Question for any teachers or parents that have done this.

[snoopy5386]

My daughter is in 2nd grade and we took her out of school twice this year and last and have had no issues or problems at all with the school. She missed 9 days this year and 8 last year for vacations.

We didn't plan to take her out twice, but life happened - both years we had a long standing Disney trip planned (we are dvc members and book those trips 11 months out) and then something else came up. This year DH's sister got married in Florida, last year a friend generously took us on a cruise all expenses paid, no way were we going to turn that down because she would miss 3 days of 1st grade! In kindy we took her out for a week for a Disney vacation only to come home and come down with a horrible virus that kept her out of school another 3 or 4 days. Life happens! We plan on taking her out for a week a year up through 5th grade.

 

[Aliceacc]

I know my opinion isn't a popular one, but I don't agree with taking a student out for a week for a vacation. I'm a high school math teacher and no matter what parents say, the responsibility still ends up falling on the teacher to get the student caught up. When we are already inundated with students who are getting extra help because they don't understand material, it is hard to take time away from that student for another who's parents decided to take a vacation. I understand that family time is important, but taking them out for a full week is showing them that school isn't as important as disney. A special occasion, is one thing but an annual trip, or trips is asking too much of an already over-worked teacher. With the number of parents who are complaining about the common core, and how difficult it is, I don't see how having them miss precious class instruction can even seem like a good idea.

I'm sure this post is probably going to cause some commotion, but I see so many questions about taking students out of school, that I had to comment. The world is becoming so incredibly competitive with the bar always being set higher and higher, that every child needs every advantage to compete with other students.

I'm sorry if I have offended anyone, but we are all entitled to our opinion.

Hi from another HS math teacher who shares your sentiments.

There are lots of us here on the Disboards. But, to be honest, after a while it's simply not worth the fight. So we tend to disagree silently, and go on to the next thread.

And, to be honest, it's not about me being overworked; I knew what I was signing up for in 1980 when I was hired. It's about all the things I say and show and do that don't make it into the notes, all the interaction, the answers to someone else's questions, or one kid "translating" another kid's question into something that makes sense, the pauses that encourage those "AHA" moments (the pauses are golden if they're well timed... the kids stop, digest all the info in the notes, and after a minute it makes sense), all things that help my kids understand the material. If it were as simple as just getting the notes, I could post them on my website and spend classtime reading something on my Kindle. Good teaching is so much more than giving notes, even than giving great notes. But to get all that, you have to be there.

I'll happily teach anyone who shows up for class. More than that, I cannot do.

 

[puffkin]

I also feel that if the teachers can take off for vacations (I understand things come up here or there and they may need a day or two) but consistently we have teachers taking a week off during the school year. So if they can do it, why can't we? I mean, they get 10 weeks off in the summer plus extended time for all the holidays and don't have to worry about driving in snow days. Can't tell you the last time I had a snow day at my office job, my son had 9 this year! Not sure how they are allowed that much vacation but I guess its in their contracts and many do use it. So I don't feel any remorse pulling my son to take full advantage of my measly 3 weeks a year.

Middle School/High School is definitely a whole different ball game though.

 

[RoyalMom]

We took our Kindergarten and 2nd grade children in the middle of Feb. for 2 weeks, semi-spontaneously. We avoided some terrible dangerous weather in our region and half of the time we were gone, there were snow days. It was a long time to be gone, but before we left we were able to obtain assignments from their teachers, and access to ABCmouse.com (provided by the school for K children). It can be done with cooperation.

 

[LilyWDW]

I agree! It's your child. If you want to take vacation, then take vacation.

Except it doesn't just work that way. If you want that much flexibility then find a private school that works for you or homeschool. There are a handful of public schools who may have the flexibility, but you may have to move to be in their district. There are rules and laws to insure that kids get an education. Sadly, the overall good parents also have to follow these because there are so many bad parents out there.

Know the rules and laws for your school and state. Then make the decision based off of the information you have. Be willing to accept any possible consequences for said decision. It really is as simple as that.

 

[Sugar Jones]

We can't vacation during summer break because of my job or spring break due to my husband's job, so if we do a big vacation it has to be during the school year. It is what it is.

We only do it every two years, and once the kids are in highschool we will most likely have to stop

 

[Betty Rohrer]

check with the district and the state before making your plans. is a vacation really worth the possibility of being taken to court over missed school? yes it has happened to friends of ours and I am talking about early elem school. and yes they lost the case and children were not taken from them but they were watched closely with that possibilty

 

[msmama]

I took my son out of school for a week this year. He's in kindergarten. We got a homework packet before we left (the same thing he would have had at home that week). The week after a couple of in school work things came home. The week after we got home was way rougher than I would have thought - on both of us. Doing the extra work plus regular work was hard on a 6 year old (and a lot of it is busy work which is my pet peeve).

