Taking kids out of school-fib or tell the truth?

[anneofgreengables]

The truth. You don't want to send your kids the wrong message that it's okay to lie so you can play hooky. Have fun on your trip!

 

[nicolemomof4cuties]

Tell the truth.

 

[the Fidge]

I just tell the truth my Dh can only vacation during certain months and natrually its a school month. I inform the school well in advance and check before making reservation what dates the state's standardized tests are and arrange plans around it. I request any assignments that will require to be done and rarely have I received any other than DS bring in a journal which the teachers have always given him a book to write it in. He shares it with his classes when he returns. Funny at the end of the year the teacher send it back home and had some great things written in response to what he wrote very cute!

DS is going into 5th grade, and I realize that as he gets older it may be more difficult. Honesty is always the way, I would not want to teach my son its ok to lie if it works to my advantage. Most teachers are excited about the trip and are very pleasant. Happy planning! The day we go I make sugar cookies to send into school for the class with my mickey cookie cutter (yes that is my souvenier from WDW hehe)

 

[tinaluis]

We take our daughters out for two weeks a year (total of 10 missed days). We let the teachers know ahead of time, usually at the school Open House, and we give the teachers the option of preparing work to be brought with on the trip. IMO it's best to be honest.

 

[Carnator]

We went last Sept and will be going again this Sept. It is usually the only time my wife and I can get the same time off from work. We told the teachers last year and will again this year where we will be going. The teachers gave our kids work that they would miss. It wasn't a problem.


Sept 06 POFQ

 

[Leigha]

I will say vague stories that are somewhat mysterious are usually solved at some point and the lies are revealed and you can come up with the conclusions from there.

 

[slo]

We take my DD out of school every Sept. and I always tell the teacher exactly where we are going. If I don't, I can guarantee my DD will She can't keep a secret like that Especially after she came home from her most favorite place in the world

 

[GoofyTraci]

hi mom, I am at the same issue right now with my son and his school. Everyone told me to tell the school the first day that he started so that they would be prepared. Yes I want to be honest b/c I don't want to lie and don't want my son to think it's ok to lie or get him caught in a lie. B/c they will come back and tell it all. So yes this is a hard one. Our school district is VERY hard on unexcused days out. Do what you feel is best for you and your family. Check with the schools policies the first week when the hand books come home for you to sign. Like I said this is a tough one no one's answer is right or wrong and don't let anyone make you feel bad for taking your child out of school. They will learn so much and the family time is always much needed. Beware of the responses that you will receive on here B/C i asked this same question on here not to long ago and got all kinds of stuff I really didn't want to hear and people arguing back and forth b/c of something I posted. It made me feel bad at first but hey life goes on take time for family and whatever you decide have fun at disney.

 

[3DisneyKids]

We all tell our kids not to lie...we can't then go ahead and do the lying. Gotta practice what we preach and role model for them. Plus, you will soooo get busted in the lie...of course the kids are gonna talk about their amazing trip!

 

[lexmelinda]

Hhhhmmmm, depends on the ages of the kids. Mine will be 16, 13, and 6 by the time we get to WDW in Sept. Of course I have to tell the kindergarten teacher where we are going. Middle school and high school are much different. Our district also has a very harsh unexcused policy--3 days and you are considered truant. Although we haven't been on a family vacation since 2002 and my husband can't get off in the summer, I'm still not sure that the teachers will be understanding. One of my friends is a high school teacher (he's also my Sunday School teacher) and he tells me that the district forces parents to lie about taking their kids out of school for vacation. My older kids will need to make up their work and will not be able to unless their absences are excused. Find out your school's policies and make your decision accordingly. I'm still not sure what to do either. Good luck!

 

[Harvest02]

I want to thank everyone for their opinions. It is a tough decision for me, but I think Disney will win out! I can't imagine that the school will be that strict for just one or two days. I will let you all know what happens!!!

 

[Becky2005]

I haven't read through it all but if you tell them the kids are sick, you might end up needing doctor's note or something.

I would look up the school policies and see what they are.

I know here, they of course frown upon it but they do allow it. In the student handbook (if you look around you probably have yours from last year), it tells you the procedure you need to pull your kids out. Mine varies depending on the grade level. Elementary school has different procedure than Middle School.

 

[bowlesx3]

I am glad to hear so many positive responses from the many of you who have taken children out of school.

I was never absent when I went to school---ever, my mom would have carted me there in a body bag. SOOOO, when my husband was asked to play in the softball world series which is at the Wide WOrld of Sports in late Sept. I got a migraine!!! We could not be gone that long and leave DS home, he LOVES baseball/softball, so I called a few teachers I know and got opinions before booking and we are going--he will miss 5 days. I still cringe when I think about it and I hope I am able to have good time in spite of my anxiousness. He is in first grade, I plan to speak to the teacher several weeks in advance and get any work he needs to do, so we can do it while we are gone. Also, I am not sharing with him (I hope to escape it) that he is out 5 whole days. I think at his age he will not really notice how many days he missed! Hope not. I will see how it goes, but I sure wish it were in the summer.

 

[Cruz91]

My wife (who taught 2nd grade for about 6 years prior to staying home with our two beasts) has a very simple way of looking at this. Basically - any teacher who has children and who has taken them to The Dis will understand why you're doing it. Any teacher who doesn't have children will think you're a horrible parent, but will understand once they have kids and take them to the Dis. And any teacher who has kids and hasn't taken them to The Dis - well - do you really care what they think?!

 

[daisyduck123]

I am glad to hear so many positive responses from the many of you who have taken children out of school.

I was never absent when I went to school---ever, my mom would have carted me there in a body bag. SOOOO, when my husband was asked to play in the softball world series which is at the Wide WOrld of Sports in late Sept. I got a migraine!!! We could not be gone that long and leave DS home, he LOVES baseball/softball, so I called a few teachers I know and got opinions before booking and we are going--he will miss 5 days. I still cringe when I think about it and I hope I am able to have good time in spite of my anxiousness. He is in first grade, I plan to speak to the teacher several weeks in advance and get any work he needs to do, so we can do it while we are gone. Also, I am not sharing with him (I hope to escape it) that he is out 5 whole days. I think at his age he will not really notice how many days he missed! Hope not. I will see how it goes, but I sure wish it were in the summer.

Please don't fret over this. I'm a 1st grade teacher & all I can say is, "Your DS will be fine. It's only 5 days." My own DD11 & DS8 missed 11 school days last year to go to Disney (2 separate trips).

We can't wait to go again next Spring!!