Has anyone had trouble pulling their child from kindergarten for WDW?

[MM27]

I'm a 4th grade teacher and I have no problem at all with parents taking their kids out of school for a family vacation (hey, they're their kids right?)
What bothers me is when they ask if their kids are going to miss anything (no we stop all learning since your son/daughter won't be here) But seriously, I tell parents that I will help their child make up the work after the vacation. I go away over Christmas break or on Spring break every year and I would never want to bring my work along with me. It's more difficult than just providing a workbook page. I want to be able to explain the lessons that were missed and make sure the child really understands the concepts. I don't have kids yet, but being a teacher I know that many towns do not share common spring breaks or other long weekends. My vacations revolve around my days off. Unlike other professions, we can't take off random weeks during the year. If it meant pulling a kid out of school, I would do it.

 

[Cruz91]

Educator and mom here. Actually, to be honest, a Kindergarten educator. I already posted, but since you are curious:
I believe children should miss as little school as possible. I don't have a problem with a child missing 2-3 days for a family vacation, but I feel that a full week (or 2) is excessive. I know that there will be some trips that cannot be avoided (family reunions, weddings, etc.), but since there are only 180 days of school, I feel that parents should try to plan vacations accordingly. We have been to WDW during peak times, and non-peak times. I did not feel that the trips during peak times were any less enjoyable.
I may take my kids out for a long weekend at some point, but I feel that to do more sends the message that school isn't really that important.

And to the poster who said not to tell the teacher "It's only Kindergarten," yes that is extremely upsetting to K teachers. If parents saw how much time I spend training for and doing my job, they would never make a comment like that. I don't just show up and pass out paint brushes. We have standards that we must teach, and we are laying the framework for what will come in the upper grades. I know the poster didn't mean it the way it sounds, but I hear it way too much.

I totally respect the time put into your job. My wife shutters whenever we're around my friends because they all think teachers have the perfect gig working only 9 months a year and having all holidays off. I know that's not true, having been a "teacher's widow" while she graded endless homework and a "teacher's slave" doing art projects and building stuff for her classroom she couldn't do. But I digress...

If our kids were academically at risk or even academically borderline, we absolutely wouldn't jeopardize them missing school. The fact is that since my wife was a primary educator, and has been a stay at home mom for five years with DD, we feel she's already well ahead of where she should be even at the end of Kindergarten. You know how it is - everyone's kids are gifted Just kidding - but seriously - I think it's each family's decision to make, and this is one we're choosing.

 

[Cruz91]

One other thing - we're going to discuss this with her teacher prior to leaving and give her the option to give us the work before we go or when we get back. The thing my wife hated most about kids leaving is having to go through and pull out the work for them ahead of time. It was much easier when the parents didn't mind if she just stick whatever handouts the class was doing in a folder and sent it home after the vacation for catching up.

One other thing... Our district is very odd. Our K goes full day for two days a week, then 1/2 day on Friday. The week we chose to go, there's no school on that friday for an in service day. So she'll actually only miss 2 days of instruction - but honestly it wouldn't bother me if she missed 5.

 

[Tikicampers]

I totally respect the time put into your job. My wife shutters whenever we're around my friends because they all think teachers have the perfect gig working only 9 months a year and having all holidays off. I know that's not true, having been a "teacher's widow" while she graded endless homework and a "teacher's slave" doing art projects and building stuff for her classroom she couldn't do. But I digress...

If our kids were academically at risk or even academically borderline, we absolutely wouldn't jeopardize them missing school. The fact is that since my wife was a primary educator, and has been a stay at home mom for five years with DD, we feel she's already well ahead of where she should be even at the end of Kindergarten. You know how it is - everyone's kids are gifted Just kidding - but seriously - I think it's each family's decision to make, and this is one we're choosing.

I totally agree that it is up to the parents. If you are comfortable with your child missing school, then go and have a good time. I would never tell a parent in my class not to take a trip, unless it was during testing. To be honest, if my kids were missing more than a day or two, I would be so worried about what they were missing, I wouldn't enjoy the trip as much. Of course, my kids are still too little to guess how they'll do in school. I'm assuming they'll be fine, but you never can tell.

