Had "The Talk" Today.....

[Duchie]

... with both DS and DD teachers, telling them we'd be taking the kids out of school for our upcoming trip. Know what they both said?

"That's great! Have fun! Won't be a problem at all."

I was so relieved! Both teachers said that while they do believe school is important, they realize that family time is just as critical, and loved that the kids would be with their grandparents and a great-grandmother. DD's teacher even said that they may learn more from their great-grandmother than anyplace else (she's 92).

Time to start packing!!!!!

 

[Dean]

Originally posted by Duchie
... with both DS and DD teachers, telling them we'd be taking the kids out of school for our upcoming trip. Know what they both said?

"That's great! Have fun! Won't be a problem at all."

I was so relieved! Both teachers said that while they do believe school is important, they realize that family time is just as critical, and loved that the kids would be with their grandparents and a great-grandmother. DD's teacher even said that they may learn more from their great-grandmother than anyplace else (she's 92).

Time to start packing!!!!!

Up until high school, I felt what the kids learned on our trips where they missed school was far more helpful in the long run than being in school would have been. Trips like 2 weeks to HI with the museums, Pearl Harbor and the like. Williamsburg for the historical district. DC with the Smithsonian. And SF with all the crazies and history. Though one trip to Waikiki did force me to explain to my then 9 y/o son about hookers where he could state later when we went out "daddy there's a hooker and there's another hooker" and so on far louder than I would have wanted him to do so.

 

[jbwolffiv]

I teach 5th grade and feel the same way. Most children come back from a vacation and just pick up where we are and adjust very fast. More importantly, family together time is at a premium these days with many families having both parents working, a week of school is insignificant when it comes to family time!

 

[rocketriter]

We pulled DD 8 and DS 11 out of school for a week at BCV in October. We explained to the teachers that a family reunion was involved, asked for (and got) homework assignments, and nobody criticized us. I think that at that age WDW is still moderately educational, and I agree with Dean that trips to historic sites and natural wonders out-value a week of school until high school.

 

[SueOKW]

Dean:

Though one trip to Waikiki did force me to explain to my then 9 y/o son about hookers where he could state later when we went out "daddy there's a hooker and there's another hooker" and so on far louder than I would have wanted him to do so.

ha ha!!! they do that, don't they?

We are kid puller-outers too....

Sue

 

[WDWJWEB1]

Good Morning Duchie

I was very surprised so far at the first 4 post that agreed with you taking the children out of school to go to "Disney". I'm sure you realize that this is another very hot topic on these boards, that being said let me say that myself and my DW have zero problems pulling our children out of school for vacations, maybe in a few years this may or may not be a problem? Time will tell but for now it's not even an issue! As a matter of fact we will be pulling them out for 7 days in Nov-Dec for our upcoming trip and then 1 more day in April-05

DS-9
DD-8

 

[3DisneyNUTS]

Well everyone already knows my life's too short theory. So have fun and it is awesome that your children's teachers share your views

 

[tinkgrl]

Hi,

I say have a good time with your family!!! Be sure to report back!

Allison

 

[Duchie]

Thanks everyone! I know this is a hot topic and one I struggle with myself.

We've pulled the kids out before but it was never an issue. DS was so far ahead in 1st grade, and DD was just in Kindergarten. But this year, DD is doing WAAAAAY more than DS did in 1st grade (which is a vent for another thread.....) and I didn't want her to miss anything. It turns out the week we're going is the week the teacher is doing profile testing, so she will not be introducing anything new! And DS is still doing extremely well but has some areas he needs to work on. His teacher was great at brainstorming ideas of things he can do both before he goes and while he is there.

I was excited before about this trip, but now....

