Educational letter for school excuse/taking the kids out of school

[poohbear227]

You're joking right? Please tell me that is a joke. No. You wouldn't humiliate your child by doing this. I am pretty sure they can let their professors know on their own. And they may even be able to get their academic adviser to help them out with scheduling if you give them enough notice.

The OP was told by the counselor (not the Principal or teacher) that IF she provided a letter that illustrated some learning experiences it might be an excused absence.

That letter IMO will become a joke in the teacher's lounge. I don't mean to be rude but it's really over the top and a real stretch to make educational claims out of a Disney trip as it is but the letter just goes overboard.



Not the one who posted the comment about college but I am suspecting that poster was trying to point out the ridiculousness of the letter itself as an "excuse" or to make educational claims..it's not any less ridiculous because the kids are not college students. I took it as the poster saying "would you use such a letter as a college student to try to excuse your absence" because it's silly regardless of age/grade level and will turn into a joke.

I wasn't joking, per say, but I am curious how far people are willing to go with these letters. To me, these letters give off a "special snowflake vibe. I just don't get it. If your town promotes family vacations, why go out of your way to over-justify it? & if not, why teach your kid to make excuses? Just take the consequence and go! The other thing is you could essentially justify any absence as an educational experience but at school, kids are following a specific curriculum. Just because you are learning about budgeting your souvineer money (that one was my favorite ) or learning about France, does that align with the current chapters of your kids' current history lesson?

& honestly, if you use that letter for school, why not just submit that letter to your place of employment & take the time off during school vacations?

 

[Coconut36]

Again, calm down. You're getting way to worked up over something that is a non-issue. I have put out templates for CM appreciation cards, Mousekeeping envelopes, etc... and I can tell you positively that the person who freely put that template on the web is giving full access rights for anyone to use the letter.

But thank you for posting your comments though. I haven't had a laugh like that in a while. Really.

Yep..it's funny indeed. And it will be hilarious for the teachers and staff when they read that ridiculousness and especially if they find out she just copied it off a website (pretty obvious to most anyone and likely to be extremely obvious to teachers).

Maybe it's because I wrote documentation for a living I find copy and pasting what others wrote and claiming it as your own..especially to educators to be a negative thing. I'm not the one who will be the joke of the school so don't worry about me.

 

[DisneyLoverUSA]

Again, calm down. You're getting way to worked up over something that is a non-issue. I have put out templates for CM appreciation cards, Mousekeeping envelopes, etc... and I can tell you positively that the person who freely put that template on the web is giving full access rights for anyone to use the letter.

But thank you for posting your comments though. I haven't had a laugh like that in a while. Really.

 

[DebIreland]

OP,

It's such a long and detailed letter and really there's no need for it at all. You said near the start of the thread that the school will take action after 10 unexcused days. So that means you really have nothing to worry about provided the trip does not exceed 10 days. Unless you need to take the kids out of school again, which is unlikely as I'm presuming illnesses are excused once a parent provides a note?

 

[lizanne]

I don't think lizanne was suggesting using someone else's sickness as an excuse. She wondered if she missed somewhere along the way that the OP is going to WDW due to a sickness in the family and, if so, why wouldn't she just tell the school that.

Yes, that's what I meant.

 

[Shelly888]

Sorry about your friend's friend. My Dad also had a cancerous brain tumor, it was never removed because of the location. He lived for 10 years after being diagnosed. He continued to work for several years, then went on disability. He was able to have a pain free life and only the last month or so was difficult. I wish the best for that family.

Now, maybe I missed something. Does the OP or a family member have an illness? If so, why not just write that in the letter. I would hope an excused absence would be given.

Thank you. Glad your dad stayed healthy for some many years. UNfortunately she has a stage 3 glioma, very poor prognosis. So sad. My post was poorly written. The letter is fine and she should use it. It just baffles me that this is even an issue. Obviously kids need an education, but as long as attendance isn't being abused, *I* don't see the problem. I could be diagnosed with terminal cancer tomorrow, and I guarantee you I will not think to myself gee, I really should have sent Ben to school for those 9 days in January rather than spending time together as a family.

