Shocked

[EnchantedTales]

Ugh! Pardon me, while I vent. If you can take vacations when school is out then I'm happy for you. In fact, I envy you. However because of my husband's job that is nearly impossible. Last year I had to do an emergency trip and I got so much grief from the school, as if I was going in a cruise! I took the kids anyway because I had too, but their attitude border on rude and inconsiderate.

I value my kids education but schools need to understand that not everyone can take vacation at the same time, and emergencies do happen. School is indeed important but for crying out loud so is family and once in a while a break from it all. I haven't taken vacation in so long I can't even remember what it feels like.

Carry on, thanks for reading.

 

[4Robins]

Just curious if you have children in the school system? I ask because you say if you tell the school administrator you are taking them out they are not truant. That is incorrect. Each district is different. I can tell you a lot of districts in MA, which is where you seem to be from since you mention Cambridge, consider vacation unexcused at all times. Each parent needs to read their school handbook and make sure they are adhering to the policy laid forth and agreed upon (when you chose to send your child there). If you are not breaking any school policy, I do not see what business is it of anyone's whether or not a child is missing school.

Yes, I have children in the Mass. school system (for now). If a parent decides to pull a child from school, no matter the reason, no one can stop them. Like i said before, if the schools or the state had the power to make kids go to school, there would never be an issue with drop outs. I have kept my kids home on days when there is any controvercial content being presented. Thats my right as a parent, and THAT is the reason I believe that some people have issues with this. Sorry, but they are my kids and I will have the final say if there are things i dont want them to hear ( at this age). Botton line, it is my decision when they are in or out of school.

 

[Leajess99]

I graduated HS less than 20 years ago, and my public school education was fantastic.

Quite frankly there have been quite a few responses in this thread that make me wonder "why bother" to do everything I can to be the best teacher I can be? What's the point, when it's made so clear that so many have no respect for what I do? And yet, I continue anyways because I love the students - and that's what it's all about in the end.

But somewhere along the line the parent/teacher/community link was definitely severed, and THAT is what is affecting our current generation's education the most.

I still support teachers and thank you for doing all you can for your students. I was brought up in a house where education is important and you do not have to leave town for family time. I try to be the same way with my kids and I am quite supportive of the majority of my kids' teachers. There have been a couple of issues with teachers but I still try to be supportive of them.

 

[wanttobeinvienna]

We were one of the families there last week- and:
we pulled ALL 4 KIDS OUT OF SCHOOL

But, you know, I don't care about my kids, there education, the school district, my kids make all c's & d's, and I am more concerned about myself and my vacation time than my families. It is all about me after all, right?





Seriously though, we did pull out all 4 kids of school- we have 2 in year round, 2 in traditional, plus 2 work schedules to balance. During the year we have very minimal time off that overlaps. It's our reality, and we deal with it. Education is extremely important to us, as I am sure with all parents, so we have open conversations with our teachers and the principals. We take it year to year, and do the best we can. Never judge a family for what they choose, it's all good


And note to any newbies: I remember when I first got on these boards, and saw this never ending debate about whether or not it's acceptable to pull your kids out of school for vacation. I panicked when phrases like "held back" "truency letters", "all zero's", etc. I mean I PANICKED!!! I understand this must be very true in some districts. Talk to the school, talk to your teachers, I am sure you will be, as I was, very pleasantly surprised that the schools understand vacations. Don't panic if you choose to pull your kids out for a week, just do your homework & research!

 

[ccgirl]

Yes, I have children in the Mass. school system (for now). If a parent decides to pull a child from school, no matter the reason, no one can stop them. Like i said before, if the schools or the state had the power to make kids go to school, there would never be an issue with drop outs. I have kept my kids home on days when there is any controvercial content being presented. Thats my right as a parent, and THAT is the reason I believe that some people have issues with this. Sorry, but they are my kids and I will have the final say if there are things i dont want them to hear ( at this age). Botton line, it is my decision when they are in or out of school.

