Don't care if it makes me a bad parent!

[Son of Gadsden]

If it's public school, they might actually get smarter from missing it.

If it's not, eh, what's six days.

 

[WDSearcher]

Frisco.
I definitely don't expect the teachers to make packets. I don't expect to be making my kids do homework on vacation though either. They will have loads of extra work when we get back. That's sort of a great life lesson if you ask me!

How is it a "life lesson"? I have no issue with parents taking kids out of school for vacations. But I don't get how having extra work when they get back is a life lesson for the kids unless the kids were the ones who chose the dates for vacation.

Kind of sounds like the life lesson is more along the lines of, "Don't let other people control your time because you'll end up with a bunch of extra homework."

 

[Micca]

When our DDs were growing up we took them out of school for off-season trips to WDW. We did this from elementary school all the way through high school. One DD is now a middle school teacher, the other DD worked as a CM for 10 years.

 

[zuzu310]

You would have a teacher break a school district policy in order to accomodate you? I hope you give really great presents at Winter Break and the end of the school year. However, even if you gave me gifts worth $100, it wouldn't take a disciplinary action out of my file should my principal decide to pursue it.

Don't know what school district you are from but we usually can file paperwork with the school to be excused for vacation. So it really isn't up to you. You get to do what the principal, board, and district decide. Not sure why you are jumping down my throat anyways. I think offering to do what I can on my end to make sure my kid is caught up is more than a lot of parents do on a daily basis when they aren't taking their kids on vacation for a week.

 

[smorkovsky]

I think the OP was looking for reassurance and back up from other parents who feel the same way. (not looking for a fight)

I know, for myself, I really struggle with taking my kids out of school .. not a decision I take lightly .. but I also feel the family time and what they get to experience in Disney out weighs everything else. So I push my guilt aside and take my kids to Disney.
We went twice last year .. we went to Disneyland in October where the kids missed 3 days and then to WDW in May where the kids missed 5 days.
We had to make sure the work was caught up and if they had been falling behind at all .. I wouldn't have done it.

Yes, and thanks. Because it's not a decision I take lightly, and I know they'll be some backlash for it from the school, I too have to push the guilt aside.

Being flamed for any parenting decision always only solidifies for me that I'm making the right one, because it forces me to really evaluate it. I've already been flamed for this particular one (IRL) so I guess it was a vent, and a reach for support, knowing there must be more parents skipping school for Disney. Thanks for getting that.

 

[bbagnall]

People are going to do what they feel is right and ultimately it is their decision. Every action has consequences good or bad. I work as a teacher in Texas (8th grade) and very close to an Air Force base. Usually when we have kids miss large blocks of time it is due to someone coming home or being deployed. Most of the time those kids missing that time never miss otherwise. When it's like that, you aren't going to go to truancy court or anything like that simply because there is a set number of days you can miss for the entire year and 5 days is not even close. I know that you will probably get a phone call or letter simply because our district really wants us to contact after more than 3 days of absences (unless we know in advance). My district is very strict about unexcused absences, technically I don't have to give work to make up grades, I choose to as a personal decision.

The part I find hilarious is that people think that I can make a nice little packet to send in advance. First of all, my class is based on how quickly or slowly the kids are getting the material. Second of all, I've gotten those packets ready called parents to let them know they are ready and they rarely get picked up. Third of all, if those packets do get picked up I ask the student for the work when they return and I get "oh, I didn't understand it I couldn't do it." So what I've been doing lately is wait until the student comes back and give them notes and strongly encourage tutoring after/before school.

I don't think pulling kids out of school makes anyone a bad parent, it's a personal decision.

 

[kmb584]

Flame away.

No flames here. My parents took me out of school for a week every October and May for WDW. I was valedictorian of my high school graduating class and hold a BS in Biochemistry and Master's in Nursing.

There's a ton to be learned from the real world. Books are great and a fantastic way to get many centuries worth of information in condensed form, but there's a lot to be said for hands on learning too.

I grew up in a family of doctors, scientists and teachers. It was my aunt, a molecular biologist, and Epcot in the early 90's that lit the fuse for my love of science.

 

[smorkovsky]

How is it a "life lesson"? I have no issue with parents taking kids out of school for vacations. But I don't get how having extra work when they get back is a life lesson for the kids unless the kids were the ones who chose the dates for vacation.

Kind of sounds like the life lesson is more along the lines of, "Don't let other people control your time because you'll end up with a bunch of extra homework."

Well I havent been in the workforce for years, but I'm pretty sure if you take a vacation, when you go back to work, you have extra work to make up for the lost time. So, yeah, my kids will learn that vacation is a time to relax and have fun, because the real world doesn't stop and you'll have to go back to it afterward.

 

[disneymom53009]

I'm taking my little brother sister and niece out of school for a week right after school starts ..... There is plenty educational things to do...... I'm
Not to worried they'll miss much!

 

[mom2rtk]

We subscribe to the work hard/play hard philosophy in life. So I have no issue taking kids out of school if they are capable of playing catch-up when they return. And don't mind doing so.

But seriously OP....... don't expect the parks to be empty. I think you've already seen that many others don't let a little thing like school stop them from going to Disney. (myself included)

 

[roomthreeseventeen]

I'm taking my 3rd and 5th graders out of school for an entire week for a WDW trip! And while the school district may frown upon this, and take me to truancy court (because I will NOT lie about why I'm taking them out of school) some things are more important than school. And this will likely be a trip of a lifetime for my kids, so truancy court be damned! We can't afford peak season, and even if we could, there's no way massive crowds will make a trip anything but hell for us. We HATE crowds. HATE.THEM.