I'm not saying I wouldn't do it again, I was just surprised at how much extra it was.

And the day that the school tells me I can't take my son out is the day I start to homeschool anyway!

 

[Altoqueenkelly]

We only do it every two years, and once the kids are in highschool we will most likely have to stop

Exactly this. I grew up missing school often for trips to Europe and I learned so much more about people and life that way. Now I know a Disney trip isn't the same as a week in Europe, but for a special occasion that doesn't happen often (as is the situation with our upcoming trip) I don't mind pulling my daughter from a few days of school to bond with her mom. Luckily my daughter attends a private school and they are very lenient with absences: at 10 you have a meeting with the principal, 20 you fail a grade (except major medical issues). Her teachers have been great at communicating and I am the type of parent that will make sure she is caught up on her work (I'm in college to become a professor and I work in a tutoring center at a local community college). I understand education, I just think that it can come from a variety of places. There is a reason home-school children get their academics done in half the time as "normal" school. Its about 1/1 attention and I think if the parent is willing to do that to make sure the child is still "caught up" with the rest of the class, then a trip can be an extremely great way to bond as a family and learn about people/places.

 

[Gumbo4x4]

I also feel that if the teachers can take off for vacations (I understand things come up here or there and they may need a day or two) but consistently we have teachers taking a week off during the school year. So if they can do it, why can't we? I mean, they get 10 weeks off in the summer plus extended time for all the holidays and don't have to worry about driving in snow days. Can't tell you the last time I had a snow day at my office job, my son had 9 this year! Not sure how they are allowed that much vacation but I guess its in their contracts and many do use it. So I don't feel any remorse pulling my son to take full advantage of my measly 3 weeks a year.

Middle School/High School is definitely a whole different ball game though.

Generally speaking, teachers don't get "vacation" time. They can accumulate sick days and use them in a lump or be paid for them at retirement. Bottom line, there is a loss of pay even if it's not immediate.

When teachers are out, a sub comes in. Is everything the same? No, but instruction still takes place.

Can't speak for your district, but we're having to make up 11 of our 13 snow days.

Most importantly, funding for the school isn't tied to attendance of teachers.



Not to diminish your motive, but your comparison isn't really apples & apples.

 

[dbramer]

I also feel that if the teachers can take off for vacations (I understand things come up here or there and they may need a day or two) but consistently we have teachers taking a week off during the school year. So if they can do it, why can't we? I mean, they get 10 weeks off in the summer plus extended time for all the holidays and don't have to worry about driving in snow days. Can't tell you the last time I had a snow day at my office job, my son had 9 this year! Not sure how they are allowed that much vacation but I guess its in their contracts and many do use it. So I don't feel any remorse pulling my son to take full advantage of my measly 3 weeks a year.

Middle School/High School is definitely a whole different ball game though.

First off, teachers do not get vacation days during the school year (in most jurisdictions). If we take time off, it is supposed to be for illness or emergencies. I can't think of one administrator who would allow a teacher to be gone for multiple days for a vacation. I do not personally know any teachers who plan trips during the school year. Conferences, yes, but not vacations.

Second, I do not know where you are getting your information, but I have been teaching for 11 years and have NEVER had a summer where I did not have to work a job over the summer to keep money coming in. We may only work ten months, but we also only get paid for ten months. I haven't been on a vacation since my son was five (he's ten now). We are planning our first vacation next year in August, since this year we had to cancel due to some unforeseen financial situations,

Third, I resent the parents who actually believe teachers have it so "easy." I bring home grading every weekend, I work a part-time job because I am a public servant and do not get paid enough to live on and am attending classes to receive my master's degree because I HAVE to. How many of you are forced to pursue a graduate degree to continue working in your field?

Then add to that the fact that I have to make sure that Johnny can pass even though he rarely shows up to class or does any work when he does. This is automatically my fault that he is failing. Then there are the children who are legitimately out of school that I have to get caught up and spend time after school with so that they don't fall further behind and then Susie's parents want to take her to Disney for five, seven, ten days and I am supposed to accept the fact that I will have to get her caught up on return because if I give her work to do while she is gone, I am the devil himself.

I entered this post the first time with a conciliatory attitude to help the OP out, but the comments from others has really set me off. Two weeks paid vacation....must be nice...

Sorry for the rant and to those of you that do actually appreciate the job your teachers are doing and the sacrifices they make beyond the classroom, thank you....for the rest of you...well, I am an educated individual and will refrain from expressing my innermost thoughts.

