Do you take your kids out of school to go to DW?

[Pienut]

Always tell the truth. If you think about it, that is one of the fundamental values we teach our children so if we, as their parents, choose to bend the rules and tell a fib, white lie or untruth, what are we showing them? Only thats its okay as an adult to choose which truths are important. Its so much easier if you are upfront and direct about it. Truths rarely hurt for too long its the little lies that sneak up and bite you in the...well you get it!

 

[disnutt]

I plan on taking my 9 yo out of school in May for one week. This will be the 3rd time in the school year. The other two were for trips to visit family. This has been our practice all along. My daughter performs at the top of her class consistently. We work with her at home and on trips to encourage reading and learning.

My parents took me out of school for family visits/vacations throughout my school years. I now have 2 Master's Degrees and am a contributing member of society.

My employer (one of the largest insurers in the world.) encourages a work/life balance and encourages me to actually use my vacation days. I check in via e-mail/voice mail while away. It is no different for my child to check in with assignments while we are away. If done right it can develop the ability to juggle multiple tasks. That's a real life lesson that needs learning.

I may come back to a mess or two but I know how to set things right and my daughter knows how, too.

Kiena

 

[Blueeyes101817]

my parents took my brother and i out of school a couple times in elementary and middle school.....we also were taken out for a week when i was in 10th grade, and i went away on vacatino in senior year for a week.--i never had a problem catching up when i missed school due to vacation (believe it or not, the teachers were easier to deal with when i was out for a week due to vacation, but when i was out for a month due to surgery, they wouldnt let me make anything up!) besides, i remember everything on those trips and i cant tell you a thing i did for a certain week in 10th grade!

 

[Brina]

Our next trip (fall of this year) our oldest will be in Kindergarten, and they will miss 3 days of school. I will proably do this one more time (when youngest is in Kindergarten) and the older two will be in 3rd grade. I don't think I would do it much past this point, as we live in a very competitive school district, and I would be worried about what they would miss.

 

[debster812]

I agree with the previous posters who said not all of us can get vacation time that corresponds with the school vacation schedule. Us for instance. My DH works in a union shop, and is not high enough on the food chain to be able to always choose the school vacation weeks (they choose by seniority). He also works Tues-Sat, so the only days the three of us have off together are Sundays.

We have taken DS out of school for Disney, we have taken DS out of school for trips that are non-Disney, and we will be doing so again. This year he is going to miss three days prior to our winter break, because DH was able to get the week BEFORE Feb school vacation.

I have already spoken to his teacher, and our principal, and have the blessings of both of them.

It's not always 100% cut and dried, do what is right for your family

 

[laceemouse]

seetheworld, my only suggestion is that you check with the school district you are in regarding their rules and regulations. Some schools consider vacation unexcused and you may get trouble from them. We took our kids out once when they were younger. Once we hit Jr. High NO WAY! You have a different teacher for every subject and most will NOT give you the work you missed. Even when my older girls have been out sick for a day or 2 they have had trouble catching up. We live in a very competitive school district which gets great test results and has a lot of super smart and motivated kids. It is very different from when I was in school. Luckily, my DH can get off when we need to get off. I am in favor of scheduling your trip to go with a day or two they already have off if you have to. Also, my kids may be weird, but even my 2 younger ones, 1st and 4th grade, really do not want to be missing school. My oldest will be in High School next year and her workload is already crazy. SO......It really depends on your kids, your schools and their rules, and also the individual teachers. I have teachers in my family that hate it when kids miss......

 

[laceemouse]

jtdl, yes the US is very different. First of all, I don't just want my kids to "pass", I want them to make good grades. Secondly, the grades you make in Jr. High determine which courses you are allowed to take in High School. From day one in High School, 9th grade, grades matter BIG TIME. If you want to be accepted into college you need to be getting at least Bs in every class ALL THE WAY THROUGH. I graduated from High School in 1980 and had no trouble getting accepted to the college of my choice. Things have changed dramatically. In our district almost every kid goes on to college, many go to Ivy League schools and you better believe those kids are in class every day. They don't want to pass school, they want to get As. Even in Jr. High here there are a lot of hands on activities like experiments and group projects. Those things can not be made up, if you miss it you miss it, and grades will suffer. Sorry for the rant, it just surprises me how different schools can be, even in the US many folks have it easier than my kids. Still, I can't complain. I know my kids are getting the best possible education.

