I don't understand why its such a big deal to take your children out of school..

[LoveTink05]

Entitlement is expecting something for nothing. I haven't seen one person on this thread speak of entitlement for anything. Seems like everyone actually pays for their vacations. Perhaps you are confused?

No, I am not confused. I am not speaking of monetary entitlement and I think you knew that. You are just trying to be sarcastic, right?

 

[skiwee1]

No, I am not confused. I am not speaking of monetary entitlement and I think you knew that. You are just trying to be sarcastic, right?

No. Entitlement means in a monetary sense. I think anyone that wants a vacation and can pay for it has EARNED it. I don't call that entitlement. I call that a reward.

 

[skiwee1]

Clearly the post doesn't apply to you. Guess it's my good ol' Catholic guilt talking here.
Vacations with family are indeed priceless--we take vacations every summer with my folks, and I know my kids will treasure those moments forever, as will I.

Well I have a good old Catholic upbringing myself. I too think family vacations are priceless. That's why I take more of them.

 

[WIcruizer]

Am I the only one who makes a distinction between younger kids and HS age? I just think you're flirting with trouble taking a child out of HS for a week or longer, excused or not. Some of these teachers can be vindictive even if they are formally "excused." And I would think most HS would not even allow an excused absense for vacation.

 

[MOMTOMOOTOO]

We are another family that takes the kids out of school for vacation. I just went to conferances last nite and got a bit of an attitude form my third graders teacher. But oh well, we are still going to be out 5 days in Dec and than 6 days in May. My feelings are, my kids are still young ,4 ,6,8 and we will soon enough NOT be able to pull them out, so I have absolutely no problem now. Teachers in my school have generally been pretty good to great about it with the exception of this third grade teacher.

 

[Diz-Mommy]

Gosh, I'm glad I don't have you to answer to when planning my family’s' vacations. Respectfully, I'm going to agree to disagree with you because you are now hitting below the belt assuming I go during off peak season because I can't afford to go other times.

Old school vs. New school doesn’t work with me. My Grandma is older than you, and she didn't bat an eye pulling me out of school so that we could spend some much needed quality time together. It has nothing to do with entitlement either... I think as hard as my DH and I work, we do deserve a reward for our efforts. Isn't that what a vacation is all about??

At best we can all share the love of Disney even if we don't agree on education/vacation issues. We're going to spoil our kid rotten in December and enjoy every minute of it! Good thing he'll only be a year old, and I'm his nursery school teacher and I ok'd the time off.

 

[skiwee1]

Am I the only one who makes a distinction between younger kids and HS age? I just think you're flirting with trouble taking a child out of HS for a week or longer, excused or not. Some of these teachers can be vindictive even if they are formally "excused." And I would think most HS would not even allow an excused absense for vacation.

Personally I wouldn't take a HS or even a MS out for a week or more. Too much work would be missed. My kids wouldn't want to miss that much school.

 

[LoveTink05]

No. Entitlement means in a monetary sense. I think anyone that wants a vacation and can pay for it has EARNED it. I don't call that entitlement. I call that a reward.

For goodness sake, I am NOT using the word "entitlement" in a monetary sense. DisneyDotty stated my sentiments perfectly:

"... I guess I'm just agreeing with the bigger idea that suggests we all (myself included) feel "entitled" to vacation and therefore we will justify any sacrfice we have to make for our vacation time. And again, I know I have been guilty of this myself."

So, you be the judge as to whether my comment applies to you!

 

[DisneyDotty]

Well I have a good old Catholic upbringing myself. I too think family vacations are priceless. That's why I take more of them.

I hear ya--we've been taking as many as possible during our school vacations (this year we will have taken six trips!) Travel is definitely our family's priority right now. Don't have too many more years before college, so we enjoy it while we can.

 

[LoveTink05]

I hear ya--we've been taking as many as possible during our school vacations (this year we will have taken six trips!) Travel is definitely our family's priority right now. Don't have too many more years before college, so we enjoy it while we can.

Ditto! My oldest son is a senior and we have a trip planned for every school holiday! We have always travelled, but this year will be extra special!

 

[DisneyDotty]

Ditto! My oldest son is a senior and we have a trip planned for every school holiday! We have always travelled, but this year will be extra special!

Holy Pete--looking at your signature I'd say you've done some serious traveling to WDW alone! Have a great year!

 

[cshaffer21]

We've always pulled our 3 kids out for a few days each year for vacation. This year oldest daughter is in college, so we will be taking the other 2 out (10th grade and 5th grade) for 4 days in early January for our Disney fix. Most of the teachers they've had are understanding. Some are not and pile on the extra work when they get home. I don't believe in doing homework on vacation. Don't want to lug in along and it is VACATION. Sometimes they have kept a little journal each night. I don't want to do work on my vacation either!!!!

My niece decided not to pull her son out of Kindergarten this year for a few days since his handwriting is atrocious and she was afraid he might miss a letter or two.

So to each his own. Here in South Jersey most people do take their children out of school and there really is no problem.

 

[RIDisneyFan]

My DH and I took our 2 daughters out of school for 5 days in September, they're in 1st and 3rd grades. My DH has Multiple Sclerosis and hot weather can make his condition worse, so summer vacations to Florida don't work for us. We are also on a very tight budget and can only afford to go during value season - the free dining this year really helped us! The 1st grade teacher was very understanding - she had 3 students out of class that week because they went to WDW! We actually saw one of my DD's classmates at Chef Mickeys one night! We had told the school in advance when we would be going. They had no problem with 5 days and just asked for a note from us. But if we took them out of school for 2 weeks, we would have to re-register them.

