Pulling kids out of school?

[Kevs mom]

Well like I mentioned earlier in this post we pulled our 3 children out of school last week for 4 days (Monday was a scheduled Teacher Workday) as it turns out it snowed and got very icy and my kids only ended up missing 1 1/2 days of school due to cancellations so it worked out very well - they didn't miss a lot of school and we got to miss the storm

As for teachers missing days for family vacations I wouldn't mind a bit, I think they need their time when they need it as well and my children have always had very capable substitutes.

 

[CDoobee]

I have pulled my DD out of school for a week at a time for mother-daughter trips when she was in 1st, 3rd, and 5th grades. Only the 5th grade trip was to WDW (DIS-Con 2001!) That trip was a surprise, her teacher went 2 months earlier (yes, during school time!), and then had to help keep the secret from DD. None of her teachers had any objections, and none of them gave her any make-up work. She was making straight A's and they felt that make-up work would only have been "busy work". She kept a journal during the 3rd grade trip that her teacher was very impressed with, even showing it to other teachers. This was NOT required work, she just wanted to do it.

We are taking her out for a week this year in May. She's now is 7th grade and still doing very well. She would have preferred not to have to miss school, but due to my DH's work this was the only month we could go. We talked to her home room teacher back in September and she said it wouldn't be a problem at all. She already knew DD well enough to know she was a good student and would have no problem making anything up that was necessary. We also made sure she wouldn't be missing her spring choir concert (attendance is part of the grade), and no state testing would be done during that time. We picked the end of the month, so the school year would almost be over anyway. She will only have 6-7 school days left when we return.

All this being said, I also have a son who struggled with school, getting homework completed, turned in, etc. I never took him out of school for a vacation since the only good grades he did get were from things done during classtime, tests, etc!

I agree with everyone who says it's what works best for your family.

Debbie

 

[Sally Bradley]

This past Christmas, well actually several months before, DH and I made the decision to take my DD out of 4th grade for a trip to WDW. I really struggled with the idea. I talked to her teacher and told her of my struggle.

Nine months ago, at the age of 45, I was diagnosed with stage IV colon cancer. I frankly dont know how much longer I will be alive.

I absolutely love Christmastime and I love WDW. I decided the one gift I wanted to give my family was to be together for a much anticipated, and needed vacation at the happiest place on earth.

My DD is an outstanding student. She has never missed school for any reason. She is an an accelerated program that pulls her out of class for one day each week. She is not required to make up the "school day" work. Her teachers have always been allowed "personal days" throughout the year, much the same as any other job. I don't have a problem with that. We all need healing time.

DD's teacher knows of my diagnosis. She has 3 children of her own. When I asked her her opinion on pulling my child out of school for 3 days she told me how important she believes it is to be with your family when you can. She agreed to it, with her blessing. She is probably the best and most creative teacher my DD has ever had.

The bottom line is this....no one has the right to judge someone else's "motive" or decision to take their child out of school. Years hence, my DD will not remember the 3 days she missed from school, or the work she did make up before she returned. But she most certainly will remember the wonderful week we spent at a magical Christmas Disney World and the "close" time she had with her parents, especially her mom. I will never regret that decision.

 

[superdiz]

I feel I must come in here and poke some tasteless fun. I believe that Efastpitch is still disgruntled at his/her own parents for taking him/her out of school for a week. I mean, one only needs to read the post where Efastpitch proves to lack spelling and Basic English skills. Here’s a refresher course Efastpitch so please pay close attention!


Admistration = Administration (note the NI that needed to be included to make any sense whatsoever)

“if you miss more then five (5) continues days” = the word you are looking for here would be CONSECUTIVE or CONTINUOUS meaning uninterrupted in time, sequence, or extent; following one after another without interruption.

And finally (a pet peeve of mine):

“Parents today are looking for the easy way out when it comes to raising there children (not all parents). They blame the teachers and the administration (<-- BRAVO!) for there failures (not all parents).”