As to the other part of your post (and mine), As a "teacher's widow" (love that term), I know you understand. My problem is that while many people in my area realize that teachers work very hard, K teachers get lumped in this "other" category. Many people are still under the impression that K is just glorified preschool. I don't have the papers to grade (thank goodness!), but I have tons of planning and set up work as everything has to be hands on. This also makes it hard for kids to catch up. Worksheets are not appropriate for K students, so I have to wait until the child gets back and set aside time to go over whatever concepts we did while he/she was out. That's why I would not reccomend missing a full week. It really is a lot to make up, even for a smart child.
The bottom line is that if you want to take your child out then go ahead. Most teachers will be fine with it, even if they wouldn't do it themselves.

 

[*KeepMovingForward*]

Just check with the school and see what their policy is. We've never had a problem with pulling our kids and we go every October. DH works construction, so his work schedule is quite the opposite of a teacher or student-he cannot take off in the summer-unless he would like to stand in the unemployment line. I don't think his line of work should mean we cannot take family vacations though-so if the kids have to miss a few days, so be it. We normally try to minimize the time missed by going around a holiday (Columbus Day, teacher conventions, Thanksgiving, etc.).

To be honest, we have found that it is more likely that the individual teacher has a problem with the vacation than the school itself and the principal do. My aunt and SIL are both teachers (one 1st grade and the other high school). My aunt has taught for 42 years now and is dead set against kids being pulled for vacation (and she didn't always teach high school). She has the attitude that parents have all summer to vacation and that if she can't take off work to vacation, why should the kids be able to? My SIL has the opposite feeling and is very understanding of family vacations and realizes that not everyone has the luxury of travel during the summer months and that while most families may do it during that time, that is not necessarily possible for all. In the end it doesn't matter what either of them think because the school dictates the policy where they teach, so they can't say a word to the parents-even if they would miss major state testing (they always have make up test dates where we are). Needless to say, when our family gets together and anything to do with teaching comes up, we have quite the heated discussions (looks more like a Presidential debate).

Do what you feel comfortable with and what is right for your family. That is really all that matters IMO.

 

[Tikicampers]

Needless to say, when our family gets together and anything to do with teaching comes up, we have quite the heated discussions (looks more like a Presidential debate).

Just be glad you've never had to go to a staff meeting. It can get scary! I think we teachers are so opinionated, because we are so used to having the students listen to us and do what we say. Then we get in the "real world" and can't turn off the teacher mode.

 

[*KeepMovingForward*]

Just be glad you've never had to go to a staff meeting. It can get scary! I think we teachers are so opinionated, because we are so used to having the students listen to us and do what we say. Then we get in the "real world" and can't turn off the teacher mode.

I would not want to be a fly on the wall there!

I don't think the opinionated thing is just relegated to those that are teachers though-just ask my husband...he is not allowed to have an opinion and if he does, he knows that I am still always right!

 

[IlliniMouse]

I'm glad I found this thread! I was just wondering how it's going to go when I pull my son out of school to go to WDW.

One of my clients is a teacher at the school my son goes to. (Small school, and she's in the high school. My son will be in the 3rd grade.) She didn't sound too impressed that I was doing it. I didn't think I'd ever pull my son out of school for a vacation, but in my eyes, this is a once in a lifetime thing. A week anywhere for us is rare. In fact, the last time my husband and I had a week off together was in 1998 when I was pregnant! We've taken a few long weekends in the summer since then, but vacations for us are few and far between.

My son does well in school, so I'm not TOO concerned about him falling behind. He'll miss 3 full days, and one day that will be early release. I plan on letting his teacher know ASAP so she knows he'll be gone and when. Hopefully they'll be understanding, but if they're not, I'm ready to take any lumps that come our way.

 

[Cruz91]

I went ahead and checked my district's site. If a student misses more than one week per 9 week grading period (unexcused), they will be reported to truancy officer. However - our district offers the opportunity to make it an 'educational experience' by submitting a written request to the school prior to your trip and telling them where you're going, how it will be educational, and what you plan on submitting as a demonstration of the learning that occured. The district by enlarge approves most of the requests they get.

