one sentence- Why is Disney Educational???

[erinbee]

First off, it's not the schools business where you are going. Here's what I will say.

"During this time away from school, Joe will get to attend cultural and educational performances representing countries from around the world. He will also be touring interactive exhibits and attractions that highlight US and World History, science, zoology, and astronomy."

I was about to post something similar to this. I wouldn't specify Disney, personally. And the above statement is perfect.

 

[goofyboyzmom]

Many thoughts on this subject:

1. He is my child. He is going with his family and will have many life experiences.

2. My 3 boyz teachers have told me in the past that there is no better educational experience than time spent with family.

3. Another teacher has told me that she uses the term "family emergency" when she takes her family on a "school-year" vacation and it is nobody's business what the emergency is.

 

[sah95]

I agree w/ CowboyCO's statement. I decided in December that I would take DS11 out of school for our trip Jan 21-28, 2009. He had surgery Dec. 23 and had a less than desirable Christmas, so I'm taking him to WDW for his birthday (it's a surprise!!). Missing 5 or 6 days of 6th grade will not keep him out of college. Even if he couldn't make up any of his work, I would still take him. 1 week of zeros won't keep him out of college either. I wish the OP luck!!

 

[Tnkrbelle565]

Unfortunately for many school systems that no longer works, regardless of how "educational" the trip may be.
Vacation of ANY type is not a "legal absence" in our school system and the kids aren't allowed to turn in any make up work for a grade if it's not a legal absence.

Kinda ridiculous if you ask me. I honestly think my kids often learn MORE when we go away than when they are in school, more about the "real world" anyway.

Totally agree with this. Our school systems are the same way...no matter how you try to spin it, Disney would never be considered an "educational" experience or a legal absence. DD's school will fail 1st graders and up if they miss more than 5 days in a term for any reason other than illness (documented by drs note).

I personally hate this rule but I also don't want my child having a failing report card because I pulled her out of school for a week.

 

[Aristomommy]

In our school system, it would be laughed at to consider Disney World as educational. It is a family vacation destination, not a place to learn first and foremost. Now, my kids have learned many things while at WDW, but it hasn't been our main goal.

Last trip at AK, DD watched a turtle being intubated, x-rayed and getting bloodwork. She learned from a CM about illegal smuggling of these Vietnamese turtles and dangers of that. We took 3 hours from our day to see this experience, but I doubt most people are willing to take that much time to do something educational.

Since our school system is starting to be strict about absences, we are going in June instead.

 

[here757]

u can use my moms standby.."cuz I said so"

 

[brockscandy]

I found out how educational just traveling is when we took our girls two years ago. They were 7 and 5 and had never flown. Someone that works for the FAA sat next to my daughter and explained the de-icing the plane, things we were waiting for before we could leave, etc. to her. I even learned things. My poor girls we amazed with escalators (hey, we live in Kansas and the closest mall is 2 1/2 hours away and only one floor) and thought the big bus we took from the airport to Wilderness Lodge was great! They learned before they ever hit Disney World. I didn't know my children we so deprived .

 

[MrsPete]

Though all travel is educational, it's a stretch to say that a Disney trip is "educational". It's more realistic to say that it's family bonding time, fun for everyone, and a nice break from the routine, but you know that for every "educational" thing like Hall of Presidents you're going to do ten "just for fun" things. I wouldn't try to stretch the truth.

 

[Va-bear]

3. Another teacher has told me that she uses the term "family emergency" when she takes her family on a "school-year" vacation and it is nobody's business what the emergency is.

I will have to remember this one! Because our school is like the one below...

Totally agree with this. Our school systems are the same way...no matter how you try to spin it, Disney would never be considered an "educational" experience or a legal absence. DD's school will fail 1st graders and up if they miss more than 5 days in a term for any reason other than illness (documented by drs note).

I personally hate this rule but I also don't want my child having a failing report card because I pulled her out of school for a week.

Our school feels so strongly about this that it's stated in the Rules book they send home the first day that "Walt Disney trips are NEVER approved reasons for missing school!" ...oh well....

 

[sk!mom]

How about, "It's not but it's a fun family vacation."

All the "educational" suggestions would take work on the part of the parent or participant to make sure something is learned. Heck my kids only go in the Hall of Presidents if they feel the need for an air conditioned cat nap and at the American Adventure in EpCot this summer, I looked down the row to see my entire extended family having a good snooze.
Would have been educational had they stayed awake.

 

[here757]

this conversation always ALWAYS gets heated!
i clipped this from the El paso Texas schools websites.. and unfortunally its a growing trend...

The State of Texas requires all students from the ages of 6 to 18 to attend school. A child shall attend school each school day for the entire period the program of instruction is provided (TAC Section 25.085). Once enrolled in school, a child younger than six shall attend school.

a parent commits an offense if the student is required to attend school and fails to attend 10 or more days or parts of days within a six-month period in the same school year or 3 or more days or parts of days within a four-week period. An offense may be prosecuted in a Justice of the Peace Court in which the individual resides. PLEASE NOTE: The fact that a parent/guardian did not receive a notice does not create a defense to prosecute.

i chose El paso texas because the penalitys are $$$. i have a "friend" that has been fined $1200 so far this year! her kid skips school. thats another subject

 

[famofsix]

I suppose you could give notice to homeschool 14 days before the trip and then re-enroll the day you get back

 

[MouseEarsJenny]

It probably doesn't matter what you actually write. School administrators are aware of Walt Disney World. Whether your request is approved depends completely on your child's grades and the school policy, not on that one sentence.

 

[branv]

Well I can tell you the number one thing I learned from visiting Disney World: commerce and economics I learned some very creative methods of accounting when justifying our last trip in fact.

 

[mrsklamc]

DH says "I'm teaching my child the difference between liberty and a dictatorship."

 

[heartsy77]

I would say " Disney is educational because; we are trying to teach our children that family time is the most important aspect of life!"

 

[micki7337]

MY 1 sentence answer is. Disney teaches the value of the imagination and what can be achieved when we put our minds to it.
a second 1 sentence answer would be that a trip to Disney world can teach a child conservation, ecology, geography and social interactions with people from other countries.

then there is my real answer which is Disney is pure family fun that teaches a child that time with their family is just as important as the education learned in school.

 

[Kickapoo Joie Juice]

"We are pursuing a STEM scholastic track for our children (Science, Technology, Engineering & Math) and Walt Disney World is an excellent opportunity to explore those concepts in a hands-on, real world manner."

Y'all can send me 5 bucks to my pay pal if you use it, I'm a freelance writer

We haven't used this with our kids, basically they're either out sick or it's not excused. FWIW, we really are pursuing a STEM track for our kids .

My favorite of all the posts is the "Family Emergency" one. Yeah, you know it's gonna be a family emergency if I don't get me some Disney! :rofl: (bad grammar on purpose..) I may actually use it this December...

 

[roscoepc1]

DH says "I'm teaching my child the difference between liberty and a dictatorship."

*snort* love that one! Thankfully, in our area, parents are still parents, and schools don't own our kids.

 

[roxy83]

The problem with using the "family emergency" excuse is that the kids are going to come back and spill every detail to the BFF's. Then the kids will tell their parents, their parents will tell other parents....you see where I am going with this. It will get back to the powers that be in the school and you will be asked to explain yourself. I would prefer to be on the up and up and deal with the consequences.

We just took my dd 7 out of school for a week in December. I was honest with the teacher and she appreciated that. She was amazing to my dd. She gathered her work in advance and my dd did it the weekend before we left. Every single month as we write out the check to her private school I complain about the expense. However, posts like this remind me why we made the decision in the first place.