Honey, it’s THEIR in both sentences.

Now please get down from there!! Didn’t your parents teach you not to climb up on high pedestals? It’s very dangerous!

On a more serious note, I am of the opinion that everyone should do what they feel is right with their own children. Please stop condemning others for raising their children differently. Who is the authority on what is right or wrong? The last time I checked, children do not come with instruction manuals. And also, this is the TIPS board, not the DEBATE board.

 

[Efastpitch]

Changed my mind. Decided not to get in the mud with the Guinea Pigs, that way only one person gets dirty.

And the view up here is GREAT!

 

[superdiz]

Sure, do you have some questions about guinea pigs or baking that I can help you with? I see you take my suggestions quite well since you went back and corrected the grammatical and spelling errors I pointed out to you in your previous post.

 

[superdiz]

Guinea pigs aren't actual pigs and do not play or live in mud. Glad you are enjoying yourself. Do you have children?

 

["thegirls"]

Chris0517~

Your school will have all the "rules" you need to follow in order to make an informed decision on what is right for your children and family! Find out the absence policy and use that as your guideline. For some reason you've encountered the DARKSIDE of the dis boards here today. Some people really do not know how to disagree with each other without namecalling!!

As an educator of 14 years, I know my school district dictates the amount of time that is acceptable for a student to be out of school. And, even within these guidelines there is room for a "do-over". Meaning if a student earns an incomplete for a subject area in one semester he/she can turn that Inc. into a letter grade by making up the work. Most school systems function relativily similar to mine.

As far as the malicious undertone of Efastpitch I can only guess he/she is employed by a school district that has an absence poliy not to his/her liking. Unfortunately instead of taking up this issue with his/her administrators(or if he/she is an administrator--the school board) he/she is quite obviously VENTING his/her displeasure here! Waaaaaay unacceptable!

Please realize that not many people on these boards interact in this manner. I've noticed your posts are low and just felt that as as a fellow low poster you might need some encouragement to not throw in the towel and give up the very precious resource of information found here at the DIS.

Best of luck with your plans and ENJOY ENJOY ENJOY!!!!

 

[4greatboys]

Sally I just wanted to let you know that I will be keeping you and your family in my prayers. I hope you have a wonderful vacation and many more after that.

 

[Efastpitch]

Originally posted by "thegirls"
Chris0517~


As far as the malicious undertone of Efastpitch I can only guess he/she is employed by a school district that has an absence poliy not to his/her liking. Unfortunately instead of taking up this issue with his/her administrators(or if he/she is an administrator--the school board) he/she is quite obviously VENTING his/her displeasure here! Waaaaaay unacceptable!

No, not employed by a school district. And I am big enough to take on all the attacks you wish to bring on. But, it still is apparent that most people on this topic are taking a vacation from school for their own convenience. They want the low prices and small crowds that the off season brings. They are unable or unwilling to admit this to themselves. Health reasons are a completely different issue.

The response that quality time is the main issue, just doesn't hold very much water. You can spend quality time with your family anywhere. A vacation is just a change of location to spend quality time with your family.

Now to bring us back on topic. This started out with people EXPECTING teachers to furnish future work or make up work for the children who were being taken out of school by their parents. One or two days maybe. But to take your kids out of school for a week and sometimes for as much as two weeks and expect the teacher to provide you with missed work was unreasonable.

Teacher's have more children that they are responsible for then just your's.

I do agree that this is best discussed on the debate board and should have been moved a number of days ago.

But, please understand that I do believe that every parent should do what they deem is best for the family.

 

[CrazedDisFan]

I haven't read any of the other responses, so I am sorry if this duplicates what others have said. I thought I would reply since our kids are the same ages.

My take is this: If your child is doing well in school and not requiring extraordinary effort to be getting the good grades, go to their teacher and discuss a vacation with him/her.

I have 2 kids, first and third grade. Both of them are A students, never miss school. In fact the 3rd grader has only been absent 1 day for illness and 2 days for a Disney trip since pre-school. My first grader has missed six days due to a tonsilectomy.