 

[ForeverAlice]

Took Ds out for 6 days last week. Its your child you know how far ahead or behind they are and for us Ds made up the work easily- teachers or school may not like it but we prefer vacations the in less busy time of the year (while school is in session) Less crowds kids and parents less stressed nice weather etc...Most systems have a number of absences allowed before they refer the student to be held back or parents fined for truancy.

 

[mommasharn]

First off, teachers do not get vacation days during the school year (in most jurisdictions). If we take time off, it is supposed to be for illness or emergencies. I can't think of one administrator who would allow a teacher to be gone for multiple days for a vacation. I do not personally know any teachers who plan trips during the school year. Conferences, yes, but not vacations. Second, I do not know where you are getting your information, but I have been teaching for 11 years and have NEVER had a summer where I did not have to work a job over the summer to keep money coming in. We may only work ten months, but we also only get paid for ten months. I haven't been on a vacation since my son was five (he's ten now). We are planning our first vacation next year in August, since this year we had to cancel due to some unforeseen financial situations, Third, I resent the parents who actually believe teachers have it so "easy." I bring home grading every weekend, I work a part-time job because I am a public servant and do not get paid enough to live on and am attending classes to receive my master's degree because I HAVE to. How many of you are forced to pursue a graduate degree to continue working in your field? Then add to that the fact that I have to make sure that Johnny can pass even though he rarely shows up to class or does any work when he does. This is automatically my fault that he is failing. Then there are the children who are legitimately out of school that I have to get caught up and spend time after school with so that they don't fall further behind and then Susie's parents want to take her to Disney for five, seven, ten days and I am supposed to accept the fact that I will have to get her caught up on return because if I give her work to do while she is gone, I am the devil himself. I entered this post the first time with a conciliatory attitude to help the OP out, but the comments from others has really set me off. Two weeks paid vacation....must be nice... Sorry for the rant and to those of you that do actually appreciate the job your teachers are doing and the sacrifices they make beyond the classroom, thank you....for the rest of you...well, I am an educated individual and will refrain from expressing my innermost thoughts.

I totally agree! I am a 6th grade science teacher. I have taught for 35 years. My "summer vacation" is NOT paid. I am only paid for the days I work. Plus, like you, I spend countless hours evenings and weekends grading papers and planning lessons. My job, though rewarding, isn't as easy as some people maki it out to be.

With that said, I have had students take a week off for vacation. Parents want me to give them the work ahead of time. It's not like I just assign kids a bunch of paperwork every week that someone can do at home. We do labs almost every day. That cannot be replicated at home. When the student comes back, they have missed a weeks worth of labs and inquiry activities. There is no making that up or catching up. Then they have no clue how to answer test questions based on their experiences. So it is impossible to catch them up. So... Take kids out of school if you wish. It is indeed your right as a parent. Just don't be surprised if they never really catch back up.

 

[leebee]

I work with a second grader whose family took her out of school for 2 weeks in early April, to go to Disney. They were back for a week, and then we had school vacation. She is STILL trying to get her math work caught up, a month later. She is struggling in math class because, even though it's "only" second grade, what she missed while at Disney are skills she needs to use for the current class topics. Unfortunately (because I do believe we are pushing kids too hard, too much, at too young an age), it's no longer "just" kindergarten or "only" second grade. By the end of first grade, students are expected to be able to make change from a $20, add and subtract 4 digit numbers, and produce a two page writing piece. It's not easy to catch up when you miss 2 weeks of school anymore.

And as far as being paid for not working in the summer? My paycheck stops on June 20th, the last day of school. It'll start again on July 1st when I go in to work in summer school, 9 hours a week for the month of July, at $13 an hour, or about half of my usual rate of pay.

 

[garjanjones]

First off, teachers do not get vacation days during the school year (in most jurisdictions). If we take time off, it is supposed to be for illness or emergencies. I can't think of one administrator who would allow a teacher to be gone for multiple days for a vacation. I do not personally know any teachers who plan trips during the school year. Conferences, yes, but not vacations.

Second, I do not know where you are getting your information, but I have been teaching for 11 years and have NEVER had a summer where I did not have to work a job over the summer to keep money coming in. We may only work ten months, but we also only get paid for ten months. I haven't been on a vacation since my son was five (he's ten now). We are planning our first vacation next year in August, since this year we had to cancel due to some unforeseen financial situations,

Third, I resent the parents who actually believe teachers have it so "easy." I bring home grading every weekend, I work a part-time job because I am a public servant and do not get paid enough to live on and am attending classes to receive my master's degree because I HAVE to. How many of you are forced to pursue a graduate degree to continue working in your field?

Then add to that the fact that I have to make sure that Johnny can pass even though he rarely shows up to class or does any work when he does. This is automatically my fault that he is failing. Then there are the children who are legitimately out of school that I have to get caught up and spend time after school with so that they don't fall further behind and then Susie's parents want to take her to Disney for five, seven, ten days and I am supposed to accept the fact that I will have to get her caught up on return because if I give her work to do while she is gone, I am the devil himself.