 

[laceemouse]

Duchie, go and enjoy your trip. I think it is okay when the kids are so young, doing well in school, and the teachers are so understanding. As our kids got older, like Jr. High, things changed. The workload, and competition in our school district is unbelievable. That is why I am usually anti- take the kids out of school. Ours did miss one day in October, but next year DD13 will be in High School and we won't even do that. We also have 4 kids to do make up work with, that's a lot of work. Keeping up when we are here is no small task. I agree with you about the increase in work. I thought when my oldest started kindergarten they were expecting a lot, now with my 4th in first grade I can see the requirements going higher and higher every year. Of course, when many of her classmates are reading Harry Potter, she is considered "behind" for just being a "normal" first grader! But I agree, that could be a whole other thread....Lacee

 

[Doug7856]

We haven't yet had to pull our son out of school -- he's only two; but, my wife is a teacher and we haven't figured how to pull her out of school . . . yet

 

[Dean]

Originally posted by Doug7856
We haven't yet had to pull our son out of school -- he's only two; but, my wife is a teacher and we haven't figured how to pull her out of school . . . yet

That might be a little more difficult. Maybe you could write her a note.

 

[loribell]

I wish I could pull my kids out of school and go when the weather is nicer and the crowds are lighter. Unfortunately the one time I did that it was to short of a trip for us, even the kids said it was to short. For some reason I don't seem to be able to get myself to go for less than 2 weeks. I'm afraid that would be a bit to much missed work.

That said, when I did pull DS out for 5 days he was able to do almost all of his work before we even left for our trip.

Have a great time. Wish we were going to be there too!


Lori

 

[metus]

I am a teacher, and I have several students out this week because they are at Disney. My response is this....School is so important, but family memories are irreplacable! I gave the children all of their missed work, however I told them their major assignment was to get an autograph of Winnie the Pooh for me! LOL

Children can pick up things they missed with help of parents. But I think family time is so precious.

 

[Alexander]

I agree with so much that has been said here!
"Life is too short" that is my philosophy on so many things.
We pull our kids out too, and I am a teacher.
I always have students leaving for vacation and the only work they have for me is to keep some type of a diary or journal to tell the class all about their trip. We even had our son do this for us last May, his teacher loved it.

To anyone pulling their kids....Have a great vacation! Don't look back, don't think twice, and don't sweat the small stuff, a couple of days out of school is the small stuff!

 

[MichelleB]

We pull our kids out every year in Jan. They're currently in 1st and 3rd grade but we've been doing it since the oldest was in kindergarten. We pick a country each time we go and we all go and learn more about it and get pictures with a CM and my DD. Then when the girls go back to school they love to tell about the other country they "visited" and show the picture. We feel this way it's a learning experience too along with the fun. Surprisingly, they find the learning process at Epcot fun too! Just go, relax, and enjoy the trip. They grow up way too quickly.

 

[mbb]

...and will continue as long as we can

 

[Doug Wolfe]

School ends for us May 20, 2005. We will be on the plane at 5:30am May 21st heading to Disney's Hilton Head Island Resort.

The school district told me if we had a lot of days cancelled because of snow, they could be in for another week after May 20th.

That will be too bad, because my kids will be on the beach at Hilton Head while all of their friends are still sitting around in hot class rooms.

 

[MagikMom]

I also have pulled my kids out. Both times it was in october. The 1st time it was Oct. 2002 and both my kids were in Elementary school so it wasn't a big deal. Last month I took them both out for a week to go to SSR. No problems for my DS who is in 3rd grade, but DD is in middle school now, 7th grade. It was different for her this year. While most of her teachers were very understanding she did have trouble with 2 of her teachers, especially her Spanish teacher. My DD got her middle of the year progress report and right now she has a C for a grade in this class. This is her 1st C ever. Her teacher wrote in the comment section that she thought the decline was "due to her missing so many days of class". My DD was so upset. She completed all of the work that was required of her while on vacation. Because of this, I don't think we will be taking her out again . We are planning our next trip for June 23rd . School gets out on the 18th but I live in Massachusetts and have to account for any snow days that might occur!

Oct. 2004 SSR
Aug. 2003 BWV
Oct. 2002 All Star Sports/BCV
March 2001 All Star Sports

 

[gracelrm]

Dh and I are both teachers and have two children in school and one in preschool. We usually don't take the kids out of school because we can't miss more than one day per year for "personal" reasons without taking deduct days (= no pay). However, this year we have a trip planned for Dec. and are leaving right after school on the last day before Christmas Break. We are thinking about blowing off the last day of school and heading up one day early in order to do MVMCP. The kids will miss their Christmas Parties - but hey - they'll be at WDW!!!! Sounds like a fair trade-off to me!