I discussed pulling the girls for one week this year for a Disney trip with both teachers today. I was VERY NERVOUS about doing this. I was astounded by their response.

Both teachers said, "Take them! A family vacation experience will not hurt them. Let them be kids. Let them enjoy their time with their family. Go make memories. School work will be here when they come back. "

One teacher even told me the 2 weeks she missed in November she was at Disney herself. She said the memories you make as a family will far exceed her not learning what an omnivore is during the week it's taught. She'll catch up.

The other teacher told me if my daughter did a mini-report when she got back she would excuse the absences and chalk it up as an educational experience.

Needless to say, we are going and I feel far better telling them the truth. Talk to your childrens' teachers and be honest. You might be pleasantly surprised.

 

[zinniamom]

We go to WDW once a year (usually in January ) and I take both kids out of school for the week. I usually tell the teachers ahead of time and they usually give the kids work so they can catch up. We work on it here and there and they have it done before they go back. Both our children do very well in school and are rarely absent otherwise. I think if we had problems in school or they were doing poorly I probably wouldn't take them out. I think it's up to the individual situation. I've never had any teacher give me a hard time in the last 8 years that we have done it. I have even had a couple made a special project out of our trip such as journal writing or reporting on the fun they had.

 

[EpcotLover]

But, it still is apparent that most people on this topic are taking a vacation from school for their own convenience. They want the low prices and small crowds that the off season brings. They are unable or unwilling to admit this to themselves. ~ Efastpitch


I'm sorry....I've tried to just participate in this "discussion", which means multiple parties give opinions, and no one INSULTS, BLAMES, or ACCUSES anyone ~ if they are playing "fair".

I (and many others in this thread, if you look at their signatures) have been to WDW numerous times during various times of the year. I speak for myself when I say I don't WANT "low prices" and "small crowds". I've gone in the middle of Spring Break for Pete's sake!!! but I've also gone in September and November.....

I also went back and re-read all FIVE pages of this thread and found that NO ONE made any kind of comment about EXPECTING

 

[Efastpitch]

Originally posted by EpcotLover
But, it still is apparent that most people on this topic are taking a vacation from school for their own convenience. They want the low prices and small crowds that the off season brings. They are unable or unwilling to admit this to themselves. ~ Efastpitch


I'm sorry....I've tried to just participate in this "discussion", which means multiple parties give opinions, and no one INSULTS, BLAMES, or ACCUSES anyone ~ if they are playing "fair".

I (and many others in this thread, if you look at their signatures) have been to WDW numerous times during various times of the year. I speak for myself when I say I don't WANT "low prices" and "small crowds". I've gone in the middle of Spring Break for Pete's sake!!! but I've also gone in September and November.....

I also went back and re-read all FIVE pages of this thread and found that NO ONE made any kind of comment about EXPECTING

Good for you.

 

[disneyjunkie]

I think each family should do what works best their family.

There's no way I could take my son out of school for a week to go to Disney. For us it just isn't right. We are able to work around the school the schedule. I understand that others can't.

Since we live in NY, the school year doesn't start until September. As a result we're able to go to WDW during the summer and only pay value season prices. The heat doesn't bother us at all. By using fastpass and EE the crowds aren't really a problem.

Our next trip is this April, during Easter break. My son will miss the last day of school. I hope he'll be able to get the classwork he'll miss that day and the vacation homework packets for each teacher before we leave. If not, he'll have a string of zeros.


I knew this before I planned the trip. We'll just hope that he's able to get the work.

