Missing School

[FreeTime]

I know that this has been discussed many times here on the boards, but I wanted to get the DVC members opinion of taking your kids out of school. Do you think that it is okay to let your kids miss school and if so how many days is too many?

I've always believed that it was okay but now that my kids are getting ready to start school I am being wishy washy. BUT I know how much we need to have family vacations together.

 

[princess mom]

We went on family vacation in Dec. it is our schools policy to ask for written premission to miss for family trips. They gave her permission to miss school, as long as she presented a report of her trip. (which we never did!!)so, having permission made it easier for me. Maybe you should check with your school system, and see what they need for you to do, for those days to be "excused'.

 

[wdwhereicome]

I never worried about my children missing school - until lately. My guys have always been honor roll students - so missing a week in the fall and a week in the spring for a Disney trip wasn't a problem.

My oldest son is now a junior and has honor classes that really take up hours and hours of homework. He has a difficult time missing. We've come to a compromise - he misses up to 2 days for a trip. 2 days is a struggle, any more would place him so far behind. This means we are doing trips during school breaks - which we've never done before. We are going to Disney when it's the busiest.

For young children, I still believe missing a week of school will not harm them if they like school. I would check with their teachers just to be sure there wasn't something important they'd be missing or if there was any classwork they should do while away.

I understand how you're feeling. And I agree with you, family vacations are necessary! It helps us remember to have relax and have fun together.

 

[tjkraz]

IMO, it has a lot to do with the child, school system and the teacher.

If the child has problems with schoolwork, missing a week of class certainly isn't going to help. If a child is involved in extracurricular activities, often times it's not appropriate to leave town for a family vacation.

Many school systems now have guidelines as to how many unexcused absences (or even total absences, sick time included) a child can have in a year.

And teachers' opinions on the matter will vary. Remember, no matter what the school may think, you really don't want to alienate the teacher, with whom your child has to interact on a daily basis. Some will be very supportive of such trips and the accompanying "family time"--may feel justified in not approving of a week on Space Mountain or Rock N Rollercoaster.

Start by discussing with the teacher to get some feedback. Our 4yo is missing two weeks of pre-school this year for Disney. Not a big deal at that age, and the teacher had no problem with it. But it will almost certainly be the last time we miss that much school in a year for vacations.

 

[lllovell]

I am afraid that the no child left behind stuff is taking this decision out of the hands of parents (where I believe it belongs) and putting it into the hands of the school board. If your child misses X number of days in a set period, you will be called to a meeting before the board for an explanation.

All that said, I think that there is nothing more valuable than family time. Lucky for me my children are at a school that believe the same thing so I don't have to deal with any issues.

Talk to your children's teachers. Find out what their policies are and then make a decision based on what you think is best for your family! This one is very personal and I respect parent's rights to make that decision!

 

[DrTomorrow]

Another thread from the DDDB (dear departed debate board).

Here goes:

1. You may not have a choice. More school boards are tightening their absence policies.

2. Your child's age is a significant issue. A High School Sophomore misses a lot more work and learning in a week than does a 2nd grader.

3. Your child's teacher is a big factor. Depending on his/her assessment of your child, what will actually be missed that week (new material vs. review) and their personal opinion, they may facilitate or hinder your child taking the time off.

4. Your child's capabilities are also important. Is s/he the type to work extra-hard to make up the work, and can pick up material from books if they miss the teacher's presentation?

IMHO, the older a child gets, the higher the priority of education over vacation rises. As for "family time" - well, unless you're already spending every possible moment with your child, or the only way you're going to ever see them is on vacation, then I guess I see that as a weak defense.

IMHO - YMMV

 

[lllovell]

You don't consider a vacation together vaulable family time?

I would hate to think that there are parents out there that only see their children during a time like this, but from my own experiences growing up, some of my best family memories are from our vacations. Everyone is together for more than a day or two (without chores, work, school, etc all calling and tugging at us). Vacation time is VERY different from regular family time to me.

 

[goldilocks_63]

DD-6 is in first grade, and kinda behind, but I thought, how hard can 1st grade be?

SO I got permission from school to take her to meet her grandparents there (who also are DVC members, retired, and so only want low point dates, which means not on school vacations). DD promised to do her homework.

