School Credit

[Donk2001]

My husband thinks I'm an idiot for asking this. My 1st grader will be missing 3 days of school for the cruise. It will be an unexcused absence unless we can prove it was an educational trip. I know the kids do so much science stuff in the kids program and of course, she will learn a bunch of stuff about tropical fish, etc.. on the trip.

So the question, do you know of anyone who has been able to get this trip as "excused" for their kids and how did they do it.
Where would I find out some specifics of what the kids do on the trip?

Thanks. We really don't have to have it excused but with all the flu and illness going around, you never know how many days your kid will miss...if a kid in our system misses more than 10 days there is a possiblilty of trouble from the school.

 

[kcashner]

The kids don't really do science projects in the lab...and a first grader is too young for the lab anyhow. He/she will be in the Oceaneer's Club, where most of the activities are play. You can see a navagator at www.castawayclub.com.

Now...to getting school credit...use a little time over Christmas vacation to do a short report (this can be mostly pictures) on the area you will be visiting. Many pics can be printed off the internet. ON one of the decks, there are pictures with various trivia about the ship--how many eggs used per day, etc. This could easily be turned into a school project.

If you are doing any park days first, EPCOT can easily be made into a school project.

I worried about school days on our first trip. After that, I just decided to let it be a vacation for us. As to "trouble" from the school...if you have 7 documented real excused absences where you have doc notes, etc....they won't get picky about 3 more. Especially with all the illness going around, it is unlikely that they will even ask.

Just being on the ship with people from all over the world is educational. Ask your server and assistant about their country, etc. When assigned to write a report on "any country," my daughter chose Croatia because that was where our server came from. In addition, she chose to study French because of the people she met on the cruise. Without any official "study" just meeting and taking with these people is educational.

 

[MrsPete]

I think you can make an argument that family togetherness is important. I think you can make an argument that travel is culturally enlightening. But I don't think you can really substantiate the cruise as an "educational experience".

My first-grade daughter's kids' club activities included face painting, crafts, interactive story-telling, dancing, climbing . . . all fun stuff, but not really educational. I don't think my daughters saw any tropical fish (except on postcards and tee shirts); if they were better swimmers and had been snorkeling, it might have been different. We did the dolphin encounter in Nassau, but it's hard to say that a one-hour program makes the whole trip educational.

If you think it's worthwhile to pull her out of school, just do it. But you're grasping at straws to force it into an educational mold.

 

[ChattyKathy]

I totally agree with kcashner & MrsPete on this topic..Lookie at ALL the things that they have pointed out about a cruise.. When I told my kids' school; and I did on Open House so they would have ample time to be prepared-they told me to go and have fun! The principal himself told me not to worry about a thing, that going on a cruise in itself IS educational! Your child will get to do and see things some other children in this day and age may not ever beable to.
I say tell your principal Hakuna Matata! And go have a good time!


Good Luck Donk2001~

Kathy


PS- I wished I lived in your school district, so he could tell that to me...
And, tell the hub its not a stupid question, its informative!

 

[GenieDana]

There are "true" educational opportunities you can do and demonstrate. For example on the Western: Wreckers Museum and Southern White House in Key West, Turtle Farm and Stingray City in Grand Cayman, archeological ruins in Mexico, etc.

Provide your principal the list of your itinerary, and what your child is going to experience. Only a curmudgeon would say no.