I think it depends on the school. I know of students held back because they missed more than the excused # of alloted days. I know of parents brought into court and fined for their children missing more than the alloted days. At my DD's school (not public), she will be kicked out if she misses more than is allowed. Personally, I have pulled my DD from school for a vacation. If I thought for a minute it would be detrimental to her, I would not do it. She is in 2nd grade and I have pulled her out for a week in 1st grade as well as K. Again, if I thought she couldn't make up the work; we wouldn't miss. She is not given the work ahead of time so she has double work the week we get back. I try not to judge others. No one knows why people pull their kids out, nor is it anyone else's business. They could have had someone close to them die; someone close to them could be dying and they want that one last vacation. Parents that perhaps, could not get time off during summer or other school vacations. Or, parents whose child has no trouble making up work. Do you really think a child that misses 1 week of school for vacation is going to have more trouble getting into a college than a child that misses none? What if the child does not want to go to college? I think, in most instances, the child is not going to be scarred for life missing a few days of school for WDW.

 

[bwilcox]

Botton line, it is my decision when they are in or out of school.

When you sign your kids up for public school, you are AGREEING to follow their rules. If their rules are that you can have X number of absences, and after that the child is considered truant, then you agreed to that. If you don't like a school's rules, then homeschool or send them to a private school. I don't think there is anything wrong with taking kids out of school as long as you are willing to accept the consequences of your actions. It's the attitude that drives me crazy that "schools have no say over what I do with my child!" Schools have the right to make their own rules and enforce them, just like you have the right to change schools.

 

[teslaaunt]

I am pulling my son, 6th grade, out for 4 days at Thanksgiving. I am not one to buck the system. He has good attendance, good grades and no disciplinary issues. Our family, as a whole, has had one helluva year. My mom broke her back on a business trip to Denver (last Oct.), my youngest sister died (Feb10) and then my dad died (April 10), and my husband had back surgery in July. We, my husband and myself, thought that our family deserved something special and we're giving it to ourselves. We have worked hard to pay for everything before we leave, so that we do not put unnecessary debt on our plate as well. I have contacted my sons principal to inform her of our decision and that was that. I don't want to sound like I don't appreciate my sons education and the teachers providing it, I do appreciate them a great deal. We just really need this time as a family to be together in a magical environment and start to heal our hearts after all we've been through. So before we start to judge people for pulling their children out of school, please stop to consider that you do not know what that family has or is going through. That being said I hope that everyone with trips in their future have the most wonderful and magical time EVER!!

 

[sam_gordon]

Yes, I have children in the Mass. school system (for now). If a parent decides to pull a child from school, no matter the reason, no one can stop them. Like i said before, if the schools or the state had the power to make kids go to school, there would never be an issue with drop outs. I have kept my kids home on days when there is any controvercial content being presented. Thats my right as a parent, and THAT is the reason I believe that some people have issues with this. Sorry, but they are my kids and I will have the final say if there are things i dont want them to hear ( at this age). Botton line, it is my decision when they are in or out of school.

Actually we're talking about two different things. A school may allow you to keep a child home if a controversial subject is taught. A school may just allow you to decide if your child should go to the library or some other kind of "independent" study.

But a vacation is different than "opting out" of a controversial lesson. Some schools allow vacations as excused absences. For others, vacations are "unexcused". The issue depends school system to school system, not just state to state.

While I agree parents have the right to keep kids home for ANY reason, school systems also have the right to punish (if so desired) the child as long as it follows the school policy (which each parent agreed to by enrolling their child in that school system). If the policy says vacation is unexcused and 4 unexcused absences means the child must repeat the grade and you pull the child out for a 5 day vacation (whether to WDW, the beach, or just a "staycation"), the child should repeat the grade. If the policy is vacations are unexcused and any work missed during unexcused absences can't be made up, so be it.

 

[Pixie Princess]

Just wanted to add:

I have been to WDW in March (Spring Break), May (Memorial Day weekend), June, July, September, and October. I have NEVER seen it as crowded as it was on October 4 at Magic Kingdom.

We got there a little before 10:00pm to take advantage of EMH until 1:00am. It was so packed, that you couldn't walk down Main Street. They had to open up the walkway that runs backstage behind Main Street to Tomorrowland. It was shoulder-to-shoulder people.

I was there during the day Oct 4. Thankfully the day crowd wasn't as heavy as the EMH crowd you are describing. It was more crowded that we expected based on past experience and crowd level predictions, but you could move around at least. It started getting crowded around noon and never let up. We left around 5:00 to see Kool and the Gang over at Epcot.

School was out here in DD's system for the week, and I know several other systems in the area had all last week or part of last week off for fall break as well.