 

[tttessa]

Hiya, here in the UK, you can generally have up to 10 days absence authorised by the head teacher - but things have gone silly !!

We have the problem that the teachers are starting a backlash, cos most of May is now spent on catch up - if you have 5 off one week, 3 another and 4 overlapping both weeks etc then another 4 off the following week and 2 or 3 on long weekends too - you can see that one person taking out their kids for a week isn't a problem, it's when you add everyone else into the equation it starts to get to be a logistical nightmare, I really do not know how teachers keep on top of it all.

We stick to holiday times, even though we can't afford to go away a lot (I don't work) - no trip this summer (boohoo), but WDW next April. We still have plenty of family time - just down the park, museum, zoo, swimming pool, playing board games, going for bike rides,whatever (do we have time for holidays?? ).
I told my kids from the start that school attendance was non-negotiable (barring sickness of course!! I'm not that much of an ogre...), so I would feel bad going back on that for "family fun"

Though of course, everyone's circumstances are different - some people can't take holidays together in the summer, so despite my own principles, I'm kind of on the fence on this one...

Tessa

 

[Brook1099]

We have taken our children out every year for 9 days in Nov.for a 2 week vacation. we are from Jersey. My dd will be in 2nd grade and my son ds in 1st grade. I write a letter addressed to the principal and let their teachers two weeks prior to the trip so they can give me their work.I've never had a problem but I will not be vacationing so long when they enter 3rd grade From what everyone has told me in our area things get harder and I dont want them to fall behind I will then work our vacation around them.

 

[SGMCO]

I'm a Rebel,
I take my DS out of school and he's going into the 6th grade.
I've did this for 3 years now and he makes very good grades
on his report card.
I think Family Time is More Valuable than missing a few days of school because your Children are only with you for a short time, they grow up so fast. I can't believe my DS is already 11 yrs old.
I make sure that he gets any homework done before we go and
talk with the teacher about doing extra classroom work that he would
be missing while we are gone. We've never had a problem.
It's your child and you know them best, If your concerned with
what others will think, I would not worry about it.
We go to WDW in the Slower times of the Year and sure beats
fighting the Crowds.

 

[tweedlemom]

I plan on pulling our two children from half-day kindergarten and first grade for a week next September '08. (We went in September last year and it was SOOOO empty--we can't resist going one last time during that time of year!) Plus, once my kids are in school full time, I'll go back to teaching full-time so we see this as our last chance to go down and see the Not So Scary Halloween Parade, as well as our last opportunity to take advantage of the empty parks and value prices. Every now and then I feel a small twinge of guilt over pulling them, but it's family time, we'll all have a blast and the memories will last forever. I'll tell their teachers ahead of time, complete all the work while we're on the plane, etc. We're bringing the 4 grandparents too, 2 of which will need wheelchairs, so it should be easier for them to get around if the parks are emptier.

 

[daisyduck123]

We go to WDW in the Slower times of the Year and sure beats
fighting the Crowds.

Oh yeah!

 

[DisneyPhD]

We pulled DD out of K for 2 full weeks (at different times) for WDW trips this past year. I was worried about it. Her teacher even said "it is only K." DD did great and I think we would of canceled the 2nd trip in May if she had not been doing so well.

I think the time of year does make a difference. My only concern with Oct is it might be a bit early in the year and the child might still be adjusting. I don't think I would do Sept, but Oct (especially later) should be just fine.

Our trips were early Jan and early May (DCL trip.) At the end of the year she had no tardies and 6 appsences the 1st semester, 7 the 2nd (she was sick one day). Both amounts were perfectly with in acceptable amounts. I do admit I was really careful about her not missing school for any other reason and were lucky she didn't get to sick, or if she was it seemed to be on days off already.

In Jan she was already accomplishing the things she needed to do to exit K in the spring so we were not worried about it. She did miss some things though, you do miss out when you miss a week of school. It was worth it.
Next year we only plan to take her out once. I think after K that is a bit much. We took her out 3 times in Preschool.