Removing a Child from school for Disney trip?

[LOLA2]

I will be taking dd 11 and ds 5 out for 8 days in October to go on Cruise and Disney vacation. My daughter does struggle somewhat due to her having a learning disability I don't agree with the parents who say if your child is only doing well that you can take a couple days off. Kids who have it rough usually spend more time trying "to get it" and it can get quite stressfull. When weekends come around at my home it isn't soon enough for my daughter who works her tail off all week with not much of a payoff. I have taken her out every year and the teacher actually thinks she comes back refreshed and ready to dig in. Please don't knock the kids who don't get straight A's. Sometimes they need a couple long breaks during the schoolyear. Heck, I feel like that all the time at work.

 

[kapica3]

I agree with a few things I have read here on the boards "Not all learning is done in school" and 20 years from now, will your child remember those particular 4 or 5 days of school or will they remember the family time together spent in WDW.

My DD is just an average student usually just missing 1st honors. I have taken her out 3 times for Disney trip. (if I recall it would have been Pre K, 2nd grade and possibly 6th grade) Teachers did not give assignments ahead of time. (They claimed they didn't know how far they would have gotten in the work). DD was able to catch up without any problems when she returned to school, same as she would have if she had been ill. Teachers were cooperative and allowed a few days to catch up. IMHO, it won't make or break your student - in the "Big Picture" it will probably won't make much of a difference academically. My DD is none the worse for it and as a matter of fact, as an 8th grade graduate this year and has received academic scholarship to High School, even though her "horrible parents" let her skip school and "run away" to Florida twice during her school career.

 

[michygoomy]

I'm going to chime in with the reasons for my own personal decision. Understand I am not the morals police--God and the government have dictated that I only have to raise my own children, and that takes plenty of my time, money and energy without having to raise everyone else's.

I did it once when my son was in first grade (and my daughter in pre-school, which I don't think counts). It went OK, but he did have a lot of work to make up, and that was first grade!

I considered it for this year's trip. In the end, I decided that if this was going to be a real vacation, I didn't want them to have to worry about school work AT ALL. They're in 5th and 7th grade now, and if they didn't have a significant amount of work to make up from missing 6 school days, I'd be REALLY worried about their schools.

The funny thing--when I made my decision (to go in June) and shared it with them, they THANKED ME for not taking them out of school. How would I have felt if I had been professing the importance of their education on one hand, then taking them out of school on the other, especially when they prefer to stay in.

I completely agree that family time is important, but there are 12 weeks of time during the summer that we can fit that family time in, as I have no requirements of my job that keep me from taking vacation the summer.

Good luck with your decision, and have a fabulous time whenever you choose to go!

ETA: In the interest of full disclosure, I should share that I *am* now taking them out of school, due to some changes in flights. However, it is the last three days of school, and in my experience, those are filled with parties and cleaning and such. All of their teachers have approved it, and a few of them have said they plan on hiding in our luggage. I'm going to need some bigger suitcases.

 

[jpeppers]

Some people don't have the option of vacationing during that 12 week summer period and I am one person who is going to vacation with my child as long as they keep there grades up regardless of the time of year. I work in a prison where vacation is totally based off seniority. I get vacation when it is available, not when I choose. I believe my child will get more value out of a week at Disneyworld than they could ever get sitting in a class room and I think any teacher who will not preassign homework has no memory of being a child.

 

[Dis-Wiz]

I will tell you, my parents took me out of school for a week in first grade, and I turned out just fine! In fact, they took me out of school for a week just about every year! (and I have not gotten anything lower than a B- in any subject I have taken.)

I think that you should DEFINITELY go in September. With the free dining plan, short short lines, and the perfect weather you can't go wrong!

In September, all the stuff being taught in school is just review from the previous school year anyway. I am pretty sure that just about up to the first report card, most of the stuff is what your child already knows. Besides, it's only a week, your child can most likely just ask the teachers for the work, and do it on the plane ride. Also, more than likely, the teachers will give your child work that the class will not get to before you come back, so your child ends up getting AHEAD of the class. Think about that! lol


Also, it might help your child to 'ease' into the school year after that long break.

