Kids & ridiculas "school rules"....

[MadFF]

Well, we'll find out this October about taking the kids (11 and 13) out for a week. This will be the first time we've done this, I don't really expect any problems.

As another posted, our kids probably have more first-hand knowledge of the USA and its history than the majority of their classmates, even if it is just primarily New England (so far). My daughter has mentioned about her friends going to France, England, skiing various places, Bermuda, etc. Which is fine, but they (her friends) have barely any knowledge of their own State, not to mention the rest of the USA.

I do have a friend who is a teacher, and my Mom was a teacher for 25 years. From their perspective, it was/is not so much the rules as simply keeping consistency in their classrooms. It is hard enough to teach a classroom of kids and try to keep them "on the same page", but add to that practically every week 1 or 2 or more kids would be gone during regular school days for family vacations. Giving homework in advance is fine, but when the kid gets back it is possible the class has already gotten well ahead of what the teacher expected, or ended up doing a different project because an opportunity arose.

Well, anyway, see you on the road! (or, as the case may be, at FW!)

 

[IDoBelieveInFairies2]

I teach kindergarten and like when parents can give me at least a week's notice to get a packet to do on the plane or car ride. I think it is great for a family to take advantage of an off season trip! I love the excitement a child has when they come back and share their trip with our class. Most parents are good about ensuring their child does not get behind while gone from school and I need no reassurance that a trip is educational to justfy it. Time spent as a family is justification enough!

 

[hoosiergirl]

Time spent as a family is justification enough!

It sounds like you're just the kind of teacher that most parents would love their children to have--one who is caring, organized, and appreciative of family time!

 

[chief19spixi]

I teach kindergarten and like when parents can give me at least a week's notice to get a packet to do on the plane or car ride. I think it is great for a family to take advantage of an off season trip! I love the excitement a child has when they come back and share their trip with our class. Most parents are good about ensuring their child does not get behind while gone from school and I need no reassurance that a trip is educational to justfy it. Time spent as a family is justification enough!

Kudos to you!!!

 

[Escape Artist]

I often pulled my big kids out of school when they were little, but boy did I learn alot...I learned how quickly my daughter could get schoolwork done and get "A's" without actually learning anything, and I learned that I could never homeschool my son, who has several disabilities, because he needs to be with a class to be motivated.

I loved those trips and wouldn't trade them for anything, but it sure made me appreciate what their teachers accomplish with a whole classroom full of 'em!

We got "the letter" last year for the first time. Too many doctor's appointments, an out-of-state wedding, and then flu season hit all in the same semester. It was a perfect storm of absences for my kids, who almost always have perfect attendance.

What I've learned--now that I have a high schooler--is that it isn't about what *I* want anymore...SHE doesn't want to miss school to go to WDW! So now we go the day after school is out or for the two weeks before it starts up again. I figure it's only for a few years (and my oldest and youngest are 9 years apart!), but worth it to reinforce the value of their education. Seeing how fast they move in her classes (mostly above level, with her first AP class coming next year), if I pulled her out for a week or 10 days, I don't know how she'd ever catch up!

So enjoy those trips while they're little!

Sue in Texas