Taking kids out of school

[Planogirl]

I didn't see it as a big deal to miss a few days when DS was young but now that he's in middle school, we won't be doing it any more. He has a lot going on and I don't think it would be a good idea for him to miss any time.

Besides, we don't mind the heat and crowds of summer.

Also, I would never expect teachers to do extra work so that we can take a vacation. If they are willing to allow makeup or extra credit, I think it's nice.

 

[ChrisnSteph]

Wow! I hadn't realized that teachers were servants to be ordered as you please! Anyone who put it to me in those terms would not only not receive the work, but their child would earn one big old fat "zero" for every assignment missed. We are doing you a favor when we help you out. I am not required to do a darn thing about your poorly timed vacation.

In our district, we have to get approval from the principal (not the teacher) if we want to pull our child out for a week. Once approved, my child would be on a home study for a week, and whether the teacher liked it or not - he or she would HAVE to provide the work.

 

[luvmy2sams]

We've taken DD7 out of school twice for vacations. Last year she missed 4 days (taken over Fall Break) of kindergarten, and she missed 7 days of 2nd grade last month for our trips to Disney. We'll continue to do this until DD decides she doesn't want to miss school or until it becomes too much of a burden with missed schoolwork for her to miss many days.

I've never expected the teachers to have homework available in advance, and actually this year was the first time homework was even a consideration. I made sure DD's teacher knew that we would work to accommodate her schedule since we were the ones inconveniencing her with DD's absence. It ended up that her teacher had the homework for us several days before we left on vacation. We ended up doing the bulk of the homework on the plane and drive home from the airport. We're fortunate that we're in a small private school (filled with fellow Disney nuts!) that works with the families regarding scheduled absences.

 

[NMAmy]

What a well timed question. I'm taking dd out next week. I really thought that once she got to high school, it wouldn't be viable anymore but while flipping through her school handbook, I found that kids can be taken out of school for family vacations. I wrote a letter and she's been given an "Extended Leave form" that she takes around to her teachers and they sign and give her the homework she needs to complete. I deliberately picked next week because two days are half days for parent/teacher conferences and they have Friday off for the holiday. She's really only missing 3 days total. She's a straight A student and when I spoke with the Attendance Office, they were very kind and said it happened all the time.

DD spends all holidays and summer vacation with her dad. If I didn't take her out of school, we'd never get a family vacation. I'm very grateful that our school district is so understanding.

 

[In a hurry]

In our district, we have to get approval from the principal (not the teacher) if we want to pull our child out for a week. Once approved, my child would be on a home study for a week, and whether the teacher liked it or not - he or she would HAVE to provide the work.

We don't give approval or not give. I am just not required by our district to provide the work. All vacations are unexcused, but they are not reported as truant until the child misses 10 days. I do not care if a kid misses school, although I feel bad for those who wind up behind because of it. I am happy to help out families who treat me with respect as I treat them. To the few who haven't, I feel no obligation to go out of my way for them. It is all about a give and take mutual respectful relationship.

 

[Mishetta]

We have struggled with that same problem. Altho this past Dec was the first time my DS (10) has missed 3 days over us going to Disney. If we didn't check in by a certain date, our rate would have doubled & then we couldn't have gone at all. We told his teacher a month prior to our vacation & altho she couldn't give us work ahead of time (school policy), she did tell us that since our DS does well in school, not to worry. Once we returned, he had to catch up on those missed 3 days & it was no picnic but he did it (he gets one day to catch up for each missed day ~ so he had 3 days to turn in the 3 days he missed.) He did fine.

Now we have the opportunity to take a cruise with a dear friend who is a cast member, under her special rates & this cruise would be happening during the school year. We already spoke to his teacher about it (we don't know exactly when this tirp will happen since we can only cruise when there are several cabins still available) & her words exactly were "this is an opportunity that you should not miss. Sometimes a trip like this can be more educational than sitting in the classroom for a week." Was quite surprised to have a teacher say that but in any case, even tho it is against school policy she would be willing to give my DS his tests ahead of time & some work ahead of time too (when this trip comes up.) We really appreciate her cooperating with us because once my friend leaves Disney, this opportunity to cruise for such a low fare would never come up again. This time he'd be missing one full week.

Let me make this perfectly clear, if my DS was struggling in school, there would be no way at all we'd ever consider taking him out for a week's vacation. No way. School is tough now. Not like when I went to school! But he's in the 4th grade & he's doing very well & his teacher even condoned him missing a week for this opportunity of a lifetime, so we're going for it (if & when this trip happens!) Oh & when he missed the 3 days of school for our December trip to Disney, teacher just asked that he turn in a little report about his Disney experience (the drive down, the weather, the parks, the food, etc....) He was only to happy to write one. He was so excited about it in fact, that he started writing about his trip in his autograph book! One more thing I'd like to add which will probably stir up the pot a bit.....if my DS's teacher were totally against him missing a week ~ we'd immediately cancel. We respect her & value her opinion. She sees him everyday in class & althou I see his papers when he gets home, I am not in school to see if much of a struggle went into him understanding what he's doing. Hope that made sense......

 

[DisTeach1]

As a teacher, I just love it when a student comes up to me and says, "I'm going to be gone next week, so can I have all my work ahead of time so I don't have to bother with it on vacation or when I get back?" Uh no, I don't/can't/won't do that. You choose which one. Sure, sometimes I have some idea what I'm doing the following week, but I don't usually plan more than 2 or 3 days ahead, not 5 or 6. Also, even if I do know what I'm doing, sometimes I haven't copied it, collated it, or even looked for it in my files. So, no, I don't always provide the work ahead of time. Now, independent study is different. When a student signs up for that, I come up with an alternate assignment, and excuse them from the regular work.

