy a 2 bedroom there without using up too many points.

DJ

 

[disneycrazed139]

I used to pull my son out of school when he was younger, as I don't think a couple of day really matters in the lower grades.

When they get older I think it's more important that they have the continuity. I'm not sure that it is setting a bad example to take them out...might actually teach them that a work/fun balance is important. I would care more about making sure that they are learning what they need to.

I also think some kids you can take out, and they easily catch up and it's not really a big problem. Other kids might be more affected by the missed time. I think it's an individual decision and you know your children best.

 

[Richyams]

Pull her out for two weeks without thinking twice.

 

[N.Bailey]

We take our vacation over Thanksgiving break. The kids have Thursday and Friday off one week, then of course Saturday and Sunday. Here in PA hunting season starts that following Monday, so the kids also have Monday and Tuesday off. I then pull them out Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday and we then stay Saturday and Sunday as well. They end up missing 3 days of school and we get an 11 day vacation.

They are just going into the middle school (both of them are going into the 6th grade) and the work load may be too much for us to continue at this point. We'll see how it goes this year and decide if it's too much for them next year or not.

I know some people have a major problem with taking their children out of school for vacations. In my opinion, this does not set a bad example for my children. They usually learn more when we're on vacation then they learn in school. Things that they will remember for their lifetime, not so much the cramming to learn as they would for a test, then forgetting everything they learned the following week.

My one friend's boy is complaining that he's sick every other day. He probably misses between 15-20 school days each year or more (his mamma will get him Dr. excuses) just because he doesn't feel like going. My children wouldn't even think of trying to pretend that they're sick when they're not. So, I figure, if they miss 3 days vacation, it's fine for us. In my opinion, allowing a child to stay home when they're NOT sick sets much worse of an example than planning in advance (with teachers) a family vacation.

Each family has to decide what is best for their family and what works for one, may not always work for the next.

Good luck with your decision.

 

[nisiemouse]

The first year my dd was in kindergarten they allowed one week vacation with family excused.
When she was in second grade any day for vacation was unexcused according to a much stricter new policy.
We took her out last year for 3 days around Thanksgiving. She had the same teacher the previous year and I knew it would be a light week.
We are going to try to work around the school calendar now. DD will be in 4th grade and DS in kindergarten. I think it depends a lot on your school's policy and the amount of work they would miss.
I will miss going during the off season.

 

[timC]

We pull them out for Thanksgiving week... Three days that they really don't do any thing of significance.

TG at WDW is our tradition.

 

[TiggerFreak]

Our DD made 5 trips to WDW over the past 6 years during the school year. She is a great student and would bring some of the reading along so she did not get too far behind. It did not seem to have any negative effect on her grades. I think this is an issue that really depends on how well the student is doing.

 

[InstImpres]

Be patient the fares from NJ will come down (we paid $245 last year, booked in Nov). We went President's week last year as we had off all week. We took my DSIL and DN. We decided to surprise the girls and do it again this year.

I am very against pulling my DD8 out of school as I find it disrespectful to the teacher. My DD is smart and catching up is not a problem. That being said, I booked President's week again at the 11 month window and the town shortened our break. I am now going to have to take her out for 2 or 3 days. My plan is to meet with the teacher at the end of September and get her "permission". I know a lot of families are talking about taking the week anyhow, as they had made plans by the time our school calendar came out.

Sandy

 

[wordzylady]

We have been going to WDW since DS was 8 years old and he is 14. We have always taken him out of school for a week the end of January. DH has to take his vacation during the wintertime so that's when we have to go. DS is a good student and does not have a problem getting caught up from the week so we have never thought twice about taking him out for a week. We also make him bring whatever work he gets from teachers before we leave to make up and have periods of time when he has to do homework and do some reading. It has never hurt him academically.

I don't agree it teaches them anything bad. Actually in my opinion -- and I respect other's opinions who disagree with me -- I think it has taught our DS something about responsibility because he knows if he is going to play hard in WDW he has to get all the work done and has to get good grades on the makeup work, otherwise we don't take him out of school and go.

 

[Debby7]

I am a teacher as well as a parent of three teens. After losing my nephew in a car accident, I decided I would rather have memories than regrets. For the last ten years, I pull myself and my children out of school every other 2nd week of December so we can enjoy a wonderful Christmas time vacation and still not miss any of the important family gatherings that happen at home at holiday time.
We tell the teachers ahead and often the kids have their assignments handed in before we go. In the big picture, a few weeks of family time over 13 years of school is not going to make a critical difference. ( By the way , my oldest two have now graduated from high school, both in the top ten of their class !)

