Taking a high-schooler out of school?

[DisTeach1]

Here I am debating something I said I'd never do...taking my freshman out for 5 days in October. Has anyone taken a high schooler out? He's a good student...We've done it before, just not for high school.

 

[roxydotty]

We took our daughter out for 5 days last year in May when she was a Sophomore. After we gone home and she spent a week getting caught up I said I would never do it again! It was a one time deal. She is a straight A student and had a great relationship with all her teachers and they gave her some homework to do while we were gone then there was stuff she needed to do after we got home. You will get lots of different responses, but you just need to do what works for you. I'm glad we went to WDW at that time, but again, I wouldn't take her out again for that long.

 

[HappyDznyCamper]

Depends on your kid and your school. Our high schools work on a block schedual, meaning they have 4 class each semester but cover a years worth of material in that semester. That being the case I will not take my DD out of school for a week, she would have what equates to 10 days of missed work to make up while trying to keep up, too much stress for a teenager.

 

[MrsPooh]

We did it when my dd was a senior. I swore I would never do it but my parents wanted the whole family to go together for their anniversary so I went along with it and took her out for five days at the end of September. We had some great memories but I'd never do it again. She missed many important things at the beginning of the year and it made things difficult throughout the year.

 

[minkydog]

No, I wouldn't do it. My DD is in 9th grade and on block scheduling, so to miss 5 days would just put her too far behind. YOur child may be able to keep up, but it would put my daughter at a disadvantage. We have made the decision to not take family vacations during the school year so as to not jeopardize her grades.

 

[Aliceacc]

I'm speaking not as a parent, but as a freshman math teacher.

I had a boy who was out for 3 days last week, sick. He is so totally lost!! And not just in my class, but in each of his 7 classes. Sure, I'll be happy to give him extra help. But he has to make up all the work he missed in each of those 7 classes, and still manage to get the current work done. It's a LOT!!!! And I can't give him private extra help; anyone who shows up is welcome to join in. Three of my classes are freshmen honors in a college prep school-- these kids are ALL good students. But missing a number of classes is a problem every single time it happens to one of them.

I've gotten flamed for this before on these boards, but still I want to warn you: it's incredibly hard to make up all that work. Personally, I would vote for a school vacation period. Absolutely go to Disney. But do it over the summer.

In 26 years of teaching HS math, I have yet to see a student who can return from an extended absence and not be totally lost.

And, to be honest, if it WERE possible, I would have some serious questions for the teachers about what they're accomplishing in class. It shouldn't be possible to miss an entire week of work and slide right back in--something should be accomplished!

 

[JeremyGNJ]

Here's my thought on this.

Think back to your high school. Other than college admittance....did it really matter if you got an A a B or even a C for a single semester? Probably not! So screw it...go on vacation and have a fun time with your family!

Unless they're trying to get into a super competitive college it will hardly matter...especially if they're only a freshman or sophmore.

If you're just worried about setting a bad example, then you just make a big deal about it. Explain that it's a reward for working hard. Make them get some of their work ahead of time, and work double-time when they get back as well. Though I wouldnt encourage making them do work ON vacation....cause then it's not vacation.

 

[lastminutemom]

Hi. At my son's high school, vacations are not excused and teachers are not required to give make up work-- and many won't. They have to give it for excused absences.

Remember, this is when grades count... in Georgia, one bad semester can mess up your chances to get into UGA. Jeremy, nowadays, it isn't just the super competetive colleges that are hard to get into-- but even regular ones. (It is a number game -- far more students go to college now and only one or two new colleges have opened in the last 20 years)

 

[JeremyGNJ]

Hi. At my son's high school, vacations are not excused and teachers are not required to give make up work-- and many won't. They have to give it for excused absences.

Remember, this is when grades count... in Georgia, one bad semester can mess up your chances to get into UGA.

In that case I would lie and turn it into an "excused absence", but that's just me. i know a lot of people think that's wrong.

 

[teresajoy]

Here I am debating something I said I'd never do...taking my freshman out for 5 days in October. Has anyone taken a high schooler out? He's a good student...We've done it before, just not for high school.

We've taken the kids out every year, my son is a sophomore this year. He's a good student, and has had no problems catching up when we get back. The school wasn't exactly happy about it once he hit high school, but to me family time is more important. He gets all A's, even after we go.

 

[disneyjunkie]

I wouldn't do for a trip to WDW or a Caribbean cruise. It would have to be a once in a life time trip to some place special. (Med. cruise, Panama Canal cruise, trip to Europe, Asia or Africa).

