recycled question...kids & school

[akrake]

i know this has been done over alot of time...but we are going to take our 5 & 8 year old out of school to go to wdw.....they will miss 2.5 days on one week & 2 days the next (we're going over the mlk weekend). they are in K (so i'm not worried about him) and 2nd....our question....we are in a new school and area (MA)....what is the feeling about doing this....it won't change our mind, but i'd like some feedback.
my husband can not take traditional time off so this is it.
amie

 

[laceemouse]

This can be a heated debate. Our school system really frowns upon this, but they don't really have any rules against it. Many people on the DIS take their kids out no matter what grade ect...but many (like me) feel that it is okay when they a younger to miss a few days, but it gets a lot more complicated, and not worth it IMO, when they get older. Here in 5th grade they do a lot of group projects that would be hard to miss and make up. By 6th grade they have different teachers for every subject and let me tell you they are not very willing to work with you when you miss, even if you have been out sick it is hard to make up the work and it may effect your grade. My oldest 2 will both be in Jr. High this year. We have not taken them out for travel in several years. But you should probably be okay if you find out the policies in your district and talk to the teachers about making up the work before or after your trip. I am a big proponent of year round schedules. It would make travelling so much easier if we had breaks spread throughout the year instead of all clumped together in the summer! Lacee

 

[CapeCodFam]

I have taken my kids out of school for WDW trips since sept. 2001.
They are now 8,6,&2. I will be taking them out this dec. I had a teacher say she thought family vacations were just as important as school. We always try to get some work, sometimes its just not possible. So we just keep up with our reading and writing while on vacation. The Epcot masks are agreat educational experience, teachers have always loved them. I do understand it will be harder when they get older. We'll just have to start going on school vacations. I have always found the teachers to be great.

Joy

 

[eeyore kelly]

We are taking our kids our for WDW in Feb 2006 around Mardi Gras. They will miss 3-4 days of school. DS will be in 6th and DD will be in third.
I am going to be honest about where we are going, and I will tell them way in advance. I am also going to offer to to copy work, etc to make it easier for my kids to do the work ahead of time.

Usually the 3 day week after Mardi Gras is mainly review, so even if work (especially for DS) can't be made up a head of time, he won't be missing a lot of new material. If their grades dropp some that 9 weeks, I'll know why.

We chose that time to vacation because of crowds, and DH works outside all year long, so vacationing in the summer is no vacation at all for him.

 

[briarberry]

I happen to be a teacher. I teach Grade 1 (first grade) in Canada. As long as you aren't taking them out of school for more than a week I would go! I have two or three students a year who take family holidays. They can always catch up when they get home. I would personally love to take my daughter to WDW during school time but it's not possible because I teach. We are going at the end of this month, hopefully no more hurricanes will stop us! It will be a great way to end our summer holiday!

 

[akrake]

i'm glad it was supportive....i agree that in the early years it's easier to take them out....2nd grade should not be a really big deal.
amie