Again, folks, do as you choose. You're right-- they're your kids. As much as I would never pull my own kids out of school for a Disney vacation, that's my choice. Each of us makes what we hope and pray are the best choices in parenting our kids, and I think we can all understand that others may not make the same choices we would.
And, being that this is the Dis, they're all A students. I'm pretty sure I would get kicked off if anyone realized that I have the only three 'average' students on the Disboards, possibly in the US.
But what I, and I think a number of other teachers here are saying is this: please don't live with the illusion that those worksheets or journals are taking the place of what is happening in class. Will your child learn enough to pass the tests? Sure, I imagine they will.
My kids this year have learned a lot of little tidbits that will help them when they take Algebra II & Trig in two years. Not because they were in the syllabus, or because I planned to teach them, but because the teachable moments came up and I took advantage. They can do synthetic division and they know what an imaginary number is, because they were there when the question came up and I chose to answer the question. The kids who were absent those days didn't learn those things. They're not on the test, I didn't record a video on them, and they aren't on my website. But the kids who were in class know them.
So much goes on in class that doesn't make the test or the videos or the website. There are so many small connections that lay the foundation for future material, that deepen the kids' understanding. So many small jokes and stories and events that form the basis for future references.
I think that when people say that they would take their kids out in elementary but not middle or high school, they're overstating just how easy elementary school is. Sure, it's easy for YOU. But for your 6 or 7 or 10 year old child, adding those fractions of doing that spelling is every bit as challenging as proving Trig Identities are for my 15 year old son. And, sure, if he's sick and misses school, I can get him caught up. But it won't be the same as if he were in class. There will be nuances that I can't give him because I wasn't there.
And, for what it's worth, I agree with whoever it was who complained about teachers "taking a week's vacation." Personally, I don't know any who have, but if that's happening then under normal circumstances I agree. (Though it's entirely possible that those who have share the same reasoning that I've read here, for example a spouse who is home from deployment, a child on a Make a Wish trip...)
I don't take "mental health days" or vacation days. I call in sick if I have the flu or one of my kids is too sick or too young to stay home alone, or for a family funeral. Last week I missed a period and a half when the school nurse called; my 14 year old had gotten sick in school. I picked her up (it's a 14 minute drive if I can make the lights), tucked her in to bed, and got back to school. And I missed the day before February break (and the first 3 days of that break) because I had the flu. I teach with Layrngitis (though I joke that, as a math teacher, I would be in real trouble if I ever broke my right arm. As long as I can write, I can teach.) I take my own attendance every bit as seriously as I take that of my students.
Bottom line, one more time: I'll happily teach anyone who shows up for class. More than that I cannot do.
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