 

[littlelaura]

Alot of UK schools have a fall break in Oct which could account for some of the add'l volume. We run into quite a few UK folks when we come down in mid-Oct.

uk schools dont break up for fall break until 25th Oct. guess more people are opting to take their children out of school for their vacation. i know we do.... so much cheaper that way! i wouldn't be able to afford it otherwise

 

[Luckymomoftwo]

Yes, I have children in the Mass. school system (for now). If a parent decides to pull a child from school, no matter the reason, no one can stop them. Like i said before, if the schools or the state had the power to make kids go to school, there would never be an issue with drop outs. I have kept my kids home on days when there is any controvercial content being presented. Thats my right as a parent, and THAT is the reason I believe that some people have issues with this. Sorry, but they are my kids and I will have the final say if there are things i dont want them to hear ( at this age). Botton line, it is my decision when they are in or out of school.

Our school district DOES have the power to force you to keep your kids in school. If our children miss more than 5 days in a school year (used to be 10 days but they cut it in half for whatever reason), the parents face possible PROSECUTION.

I know this is a very heated subject on the DISboards. I won't go into any details of how I feel in the matter, but I will say this: if a parent decides to take their child out of school for a family vacation, that's their business and they'll have to deal with the consequences (if any). As far as I'm concerned, it's none of my business as to why a parent chooses that.

 

[ccgirl]

I am pulling my son, 6th grade, out for 4 days at Thanksgiving. I am not one to buck the system. He has good attendance, good grades and no disciplinary issues. Our family, as a whole, has had one helluva year. My mom broke her back on a business trip to Denver (last Oct.), my youngest sister died (Feb10) and then my dad died (April 10), and my husband had back surgery in July. We, my husband and myself, thought that our family deserved something special and we're giving it to ourselves. We have worked hard to pay for everything before we leave, so that we do not put unnecessary debt on our plate as well. I have contacted my sons principal to inform her of our decision and that was that. I don't want to sound like I don't appreciate my sons education and the teachers providing it, I do appreciate them a great deal. We just really need this time as a family to be together in a magical environment and start to heal our hearts after all we've been through. So before we start to judge people for pulling their children out of school, please stop to consider that you do not know what that family has or is going through. That being said I hope that everyone with trips in their future have the most wonderful and magical time EVER!!

This was my point exactly. We should not judge others. I wish you a very magical and relaxing vacation!

 

[beansmom]

Our school district DOES have the power to force you to keep your kids in school. If our children miss more than 5 days in a school year (used to be 10 days but they cut it in half for whatever reason), the parents face possible PROSECUTION.

not POSSIBLE prosecution...i was arrested and had to pay a $1000 fine because my 17 year old son would not live with me (in Texas at 16, they can 'runaway' and you can't do a thing about it) and wasn't going to school. The fat custard judge said 'yes, that IS a problem...$1000 or jail'.

So it's NOT a parent's 'business'...'your' children are owned by the state...you are just allowed to pay to raise them.

 

[bwilcox]

not POSSIBLE prosecution...i was arrested and had to pay a $1000 fine because my 17 year old son would not live with me (in Texas at 16, they can 'runaway' and you can't do a thing about it) and wasn't going to school. The fat custard judge said 'yes, that IS a problem...$1000 or jail'.

So it's NOT a parent's 'business'...'your' children are owned by the state...you are just allowed to pay to raise them.

You could have unenrolled him from the school. Then you wouldn't have been bound by their rules. You were only "owned by the state" because you signed your child up at that public school, agreeing to follow their rules and consequences. You could have chosen to put him in private or homeschool.

 

[itchin2go]

I am pulling my son, 6th grade, out for 4 days at Thanksgiving. I am not one to buck the system. He has good attendance, good grades and no disciplinary issues. Our family, as a whole, has had one helluva year. My mom broke her back on a business trip to Denver (last Oct.), my youngest sister died (Feb10) and then my dad died (April 10), and my husband had back surgery in July. We, my husband and myself, thought that our family deserved something special and we're giving it to ourselves. We have worked hard to pay for everything before we leave, so that we do not put unnecessary debt on our plate as well. I have contacted my sons principal to inform her of our decision and that was that. I don't want to sound like I don't appreciate my sons education and the teachers providing it, I do appreciate them a great deal. We just really need this time as a family to be together in a magical environment and start to heal our hearts after all we've been through. So before we start to judge people for pulling their children out of school, please stop to consider that you do not know what that family has or is going through. That being said I hope that everyone with trips in their future have the most wonderful and magical time EVER!!