 

[gingermommy94]

We take our kids out..we have for the past two years and we're doing it again this year. My kids have not missed any school at all this year and they are both getting all A's. I always talk to the teachers a few months before, then I request that they start putting the kids' work together about a month before we go.

The kids have ALWAYS completed all of the work given to them and had no problem making up any tests that they may have missed.

I take responsibility for my children and their eductation. We work on extra learning materials at home on a regular basis and have done so since they were about 3 years old. I feel I have the right to take them out of school whenever it's necessary because I think a healthy balance of education and family time is important.

We don't have the luxury of being able to go during summer vacation and I have no problem with that. Their teachers and administration have always been very understanding and more than willing to cooperate.

I think every family is different and only that family can make whatever decision is right for them.

 

[G00fyDad]

My sister just graduated from high school last year. She missed a week each year to go on the family vacation. Oh yeah, btw, she was on the honor roll. Straight A's. I guess she'll just have to settle for that sub-standard straight A education the rest of us can get even when we take vacations.

 

[3mickeys&me]

Life is way to short, vacation with your family when its best for your family!!

We are pulling our 1st and 3rd graders out in May, they will miss 7 days. We have done it before and it has never been a problem. The teachers are aware ahead of time and send work home to be turned in when they return. Its never been a problem. Both kids do great in school, so I am not worried.

My parents pulled me and my siblings out to do Disney when we were younger and we all turned out ok.

Like I said, life is too short, enjoy it while you can. They grow up so fast.

 

[SHAMIL10]

I took my dd9 -4th grade, and ds8-2nd grade out in December for 3 1/2 days for a surprise trip. They attend a private school that we pay quite a bit for. The teachers were really great, and supportive. They both said enjoy, will worry about make up work when they return, they said it is important to to do family things like traveling, also they would probably be learning as well as having fun. This is the first time that I had every let them miss, I have issues with it, but it I would do it again, it will probably be harder as they get older.

 

[Apheinrich]

We went with our neice and nephew last year during spring break planning to miss only the day before. But due to weather ended up missing 4 days. They were in 1st and 2nd and it didn't hurt at all. We are planning a trip in may this year for their twin brothers first birthday/ DH 30th BD/ mothers day. They will miss a whole week this time but who cares. like a post before, its your child and your choice. This is too much of a special sit. to miss out on. The twins will only be able to spend their 1st birthday with Mickey once!!!!

 

[seetheworld]

Thank you everyone for your great post! I wanted to read everyone's feelings on this because I am feeling a little uncomfortable about taking them out of school to go to DW. After much thinking on this, I think we will go ahead and take them out of school. DD's kindergarten teacher encourages it & DS's teacher is "okay" with it, although I know our district frowns on it. They will have to take independent study school work with them in order to do this as required by our district. They both get great grades and never miss school, but life is short & I want to enjoy my children before they are all grown up as some as the posters have said here. I know once DS starts middle school in less than 2 years, it most likely won't be an option for us anymore to take them out for vacations. It sad because we love to travel as a family and I will miss the freedom we had with them before they started school. Thank you again for all of the thoughts and comments - I appreciate them more than you will ever know.

 

[Dopey's Girl]

I'm yet another teacher chiming in her opinion...and it is... GO FOR IT!

Most kids are capable of keeping up with their class after missing just a few days of school, especially if you're planning on having your child do work missed. And like others have said, life is too short. We only have a short period of time with our kids to be kids, and what matters is the time we spend with them and what we do with that time. If it happens to be a school time that works for your entire family schedule to go on vacation, then go and make the most of the family time together.

 

[jtdl]

jtdl, yes the US is very different. First of all, I don't just want my kids to "pass", I want them to make good grades. Secondly, the grades you make in Jr. High determine which courses you are allowed to take in High School. From day one in High School, 9th grade, grades matter BIG TIME. If you want to be accepted into college you need to be getting at least Bs in every class ALL THE WAY THROUGH. I graduated from High School in 1980 and had no trouble getting accepted to the college of my choice. Things have changed dramatically. In our district almost every kid goes on to college, many go to Ivy League schools and you better believe those kids are in class every day. They don't want to pass school, they want to get As. Even in Jr. High here there are a lot of hands on activities like experiments and group projects. Those things can not be made up, if you miss it you miss it, and grades will suffer. Sorry for the rant, it just surprises me how different schools can be, even in the US many folks have it easier than my kids. Still, I can't complain. I know my kids are getting the best possible education.

