Missing School.... How did your school react?

[kimerinc]

I could not agree more with those who say it depends on the child and the parent. We have been going on vacation during the ONLY time DH can get off work and that is during the 1st three weeks of December. We were worried about the school thing because our DD was in Kindergarten last year. The vacation actually became a godsend. She had 2 hours of homework every night. By December, we were fighting every night, I hated school, she hated school, we fought with each other all the time over homework. It was horrible! But we got to go on vacation and play with each other. It was only 7 days, but made us friends again and helped us get through the next 6 months of horror homework.

So I think it all depends on the situation....

Kim

 

[pyramid2000]

I could not agree more with those who say it depends on the child and the parent. We have been going on vacation during the ONLY time DH can get off work and that is during the 1st three weeks of December. We were worried about the school thing because our DD was in Kindergarten last year. The vacation actually became a godsend. She had 2 hours of homework every night. By December, we were fighting every night, I hated school, she hated school, we fought with each other all the time over homework. It was horrible! But we got to go on vacation and play with each other. It was only 7 days, but made us friends again and helped us get through the next 6 months of horror homework.

So I think it all depends on the situation....

Kim

Wow!! I would have been talking to anyone I could about that amount of homework. That is WAY too much for a 5 yr old!

 

[pansmermaidzlagoon]

allears really did sum it up!!!

luckily, our school has been pretty good about it..BUT, they won't provide the work up front for us to take with us. Last year the teacher did have DD do a journal (2nd grade). I know many schools are over the top cracking down on this - which I don't agree with IMHO.

Two years ago we went to WDW over Labor Day to avoid days off - Frances had her way and DD missed the first day (we cut it close so we could be there half a day for DD's birthday which was the day before school). Last year things were a mess and we ended up planning a last minutte trip for the Christmas party and decorations. At first we thought we would go down for MNSSHP - but that didn't work, so we are doing that this year before our cruise. We started out thinking we would stop going during school, but as you can see that lasted one year....

(two hours for Kindergarten - that is too much!!!! I would have a problem with that - ours is 15 mins for K, 30 mins for 1st, etc..plus reading time, of course.)

We will probably have to re-think when DD gets to middle school and go from there, but for now it isn;t a big deal.

 

[kimerinc]

It makes me just sick and want to cry about starting the first grade. We are having so much fun together now! She wants to be read to at night again and is interested in writing e-mails to her "Dis" friend. (Thanks Lisa) I hope we have a more positive experience in first grade, but regardless, we are going on our cruise in December. Yea!

Kim

 

[princess22]

Wow!! I would have been talking to anyone I could about that amount of homework. That is WAY too much for a 5 yr old!

That is a lot of homework! I teach second grade and I don't give out two hours of homework. Just an hour and a half! JK!

I think at that age kids need to be outside playing, but at the same time, they need the reinforcement of what they have learned. Half an hour of homework tops! (but what could be a half an hour to one student, might turn into 2 hours to another)

 

[stinkerbelle1]

It's true that there are several "breaks" throughout the year that you could cruise, but don't forget.....parents have schedules to consider as well. My dh cannot take off work in spring or summer, and Christmas is first and foremost a religious holiday, second it's a time to spend and reconnect with family. So winter, spring and summer breaks are not an option for our family. That leaves fall for us. We took ds out of school for a week (as a 3rd grader) and his teacher was very much in favor of our doing so. She is a big believer in travel as an educational opportunity, and knows that family time is critical for healthy development. She did prepare all of his work before we left, as we asked for it. And she urged him to only do what he could. She didn't want him to miss family time by doing too much homework. He did complete all of his assignments before returning to school. He is also an A/B student, so this was fine for him.....I agree that it's not a good idea for every child.

 

[SuzPasq]

WE've taken our son out of school every year and have never had a problem with it. I do know that public schools in our state have become more strict about absences, but he's in private school so it's a non issue.

This year he'll be in third grade and everyone knows already that we'll be going and it's fine. Usually what they ask him to do is keep a trip journal and make a few entries in his writer's workshop book. They don't give homework at his school, so there's nothing to catch up on.

In April we were planning a week trip to WDW, to accompany my husband on a business trip, and my son asked if we could stay home. He didn't want to miss school! I couldn't say no to that request, and was so happy that he loves school so much that he would give up a trip to WDW!

 

[jennyh2829]

I teach 4th grade and in 2008 we are planning on not only taking dd(8 then) out of school for about a week and a day but I'm also saving my days so I can take off to go to WDW. We went last year after school let out for Christmas break but while we were there it started to get croweded. So we decided to do it the week after Thanksgiving. I feel like she won't have a problem making up the work at that time of year and I will make sure dh and I help her if they are covering any new material that she hasn't seen before. As previous posters said if the teacher is able to give work before she goes we'll do it before we return otherwise we'll just get it when we get back. Some teachers, me included, are not exactly sure where the kids will be and also what exactly they can get accomplished in the timeframe of being out so I usually give work after the kid was out. Anyway , personal choice, I agree.