 

[kaytieeldr]

It's not plagiarizing when it is information that is being posted on the INTERNET specifically meant for parents needing to writer a letter for the kid's school. That's what it was posted for. That form letter on mouseforless and mousesavers is put there to COPY AND PASTE and fill in the blanks. SO be the paper police with someone else.

Okay. Fine.

What's wrong with just writing your own letter? If you feel (or agree with the Guidance Counselor) the trip will be educational for your child, use your own words to explain why. If you're just writing the letter because a school staffer suggested it to cya, don't waste your time. Accept any consequences IF your child accumulates more than ten unexcused absences throughout the term.

Or you could use the much briefer and easier to read letter that Green Pea wrote for you - not plagiarism, she/he offered it to you.

Really, if you want to send a truly inane excuse letter, go back to that thread on the Theme Parks Attractions & Strategies Board and use the hilarious one larryz wrote. At least that one is meant yo be funny and entertaining!

 

[Colleen27]

As it should be. If a parents is going to delude themselves into believing their kids are going to be having an educational opportunity every second of the trip, then they need to prove it.

Who said anything about "every second of the trip"? There is educational value to a Disney trip (and to most other destinations). It isn't every second, but even school isn't educational every second.

I have no problem with a teacher asking for some sort of project documenting the educational aspects of any trip - my kids have done trip journals or other projects about nearly every school-year trip since 2nd or 3rd grade - but assigning a 5 page essay and refusing to accept makeup work without it is just a teacher on a power trip trying to teach parents a lesson.

 

[akhenaten]

So it is plagiarized... OP you will receive a failing grade and also have a special interview with Oprah where you can publicly apologize for doing so...
( see author James Frey)

 

[WDWBlue]

These letters truly are comedy gold!! I would love to see someone make these points in person, and watch everyone in hearing distance try and keep a straight face!

The only thing I would suggest is to add something to describe the health benefits (with all the walking) and the all important honing of the hand eye coordination skills to be had on Toy Story Mania and Buzz Lightyear....

I actually didn't use a form letter. I started with the form letter that was posted here but when a PP posted for me a blog link where a Disney blog has made a post explaining how all the Disney parks are educational and what parts of them are educational, I used the blog post more than the letter.

I asked for help with it because I didn't know what to say. I couldn't say what was or wasn't educational at Disney, but I do now.

Since the school asked for the letter I am giving them the letter. She didn't say it had to be an original letter written by me in my own words. There were no specific details.

Let me post a copy of what I am using here so you can all see what I concocted from the form letter and the blog post.

OK< here it is, it's long.


TO: (Principal name & Teacher name)

FROM: (Parents name)

RE: (Child’s name) Disney vacation dates 10/27-11/5/11

Please be advised that (Child’s name) will be out of school during the week of October 27th through November 5th. We ask that their absences be excused.
The reason for (Child’s name) absence is that our family will be out of the state during this week. While we are gone, we will be visiting Walt Disney World. We believe that the kids will be learning many things during this trip and that his education will continue in his absence from school.

There are so many educational aspects at WDW. It’s teeming with history, geography, culture, science, math, economics, science and more!
Some things (Child’s name) will learn about:

Epcot World Showcase: Children can explore the different cultures of the world in the 11 various World Showcase Pavilions of Canada, United Kingdom, France, Morocco, Italy, Germany, Japan, China, Norway, Mexico, and America. My children will be able to learn about the architecture, languages, diet and dress of each country. They will also be able to talk to the cast members in each country. The World Showcase cast members are actually from the country in whose pavilion they work! They can learn about the flags, learn to say hello in each language, learn capitals and more!

