Does anyone take their kids out school for DVC?

[mikeymars]

Originally posted by gina2000
I'm laughing my butt off. You consider this diatribe anything close to debating? I don't even consider this stimulating conversation.

The old waffle, cut-and-run throwaway response. All that's missing is the generic "don't bother to respond."

But back to the discussion. Interesting factiod from a NY Times article on this subject:

"Frequently, parents will cite a trip's cultural or historical value as justification for taking their children out of school, but according to a Travel Industry Association poll, 47 percent of parents surveyed said pleasure, sightseeing or entertainment was the principal reason for trips involving missed school.

Add cheap off-season travel to the list. Transportation and lodging are often most expensive, and most crowded, during school vacations. ''We take our kids to the Caribbean in November rather than over the Christmas break because it's less expensive and less crowded,'' said Michael Wagner, an investor from Shaker Heights, Ohio, with a son, 11, and a daughter, 9."

Well, at least the sybarite from Cleveland is honest about it.....and thanks to the Times and TIA for ripping the cover off the "myth" that these unexcused absences (a.k.a. "vacations") are usually designed as "educational field trips."

 

[mikeymars]

Originally posted by tmq2766
Wow to be as perfect of a parent as you are

Earth to the reading challenged: I was describing my experiences as a child, not my parenting. I'll leave the assessment of the latter up to my kids, a few decades or so from now.

 

[tmq2766]

Hey hey hey...... Let watch the name calling......
I'm rubber you're glue, you know the rest......... hehe......

 

[I_Know_You2!]

Originally posted by tmq2766
Hey hey hey...... Let watch the name calling......
I'm rubber you're glue......... whatever......

What a nice way to react to someone so rude. Must be those family values...

 

[DisneyWorld Delight]

Earth to the reading challenged: I was describing my experiences as a child, not my parenting. I'll leave the assessment of the latter up to my kids, a few decades or so from now.

Thanks to all that education we will be able to purchase a bound conculsion at the local Barnes & Noble.

For the record, you are on the "Dis" boards and you are always going to be in the minority when it comes to Family Vacations vs' The Board of Education.

I have enjoyed your indignation!

 

[mikeymars]

Originally posted by DisneyWorld Delight
you are always going to be in the minority when it comes to Family Vacations vs' The Board of Education.

Opinion wise, perhaps. However, given what's going on with the obvious trend of local school systems tightening up on attendance rules, I, not you (and the other sybarites) will be having the last laugh on this subject.

Better yet, you can bank on the fact that I'll be there to add a "I-told-you-so" chuckle everytime someone posts a whiny, childish story about having problems with their local school about unexcused absences, and given we're seeing more and more of those every month, the fun is just starting...heh heh heh......

 

[zurgswife]

"Frequently, parents will cite a trip's cultural or historical value as justification for taking their children out of school, but according to a Travel Industry Association poll, 47 percent of parents surveyed said pleasure, sightseeing or entertainment was the principal reason for trips involving missed school.

I make no bones about it my reason is because I want too....though I do think we find some educational values in all our trips..

Add cheap off-season travel to the list. Transportation and lodging are often most expensive, and most crowded, during school vacations. ''We take our kids to the Caribbean in November rather than over the Christmas break because it's less expensive and less crowded,'' said Michael Wagner, an investor from Shaker Heights, Ohio, with a son, 11, and a daughter, 9."

You are making a blanket statement....It's just not true...


Let's see looking at my past 2 trips taken while the kids were on a break and our up coming trip taken while the kids are in school....

Food....same
airfare Dec 2003 $960 for 6 Christmas
July 2004 $1200 for 6
Dec 2004 $1056 6
Car rental Dec 2003 $345 for 7 days
July 2004 $280 for 7 days
Dec 2004 $305 for 9 days
Hotel...I'm DVC so
Dec 2003 281 points for a week
July 2004 233 points for the week
Dec 2004 222 points for the week...
Crowds.....Dec 2003 (19-25) very light
(25 - 31) very very heavy
July 2004 moderate
December 2004 Light

My costs stay relatively constant......But we are going at the beginning of december to meet a large group of our DIS friends so that was the main reason....they all happened to be going at this time....So, while I'll enjoy the lighter crowds that didn't factor into my decision...

 

[cats7494]

Well - considering we are leaving TOMORROW - yes, I do take my DD10 out of school for our vacation. (PS, I am the PTO president - and it was still OK with the principal and her teacher...no problem!)

This is the first time we have done that...it just worked out because of work schedules, vacation time, and finances.

Plus - we just want to go.

I talked with her teacher - he is honestly ok with this....we have been doing extra homework...she will do some more on the trip...