Please don't feel like you have to justify yourself to posters on a message board (and I don't mean OP as I believe she posted this thread out of curiosity, not judgment). It is amazing to me how upset some people can become about things that are not their business!

We have pulled my daughter out of school for every Disney vacation we have taken. I don't care one bit if posters have a problem with this. My vacation + my family = my business.

 

[4Robins]

When you sign your kids up for public school, you are AGREEING to follow their rules. If their rules are that you can have X number of absences, and after that the child is considered truant, then you agreed to that. If you don't like a school's rules, then homeschool or send them to a private school. I don't think there is anything wrong with taking kids out of school as long as you are willing to accept the consequences of your actions. It's the attitude that drives me crazy that "schools have no say over what I do with my child!" Schools have the right to make their own rules and enforce them, just like you have the right to change schools.

So are you saying that schools DO have a say in what i do with my child?? That is insane. There is nothing that says i have to agree to their rules. I am talking about one week off during a school year, not months. Im sorry, but schools are NOT law enforcement and legally can not tell me what to do with my child, thats just the way it is.

 

[4Robins]

Our school district DOES have the power to force you to keep your kids in school. If our children miss more than 5 days in a school year (used to be 10 days but they cut it in half for whatever reason), the parents face possible PROSECUTION.

I know this is a very heated subject on the DISboards. I won't go into any details of how I feel in the matter, but I will say this: if a parent decides to take their child out of school for a family vacation, that's their business and they'll have to deal with the consequences (if any). As far as I'm concerned, it's none of my business as to why a parent chooses that.

So, if they have the power to "keep" your kids in school, does that mean that if you wanted to homeschool, they could say, NO, we have the power to keep them here and you may not homeschool??? Scary stuff if thats the case.

 

[HappycamperGRF]

So, if they have the power to "keep" your kids in school, does that mean that if you wanted to homeschool, they could say, NO, we have the power to keep them here and you may not homeschool??? Scary stuff if thats the case.

I am sorry 4Robins (and this will be my only post to you); have you even TRIED to do any research? Just because you beleive something is true doesn't mean it is.

 

[3prettyprincesses]

So are you saying that schools DO have a say in what i do with my child?? That is insane. There is nothing that says i have to agree to their rules. I am talking about one week off during a school year, not months. Im sorry, but schools are NOT law enforcement and legally can not tell me what to do with my child, thats just the way it is.

I completely agree with you, 100%. However, in my county's school district they actually make parents sign an agreement that outlines the rules of attendance and the consequences should you exceed the allowable 5 days. I do think that's crazy. Sort of makes me glad that I homeschool. I don't have to deal with that kind of stricture upon my family life. It's a shame that it has to be that way, schools can be a wonderful thing but I don't think it's right for them to decide what an excusable absence is or is not and then to punish for it accordingly. Family time is just as important IMO as school time. Can't Disney be educational? Of course it can. You can practice math skills (simple counting for younger kids, fractions and such for older), reading (there are signs everywhere), and manners.

 

[sam_gordon]

So are you saying that schools DO have a say in what i do with my child?? That is insane. There is nothing that says i have to agree to their rules. I am talking about one week off during a school year, not months. Im sorry, but schools are NOT law enforcement and legally can not tell me what to do with my child, thats just the way it is.

You're right. You don't need to agree with their rules, but you need to follow them or face the possible consequences. Why is that so hard to understand?

Again, if a school system says "5 unexcused absences results in the student failing and must repeat the grade." So if the child has 5 unexcused absences (vacation, "mental health days", whatever), they must repeat the grade. YOU agreed to abide by their rules when you enrolled your child.

Now, not every school system counts vacations as "unexcused" time. If they don't, there's no problem with taking your kids to WDW, the beach, or the local water park. It has been suggested REPEATEDLY (and I've only been a member since June) for parents to check their school policy regarding family vacation. I don't think anyone has criticized someone for pulling their child out.

ETA: If you don't agree with a school's policy, don't enroll them. Put them in a private school or homeschool them. You do have options to public school. But if you elect to enroll your child in public (or private for that matter) school, you are agreeing to abide by their rules.