American History: Children can learn all about the U.S. Presidents by witnessing the The Hall of Presidents presentation at the Magic Kingdom. This show highlights every U.S. President from George Washington to current President Barack Obama. The show focuses on the role of slavery in America and tells how early leaders debated slavery from the Constitutional Convention to the Lincoln-Douglas debates. They can witness the American Adventure Show in the American pavilion in Epcot and learn about the beginnings of the United States of America. This show combines film footage and Audio-Animatronics of dozens of historic figures and is as moving as it is educational. Listen to Ben Franklin and Mark Twain tell the story of America, beginning with the Pilgrims and going through World War II. Children will see George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, Will Rogers and Rosie the Riveter.

Epcot Future World: Children can learn about science by exploring Mission:Space. My children will have the chance to see and feel what it would be like to travel by rocket to Mars. Children can experience the Universe of Energy exhibit, which teaches about fossil fuels energy and conservation. The Circle of Life show in The Land Pavilion teaches about environmental protection. The Innoventions Pavilion allows children to participate in hands-on activities showcasing interesting innovations and new technologies. The Living with the Land ride is an indoor boat ride through greenhouses full of plants and aquaculture tanks. Many of the plants that you see growing are used in the Garden Grill. The Seas with Nemo and Friends teach children about aquatic life and offers many exhibits for children to take part in. Children can view marine exhibits complete with dolphins and manatees. Spaceship Earth is a slow-moving ride in the “big golf ball” (as children call it) that uses Animatronics to teach about the history of communication. Test Track lets children take part in a GM test vehicle as they zip around an indoor-outdoor track, learning what tests cars have to go through before they can be sold to the public. Throughout Future World, there are numerous learning activities for children of all ages!

Disney’s Animal Kingdom- What better place to learn about nature and conservation? This 110-acre theme park, the largest Disney theme park, features an African savanna and safari, up-close encounters with animals of all kinds as well as a Conservation Station, where children can learn about conservation efforts being made across the world as well as Disney’s part in those efforts. Disney’s Animal Kingdom’s zoological operations are respected worldwide, but Disney keeps them fully hidden from its guests by man-made hills, rivers and rocks. Scientists are breeding endangered species, and on-site researchers are there studying animal behaviors. DAK is a member of the AZA (Association of Zoos and Aquariums). Disney wants you to see the “real” world of animals, however, and not a zoo. Observation windows at Conservation Station let you look in on medical procedures on animals while veterinarians explain what is going on. Other windows display researchers studying elephant vocalizations and tracking a sea turtle off of the Florida coast. Kids can learn more about the park’s primates and other animals with remote animal-cams. Children can listen to hear thunder and insects; they can “speak” with Dr. Jane Goodall or George Schaller of the Tibet Wildlife Reserve. They can view a film on endangered species and get a closer look at various animals when the Cast Members bring out animals for closer viewing.

Economics: Children have the opportunity to learn about economics as well by managing his/her own spending money. Children are able to make budget decisions on how to spend their money. They can also work with saving at the hands-on at The Great Piggy Bank Adventure. T. Rowe Price worked with Disney to create this interactive game to teach families the importance of financial planning. You can do the game as a single or up to 3 people can compete on a team. There are a number of stations where you start the game. There are plenty of cast members to help you along the way.

Art: Children can learn about art, animation and the history of film at Disney’s Hollywood Studios.

(Child’s name) will also be learning about map reading by navigating in and to the different theme parks, as well as the resorts and water parks via the Disney bus system, sociological aspects of crowds including patterns and behavior, physics of the different rides, breakthroughs in technology at the Innoventions computer lab in Epcot, art and animation and the history of film, and mathematics.

We believe this will be a wonderful and educational experience for the kids and hope you agree not to charge him with unexcused absences as a result. If it is possible for (child’s name) to make arrangements to get any work that will be due while they are gone, please let us know as soon as possible. I am not sure if you want him to do the work before he goes or if we will just get a packet of work when he gets back.

Thank you for your attention to this. If you have any questions or need any further information, please feel free to contact me.

(Parent’s name)

(Parents signature)

(Parent’s phone number and email)

 

[npcougar]

It might have been a not smart parent who wrote it, not sure. It was posted on a Disney blog and part of it came off of mouseforless. Both public blogs. They may be dumb. Who knows?