I can have fun time with my family without having my son miss school.

 

[BeckityBobbidyBoo!]

This is one of the reasons we are going next year, my daughter will be an 8th grader. I don't plan on taking her out of high school for any vacations.

 

[DisTeach1]

Well, both cases are right...It's not once in a lifetime, but it is getting to be one of our last WDW trips altogether. My son is in high school and my mom is 75 and just can't do it like she used to. She really wants to go during the Food and Wine festival and see the Halloween party...I'm leaning toward a week towards the end of October. My son wants to go to a state university-he swims on a team and gets good grades. Not sure if freshmen year counts or not. Hmmmm...There's just not that many times when my Mom can go. She really can't tolerate heat at all and crowds really slow her down, but it was easier when my son was in grade and middle school. They don't have block scheduling, which is great.

 

[frtchr]

I taught high school for 10 years, and it honestly never bothered me when kids were out for family vacations. A trip with grandma sounds wonderful. It's nice to see families who actually want to be together!

 

[disneyjunkie]

Well, both cases are right...It's not once in a lifetime, but it is getting to be one of our last WDW trips altogether. My son is in high school and my mom is 75 and just can't do it like she used to. She really wants to go during the Food and Wine festival and see the Halloween party...I'm leaning toward a week towards the end of October. My son wants to go to a state university-he swims on a team and gets good grades. Not sure if freshmen year counts or not. Hmmmm...There's just not that many times when my Mom can go. She really can't tolerate heat at all and crowds really slow her down, but it was easier when my son was in grade and middle school. They don't have block scheduling, which is great.

The trip with grandma changes it for me.

I would go. Are you in an area that closes for Columbus Day, Yom Kippur and/or Rosh Hashanah? If so, you may be able to work your vacation around those dates.

 

[MSSANDRA]

We took DS out often up through 8th grade. Taking him out in Hs is just not possible. They are on the block schedual, and he is taking honors classes. He is an A student but the rules on being absent are so strict. They can only miss 7 days in a semester for ANY reason or they loose credit for that class. SOMETIMES they will create a contract to make up lost time and allow the child to receive credit but that is never a sure thing. Ds sprained his foot quite badly early in the semester, and had a flu bug already and has missed 4 days; less than 1/2 way through the classes. As much as we hate it the days are gone we can take him out.
Gades DO matter so much more in HS. I would have had no problem with a middle school grade dropping due to a trip but in today's world, getting into the college you want is so hard that one grade can make a difference. We are planing our first ever family summer trip.

 

[dougsmom98]

I am a high school teacher and I am okay with family vacations. That being said, when students miss school, their grades always suffer to some extent. My main concern with the original poster's situation is that this student is going to be a freshman. That year is such a hard transition, and many good students find themselves struggling. If there is any way that you can plan the vacation around a long weekend or a teacher workshop day, that would minimalize the amount of time your DS misses. Regardless, have a great time.

 

[Schmeck]

In that case I would lie and turn it into an "excused absence", but that's just me. i know a lot of people think that's wrong.

And how do you explain the tan? Does your child not talk about where you went? Lying has a tricky way of turning around and biting the liar in the butt...

 

[Sunny37]

Think back to your high school. Other than college admittance....did it really matter if you got an A a B or even a C for a single semester? Probably not! So screw it...go on vacation and have a fun time with your family!

Unless they're trying to get into a super competitive college it will hardly matter...especially if they're only a freshman or sophmore.

If you're just worried about setting a bad example, then you just make a big deal about it. Explain that it's a reward for working hard. Make them get some of their work ahead of time, and work double-time when they get back as well. Though I wouldnt encourage making them do work ON vacation....cause then it's not vacation.

If he plans to apply for scholarships, then it could make a difference. I don't think I could do it, since our HS is on a block schedule and students can get very far behind in their classes if they miss several days.

 

[Schmeck]

My daughter has missed school for other events (figure skating, not vacation) and it was very difficult for her to get the work done that she missed - 3 AP classes, and phys ed class, and an extra honors class taken as an independent study, on a four block schedule - so I would never plan a vacation during school. Other students can miss 4-5 days a quarter and not have a problem catching up, but they are not taking such a heavy class load.

The colleges my daughter is applying to want to see all of her grades from freshman year on up. They want all of her senior grades, even the final quarter, sent as soon as they are available. So, yes, all the grades count, no matter what year. I think it's just too much of a risk to take a child out for a vacation.