One more thing, does your child have good teachers? I had some VERY good teachers who, when I asked for my work for the week, said "For your work just go have fun! It's your vacation, you don't need to be doing work on vacation!" (I miss those teachers, lol)

 

[DisneyDotty]

I believe my child will get more value out of a week at Disneyworld than they could ever get sitting in a class room and I think any teacher who will not preassign homework has no memory of being a child.

Can't always blame the teacher--in my district, school board policy prohibits teachers from giving students any work in advance of a vacation, which the board also views as an unexcused absence, whatever that means...

 

[scammermom]

my4kids, I'm sorry you had a bad experience with that one teacher. There ones who understand better than others. I hope that this one doesn't discourage you from doing what is good for your family.

My DH is a police officer and vacations are sacred things. It revolves around lots of other people, shifts, court schedules, etc. Fall is a great time. Less crowds, not so intense temps.

I will continue to pull my kids out for family vacations. Family time is very important to us.

 

[laceemouse]

I love going mid/late August.

Value rates, no crowds, this year free dining, and no homework/ missed classwork to deal with.

......
AGREE 100%!!!!! You must remember that school calendars vary GREATLY around the US! In the south, almost ALL schools start back in mid or even EARLY August, and then get out earlier in the Spring. If you go mid to late August it will not be nearly as crowded as earlier in the summer. It will be hot, but so will September and even October. Middle school is a WHOLE different ball game. She will have different teachers for each subject. It will be a lot more difficult than elementary school to miss and get the work to make up. Are you still gonna refuse to go during school breaks in high school and college???

 

[laceemouse]

I will tell you, my parents took me out of school for a week in first grade, and I turned out just fine! In fact, they took me out of school for a week just about every year! (and I have not gotten anything lower than a B- in any subject I have taken.)

I think that you should DEFINITELY go in September. With the free dining plan, short short lines, and the perfect weather you can't go wrong!

In September, all the stuff being taught in school is just review from the previous school year anyway. I am pretty sure that just about up to the first report card, most of the stuff is what your child already knows. Besides, it's only a week, your child can most likely just ask the teachers for the work, and do it on the plane ride. Also, more than likely, the teachers will give your child work that the class will not get to before you come back, so your child ends up getting AHEAD of the class. Think about that! lol


Also, it might help your child to 'ease' into the school year after that long break.

One more thing, does your child have good teachers? I had some VERY good teachers who, when I asked for my work for the week, said "For your work just go have fun! It's your vacation, you don't need to be doing work on vacation!" (I miss those teachers, lol)

Well, OP is NOT talking about 1st grade here! And second, she has no idea if the teachers are "good" because it will be after the new school year starts. Our experience in junior high was some good teacher and some not so good every year. We were in a great school district, and the lessons were not all textbooks and worksheets. They did a lot of group projects and hands-on stuff that can't be made up. Also, they did not help you make up anything so grades suffer EVEN IF a kid knows the material.....We are homeschooling now (and happy) but we still have activities and commitments to work around, that is all part of life!

 

[brettgirl]

My DD12 has only missed one day of school this year due to my Mom's death. She will be only missing 4 days of school. After losing our dear friend at 43 to cancer and my 55 year old Mom to a million to one thing this year, My DH and I have decided that life is too short and you never know.

 

[Goobergal99]

my4kids, I'm sorry you had a bad experience with that one teacher. There ones who understand better than others. I hope that this one doesn't discourage you from doing what is good for your family.

My DH is a police officer and vacations are sacred things. It revolves around lots of other people, shifts, court schedules, etc. Fall is a great time. Less crowds, not so intense temps.

I will continue to pull my kids out for family vacations. Family time is very important to us.

See I agree, My DH is a bricklayer so from spring - summer is out of the ? from here on out because it's really the only time he has steady work. He was able to get a week here and there the last few years but this year the guys are booked straight through the middle of September which is actually a really good thing. Means more Disney Spenging money

 

[Jesussavedme]

Here's a link for you all...a school excuse letter



http://themouseforless.com/downloads/kids/SchoolExcuse/SE1.shtml

 

[hvivona]

Why is missing school even a consideration? Kids get plenty of time off when you look at summer break, spring break, winter break, & thanksgiving. Vacations should be planned then. A child's education is way more important than Mickey Mouse! Don't get me wrong, I love Disney just as much as everyone else, but there is a time for it and a time for school.

