DVC'ers - do you take your kids out of school?

[jakenjess]

Wow - it is great to hear from the perspective of a middle school teacher! My kids go to Parochial School and have finals the first week of June so thankfully they would not be missing any important testing.

Our kids also go to parochial school and we have taken them out for a week every year. They're now in 7th and 8th grades, and we've never had a problem. The teachers have been great, and most of the work is made up when they return. I think it's easier than some of the public schools. Next year our DS starts public high school, so this was probably the last time we'll take them out for more than a day or two. The family time we've spent together on these vacations is priceless (we've often gone with extended family) and definitely worth it! Congrats on your nursing degree, and have a wonderful trip!

 

[delaneyc52]

No we never did. We just felt it sent the wrong message. Anyway it sort of paid off, DS#1 recieved a $5,000 scholarship to college for perfect attendance 8 years in a row.
He jokes that he paid for 50 points by staying in school.

Agreed. We went in the heat of end of August which was after school was done and summer camp was done. DD also received academic scholarships and is graduating college with an engineering degree. Her twin, DS, is graduating with a political science degree. That being said, I do know of many many families who took their children out of school for vacations with absolutely no adverse consequences. However, I feel strongly about this issue so please don't take offense to my opinion.

 

[DisneyMama27]

Haven't read all the responses, but here's my two cents. BTW, I am a teacher too - 3rd grade, which is a testing grade here in TX.

When our kids were little (and I was a SAHM) we loved going to DW off-season. When my older two were in 1st and 2nd grade, they had a fall break - we decided to go for 2 weeks (free dining!) and piggybacked the school break - it was not a big deal, and they kept travel journals that they shared when they got back. The next year, we went for Fall Break again (alas, the last one, since they discontinued that holiday!) and bought DVC. DH wanted to go soon, so we booked a trip for DD's b-day in June. Kids were in K, 2 and 3 - and I was teaching again. This time it was still no big deal for the kids, but it was a beating for me - sub plans for a week, and then catching up when we got back. It was a great trip, and worth the work, but I said never again.

However, when we took our first Disney cruise last Christmas, we were hooked - and decided to rebook. Cruising during school breaks is way more expensive, so we booked for October 2010. We will have to take the kids - and me - out of school. They will be in 4th, 6th and 7th - older two in MS. I am nervous about it, but since it is in the fall, it should not affect testing.

Our school district is pretty tolerant of travel. We have a lot of different cultures in our area, and many who have emigrated to the US. To visit family in their home countries, they often have to take long trips at unusual times. I have had several children miss weeks of school to visit family in India, Ethiopia, Peru, and other countries. I would never want to deny them these opportunities. These children are usually good students and plan in advance to make up work. I usually just send them with some math work, books to read, and a Travel Journal I make up for them.

This will probably be the last time we will take the kids out. Our kids are very good students, and we will not have trouble getting caught up, but as they get older and more involved in school activities, sports, etc. I know it will be harder to miss school. We have reconciled ourselves to going to DW - and other places - in the summer, but we could not pass up the chance to take another amazing Disney cruise at a reasonable price!

By the way, I know not all teachers can take time off - we are limited to 5 at a time unless sick. We are given 9 days a year and can bank unused days, which I do. Fortunately, DH has a flexible work schedule and can stay home with sick children and I have not had to use my days unless I was sick or for personal use. However, we are not allowed to take days off before/after a holiday unless sick. I even had to call in "sick" when I took off a Thurs/Fri that fell before a Monday in-service.

As pp stated, it is a personal decision that must be based on the child, the school, the teachers, the family circumstances, etc. I think family vacations are some of the best learning experiences children can have. Some families simply can't travel in the summer, some experiences are more expensive in the summer/spring break.

Good luck to all making these decisions! My kids know that I value school, but I want my "message" to be bigger than that - that I value time with them, and that getting away from everything is sometimes the best way to enjoy each other!

 

[JimC]

...Here's my question - have you ever pulled your kids out of school for a week? I would love to hear from those who have kids similar to mine in age. I am looking forward to our first trip as DVC Members and have almost everything planned but I am so overwhelmed with guilt. Ugh - I don't know what to do.

Thanks!

When our girls were growing up we did not take them out of school at any age for vacations. Our girls were both NHS and top 5% of their class. Our school term was 180 days, about a half-year commitment. We scheduled our vacations around the school calendar, which was not a hardship for us.

 

[PatsMom]

I took my daughter out of school many times. She did not really have any problems, except for AP Biology her sophomore year. Missing the labs was tough to make up. But she still managed a B in the class. Her senior year we took her out twice. Because of the way classes were scheduled, she had no full year classes. So it didn't have as much impact.

She is attending a good university with an academic scholarship, was NHS, top 5% of the class, etc. I think a lot depends on the child.

 

[Coach81]

We take our kids out for mardi gras holidays every year..

 

[Disneypubgal]

Wouldn't mind taking myine out but my husband is a teacher so we are locked into school vacations..