And yes I was asked to provide the letter so regardless of who thinks it is ridiculous, if it gets my kids absences excused, that's exactly what I am going to do.

I was given the opportunity to get this classified as an educational trip.

And actually the guidance councilor, in my case, is getting a copy of the letter as well since she is the one who told me to write it, just in case the teacher needs to confer with her about it.

And I am sure, if the teacher laughs about it or even laughs about it with other teachers because of how "ridiculous" it is, I DGAF to tell you the truth. As long as my kid's absences are excused and he gets his packet of make-up work, they can laugh until Christmas break.

I think our school gives you the work after you get back but I can't be sure because my kids have never been absent. I don't know what the procedure is. But from talking to my stepson's mother she said her son always got work given to him after he comes back from an absence.

I am just shocked at how many ppl have responded to this thread. To tell you the truth, I posted it asking for help coming up with the information for the letter and yet DOZENS AND DOZENS of ppl posted a response that had nothing to do with what I was asking. They simply posted to tell how stupid they thought such a letter was. Really? You think your opinion on what I do makes a difference to me? It doesn't. If I was asking you HEY WHAT DO THINK ABOUT WHAT I AM PLANNING ON DOING...then I might care about how stupid you think it is. That's not why I posted this. I wasn't soliciting opinions or advice, just assistance. And everyone has a right to post their opinion on a message board, but some ppl feel so self-important that they think every conversation will benefit from their 2 cents on the matter. SMH

And THANK YOU to those of you who were helpful in me finding the links and pages I needed to formulate the letter.

Wow, I hope the school rejects that.

 

[DisneyLoverUSA]

Okay. Fine.

What's wrong with just writing your own letter? If you feel (or agree with the Guidance Counselor) the trip will be educational for your child, use your own words to explain why. If you're just writing the letter because a school staffer suggested it to cya, don't waste your time. Accept any consequences IF your child accumulates more than ten unexcused absences throughout the term.

Or you could use the much briefer and easier to read letter that Green Pea wrote for you - not plagiarism, she/he offered it to you.

Really, if you want to send a truly inane excuse letter, go back to that thread on the Theme Parks Attractions & Strategies Board and use the hilarious one larryz wrote. At least that one is meant yo be funny and entertaining!

I don't have to use what someone else wrote for me. I can use what I plan on using which is information that was posted in a public forum meant for use by the public. Public permission is given for using the fill in the blank form letters. There are numerous ones out there I have found. I combined a few and added some info. Don't get too worked up over it. You seem on a personal mission. A few of you seem to have gotten a bit more riled up than someone casually posting and responding on a public message board should get worked up over something that doesn't affect your life.

I didn't ask for your opinion or your advice on what I should turn in as my letter, so you can give that plagiarism bit a rest. Talking more won't change my mind.

I asked for assistance and links and I got them. My point in posting this has been achieved. I just keep coming back and reading the posts because a lot of them have entertained me to tell you the truth. I LOVE watching ppl get all fluffed up and real far up into other ppl's business like it's their JOB. I know some of you can't help yourself. You do it OVER AND OVER in everybody's threads.

 

[DisneyLoverUSA]

Wow, I hope the school rejects that.

They won't reject it. It's exactly what the guidance councilor asked me for.

It seems some ppl just HOPE the absences aren't excused, but they will be. So rest easy.

 

[npcougar]

Lying works well for some people. We are using some of our daughters unexcused days to go to Disney. The teacher said no problem and is giving us the homework early. Same result and a lesson in honesty for our daughter.

 

[Swan4Me]

Let me post a copy of what I am using here so you can all see what I concocted from the form letter and the blog post.

OK< here it is, it's long.


