Help ! Take Kids Out Of School ??

[Caitsmama]

we go to disney every other year, so this is the third time we are taking our dd10 out of class to go. our school district has a policy of one family vacation allowed per year. children must be able to show that they had learned things on their trips in order to have them excused. for grades up to 3rd, the kids can bring in pictures and do kind of like a show and tell. over grade 3 they have to write a report about what they learned. we actually booked the tour in disneyland a walk in walt's footsteps (highly recommended if you have an extra 4 hours) she came home with a 5 page typed report, adn that was in 3rd grade. the teacher actually showed it to the older classes at the middle school to show them an example of what learning on a trip should be. i am very proudly writing that dd is an a student. this year, she is earning her homework passes to at least not to have to make up all the homework (they earn 1 hw pass for each 5 100's on their tests) and just the schoolwork. they are both missing the 3 days before christmas break. so they have to make up schoolwork and do the report, but the kids have decided it's very worth it!!

That is awesome!!

 

[badblackpug]

I must be a minority. I have no problem pulling dd out of school for trips. I think any and all family time is the most important thing besides church, that we can give our kids.

Case in point, i am taking DD out of school for the following all this year:
3 days in November - WDW
3 days in January - DCL
2 days in February - DLR California
2 days in May - WDW again

Then, already for 2008, she will be missing the second week of school to go on a Disney Cruise, and another 3 days in November for WDW.

I am sorry, i KNOW this might get me flamed, but i honestly don't care. Life is too short, and for me personally, family time (including vacations) are the most precious thing we can share with each other. And, in the long run, my dd will remember more about these vacations and time she spends with her grandparents than what she will be doing in 1st and 2nd grade. And i wouldn't think anyone can argue that..

But, i also agree, that vacations can be just as much as a learning environment as a school day.. mostly mabye for lower grades... But, i know that spending a day at Epcot, my dd will probably learn and remember more than what she would in school in 1st or 2nd grade for the day..

This is interesting because in our school district you would have already met the maximum allowable unexcused absences. Literally, your child could not be absent again, even a single day, without a doctors note, or they would be left back, and you would be in truancy court.

The other thing I am glad about in this thread are there are actually some parents who admitted that their kids struggled to make up work, or saw some "slippage" in their grades because of the trip. Usually everyone's children are brilliant scholars, who could skip the entire year and still get all A's!

...and as for WDW being and "educational vacation" PLEASE! Can't we all be honest? We are going there to have fun, to spend time with our families, to eat ourselves silly on the DDP! Will the kids learn stuff? Sure. They always do, everywhere. The grocery store, the veterinarian, the mall. That's just how kids are. But "education" is not the primary focus of WDW. If education were the primary focus of your trip you'd pick something like Washington D.C.. Admit it, you are doing it for fun.!

 

[disneyjunkie]

This is interesting because in our school district you would have already met the maximum allowable unexcused absences. Literally, your child could not be absent again, even a single day, without a doctors note, or they would be left back, and you would be in truancy court.

The other thing I am glad about in this thread are there are actually some parents who admitted that their kids struggled to make up work, or saw some "slippage" in their grades because of the trip. Usually everyone's children are brilliant scholars, who could skip the entire year and still get all A's!

...and as for WDW being and "educational vacation" PLEASE! Can't we all be honest? We are going there to have fun, to spend time with our families, to eat ourselves silly on the DDP! Will the kids learn stuff? Sure. They always do, everywhere. The grocery store, the veterinarian, the mall. That's just how kids are. But "education" is not the primary focus of WDW. If education were the primary focus of your trip you'd pick something like Washington D.C.. Admit it, you are doing it for fun.!

ITA

I always wonder about those who pull their kids out and say they didn't miss anything. If my son attended a school where he could miss a full week or more and not be behind, I'd be looking for a new school.

 

[Caitsmama]

Sure, we are doing it for fun.. of course!! All i am saying is, that it CAN ALSO be educational.

As for what you said ( badblackpug ) about not being able to miss anymore days -- this is where i can't stand our ed. system. This is MY child, and MY family.. I don't like people telling me what i can do for them.. This is where i would SERIOUSLY consider pulling her to homeschool. I am torn b/w that on a regular basis. I think public schools are ok.. but there is alot left to be desired. I will not be threatened with courts, or truant officers - etc.. no way. I would take her out and homeschool in a second.


ETA : I just realized that she will only be missing 1 day in May, not 2.. if it really matters.

 

[Caitsmama]

I have to go to DD's school tomorrow to help in class, now i am curious as to what they "allow" for unexcused absenses and vacations (not that it will affect ANY of my plans - i am just curious after this talking) as it is not listed in their student handbook - believe it or not.