 

[ElenitaB]

My DS-10 will be entering fifth grade in the Fall. His school (private) maintains the policy that family time is as valuable as class time. Of course, I wouldn't take him out during a week of standardized testing. I will ask the teacher in advance about work that week, and coordinate with her re: homework, assignments, etc. He was absent this past year for 4 days and the teacher had him make up his homework when we returned. He'll be out for 6 days in November but I'll make sure that the trip has some sort of educational component... be it budgeting his spending money, learning phrases in a foreign language and locating cities/countries on a map, etc.

 

[lmok]

When my daughters were in private school I had no problem taking them out and we had all of the work done in advance before we even left. Now that we are in public school I will not take them out for a whole week. One day on the begining or end yes but not for a whole week. Policies are made for a reason and I don't think we are teaching our kids right by saying it is OK to take time out of school to go on vacation. I really don't think it is fair for the teachers either. My daughters both have straight A's but they still need to be in school.

 

[LAMPSKIES]

We've taken our out of school every year around that time for the last 5 years for DIS sailings...they are a students and that is our deal....stay A,B and we'll go. My Dds are now 16 and 14 so they were 5th and 7th the first time....ENJOY!!!

 

[lbgraves]

We got a new principal last year who is very against any time off so we went on our cruise with the kids out for 7 day and they were unexcused. I had DS do his homework before we left as well as take the spelling test for the week we were gone. He wrote a journal & shared it with his class. Since it didn't make a difference...I'm not going to make either of the kids do any school work this coming year. DH will have been away from home for work 9 months out of the past year as of September. I am not going to let anyone tell us when we can go away as a family. They will be out of school 8 days for this year's cruise.

 

[PenskeSth1]

My DH works out of state 9 months of the year March-end of Nov, so there is a certain time we can go on vacation. We have been going on vacation the same time every year for many years. Our kids are in 12th and 3rd grade and they both are excellent students. It wouldn't matter if someone did fuss at us, NO ONE is going to tell us what we can and cannot do with our kids when it comes to family vacation! We plan on having a fantastic time on our cruise in DEC.

Florida spends more time preparing for FCAT anyway then they do regular studies!!!

 

[mom+3girls]

I have taken my children out for the past 13 years. Not every year but most of the years. That is really the only time that I can afford to go. I have to go in off season. We cruised Sept 05 my oldest DD was a senior she missed a total of 15 days of school last year (not all of those were for the cruise) and she graduated with honors. I sent her to school with a letter the day that school started, she gave it to all of her teachers and told them that she would like to have any work that she would miss and that she would make up any test when she returned, her principal was very excited for her he gave her a little mini lesson on crusing and the ports that we were going to. She took pictures to show him when she returned. I will tell you this man has my daughters respect, and for her to like you, you have to really impress her, and on graduation day she hugged him and cried and said I am going to miss you and she thanked him for being a great principal and taking an interest in the arts.
My younger 2 DDs were in the 5th and 7th grade and we didn't have any problems.
My girls took their school work with them in the car and worked on it on our drive to PC from VA, I think the 2 younger ones were done by the time we got to GA and my oldest still had work to do when we got home. But all the work was done before she went back to school.
I hope that VA doesn't every make it a felony to take your children out of school or at least not until I get mine all through school.

 

[tvguy]

Other than to check state laws, like I said, it is personal choice. It is a felony here, and do truancy raids. Most of those arrested aren't folks who took kids out of school for vacations, they are folks who don't care if their kids go to school at all. While the first time penalty is 30 days in jail, and a $1,000 fine, usually first time vacation offenders just get a lecture from the judge, and have to pay $250 in court costs.

 

[aprilgail2]

Other than to check state laws, like I said, it is personal choice. It is a felony here, and do truancy raids. Most of those arrested aren't folks who took kids out of school for vacations, they are folks who don't care if their kids go to school at all. While the first time penalty is 30 days in jail, and a $1,000 fine, usually first time vacation offenders just get a lecture from the judge, and have to pay $250 in court costs.

I would certainly be homeschooling if I lived in that state, no way would I be sending my child to a school and have those rules thrown at me.

 

[crisi]

I would certainly be homeschooling if I lived in that state, no way would I be sending my child to a school and have those rules thrown at me.