Yes, it actually was easy for the teacher...he just looked in their little math workbook and said "do these sheets"... - covers all that she would have to do if she was still there. She has a research book due each week, so we already did it, she is to read each night - no biggie there...she loves to read anyway, and she has to keep a daily journal of what we do each day....she had 2 spelling tests today to cover this week's and next weeks....

I am excited because we are able to do this for her... it works out for us...and I have no regrets. ....just hoping Hurricane Ivan stays away!

 

[CyranoJones]

Mikey, you might find it interesting that my daughter (who is now a junior in an out of state university) spent a total of 5 weeks in Europe while she was in public high school. School-sponsored, teacher/parent chaperoned, during the school year trips. *shrug*

And I just wanted to add the word "sybarite" to this thread one more time.

 

[mikeymars]

Originally posted by CyranoJones
Mikey, you might find it interesting that my daughter (who is now a junior in an out of state university) spent a total of 5 weeks in Europe while she was in public high school. School-sponsored, teacher/parent chaperoned, during the school year trips.

Let's not get too simplistically literal here. This has never been a debate implying that school sessions HAVE to be held in a classroom.

Field trips -- including extended ones -- that are an OFFICIAL part of a school curriculum (which it appears your daughters' was) are more than appropriate, and are 100% different than LEAVING the school to go on a PRIVATE family vacation. Sounds like your daughter was fortunate like me to spend a significant amount of time studying in Europe during secondary school (I was there for an entire summer - almost 11 full weeks). Or stated differently, Bully for her!!!!

 

[mikeymars]

Originally posted by zurgswife
You are making a blanket statement....It's just not true

I made nothing of the sort - simply posted a quote from the New York Times , It was the latter that implied a generalization, which yes, I jumped onto, but didn't author. As to the statement "it's just not true," says who? You? Based on what study? What statistics? Where is the evidence? No third party factual references of any sort were offered in rebuttal. At least the New York Times interviewed some people!

Originally posted by zurgswife
Let's see looking at my past 2 trips taken while the kids were on a break and our up coming trip taken while the kids are in school....

Food....same
airfare Dec 2003 $960 for 6 Christmas
July 2004 $1200 for 6
Dec 2004 $1056 6
Car rental Dec 2003 $345 for 7 days
July 2004 $280 for 7 days
Dec 2004 $305 for 9 days
Hotel...I'm DVC so
Dec 2003 281 points for a week
July 2004 233 points for the week
Dec 2004 222 points for the week...
Crowds.....Dec 2003 (19-25) very light
(25 - 31) very very heavy
July 2004 moderate
December 2004 Light

My costs stay relatively constant

In the examples you gave, that's certainly true, but this may not be the real acid test comparison. You are comparing holiday periods (Dec) to high season (July). What would be more helpful would be someone here who could compare (as example) President's Day week to mid October or early May.

Same general point relative to crowds.

 

[CyranoJones]

and are 100% different than LEAVING the school to go on a PRIVATE family vacation.

Well, we did that too. Every year, starting with kindergarten. Again, I say it is an individual decision. I would never suggest that every student should do this.

 

[DIZNYFAN]

Our city sent us on a hockey trip for 6 months during grade 6. We traveled across the northern US from Minnisota to the east coast. 30 6th grade boys travelling for hockey. They sent a tutor with us but that went over about as well as an empty scuba tank on a dive. We were to take class in hotel meeting rooms during the day that happened sort of. We had a blast mind you and wouldn't hesitate to send any of my kids for the same thing.

 

[mikeymars]

Originally posted by hrh_disney_queen
I'm a little ticked off at our school district. DS6 started 1st grade at public school this year, taking time off before has never been a problem. Well, this year the school district is cracking down on truancy, and they are only allowed 5 "truant" (unexcused absences) days for the whole year, and if there are 3 or more in a row, apparantly there is a problem, too. We are taking him out for 2 days, and when I asked at the office if a family trip was considered an excused absence, I was told only in case of visiting a family member with an illness......

An honest lady who is now exhibit A for what I predict we will be seeing more, and more and more of on these boards.

My reasons for going off season are purely selfish-we don't like HOT or crowds...We can do as much in our 5 day vacation as others can do in a 10 day stay.........

More honesty. Thank you.

I sometimes laugh when parents try to justify WDW as an educational experience. Ok, Epcot is educational..But we all know that it's the fun and family time that keeps us going there

Couldn't have said it better myself.

 

[mikeymars]

Originally posted by cats7494
Well - considering we are leaving TOMORROW - yes, I do take my DD10 out of school for our vacation. (PS, I am the PTO president - and it was still OK with the principal and her teacher...no problem!)

Oh, please . To make an analogy, this is like Saddam "applying" for a major zoning variance in pre-war Iraq. As if he was going to get any static from the "civil servants" at the building department.

This is the first time we have done that...it just worked out because of work schedules, vacation time, and finances.!)