There are so many educational aspects at WDW. It’s teeming with history, geography, culture, science, math, economics, science and more!
Some things (Child’s name) will learn about:

Epcot World Showcase: Children can explore the different cultures of the world in the 11 various World Showcase Pavilions of Canada, United Kingdom, France, Morocco, Italy, Germany, Japan, China, Norway, Mexico, and America.
My children will be able to learn about the architecture, languages, diet and dress of each country. They will also be able to talk to the cast members in each country. The World Showcase cast members are actually from the country in whose pavilion they work! They can learn about the flags, learn to say hello in each language, learn capitals and more!

after about 10 trips with my kids, I never taught, nor did my kids learn about the architecture of each country-and I studied arch in college
Neither did we say more than "hello" or "where in France are you from" to any CM in World showcase-they arent there to teach History-they are there to sell products, serve food etc
The exclamation marks make it more ridiculous

American History: Children can learn all about the U.S. Presidents by witnessing the The Hall of Presidents presentation at the Magic Kingdom. This show highlights every U.S. President from George Washington to current President Barack Obama.

You hear some of the Presidents names....you don't "Learn all about"-how silly



Epcot Future World: Children can learn about science by exploring Mission:Space. My children will have the chance to see and feel what it would be like to travel by rocket to Mars.
Most parents skip this ride due to most feel sick after the ride


The Living with the Land ride is an indoor boat ride through greenhouses full of plants and aquaculture tanks. Many of the plants that you see growing are used in the Garden Grill. The Seas with Nemo and Friends teach children about aquatic life and offers many exhibits for children to take part in. Children can view marine exhibits complete with dolphins and manatees. Spaceship Earth is a slow-moving ride in the “big golf ball” (as children call it) that uses Animatronics to teach about the history of communication.
Test Track lets children take part in a GM test vehicle as they zip around an indoor-outdoor track, learning what tests cars have to go through before they can be sold to the public.I dont remember studying how cars are built or tested in all of grammar school


Disney’s Animal Kingdom- What better place to learn about nature and conservation? This 110-acre theme park, the largest Disney theme park, features an African savanna and safari, up-close encounters with animals of all kinds as well as a Conservation Station, where children can learn about conservation efforts being made across the world as well as Disney’s part in those efforts. Disney’s Animal Kingdom’s zoological operations are respected worldwide, but Disney keeps them fully hidden from its guests by man-made hills, rivers and rocks. Scientists are breeding endangered species, and on-site researchers are there studying animal behaviors. DAK is a member of the AZA (Association of Zoos and Aquariums). Disney wants you to see the “real” world of animals, however, and not a zoo.

Most of the top zoos show animals in their native habitat-its a zoo-I'd never ask for an excused absense to take my kids to any zoo-why should this be an exception?

Economics: Children have the opportunity to learn about economics as well by managing his/her own spending money. Children are able to make budget decisions on how to spend their money.
Kids learn this daily with their allowance at home

.

(Child’s name) will also be learning about map reading by navigating in and to the different theme parks, as well as the resorts and water parks via the Disney bus system,

In all my many trip to WDW, I never had my child decide by which mode of transportation we were taking to what park & I doubt any parent of a young one would do this


sociological aspects of crowds including patterns and behavior, Huh?

physics of the different rides, Where do you learn this?

animation and the history of film, and mathematics.

We believe this will be a wonderful and educational experience for the kids and hope you agree not to charge him with unexcused absences as a result. If it is possible for (child’s name) to make arrangements to get any work that will be due while they are gone, please let us know as soon as possible. I am not sure if you want him to do the work before he goes or if we will just get a packet of work when he gets back.

Thank you for your attention to this. If you have any questions or need any further information, please feel free to contact me.

(Parent’s name)

(Parents signature)


This letter is WAY too long and states things to be learned that are simply NOT true.
I really feel this letter would be passed around for amusement
(Parent’s phone number and email)

 

[npcougar]

"Now whether or not my kids LEARN anything on this trip matters NONE to me."