I guess it's not that much different, except for the rules of some of the school boards. Our children here in Canada go off to college and university also. My DD, and myself when I was attending school, still gets very good grades even with missing a week or two. Out of the 42 weeks, give or take a week, schools are in session, I personally really don't think missing 1 or 2 weeks is going to break the grade. I believe, as others have stated "life is too short for all work and no play".

 

[goofy4tink]

We have taken my dd out of school for vacations in kindergarten, 1st grade, 2nd grade, 4th and 5th grades. Not for more than 4-5 days. At this point it gets a little harder to make up her work. We are planning a trip in June and it's starting to look like school may not be over due to snow days. But, when I heard how the kids spend the days before a vacation, I figure it just doen't matter. They watch movies!!

But, I always tell the teacher we are going on vacation. If the teacher wishes, she gives the make-up work to dd when we get back. Dd knows this is going to be the case. Also, there have been mornings when she has said that she has a littel tummy ache or a headache. My answer is that she has already missed school for vacation time, she can't stay home for every little complaint!!

Now, as we plan for a trip with another mother and daughter in 2006, I have told my dd it all depends on how her grades are. She dearly wants to celebrate her 13th b-day in WDW. But, it's in late Oct. The othe girl will turn 13 two days after dd does, so it would be great fun. We just don't know if we want to take the girls out of school for a week in 7th grade!! It all will depend on their grades at the end of 6th grade next year!!

Nope, life is too short to worry about 5 days missed each year until they get into middle school. After that, it's a harder choice.

 

[MrIncreadable]

We took our children out of school in May, 2003 for a nine day WDW trip. SIL did the same with her two DD, 8 and 10. I think that as long as you can get the assigned work and keep up with a little everyday the childeren are out there is no problem. My children are only 3,5 and 7 but the 5 and 7 both had work to do. However my SIL did not enforce a rule of getting the work done each day and it was a scramble on the plane to finish it up. There is actually alot of time to sit, relax and open a book or complete an assignement if you think of it. We had the kids either read or complete the work usually while everyone else was getting ready in the morning.

I guess the bottom line will be that if you can set a rule about getting in at least one hour of work each day and that all work can be completed by the end of your trip there should not be any problem pulling your children out of school.

Both of my parents are school teachers so I know how it feels to only be able to take a vacation at holiday times of the year.

We will be taking our kids out again this year for another WDW trip. Hopefully SIL remembers what she went through last year.

 

[jackskellingtonsgirl]

I took DS (third grade) out for two days earlier this month. Unfortunately he got sick the day before, so he was out for three. I am sure they think I was lying about him being sick because I already told them we were leaving for Disney.

I am hoping to go back to WDW in October. Most likely (barring pre-trip illness!) DS will miss 4 days. This will subject me to prosecution, but whatever. The district states that any child with more than 3 unexcused absences over a four week period may have their parents prosecuted for allowing truancy. Fine. I'm a truant enabler.

I thought the policy was more than 10 unexcused days over the year, which it is, but they also have that lovely clause about "more than 3 in four weeks". DS is an A/B student and he is our only one. This is about him and our family, not about thumbing my nose at the school. If the district would like to prosecute me while there are truly indifferent parents who don't CARE if their kids are at school then that is their choice. I know some excellent attorneys.

His teachers didn't really ask him to complete much work this time, and if they give him zeros for those days then we can deal with it. I will inform his teachers in the Fall that we are going away and they can decide what to do - send the work, not send the work, give him partial credit, give him zeros. I understand it is their choice to give him credit or not, just like it is my choice to take him out of school for vacation which is forbidden by the district.

 

[Laura66]

We used to take them out of school for five days in the Spring. But now that they are in 5th and 8th grade it's MUCH harder to make up the work.
In fact, as much as they love going to Disney - they have told us they don't want to miss school anymore!

So, this year we are going in June! Kinda worried about the heat and crowds - especially for the 3 year old.

Laura

 

[MrsPete]

I see that you've received an overwhelming number of "yank 'em out and go" responses; however, in all fairness, this is the Disney Board. What type of responses would you expect? It's kind of like going to a Nascar race and asking, "Who here likes cars that go fast and turn left?"

If you're genuinely concerned about whether this is a good idea, you might consider asking the question on some other boards as well. Perhaps a general parenting board, an education board, etc.