 

[ameraumi]

But not everyone can take their vacations when school is out. DH is low man on seniority so he has to wait for everyone else to put in their time off before he gets a say. We then have to take what is left over, plus I am in high demand as a daycare provider during school breaks. We haven't had to pull the kids out of school (yet) but I will not hesitate to if needed.

 

[LOLA2]

Why is missing school even a consideration? Kids get plenty of time off when you look at summer break, spring break, winter break, & thanksgiving. Vacations should be planned then. A child's education is way more important than Mickey Mouse! Don't get me wrong, I love Disney just as much as everyone else, but there is a time for it and a time for school.

May I suggest that if you are going to make comments please read what other people have said and then there you go you have your answer.
There are numerous reasons stated throughout this thread why some families choose (some have no choice) to go at other times a year.

 

[doubletrouble_vb]

I agree with the people who say November. I remember my first few weeks in MS. The school was originally built as a high school with a college campus type plan. With our not fully formed legs it was TOUGH getting from one pod to another especially when you didn't know which pod you were supposed to be going to. Figuring out the timing to hit your locker (carefully configured to be the most inconvenient location for the student) was an issue too. Be kind to your girl and go in November.

Truthfully I'd just go over Thanksgiving for minimal impact. Sure the last four days would be a bit crowded but the first half of the week wouldn't be bad.

PS. I do have to add that the "I wouldn't take junior out if he would have trouble" is a bit of a catch-22. How do you know junior wont have trouble until its too late? Speaking from my sister's experience here...it took both of her DD's quite a while to dig themselves out of the hole the vacation put them in. This is occurred despite prior years where pulling them out presented no problem. However pulling them in MS/early HS turned out to be a bad thing.

 

[tjmw2727]

Why is missing school even a consideration? Kids get plenty of time off when you look at summer break, spring break, winter break, & thanksgiving. Vacations should be planned then. A child's education is way more important than Mickey Mouse! Don't get me wrong, I love Disney just as much as everyone else, but there is a time for it and a time for school.

In an ideal world yes, but what if you or your spouse can't go during a school break? Disney, camping, visiting grandma, whatever the trip, should that family not vacation?

We have taken my dd's out of school for vacations, Disney and other due to my dh's work schedule. When we can schedule a vacation during a school break we do but often it isn't an option for us.

Sometimes the teachers are able to pre-assign work other times they put it aside as they give it out for my dd's to do when they return. Either way I make sure it gets done on the trip or in a timely manner when we return.

Every family is different, what is right for one family may not be right for another but that dosen't make it wrong.

TJ

 

[daisyduck123]

Why is missing school even a consideration? Kids get plenty of time off when you look at summer break, spring break, winter break, & thanksgiving. Vacations should be planned then. A child's education is way more important than Mickey Mouse! Don't get me wrong, I love Disney just as much as everyone else, but there is a time for it and a time for school.

We do it because we like going during off-peak times, esp. May...less crowds & the heat of summer hasn't set in. We also love having a break from school...esp. me. I'm a teacher.

In fact, we will have done it twice this year.
We spent 8 days at POP in January (DD11 & DS8 missed 4 school days) & this Friday we check into CBR for 8 nights/9 days. The kids & I are missing 6 days each.

They will remember this vacation a lot longer than they will remember one week of school.

 

[tjmw2727]

Here's a link for you all...a school excuse letter



http://themouseforless.com/downloads/kids/SchoolExcuse/SE1.shtml

Please read this letter carefully before you use it. While I like the premise and agree with a few points of the letter, many teachers would find it insulting. They know a Disney vacation is a Disney vacation and not a week at an Ed fair. Yes the kids learn at Disney just as they do every day but IMHO this letter is over the top. .

In grade school I did have my dd's each pick one country to focus on at Epcot WS. They did research prior to our trip and then asked questions of the CM's at that Epcot country as well as touring the showcase and watching the movie if there was one. They did get lots out of that activity but all in all it was a fun family vacation not what I would consider a field trip

In fact dh and I enjoyed the activity as much as the DD's as well as the CM's who are college students from the respective countries. They seemed to appreciat the "facts" my dd's had learned and the questions they asked.

If you need a letter to the teacher just be honest and from the heart. Write why the vacation is important to your family and how you intend to help your child stay on track or get caught up when you return.

Just my .02 (ok maybe .03)
TJ

 

[scammermom]

I was originally thinking Nov but thought it might be too cold for water parks. Thoughts???