"We believe this will be a wonderful and educational experience for the kids"

 

[LuvsDragonflies]

Seriously? Yeah you might want to rethink your stance there. You are copy and pasting something and presenting it as your own. Look at your district plagiarism policy and see how what you did fits it. What you have done fits clearly within the boundaries of plagiarism as you are taking the work of another person and presenting it as your own. It doesn't mean jack if it is on a website with "blanks in it" for you to use. It is not YOUR writing or your letter and you obviously didn't even bother to try to rephrase it into your own thoughts or words (see bold below)..it is very clearly a copy and paste. You might want to understand what plagiarism is so that you don't tell your children it is OK to copy something that was put online for others to use (there is a ton of crap out there and using it would result in consequences from the school) and then get upset when the teacher tosses it out because that isn't OK.



It saddens and frightens me that you see nothing wrong with what you are doing and can't seem to realize that regardless of how one presents the content you are taking writing not your own, copying and pasting it and presenting it as your own and that is plagiarism and it is entirely possible the school will be aware of it and it will greatly damage your credibility much less their thoughts on excusing the absence as you obviously did not write the letter yourself..simply took others words and pasted them in a letter.

I disagree. Everytime I sign an online petition, they have a form letter written out for me to check. I am welcome to add anything of my own or not, as I chose. Also, I believe that letter is specifically written to be used by other people. So it isn't stealing anyone else's intellectual property, it is using a form letter.

I find it disturbing that so many of you "nice people of the dis" are not only being nasty to the OP about her letter (for no reason I can ascertain), but are actually hoping it doesn't work. Do you have some kind of bet going on? or are you just angry because you have unexcused absences for your kids when you went to Disney?

If a form letter wasn't an acceptable thing for the schools to take, then there'd be a whole lot of trouble since they send them out all the time.

 

[kaytieeldr]

I don't have to use what someone else wrote for me. I can use what I plan on using which is information that was posted in a public forum meant for use by the public.

You're right. You don't have to use the completely reasonable, brief, concise letter Green Tea wrote specifically for you in lieu of you writing one for yourself that explains to the school why YOU feel this trip will be educational for YOUR child/ren.

You don't have to heed any of the advice or help anyone in this thread is offering you. You don't have to accept any of the suggestions that would make the letter you don't seem to want to write anyway, sound well thought out (or even contain any personal opinion).

Instead, you continue to insist on using what is, truly, a gushing, overblown travel brochure. Have you read it, or did you just paste it here? Do you actually believe or expect - or intend - that your children will learn even five percent of what's in that inanity? Heck, I have stopped and talked to the CMs in World Showcase. It's genuinely interesting to learn about life in other countries (and humbling that they're fluent in at least two languages, while some Americans can't even master English).

There's a LOT to learn at Walt Disney World - but that template is out and out ridiculous. Bluntly, it makes no sense. It's a bunch of lies compared to what you'll actually do. There's no valid reason except stubbornness not to use the letter Green Tea wrote.

And again, if you're dead set on using a truly unbelievable letter you found online, refer to the thread linked earlier and use larryz's intentionally hilarious one.

 

[kaytieeldr]

They won't reject it. It's exactly what the guidance councilor asked me for.

It seems some ppl just HOPE the absences aren't excused, but they will be. So rest easy.

It's not. The Guidance Counselor suggested you write a letter explaining how this trip would be educational for your child/ren. Nothing about searching for stuff online and compiling an overblown, if enertaining, report that contains no input from you.

You're reading this entire thread wrong. People WANT your child's absence to be excused. It's why we've been trying to explain to you how ridiculous the letter you want to send is.

Take the advice or not, it's entirely your choice. You do have options.

 

[quentina]

WOW.....I cannot believe that someone asked for a copy of a memo, that has been posted numerous times, and now everyones parenting and writing skills need to be explained.

Didn't your Mom ever tell you....if you don't have anything nice to say, don't say anything?

It is always amazing how many perfect people are on the DIS. If you choose not to take your kids out of school, then don't. If you want to, so be it....they are your kids after all.

Why do posts have to turn nasty? It truly makes no sense to me. This is a Disney forum, correct? Isn't that known as the -Happiest place on Earth? The Dis gives new meaning to this phrase.

OP....you have the requested letter, use it, have a great vacation and please.....request that this thread be closed!