Guilty Ride for Taking Kids Out of School

[mamax2]

Get outta here! Have a guilt free vacation in WDW. I'll meet with the freakin' VP!!!!

LOL! You're awesome! I remember having one teacher freak out at me when I got back from Fla. one year, when I was in grade 12, because I missed one day. I had the fourth highest GPA in a college level course. i think she over reacted just a bit, eh?

 

[Disney Ontario]

Hi I have never felt quilty until now, when we are starting to plan next years trip. DD14 is now in grade nine and DD17 -18 (then), and has not asked yet for time off and just got her three month probation for at work.

 

[Calgary DISHeads]

Just joining at the end of this the thread - so totally fed up with attitude of some current teachers - DS12, is in grade 7 this year - did not really figure in the importance of this year in OUR plans for the vacation. So WE screwed up - punish us, not him - all we asked for was for prework - not a chance. We are told that 40 - 50 children take vacations outside of regular time each year and they refuse to cater to this. - SO WHAT - deal with it. Sorry if I sound grumpy, very grumpy just a sore spot right now - Calgary, Alberta.

 

[drag n' fly]

Just joining at the end of this the thread - so totally fed up with attitude of some current teachers - DS12, is in grade 7 this year - did not really figure in the importance of this year in OUR plans for the vacation. So WE screwed up - punish us, not him - all we asked for was for prework - not a chance. We are told that 40 - 50 children take vacations outside of regular time each year and they refuse to cater to this. - SO WHAT - deal with it. Sorry if I sound grumpy, very grumpy just a sore spot right now - Calgary, Alberta.

Which area of the city do they go to school? When we notified our teachers with a letter they were very gracious and accomodating so I am surprised you got this reaction as one would assume their is a consistent way to deal with this at the CBE.

 

[Debbie]

When we notified our teachers with a letter they were very gracious and accomodating so I am surprised you got this reaction as one would assume their is a consistent way to deal with this at the CBE.

Perhaps it is a difference in the way that the school/teacher was approached. Human beings tend to react in the way that they are treated. It sounds like you, drag-n-fly (love the name, btw) approached the situation with care, and concern,---and were treated thusly in turn. In my experience, that is often how things work. Enjoy the trip!

 

[Calgary DISHeads]

Perhaps it is a difference in the way that the school/teacher was approached. Human beings tend to react in the way that they are treated. It sounds like you, drag-n-fly (love the name, btw) approached the situation with care, and concern,---and were treated thusly in turn. In my experience, that is often how things work. Enjoy the trip!

I approached it with a note in both of the children's agendas explaining the dates of the vacation and how much we would appreciate it if the teachers could provide any work in advance so they would not be so far behind when they returned. I provided both work numbers and home phone numbers and said that we would be willing to do whatever was necessary to make this easier on the teachers as I realized we were asking them to do extra work. I followed up with meetings with both of the teachers in parent teacher interviews. DD9 was very gracious and accomodating. Not so with the other teacher, and she said she was speaking on behalf of all DS teachers. So in this case we "approached the situation with care, and concern,---and were NOT treated thusly in turn." We live in the SE, and are in the separate board not CBE.

 

[drag n' fly]

Sorry to hear you had a rough time. I am not aware of what the independant board policies are. The teachers have the right to disagree, however if she is speaking on behalf of all of your ds teacher's, I suggest you get that in writing and then make an appointment to speak to your principal so you can determine if this is a school policy or a disgruntled teacher. Effective communication definitely works both ways and sometimes independant boards follow the "house rules" policy. I know some families in Calgary have gotten so fed up with the situation they have resorted to year round schooling. A lot of people work in the oil and gas industry in Calgary and some times of the year are busier than others and therefore we tend to take holidays at not so convenient times for the teachers. The conventional teaching calendar does not always reflect busy families schedules and lifestyles and all school boards should re-examine their policies for absences and try and work with the parents and the parents work with the teachers to come up with an amicable solution.

 

[maryliz]

I am not a teacher ... but I have never been upset by teachers not providing me with work ahead of time. I don't disagree with a teacher not wanting to do this. It's extra work, and they might totally change their lesson plans for a given week based on how things went the previous week. I figure that I'm the one taking my kids out, so I will be the one to help them get caught up after the fact if necessary. And hey, if the teacher could say, "we are probably going to be working on chapter 12 in Math", I'd be good with that and have my child work away at some of the questions. My kids are only 9&6 so it hasn't really been an issue. Although I think I did grump a little last October when my DS5 came home with 13 pages of seatwork to get caught up on, and he only missed 4 days of SK when we were gone for 2 weeks.

I don't think the teachers are trying to punish the student ... I think they're just trying to keep their sanity by not planning too much in advance. Go, have a good time, and deal with it after you return. Hopefully it won't be that bad.

MaryLiz

 

[coastgirl]

and they might totally change their lesson plans for a given week based on how things went the previous week. I figure that I'm the one taking my kids out, so I will be the one to help them get caught up after the fact if necessary.

Well said.