Lawmakers are trying to meet the demand that after we throw all the money at schools we do, students leave having learned something. They don't learn if they aren't in school. I went to school with a number of kids who were gone more than they were there....and it wasn't good for their education....nor was it good for the other kids in the class when they did show up - they needed far more attention. If we are going to demand our schools teach (and we do, with No Child Left Behind) we at least need to do the schools the favor of providing a method to make sure the kids are in the classroom.

As tvguy said, it generally isn't involved parents going on vacation they are using the laws against. And its fairly aggregious in most states - I think 7 or ten days of unexcused absense is the minimum before the truancy officer visits. But you do have the option to homeschool. I know there are similar laws in Texas and California - somewhere East - I want to say Massachusetts - and my own state - Minnesota. We had a girl in my daughters kindergarten gone for a month worth of vacations over the year - and nothing at all was done about it but "have a good time" - application of the law depends on the circumstances.

 

[Downrivermama]

Normally I wouldn't pull my dd out of school, but I am this year. Her school use to have a week off in February. When we were on the Wonder this February I booked a 7-day for the week I thought she would have off. The principal had already sent out a note about the October break before our cruise, so I thought the regular breaks were a go.

Well the state of Michigan enacted a law that schools can't start before Labor Day. Ours use to start around Aug 23 or so. So they cut out the breaks and gave us these stupid long weekends. So instead of a full week she will have Thur, Friday, Mon & Tues. DD will miss 2 1/2 days for our cruise. The principal actually gave her blessing as many parents are upset with the 2006-2007 calendar. Of course this is a one time thing for us.

My dd is getting more involved in school activities and I wouldn't want to interfer with that. She just was accepted into the district wide youth choir.

I think that how we adults handle rules and authority influence our children. If we don't respect it, why should they?

 

[Corryn]

I'm always posting on this topic because it's Not a black and white issue - this is Definitely a shade of grey.
My kids (knock on wood) never get sick. This past year my 6th grade daughter stayed home one day because of her braces and my other daughter got the perfect attendance award. The only time they are out of school is for vacation.

There are so many different situations out there. If you vacation during regular school vacation times, that is wonderful for you and your family and that is your decision. My best friend never takes her daughters out of school for vacation and that is her opinion and I don't bother her because that is the way she feels. But her children get sick and take a week or so off a year just from sick days. She is taking her kids out of school for our cruise in April.

When I go on vacation, I'm spending a heck of a lot of money and the last thing I want to do is wait on line for an hour for one ride with every single other person who is on a school vacation.
Why should my family be miserable when we can vacation at off-peak times during the school year, enjoying every single minute in an uncrowded park AND being able to Walk onto rides and other attractions. We work hard for our money and we want to enjoy it.

My girls are going to be in 7th and 8th grade this year, and we're taking them out of school for four days to go down to MNSSHP. Then we're taking them out in April for a cruise on the Magic.

We're responsible parents and our children are responsible students who also participate in extra-curricular activities and we manage around that. They realize that if they do badly in school, then the vacations are gonna stop.

I had perfect attendance in HS and what did it get me? Nothing extra, I'll tell you that. I work and have worked with many people who don't want to come in to work because they don't feel like it, etc. They're receiving the same benefits I am, even though I had a perfect attendance record in school.

Even today, I never take off a day from work unless I have Strept Throat or something (I never get sick). During the summer months, I substitute at night for the teachers who wish to take a vacation and in the fall when I take my vacation, those teachers reciprocate and sub for me. My boss doesn't mind because my classes are covered.
My kids never take off from school for a goofy reason, like a Mall Day with Mom (which is fine for them, that's their lives) and my kids don't get sick either. They're up at 6 AM every morning and diligently work at their studies.
Yes, I am raising my kids to be responsible adults even if I take them out of school for a week or so. Perfect Attendance in school is not rewarded in this society anymore. Just because I do this doesn't make me a bad, irresponsible parent. We live in a free society where we can do as we please.
Different Strokes for Different Folks.....

 

[NCRedding]

Other than to check state laws, like I said, it is personal choice. It is a felony here, and do truancy raids. Most of those arrested aren't folks who took kids out of school for vacations, they are folks who don't care if their kids go to school at all. While the first time penalty is 30 days in jail, and a $1,000 fine, usually first time vacation offenders just get a lecture from the judge, and have to pay $250 in court costs.

This information is incorrect. The violation of school attendance is an infraction. Pursuant to EC 48293(a), the MOST that a parent can receive under truancy law for a first violation is no more than $100; a second condition is punishable by no more than $250; and a third or more conviction maxes out at $500. There is NO jail time for an infraction. If the violations are repeated and deliberate, the state can argue that the parent is guilty of contributing to the deliquency of a minor, which is a misdemeanor, not a felony.