On to the trip, it was a knock-out, drag-out fight every morning, to get DD to do homework. We had to say, okay, we're staying in the room until you do your homework, so got out to the parks by the crack of Noon. (Upset grandparents, who get there 1 hour before park opens to ride as many rides as possible). But when we waited until end of day, DD would not do her homework!!!

End of story, I have added on 3 more times so that we can now go Prime Time, Rip-em-off, during school vacation times.

and DD will now be vacationing during her scheduled breaks (which she is unhappy about. Wants to stay home to play with her friends ). BUt I think family vacation time is important, and don't want her to fall behind.

Since I've been starting this policy, teacher says DD is doing much better, and we're catching up.

So for any of you PMP (Project Managers) out there, this is the triple constraint for us:

Time | Money (cost of points} | CHild doing well in school.

So Yes, I'm sure we will take DD out of school to see her grandparents, but otherwise, we'll be doing the high season school break vacation schedule.

And when DD is older, will maybe will sell off some of the extra points.

So I think it just depends on which tradeoff you want to make. If DD was doing great in school, I wouldn't worry. But, we aren't....

Goldi

 

[mark&sue]

I always take my daughter out of school for at least a week. This year it has been a week in October and will be a week in May totalling 12 days in her school year. It goes from September to July in UK. Two of these days have not been authorised.

However in the seven years my daughter has been to school she has only taken 2 days off sick. I know other children have much more sick time off so I don't feel she has missed out.

My boss won't let me take the time off during the summer school holidays, Christmas or Easter as she wants the time off herself! This leaves me with the week half term holidays which we add a week onto. There is not much option as our family must have our Disney fix.



Susan

 

[rocketriter]

Last fall we took our DS-11 and DD-8 out for a short week in October (that week had a legal holiday plus a teachers' institute, so it only included 3 school days). It's probably the last time we'll do this, since DS's schoolwork is getting too demanding for several missed days in a row. Our next trip to BCV will be in late June 2006--hot and crowded, but no school missed.

 

[Johnnie Fedora]

Call me a bad parent, but I pulled our 1st grader out for 12 days this year. She's doing fine in school, and we do the limited homework while on vacation.

When she's grown I'm going to be sure to ask her if she regrets missing those 12 days. I think I can predict her answer.

 

[StormTigger]

Call me a bad parent, but I pulled our 1st grader out for 12 days this year. She's doing fine in school, and we do the limited homework while on vacation.

When she's grown I'm going to be sure to ask her if she regrets missing those 12 days. I think I can predict her answer.

Okay... Your a bad parent.

Just kidding...but.. I couldn't resist!

 

[AFMom]

Well - we took our 1st and 2nd grade boys out last fall. They missed 6 days of school. One teacher had us turn in missed work when we got back (you'll usually have a week to get it turned in, but ask), the other teacher had my 2nd grader do the extra work the week before since he is always done early! So he had no make up work to do. The absences counted against their totals (they could only miss 20 days per school year), and were not excused. But the principal and both teachers seemed supportive. We can't go on school holidays either - so there really wasn't a choice for us. We home school now so we don't have to worry anymore - but I wholeheartedly feel that family vacations should be scheduled around what works best for the family. We would have been miserable going at a hot and crowded time of the year (if it had even been an option), and I personally want to enjoy my 1 vacation a year!
If it is an issue of the child struggling with school work - well - that sounds like a long term 'work with the child out of school' issue, and I doubt taking a week off will end up making a difference in the long run. It would depend on the age of the child, and I know once you hit Jr High - missing school is a lot more stressful - but I still think it'd be worth it more times that not.

 

[Divamomto3]

I don't think there is anything wrong with them missing school when they are in the really younger grades and there isn't a whole lot of homework and tests yet. Our school (a private school) allows kids to miss for vacations b/c they encourage family time and understand not everyone can take vacation in the summer. However, they won't give any assignments ahead of time and when the kids return, they only have 3 days to make up all the work....all of the in class assignments and all of the homework...even if they missed a whole week. So they have to do all the current work once they're back and do all of the missed work. It's A VERY VERY LOT OF WORK! I only took them out once for a week...in May 2003...DS #1 was in 5th grade, DS #2 was in 2nd grade, DS #3 wasn't in school yet. I'd never be able to do that now...both of my older kids would be overwhelmed with work.