 

[TinkerPixxie]

We had this issue last year. My father had passed away during the first quarter, the second quarter we had our Dis vaca. planned and when we got back of course the kids all got sick with colds and missed a few days. The school gave me such a hard time with the entire situation. Sorry i Couldnt have predicted my fathers passing, I wasnt going to cancel a prepaid vacation, and the colds.... well that i couldnt help either.
Bottom line is if the kids make up the work the school shouldnt be concerned IMO. If my kids were just skipping and sitting home hanging out then i could see the issue. But i could varify {and did} all the time they took off.

Tink~

 

[Diz-Mommy]

TinkerPixxie,

I completely understand where you are coming from. While I know the school feels a responsibility to ensure proper attendance, it should still be the parent's ultimate decision. I know there are "bad" parents out there that the school must be a watch dog for, but obviously taking time off for a funeral, going on a family trip or even being sick are valid absences. All in all they are OUR CHILDREN and they don't belong to the school district!

I sure hope our children go to a realistic school that can work with us. As long as the kids are making the grades and handing in the work ahead of time I don't see what the problem is. We're talking FIVE days here, some schools miss that much with snow days alone!

 

[Blondiex46]

Ok..I have 5 children 31, 28, 24 and 11 year old twin boys. I have never taken them out of school any of them for a vacation, end up going to disney spring break and the summer. This year going thanksgiving day and coming back sunday. My thoughts have always been not attendance, but a ethic of somekind, whether it be a work ethic. I wanted my children and with the younger ones to know that school is important and to me more important then a vacation. Some of my friends during may, june and sept. taken their kids out of school to go to the shore and don't come home until tuesday and then I have to explain to my kids why they do it. Actually there is a neighbor that is going tomorrow to dw and coming home on friday and another one going for 2 weeks and the school apparently didn't have a problem with him. Also, my kids don't want to miss school (6th grade) well actually one does and one doesn't and the one that does would quit school if he could. I would never judge anyone for doing whatever they choose to do, I just have my reasons and they have theirs.

 

[Downrivermama]

I sure hope our children go to a realistic school that can work with us.

Schools do the best they can considering some of the "unrealistic" parents they have to deal with. It's everyone's choice. School districts do the best they can considering the current climate in our society. A child not being in school because of sicknessor for bereavement is a valid reason

My thoughts have always been not attendance, but a ethic of somekind, whether it be a work ethic. I wanted my children and with the younger ones to know that school is important and to me more important then a vacation.

My thoughts exactly.

 

[deltachi8]

When the schools stop scheduling "half days" (that are two hours) and dyas off for inservice education (there is a big block of time in the summer available for that), I might see the argument about attendance.

I struggled with the decision last year and took DS (8) out of school for five days. He had a great time, the work we did on the trip was fun and he learned a bunch and he didnt miss a beat when he returned. While it is unlikely I would do it again as I can schedule around school for the most part, I wouldn't hesitate to if I thought it was ok for my son.

They are YOUR kids and its YOUR decision. As long as its not being abused, do what YOU feel is best.

 

[WIcruizer]

They are YOUR kids and its YOUR decision. As long as its not being abused, do what YOU feel is best.

Nice thought, but no it's not. If your kids are in public school, it's up to the school system, it's not your decision. There are all kinds of decisions YOU can't make just because they're YOUR kids. Can you demand a smaller class size? Demand a certain teacher? Opt out of math? Decide when the school year begins and ends? What they can wear in school? I could go on forever, but you get the idea.

We took our kids out of school for a week every year to go to WDW, but always made sure we got the excused absense. I don't think it's appropriate to thumb our noses at the school if the asbsense is unexcused. I would be upset, but abide by the school's decision. The alternative would be putting them in a private school or homeschooling if it botherd us that much.

Some of the attitude I'm reading in here is troubling. "We're going where we want to go, when we want to go there and nobody can tell me any different!!" That's selfish and childish.

 

[jodifla]

Nice thought, but no it's not. If your kids are in public school, it's up to the school system, it's not your decision. There are all kinds of decisions YOU can't make just because they're YOUR kids. Can you demand a smaller class size? Demand a certain teacher? Opt out of math? Decide when the school year begins and ends? What they can wear in school? I could go on forever, but you get the idea.

We took our kids out of school for a week every year to go to WDW, but always made sure we got the excused absense. I don't think it's appropriate to thumb our noses at the school if the asbsense is unexcused. I would be upset, but abide by the school's decision. The alternative would be putting them in a private school or homeschooling if it botherd us that much.

Some of the attitude I'm reading in here is troubling. "We're going where we want to go, when we want to go there and nobody can tell me any different!!" That's selfish and childish.

So, you expect everybody to be sheep and blindlessly follow poor decisions by the school board.

Gee, that's why I went to school: To learn critical thinking skills. And what some school districts are putting parents through to take their kids on trips is ridiculous.

I live in one of the school districts with stupid Wednesday teacher planning holidays. What rocket scientist thought of this? It's highly inconvenient for everyone. Unless, I suppose, if you take off the Thursday and Friday and make a five day holiday of it...hey, wait a second, that's an idea!