 

[ZuZugal]

When we go as a family on a trip to Disney, it is always a wonderful experience. I have never "expected" my childrens' teachers to provide all of the work for them ahead of time. I volunteer in their classes as much as possible and always offer to do what I can to help prepare their work (make copies to take, etc.) My children are excellent students, and their teachers have always appreciated their diligent efforts and good attitude throughout the year. At our school, every paper must be made up when absent. It is not an easy task, but my children understand that.
We also always bring back a wonderful Disney book for their classrooms, which the teachers have always appreciated.
I think as long as you approach the situation w/the right attitude and think through everything, taking your children out of school can be accomplished.
We are all adults here, and I would venture to say most posters are here to gain knowledge about different aspects of Disney to hopefully better their own trips and make other poster's trips more enjoyable.
Everyone has an opinion. It is up to to the individual poster to decide whether to use that information or not.
I have seen many excellent posts in this thread, and to anyone who might be deciding to take the "plunge", I would say think through it all, talk to your children's teachers/administration, and offer to help w/whatever you can. AND HAVE A WONDERFUL VACATION...MAKE MEMORIES!!!!

 

[beattyfamily]

I've read all 6 pages and NO ONE said they EXPECTED work given for their child from the teachers before their Disney vacation. Could you, Efastpitch, show us where a post like that might be? I TOTALLY agree that if you do get work or do request work and get it, it should absolutely be completed by the student. That's a given, although I do know of some parents that don't make sure it's done and I say shame on them.

Welcome to the Dis, Chris0517! Don't let the negative and insulting posts keep you from the Dis. You just happened to pick a hot topic this time around. It happens. Don't sweat it. Do what you feel is right for you and your children. If it were illegal then I'd advise differently but I don't think taking kids out of school for a family vacation is??

Fyi...this is NOT the debate board so if you want to fight about differing opinions on this subject, take it to the DEBATE board.

Here's my story:
I have 2 DD's ages 4 and 7 and have been taking them out every year since the oldest was 2. I will continue to do so until I feel my DDs can't handle the missed time. I would never take them out for more than 5 days. I am already considering the end of August (for future trips) and will test the waters with a 'girl's only' trip this August. I'm also considering Thanksgiving week (for future trips) so they'd only miss 2 1/2 days. But it's OUR choice whatever we decide. I really could care aless if anyone thinks we're a selfish family for choosing to do this. And I would never blame anyone if we ended up suffering the consequences of our actions (which I highly doubt would happen). We would only have ourselves to blame.

The reasons we have taken them out of school? Not for health reasons, or DH's work schedule reasons. The reason we take them out of school for a Disney vacation is to catch special things like MNSSHP or MVMCP and also for lower crowds and to avoid the heat! I'm not afraid or ashamed to admit my reasons, why should I?

As long as what you want to do is legal and moral, I say do what is right for you and your family and don't give a flying hoot what anyone else thinks or says to try and make you feel bad or guilty.

You only live once, enjoy it, cause life goes by so very fast and can be over in an instant.

is what I'm hoping for up here in MA!

 

[EpcotLover]

Efastpitch ~ sorry, but it is so hard to tell inflection and tone in an electronic message....
Good for me? for not finding anything with the word "expect" in it? for having my own opinion? for telling you that I think you have overstepped your bounds and have become somewhat extreme in this thread?

I do enjoy that all six pages of this thread have basically said the same thing "do what's best for your family" and have not really sided with Efastpitch's tone of negativity and accusations.

God bless America!

 

[Chris0517]

Well I must say that when I first posted my question, I had no idea it was going to result in such a debate. That was not my intention. I was just trying to see how things worked out for others.

Considering my husband and I work on opposite schedules...we basically pass each other in the morning -- I get out of bed and he goes to bed. So forgive me if we are trying to have a normal family vacation and trying to save money as well, as I am not independently wealthy.

I was suprised by some of the bad reactions and was happy to see some support in the good reactions.

All of the teachers are very cooperative and say they will give me some sort of package as it gets closer to our vacation. One teacher said she just may have son keep a journal of our trip.....either way they are all very nice and helpful.

Counting the days...... thanks again to those of you who participated positively.

 

[Whitegloves]

Chris,
Have a great trip and above all, enjoy yourselves!
Diane =0)