 

[crisi]

Its not just school boards, in some states there are state laws.

Check your schools policy.

We are pulling ours out three days next year....we have a two day teachers conference break in October. We need to get permission from the principal or they will be "unexcused." The kids get three "unexcused" absenses before they are consided truant. At seven, the school reports us for truancy. Without getting into a "parents rights" debate - I'd personally much rather go on vacation during school break than spend my time explaining myself to a social worker.

 

[gopherit]

I didn't hesitate to take our kids out of preschool for vacation, other than to contemplate the lost tuition dollars. But once they hit grade school, our lives changed. Aye yi yi, the homework. I thought, heavens NO we can't miss school! And the extra-currcular stuff started getting in the way, too... school plays, sports teams, scouts. And we reallllly limit how much our kids participate in, too, but it still all adds up. So we have been vacationing every year around mid-August -- it's about the ONLY time we get!

But lately, I'm thinking about this more and wondering. Our kids always have had great grades -- usually all A's, principal's honor roll, etc. In fact, I seriously believe they are UNDER challenged (and simply over-worked with repetition, repetition, repetition meant to teach those who HAVEN'T mastered it yet.) I am thinking that anything I could do with them on a road trip could be made as meaningful as what they get in school... I have already started looking at the school calendar closely for the right opportunity. For example, I wouldn't want to do Nov/Dec because of the school play (my kids LOVE being in these, and usually get a speaking role, and it wouldn't be fair to the cast if they weren't there to practice, and it would REALLY bum them out if they didn't get a part because they missed auditions!!) Wouldn't want to do Sept/Oct because that's the season that sets the pace with their teachers, that's the first quarter grading period -- nope, not a good fit here for us. Plus -- it's usually soccer season, and DH coaches. Ok.... what about spring? Aughh -- no waqy, too many spring-breakers! SO hmmm.... how about Janury? Yes, good ol' January....

I am really looking hard at making a very nice trip next year in late Jan. It will be ds 11th birthday AND DH's 40th. Points are cheap, crowds are relatively low (if we skirt away from MLK and Pres day.) And with advance notice, I think the teachers would be amenable to it. (I'd like to get the work done in ADVANCE of the trip, and I think the kids would too!) There are also some great websites that give tips on how to make the trip a learning exp. without sapping all the fun out -- everything from basic accounting, to maps and geography, to languages. EPCOT alone is a great learning station! (Last trip our eldest earned his Traveler pin for Webelos scouts, no sweat.)

Oh well. Someday the little nippers won't even want to go with us, so compromise on our part made now is time well spent, I guess, so long as we're together!!

 

[Alexander]

I teach in a school district that had attendance policies for middle and high school. If the child missed x amount of days, they could not pass their classes. Well, this held up really well in court when a child had an average in the high 90's missed more than x amount of days and was told he would not pass. Needless to say the attendance policy was thrown out and the child passed. We no longer have an attendance policy.

I've said it before and I'll say it again, "Life is too short". Take your kids and go. I do understand that at the secondary level, it is much more difficult for them to miss class, but elementary aged kids can read a book and practice their math while on vacation. I never give unnecessary homework to my students going on vacation, especially to WDW! I do however make them tell me where they are staying, what parks they are going to and where they are eating! When they get back we compare notes!

 

[dis-happy]

My dh is also my children's school principal, so getting permission to go hasn't been a problem. He just tells the teacher to ease up on homework that week, and so far it has worked out great! We missed a whole week in January to go to WDW with no problems or repercussions whatsoever....

 

[dis-happy]

P.S. We homeschool.

 

[magicmommy]

Our boys are 15 and 13 and we have taken them out of school 4 times for trips to Disney. It was easier when they were in Elementary school and we always had approval from the teachers first. It also helped that they had good grades and good attendance. The problem we face now is my oldest is in his first year of High School and doesn't want to miss school. We have a trip planned in August (our first trip home) amd I booked Thanksgiving week because they would only miss 2 days of school.....well he doesn't want to miss it so I guess we won't be going. Looks like we'll be doing summers for a few more years!