 

[pkitty]

Just a quick comment. I have been taking our daughter out of school for vacation since her JK year...she is now in grade 8. We have always provided advance notice of our intentions to the school. I have always requested work to be completed during her abscence and most teachers have been accomodating. I will note however that she has never had one assignment acknowleged, checked or corrected in all that time. What's the motivation for her to complete this stuff? last year she came back from vacation (2 weeks plus March Break = 3 weeks in total...daring huh) she handed in her assignments and reliased that she was 2 weeks ahead in assignments. She sat in class for the next two weeks with nothing to do. As for her marks dipping, if you where to ask her she will throw it all into perspective by saying "Will college or university care if I missed two weeks of school in grade 8 to go on vacation, not likely"....she has a very logical point. Life experience is invaluable. School is school...a snapshot in your life. As adults we certainly don't walk around talking about how we had all straight A's in grade 9 but we will talk about that special time you had when your parents yanked you out of school to go to the Dominican and what a great time you had and the people you met. I don't mean to undermine the seriousness of education but I will never allow it to interfere with life experiences and making memories. Life is short so make the most of it.

Cheers and happy holidays to all!!!!

pkitty

 

[drag n' fly]

Just a quick comment. I have been taking our daughter out of school for vacation since her JK year...she is now in grade 8. We have always provided advance notice of our intentions to the school. I have always requested work to be completed during her abscence and most teachers have been accomodating. I will note however that she has never had one assignment acknowleged, checked or corrected in all that time. What's the motivation for her to complete this stuff? last year she came back from vacation (2 weeks plus March Break = 3 weeks in total...daring huh) she handed in her assignments and reliased that she was 2 weeks ahead in assignments. She sat in class for the next two weeks with nothing to do. As for her marks dipping, if you where to ask her she will throw it all into perspective by saying "Will college or university care if I missed two weeks of school in grade 8 to go on vacation, not likely"....she has a very logical point. Life experience is invaluable. School is school...a snapshot in your life. As adults we certainly don't walk around talking about how we had all straight A's in grade 9 but we will talk about that special time you had when your parents yanked you out of school to go to the Dominican and what a great time you had and the people you met. I don't mean to undermine the seriousness of education but I will never allow it to interfere with life experiences and making memories. Life is short so make the most of it.

Cheers and happy holidays to all!!!!

pkitty

I believe this is the best post on this thread yet! Very well said!

 

[canron]

Take The Kids And Go You Have Been Worrieing About This For Aa Long Time Donnt Let It Ruin Your Hoilday.just Take Them Out And Go We Did It 10 Times No Trouble At All

 

[Calgary DISHeads]

School schmool - we're off to Disney - YEE HAW!!!!!

 

[willise]

We just wrote notes to our kids teachers (DD 6 & 9) about our upcoming trip next week. The kids will miss a total of 5 days plus Thanksgiving holiday. One teacher refused to give homework - which I can understand. Although I must admit, I am not sure if they do not give work so the child can enjoy the holiday, or to punish them when they get back

Either way, we usually go to WDW twice a year and have never been given any indication by the school that they disapprove of this action (one trip is during the summer).

The education system in NB is so backward and behind anyway that it wouldn't matter

 

[declansdad]

We just wrote notes to our kids teachers (DD 6 & 9) about our upcoming trip next week. The kids will miss a total of 5 days plus Thanksgiving holiday. One teacher refused to give homework - which I can understand. Although I must admit, I am not sure if they do not give work so the child can enjoy the holiday, or to punish them when they get back

Either way, we usually go to WDW twice a year and have never been given any indication by the school that they disapprove of this action (one trip is during the summer).

The education system in NB is so backward and behind anyway that it wouldn't matter

While I agree with you that our system does need work, I think that you just disparaged a large number of teachers here in NB.

 

[willise]

Actually, quite the contrary, I think teachers do a very good job within the system they have to work in

It has been my experience, along with countless others, that the system (not necessarily teachers - as I know many personally that disagree with the system) is backwards. There is much more emphasis placed on educating a child toward provincial exams than the actual curriculum. Provincial exams = funding.

I have personally known children who have missed up to three months of school and were still promoted to the next grade. Is there any wonder why NB children constantly rank in the lowest positions in education nationally?

Anyway, I apologize if I offended you or anyone as this is not a thread about teachers or education methods. I don't know where in NB you reside, so maybe you are one of the truly lucky few that see your child growing and expanding their horizons with the current system.

All the best!

 

[declansdad]

Actually, quite the contrary, I think teachers do a very good job within the system they have to work in

It has been my experience, along with countless others, that the system (not necessarily teachers - as I know many personally that disagree with the system) is backwards. There is much more emphasis placed on educating a child toward provincial exams than the actual curriculum. Provincial exams = funding.

I have personally known children who have missed up to three months of school and were still promoted to the next grade. Is there any wonder why NB children constantly rank in the lowest positions in education nationally?

Anyway, I apologize if I offended you or anyone as this is not a thread about teachers or education methods. I don't know where in NB you reside, so maybe you are one of the truly lucky few that see your child growing and expanding their horizons with the current system.

All the best!

I was hoping that was what you meant.