I entered this post the first time with a conciliatory attitude to help the OP out, but the comments from others has really set me off. Two weeks paid vacation....must be nice...

Sorry for the rant and to those of you that do actually appreciate the job your teachers are doing and the sacrifices they make beyond the classroom, thank you....for the rest of you...well, I am an educated individual and will refrain from expressing my innermost thoughts.

I can speak for NC teachers. We get two days a year and have to pay to take them




I teach middle school math. I am probably the minority for ms teachers, but I think a week is fine. ( now if you have a struggling student who did not pass last year's EOG or is not making as and bs it's a different story). TWO WEEKS is not good. I teach in a low income area and many of my students' families will go during the school heat because it is cheaper and this is a trip they may not take again for years. I understand that. If someone can afford to go for two weeks, then they could have waited and gone during prime time. JMO for what it is worth.

With that said...we are planning on taking ds out for one day for mnsshp. I will be paying to take one day off and we will make a long weekend out of it. Otherwise it will be summers only for us.

 

[garjanjones]

There are lots of us here on the Disboards. But, to be honest, after a while it's simply not worth the fight. So we tend to disagree silently, and go on to the next thread.


I'll happily teach anyone who shows up for class. More than that, I cannot do.

I love it. This may be my new motto.

 

[TempleOT]

We just took our first grader out for a week for WDW. We had to submit a request in writing in advance to the principal to get it excused, which he did. She is a great tudent, loves school and learning, so I wasn't worried about her missing school. She got a journal and math packet to complete, which she did. She had no problems catching up in school. Now 2 weeks, I wouldn't feel comfortable doing. My parents took us out for a week several times over my school career and I had no problems catching up, but I was an A student who took responsibility for my own learning. So I think it truly depends on the student.

 

[3happydancers]

I just wanted to share a little twist to this discussion. When my DD was in 3rd grade, we took her out of school for 5 days for a Disney vacation. Her teacher supplied us with work in all her academics for the duration which we took with us and DD completed.

However, what I wanted to share was that when all was said and done, DD came to us and asked that we NOT take her out of school for future vacations. DD was not a struggling student. She was, and still is, a straight A student. She did not like having to do school work every day while on vacation and she did not like missing the interactive learning she missed in class. Presently, she is finishing up her sophomore year in HS, making honor roll each semester and high honors for the last 2 years, and she is a year ahead in several of her academics.

I was very impressed that DD was able to verbally express how she felt and since that time, DH and I stopped taking her out of school for vacations. I guess you could say we, as adults, learned an important lesson from our then 3rd grader!

I can't say I disagree with taking your child out of school for vacation as I have done just that as a parent. But, I can say that our DD taught us how important it was for HER not to miss school.

 

[plainoldt]

First - as far as taking them out of school, I agree with many who state that it depends on the age and the child.

We take ours our (third grade) usually for two trips a year. Once, thankfully, happens over a fall break that they only have to miss one, maybe two days.

The other is a minimum of a week, sometimes a few extra. That vacation is with 60 family members and with 13 kids under 12.

No kid is allowed out to the beach until their day's school work is done. Its taught them all, over the years, the importance of school work and planning. Some try and get it all done in the first few days, others like doing a little each day.

Those memories are invaluable. We are lucky that each one of the kids are A students. It works for our family but we also make sure that we, as parents, act as teachers to make sure they are keeping up to speed.



The second, and let me preface this by saying, I respect teachers. I could never be one as I dont have the patience needed. I fully support my teachers in every way I can.

That said, I don't understand the statement that they "only get paid when they work". If you make 65K dollars a year and you spread it out over 12 months, you gross a little over 5400 a month,but you still make $65K

If you spread that over 10 months, you gross 6500 a month, BUT YOU STILL MAKE THE SAME $65K.

That is not a valid argument.

Also, I do feel for you about taking your grading home and having to get your masters. However, that is not any different than in my industry (technology in the financial vertical) where I often had to work 50 or 60 hours during rollouts or emergencies. I had to continue going for classes and instructions and certifications to keep my job or to advance so please don't act the martyr that you are the only ones.

Everyone is having to do more with less. More people have to contribute to their health insurances when in the past we never did.

Its not just the teachers, its everyone.

On top of that, it is very difficult to get rid of bad teachers whereas in my field, any given day, yo could walk into work and be laid off along with 20% of your co-workers.

Its a crazy world these days and you are not the only ones having to make sacrifices.

 

[dbramer]

Not sure where you are, but I barely make 50k with a master's degree and just only reached that after 11 years in the field...65k would be a godsend.