 

[FredS]

If your child is doing well, then I would not have a problem with pulling them for a very few days in the younger grades. When my oldest was in K-5, first grade and second grade we took vacations in conjunction with school holidays (you know, they were out a day or two during the week, and we took the remaining 3 or 4). In each instance the teacher agreed that my daughter would not miss any significant lessons (fortunately, she had a lot of the basic reading, writing, etc. down that much of the early years are spent working on.) By the time they are nearing the end of elementary school, however, they should be actively LEARNING NEW MATERIAL. So either your child misses what might be important lessons, or else the teacher has to re-teach the lessons. I think it asking far too much for a teacher to have to re-do lessons for every student whose parents decide to take a vacation during school time. There might be the occasional one-in-a-lifetime trip that should be accommodated by the school, but not a regular vacation.

I treasure our vacation memories as much as anyone could, but I have decided to deal with any extra expense or minor inconvenience and vacation during school breaks. Besides summer, there are breaks at spring, Christmas, Thanksgiving, and recently we've gotten a fall break. We've been pleasantly surprised that it is not incredibly hot or crowded or expensive as we worried. It is NOT a choice between school or having family vacation memories, it is finding the way to accommodate both of these important things.

 

[luvndisney358]

I'm blessed to have three teenagers who are exceptional students, one who is on her way to college now.

However?? they didn't want to be pulled out of high school to go on any vacation. Both girls have Honors and Advanced Placement classes which are very intense and require so many hours of homework. They said "Mom, we simply cannot afford to miss a week" That all said, we went on the Disney Cruise in August, which was okay until we hit Hurricane Debbie

With my son it's a bit easier, he's in 8th grade now and we are going to WDW to sing with Mickey in February, 2004 and staying at ASM ~hopefully in Broadway~. They will only be missing I think 2 days of school the way the holiday runs!

It's up to each individual situation I feel........Good luck!

 

[swilphil]

There are some excellent points here on both sides of the issue. As a teacher, it's most important to look at when you pull them out and for how long. Right before/after Thanksgiving or at the very beginning of a new term is probably no big deal. During testing may be a problem. It may be easier to do work on their own in the lower grades. A few days here and there isn't going to be a problem either. Two straight weeks during certain times of the school year could be critical.

Whenever you pull your kids out, make sure you contact the teacher personally far in advance. There may be some assignments that the kids could do based on Epcot or Animal Kingdom attractions. I remember reading about some websites that offered lesson plans for these parks.

 

[Disney Ella]

We took the kids out of first grade for a week in March. We told the teachers three-weeks in advance and got work for them to do. One of the kids had a lot more work than the other and was jealous, but they both did it without complaint. They both continued to do well in school. I don't think it's something we're going to continue to do as they get older, particularly in high school, but it was nice to have the option when they are younger.

 

[disneyjunkie]

Originally posted by FredS
It is NOT a choice between school or having family vacation memories, it is finding the way to accommodate both of these important things.

ITA

DS will be in the 7th grade in Sept. In the past I have been 100% against taking him out of school for a vacation. I didn't have any good reasons for pulling him out. I can create great family memories by taking him on vacation during school break.

I've changed my view a little. I won't take him out for a week and I won't do it unless it's for a special event. I'm taking him out in October so that he can spend his 12th birthday in the world. We're also going to do MNSSHP. He'll only miss 2 days of school.
Next year we're doing the 10 day Disney Magic Christmas cruise. He'll miss 3 then.

The fact that I get 6 weeks of vacation each year and can use them whenever I want, plays a big part in my not wanting/having to pull son out during the school year.

 

[lenshanem]

My oldest starts KIndergarten Monday. I plan not to atke her out and work aroudn the school breaks. Hello crowds! I've already planned our next two trips using the school calender.
I ahve no problem with others taking their kids out. In today's world I think familt time is lost, a family vacaction is important in my opinion.
My oldest is showing signs of ADD. (Family history here...) I think at this point taking her even out of Kindergraten could make things even harder for her.

 

[toystoryduo]

As a stay at home homeschooling mom, I am blessed in that we can take our DDs out of school anytime and go on vacation. After all, I am the teacher and the principal, right? Plus, my husband owns his own business, so when the "boss" says we can go on vacation, we go on vacation.

Before becoming a stay at home homeschooling mom, I was a fifth grade teacher. There were two times when parents pulled their children out of school for vacation that bothered me. The first time was during SAT week. Our days were always very busy and trying to make SATs up for only one student was a major challenge.

The second time was when the parents told me one day in advance that they would need their son's work for the next two weeks. I didn't have my lesson plans done for that amount of time, so I had to do two weeks of lesson plans, write all the work down for the student, photocopy all the worksheets needed, and schedule test and quiz retakes. All of this had to be done during a very busy school day where on top of my teaching duties, I had to prepare all of that work for their vacation. It was very stressful.

With that being said, I truly believe that family time and making memories is extremely important. As long as you include the school in the planning, I say, " Go and have a great vacation!"

 

[howdy29]

Originally posted by toystoryduo
Before becoming a stay at home homeschooling mom, I was a fifth grade teacher...The first time was during SAT week. Our days were always very busy and trying to make SATs up for only one student was a major challenge...

5th graders taking the SATs. Very impressive education in Northeast Ohio!