Kids out of school - Permission or Forgiveness

[NewEnglandCamper]

We booked our WDW trip way back in April when our kids were homeschooled. This summer we decided to put them back into public school as wife is back in college. Therefore the kids are going to miss 1 full week of school in late September.

Question: Should we "ask permission" by writing notes to the teachers or just "beg for forgiveness" when we get back?

Some teachers up here are a bit "grouchy" about kids being out of school for an extended amount of time.

Any thoughts? What would you do? or have done?

 

[2kidletsmom]

I would just let the school know when you will be gone. I would ask the teacher's if there is any work your kids could do while gone. Some school's may get upset but in a case like this it could be educatinal as well as fun.

 

[MM27]

As a teacher, my opinion is, they're your kids and you don't need to ask permission or beg for forgiveness for them being absent. Write a note stating that your child will be absent from ____ to _____ and ask if missed work can be made available before or after the trip.

People need to realize that parents cannot always get time off of work/school at the same time their children are off. Family comes first.

 

[NewEnglandCamper]

Thanks! I wish the teachers up here in New England thought that way. Will send in a note this week!

 

[Sandy321]

ITA with PP - but I have read several of these threads - and it does depend on your state, and school districts absence policy! Some districts only "allow" so many absences (3 I think) then they get the truancy department involved

If you have a good relationship with the teachers its as easy as the pp stated - we were in a battle with one teacher - so I just told the nurse our absences - that way I didnt have to listen to the teacher's lectures!! (In our district you have to report absences to the nurse anyway!)

 

[MickeyMomTo2]

I am a former teacher, and I pull my kids out of school for Disney trips. I would definitely let the teachers know ahead of time, but I would not look at it as asking permission. They are your kids, and you can take them on a trip if you want to. I would, however, let them know that you want to do everything possible to make sure they keep up with their work. In most cases, if you are polite, and the teachers know you want to be sure the kids make up what they miss, the teachers will work with you. My son's teacher had him write a report about his trip last year. It was a fun assignment!

 

[bouncycat]

We're going next week, and let the school know. Ds's teachers are great about it, and think it's wonderful that we're going! They gave him work to do, and I even let the bus driver know so he won't be looking for him in the mornings. (he gets picked up in front of the house) So sometimes it's good, and I have heard horror stories, but his teacher would be concerned if I didn't tell her, and would be calling me!

 

[LaneOT]

I posted this on another thread, but it helps to reiterate that sending a note stating the dates of the abscences ahead of time to the teacher and the attendance person heads off alot of heartache... We do this at my kids school b/c in NYC they are the strictest of the strict. The way I see it is, if I have to singlehandedly send my kids with all the supplies the school should have (paper towels, napkins, soap, wipes, toilet paper...I kid you not) then I'll be damned if you're going to make a stink out of my kid going on vacation.

 

[MariDisney]

Our district has a form to fill out stating the dates of the trip. It need principal approval, but I've never heard of anyone not being approved. I'd be a little bit leary of just telling them when you get back. After a certain number of days of absence without a phone call or whatever they will need to call the truancy people.

 

[BathelB]

Being a fellow MA...ran into the same thing. If 10 unexcused absences, then we had to go in front of a board to discuss our kid's academic status. And going to disney was an unexcused absence.

What we did...made it known to the teachers we were going, recognizing it as an unexcused absence. Got all the homework in advance and went from there. The kids were in 3rd and 4th grades and even at that age, the teachers thought the kids would get far behind. Ultimately, was a non-issue.

Bottom Line...go to Disney, let teachers no upfront.

 

[mjmselby]

My son is in high school and we are leaving next Friday for a week to Disney. We told the teachers so we could get any work he might need. It isn't an issue where we live...probably because we are a military town and it is very normal for kids to take off of school while parents are home for a mid deployment break.