Code for "what mattered was my time and getting cheap rates, not the fact Buffy has only been in school for a few weeks."

Plus - we just want to go..!)

Yes, to heck with having Buffy get engaged in her curriculum.

I talked with her teacher - he is honestly ok with this

Yes, certainly. See Saddam analogy above.

Yes, it actually was easy for the teacher...he just looked in their little math workbook and said "do these sheets"

Yes, that's all teachers do. Throw papers at kids and say "do this." They never personally instruct. They never spend extra time going over material individually with students. They never sit with kids and review their work. They never gently steer kids working as teams in class.

... it works out for us...and I have no regrets.

Fine, but one wonders if you would say the same thing if you knew how the teachers really feel about the issue of leveraging political weight for personal agendas.

... just hoping Hurricane Ivan stays away!.

Ah, maybe there is justice after all....

 

[mikeymars]

Well articulated example of a typical current "go ahead and play, but you'll PAY" school attendance policy (from Boulder, CO). Sybarites in particular should note the BOLD sections:

"Consistent attendance in every class, every day is central to a student's academic success. Regular attendance is the responsibility of the student. Participation in school experiences is significant to a student's development. Students are expected to be in attendance every day school is in session.

All absences have a negative effect on instructional continuity, regardless of the cause of the absence or the attempts to make up work missed. The school cannot teach pupils who are not present and the classroom experience can never be duplicated with assignments outside of school. Regular interactions of pupils with one another in the classroom and their participation in a well-planned instructional activity under the tutelage of a competent teacher are fundamental requirements of a sound educational program.

Parents sometimes believe that they may excuse an absence for any reason as long as they (the parent) approve. By policy and state statute, this is not the case. It is important for parents to adhere to these standards. Students should not miss class nor be excused for missing class except for the reasons listed below:

Excused Absences
Excused Absences as defined by BVSD Board of Education Policy and Regulation JED-R

1. Temporary illness or injury.
2. An absence which is approved by the administrator of the school of attendance (no, sybarites, this isn't your "back door" to getting an exception made for a trip to WDW, note "unexcused absence" section below).
3. Extended absences due to physical, mental, or emotional disabilities.
4. An absence which occurs when the student is in the custody of a court or law enforcement authorities.
5. Emergency, serious illness, or death in the family.
6. Medical and dental appointments which cannot be scheduled outside the regular school day.
7. Extremely inclement weather.
8. Absence directly related to the primary handicapping condition of an identified disabled student.
9. Participation in religious observances.
10. An absence resulting from participation in a work-study program under the supervision of a public school.

(UNEXCUSED ABSENCE: Any absence for a reason not listed above is considered an unexcused absence. Students will not receive credit for a class with excessive unexcused absences.

The facts about an unexcused absence.

1. Students do not receive a grade for grades recorded on the day of an unexcused absence. A zero is recorded for any homework, test, or project that is due on the day of an unexcused absence.

2. There is no loss of credit for a class with four or fewer unexcused absences. Students with more than four unexcused absences in a given class, during one semester, will lose credit for the class.
Loss of credit is calculated as follows:

5 unexcused absences - the student earns only four credits for the class
6 unexcused absences - the student earns only three credits for the class
7 unexcused absences - the student earns only two credits for the class
8 unexcused absences - the student earns only one credit for the class
9 or more unexcused absences - the student earns NO credit for the class

 

[calypso*a*go-go]

Stop beating a dead horse. You've replied to the OP's question and made your position perfectly clear.

 

[tmq2766]

I am not ashamed to say that we go in early December for financial reasons.... I am a single mom with a DD9 (honor roll student)...... This is the time of year I can afford to go! My daughters grades and academic achievements to this point have NOT suffered by any means and really there is NOTHING you (Mikeymars) can say to change my mind..... You have your opinion and I have mine..... That is really what makes this such a great country

 

[I_Know_You2!]

Originally posted by mikeymars
... just hoping Hurricane Ivan stays away!.

Ah, maybe there is justice after all....

I just wanted to say it takes a sick person to "wish" a hurricane on anyone. Maybe Florida will kindly get blown away again to make your point! Sick.

 

[hrh_disney_queen]

Originally posted by mikeymars
An honest lady who is now exhibit A for what I predict we will be seeing more, and more and more of on these boards.

My reasons for going off season are purely selfish-we don't like HOT or crowds...We can do as much in our 5 day vacation as others can do in a 10 day stay.........

More honesty. Thank you.

I sometimes laugh when parents try to justify WDW as an educational experience. Ok, Epcot is educational..But we all know that it's the fun and family time that keeps us going there

Couldn't have said it better myself.

No thanks necessary.. If I had know YOU were going to quote my post in your nasty little diatribe, I would have kept my mouth shut.. I also think it takes a sick person to wish a hurricane on someone...

There I go, feeding the trolls again..