 

[dvcdisney]

We take them out the week before or after Spring break so that we can have 2 weeks at Disney.

A few years ago, only one child was in school and we would take him for a week and a half in May and another week and a half in October. We tried to sandwich the days during other holidays or days off.

Since we don't really want them to miss too much school, now we tend to go 2 weeks in March (but they technically only miss one week of school) and 2 weeks in the heat of August .

 

[katmittens]

My kids are now adults, DS is 25 and a lawyer and DD is 22 and is doing her student teaching and will be done with college in May. DS and DD were both in the top of their classes in high school. We took them out every year from the time they were in Kinder. When DS started college we had to change our trips to the summer and to the first week in January since he was still on his Christmas break at that time, but DD did miss the first week back after Christmas while she was in high school. WHen DD was in college they both had the first week of Jan off and we went then and also the same spring break so we went then also. When they were young some teachers gave them work both most of them told them to bring back items and talk about it or other such things. We drove so they always did their work on the way down and were done for the trip and the way home. I guess every parent should know what their own children are capable of and if missing time from school would affect their performance.

 

[christa112]

1st off --Congrats on graduating Nursing School!!! That is awesome

We just got back from a our 1st DVC trip and yes, we took our kids out of school. They missed a total of 6 days . My boys are in 3rd and 4th grade and my dd is in Kindergarten. This is the 3rd time we have done this. I didn't have any issues with the school or their teachers. We did get their homework to take with us and the teachers wished them a great trip.

I know that we will be unable to do this very soon, so I figured we better do it while we can.

I think you should take them and have a great trip!!!!

 

[twinklebug]

Take the kids out of school? For vacation?! No. Never.

In feb 2008 we had a trip scheduled during school break. I could have saved $$ by taking the kids out of school on Thursday, flying out and then back in on Friday but didn't want them to miss any school.

Turned out that the kids were both home sick those days anyway.

My advice now is: go with your gut instinct. You'll know if it's right or wrong and nobody has the right to tell you you're a bad parent for trying to enjoy life with the kids.

 

[5forDiz]

Seldom took our kids out of school, just a day or two maybe on 2 trips over the years but not any more, not even for a day or two because our eldest 2 are in college and youngest is in junior high school and it is far too disruptive despite the fact that all 3 kids are excellent students; bottom line lies in the importance of all 3 kids being present for that time in the classroom and also because of the amount of work they'd need to do in order to catch up - - it is never the same as being present for the lessons and doing the work on schedule.

So we only travel when classes are not in session for them.

 

[Tink-n-Belle]

yes!!

 

[rynosmom]

We used to when DS14 and DS18 were in grammer school but not while in grades 7-12. There is just too much school work they would miss and then there is sports you cannot miss practice while on a HS team. DS 18 graduated from HS this past June and was recognized for having perfect attendance through out all 4 years of HS. He was 1 of about 15 who got it in a class of about 240.

My advise is enjoy the opportunity while they are young.....

 

[katied]

We did for 2 trips with DNiece and DNephew. First time, they were 6 and 8. It wasn't a problem. They had some homework in adavance we worked on, but it was minimal, and not a lot of issues catching up (that trip was in late April). Next time, they were 8 and 10 (late Sept. trip). Still not much of an issue for DNephew at 8, but DNiece was in 5th grade. The amount of homework to do during her absense was unbelievable. We worked about 2 hrs/day in the room, about 8 hrs before the trip, and then another 10 hrs after the trip, but still were not done w/ all of it. Plus, she had a hard time catching up in her classes. So, we decided no more missing school. DNiece generally does well in school, but she does have to work hard to do well, it does not come easy. So - it depends on your kids, school, etc.

 

[pennst8r]

I would say it really depends on the kids and the school.

We take ours out of school every year in October for a week at WDW. I refuse to deal with the heat and the crowds in the summer! This year they will be in 9th, 8th and 5th grades. They've never had a problem making up the work they missed. Their teachers are good about giving them a head start on the homework. One year, DSs math homework was to get pics of him with certain characters and princesses! goodvibes

 

[sadiespicks]

We too take them out each year in Oct/Nov for a week. This year we have planned it around Vet. Day to minimize the absences. There may also be a half day of teacher's conferences.

For me it's a couple of factors including the heat and crowds, but more importantly my job. I can't take time in the summer. Now I could do spring break but chose not to. Good students and I recognize it will get harder as they get older (both in 1st grade).

 

[southtexasmom]

I live in Texas, our school district is very strict about attendance. If they miss more than 3 days of school in a row they must have a Dr's note to get them excused, only work for excused absences can be made up. We went in January 2009 when our kids were out of school for the county livestock show.

If during the school year was the only time we could go, I wouldn't worry about it too much in elemetary school but I wouldn't take them out when they reach middle school or high school.

 

[pennst8r]

Our school allows 10 days for family trips. I forget how it's truly worded, but as long as they know ahead of time they'll approve the absence. It's up to the kids to get their homework, etc, from the teachers and hand in the work within 3 days of returning.