Flame away.

No flames here. Family time is more important than a week of school. Always.

 

[maurihart]

This is a great thread and I'm sure a subject that has been beat to death. I love hearing from teachers on the subject and I plan on talking to my kids' teachers at the beginning of the year about our October WDW trip. They will miss 4 days total and are in 6th, 4th and K5. Not worried about the 5yo or the 6th grader. 4th grader has a bit harder time with school work although she is a great student overall. But I love the idea of doing a journal of the trip. She has a hard time writing/spelling so could be a great educational aspect for her. Also, i plan on asking the teachers for their makeup work when it's most convenient for the teacher (not me) and then utilize online resources (spelling lists, etc) for things that we can work on ahead of time. I'm nervous about pulling them out but my kids go to a Catholic school that is not quite as strict about attendance rules as I would think a public school to be.

 

[WDSearcher]

Well I havent been in the workforce for years, but I'm pretty sure if you take a vacation, when you go back to work, you have extra work to make up for the lost time. So, yeah, my kids will learn that vacation is a time to relax and have fun, because the real world doesn't stop and you'll have to go back to it afterward.

Well ... yeah ... but if I take a vacation at work, it's because I chose the time and length of that vacation. And I knew that if I did that, I'd have extra work when I got back.

In the case of kids who get pulled from school, it's not like the parents give them a choice and say, "You can either go on vacation with us or not. If you go, you'll have extra homework. If you stay behind, you won't." The kids are going whether they want to or not and regardless of how much extra homework they end up with.

I agree that "vacation is a time to relax and have fun becuase the real world doesn't stop and you'll have to go back to it afterward" is a great lesson. Your earlier post made it sound like the lesson was, "Hey -- you took a vacation, you have a pile of extra homework. Not my fault!" and that somehow didn't seem fair.

 

[ConnieB]

I'm taking my 3rd and 5th graders out of school for an entire week for a WDW trip! And while the school district may frown upon this, and take me to truancy court (because I will NOT lie about why I'm taking them out of school) some things are more important than school. And this will likely be a trip of a lifetime for my kids, so truancy court be damned! We can't afford peak season, and even if we could, there's no way massive crowds will make a trip anything but hell for us. We HATE crowds. HATE.THEM.

Flame away.

No flames here.....good for you!

 

[Radiorox]

Do it! Do it! Do it! Do it!

Honestly, I don't know why some people get their panties in a bunch about parents taking kids out of school for a vacation during the school year. Not everyone has the advantage of Summer vacation and has to take them when they are allotted.

I don't have kids but, my best friend takes out her two nearly every September or October for about a week when we do our yearly trip. My cousin will be taking his three out during the first week of December for their trip.

Just get the homework for the week, tell the school and the teachers ahead of time. It's better not to lie as most kids will be excited and will want to talk about their trip when they return.

 

[ConnieB]

I don't about that, but maybe it's true. I've always only ever lived here. I do know they will likely take me to truancy court for 5 unexcused for both kids, though. Maybe not, if I plan ahead, and the school knows what is going on, etc. It typically depends on the district. I know our last district would have been fine if I planned ahead and notified all the teachers, etc. (which, of course, I will do), but the place we are now, is VERY strict about it, so I know it is going to be HIGHLY frowned upon. I don't care. The memories we will make will be worth whatever the school wants to dish out on me, and I'm sure their teachers will be understanding....I have smart kiddos, anyway, so a week of elementary school isn't going to do some lasting damage.

Ok, I'm a homeschooler so I have no clue about a lot of public school policies...but just what can they do to you? You're the PARENT for heavens sake......ok, maybe some "counseling" about the importance of the kid being in the seat every day (not because it's important to the child, but because otherwise the district doesn't get paid). But...really truancy COURT? So what are they able to do to you because you as a parent chose to take your child on a family bonding time?

 

[maxiesmom]

Ok, I'm a homeschooler so I have no clue about a lot of public school policies...but just what can they do to you? You're the PARENT for heavens sake......ok, maybe some "counseling" about the importance of the kid being in the seat every day (not because it's important to the child, but because otherwise the district doesn't get paid). But...really truancy COURT? So what are they able to do to you because you as a parent chose to take your child on a family bonding time?

Depending on the school district's rules, they sure can!

You have to understand, some parents could care less if their kids go to school or not. So many districts are now very strict on missed time. In some areas parents can even go to jail if their kids miss too much school.

 

[WishingMom]

I'm taking my 3rd and 5th graders out of school for an entire week for a WDW trip! And while the school district may frown upon this, and take me to truancy court (because I will NOT lie about why I'm taking them out of school) some things are more important than school. And this will likely be a trip of a lifetime for my kids, so truancy court be damned! We can't afford peak season, and even if we could, there's no way massive crowds will make a trip anything but hell for us. We HATE crowds. HATE.THEM.

Flame away.

No flames from me! I'm doing the same thing. Taking DD14 out for a week in September.

 

[SandiR]

I am not flaming you. I hope you have an excellent time. As a teacher, though, I have seen this be very hard on some kids. A week of missed class work is a lot of time and it can take some kids a long time to get caught up. Some kids, though, bounce right back and have no trouble. Hopefully that's the case with your kids.

 

[Kristibo42]

I always pulled my daughter out of school. I didn't care what the school said. We pulled her out in 4th, 5th, 6th, 8th, 10th, 11th, and 12th grades. Her grades did not suffer and her work got done.