 

[CarolAnnB]

A few years back, we unexpectedly transferred our kids into a new school, having already made plans for a vacation in January, missing a week of school. I spoke with both teachers and explained we had made plans the previous year, before we had moved to this school and sorry for the inconvenience. If you explain why it happened (wife going back to school, big change in circumstances) and ask what you can do to make it the least painful for everyone involved, I think they should be okay about it. My first grader's teacher gave her a packet of a few worksheets each day and she had to write a few sentences each day in a journal. The sixth grader said don't worry, she will catch up when she got back. Good luck.

 

[jaminmd]

Our county allows 3 discretionary days. Anything beyond that needs to be approved by the principal. I wrote a letter & handed it in on Friday with the dates we'll be gone & asked for her absence to be excused in advance so that she'll be able to make up the work. If I didn't do that, she'd get zero's for the entire week & the teachers won't allow her to make up the work.

Her principal is very strict about excused absences but he approved DD's right away because he knows her. If she were still in elementary school, I wouldn't have even worried about it but she's in 7th grade so I have to.

I know when she gets to high school that she can't afford to miss a week, so we're getting it in while we still can.

Have a wonderful trip!

 

[NewEnglandCamper]

Ok - Will definately send in notices with our children in on Monday!

I'll post it here how it goes.

I think my DS who is in 9th grade is worried the most and is even demanding that he stays home with a friend so he doesn't have to miss school! (NOT going to happen)

My wife has even stated that the school THROWs around "the detention" word WAY TOO MUCH at this high school. Not a way to motivate the kids.

BTW -- Did I mention my kids went literally from homeschool to public school with only 1 week off. They were in school this summer. Since we took vacations here and there.

 

[letsgoagainsoon]

Let them know in advance. Our school has a form to be filled out and you must hand it in at least two weeks prior to leaving and it must be approved by the school.

Our kids get 10 days of excused absences for vacations. I guess we are very lucky compared to some schools!!

 

[Dervis]

When my parents were pulling me out of school for Disney (elementry, jr. high, and highschool), I just took a note to each of my teachers saying that I'd be gone from x to y, and asking if I could have some homework and assignments to do while away.

Some of my teachers let me off the hook completely, and just told me to have a good time. Some gave me some worksheets to keep up with class, some gave me some reading, and one teacher made me stay after school for a few days before I left so that I'd be ahead. Suggest some of these things to the teacher....something should work out for everyone!

 

[Bell30012]

Normally I try and schedule our Disney vacations for when my daughter's school is out. Sometimes that plan doesn't work. Last year my daughter's kindergarten teacher took offense to her missing school to go to Disney. I think it was jealousy but that is beside the point.

My daughter brought home a note from the teacher basically telling me that my daughter could not miss those days of school. The email I sent back to her, copies to the principal and my school board member, explained that I as the parent got to make that decision. The teacher's final email on the subject was a "If your daughter's education is less important than your vacation plans..."

 

[Stitchnut]

I agree with many others, let their teachers know that they will be missing the week and ask if they can make up the work. We had to take our son out before Thanksgiving week, and his teachers were ok with it and offered to let him do the work before or after he got back. Also, the kids need to be called in absent on the days they miss or they will be truant. You can let the school office ahead of time with a written note. Enjoy your vacation and don't concern yourself too much, I don't think you need to beg forgiveness.

 

[maddmike]

We have taken our kids out of school for at least a week for the past nine or ten years for vacation. Each time we notified the teachers ahead of time. Usually we tried to let them now at the beginning of the school year. They have always worked with us to get the kids their home work ahead of time. It is easier for kids in grade school but is still managable with the older kids in jr. high and high school.

 

[minnie_michelle]

I guess I just don't understand why you would want your kids to miss an entire week of school just to go on vacation when they have 3 MONTHS off during the summer.

I understand that parents have different schedules, but my parents always found 1 week during the 3 months school was off to organize and plan a vacation.

I guess I am just one that believes school is very important and that the school schedule allows for a vacation multiple times a year with long holidays, spring break and the 3 month summer break.

But again, that is just what I believe and how I was raised. I'm sure a note sent to the school well in advance should suffice.