 

[dismom9761]

I remember over a year ago someone (a teacher) posting how much extra work it involved for him/her to prepare makeup work for the students who had to miss schools due to vacations. I don't think the poster begrudged the student the extra work, but I think it's worthwhile for parents to realize how much work it is for the teacher to have to do on their own time instead of taking the attitude that it's owed to them.

I'll search and see if I can find that post, but I probably won't be able to. I don't remember who wrote it or even where it was.

My two sons missed 3 days of school last year to go on a trip with their dad.I offered to go in at the teachers convenience and do anything I could to help get their work together.they had me go to the copy room and copy papers for them and write some assignments down for them.

That being said my oldest also received a zero on something that she did not allow him to make up.

 

[sha_lyn]

I've read many post here about taking kids out for 5 or more days. I just wanted to point out that from what I understand about the law in GA now, 5 unexcused absences and the child automatically fails.

WDW is a fun trip but you also learn things there too. DD is learning about fossil fuels in science now and she is recalling a lot of the Universe of Energy, LOL, (dinosaur soup, anyone?! LOL) It probably depends on your kids when it comes to that. I don;t learn and retain much from WDW but DD does.
I think Deb's site has a educational section that may give you some ideas & make you feel less guilty about it (if you feel guilty that is, I don't).

The educational value of WDW is still there in the summer. The educational value they lost from being out of school will not replaced, unless of course they fail and have to go to summer school.

 

[chris1gill]

I think you'll find people all along the spectrum on this question.... Really, I think it just depends on your child..... We took DS out for two weeks after New Year's, he missed very little as we had him do all his reports and projects before we left on December 18th... However, there was one science project he took a B- in, and that was a direct reflection of having taken the time off... He's in fifth grade... Our second grader is still making up worksheets two weeks after we've returned. None of her grades have been affected badly however. It all depends on both the teacher, and how well they are prepared, and how you prepare your child... Oh, for our trip, it was to Australia. Our department heads knew far in advance of our plans.

Course we just made plans (today) to take them out of school for five days in early next December for Hawaii... Just be organized about it, and know your children's limitations... If they aren't able to handle the work load, I wouldn't take them...

 

[In a hurry]

I've read many post here about taking kids out for 5 or more days. I just wanted to point out that from what I understand about the law in GA now, 5 unexcused absences and the child automatically fails.



The educational value of WDW is still there in the summer. The educational value they lost from being out of school will not replaced, unless of course they fail and have to go to summer school.

What on earth do the Georgia laws have to do with a Mass. OP?

As a teacher of 20 years, 1st or 3rd grade, primarily, I will state that missing a few days of school is not going to be detrimental to any average student. Maybe to a struggler, but on the other hand, that break, working with a parent one-on-one might be the thing to take even a kid who is behind over the hump. It is quite simple, AAMOF, to replace a week of grade school. I don't know where your doomsday prediction comes from, but there are medications for that kind of thinking.

 

[kbkids]

In our schools, the principal does have to approve it for it be excused. The only time I've seen her turn one down is if the child was already in the double digits for absenteeism. Other than that, they are excused absences, if they are approved beforehand. We've pulled DD out every year for vacations. Some teachers gave her extra work to do, others didn't. Her teacher this year didn't even make her complete the missed work - just said she wouldn't average it into her grade.
So, right now, I have no problem with pulling her out. If she were struggling, I probably wouldn't.

 

[MoniqueU]

I think it is fine for other people because they know their circumstances. It is currently not fine for us because I know OUR circumstances. My son is in JR high and even missing a couple of days due to illness can set him back. So for us we would not be pulling out for a trip to WDW. In the past though with the kids in elementary that answer may have been different.

 

[sha_lyn]

What on earth do the Georgia laws have to do with a Mass. OP?

So are you saying only those in Mass need respond? Many here have talked about the number of days their children have missed. Not all of them are in Mass.
Are you in Mass? If not then why are you responding. Afterall you opinion doesn't have anything to do with the OP if you aren't in Mass right?

 

[Buckalew11]

I've read many post here about taking kids out for 5 or more days. I just wanted to point out that from what I understand about the law in GA now, 5 unexcused absences and the child automatically fails.



The educational value of WDW is still there in the summer. The educational value they lost from being out of school will not replaced, unless of course they fail and have to go to summer school.

The educational value is still there but I won't be. I won't be going to WDW in the summer anytime soon. It is just too hot and too crowded for us. Like I said, as long as DD does well in school, I have no problem with taking her out.

 

[Planogirl]

In our district (in Texas), vacation is not considered an excused absence. Even at that, the teachers can still give makeup work if they choose to. It's really up to them.

 

[Jabber_Jaws]

The educational value of WDW is still there in the summer. The educational value they lost from being out of school will not replaced, unless of course they fail and have to go to summer school.

Lets not think of the fact that some hard working parents can't get summers off, and must take vacations in the winter,fall or spring. I guess they just can't go right?

 

[delilah]

Lets not think of the fact that some hard working parents can't get summers off, and must take vacations in the winter,fall or spring. I guess they just can't go right?

I agree with this. I know that my husband and I frequently have work requirements that aren't necessarily convenient to the school schedule. Generally, the Monday and Friday holidays that aren't recognized by my hospital/office are most contentious. My coworkers really don't like when they have to cover for me for fall break, and the fellow who does are call schedule invariably puts me on call either the first or second weekend of spring break (which means that we can't travel to WDW, for example. Well, we could, but we couldn't drive, and would be really rushed. It is a two day drive from where we live.). Yesterday, I had to talk to several people to change call that I was assigned for Memorial Day weekend, which I was assigned for call (that is a holiday the hospital recognizes). We were planning vacation for the week afterwards, and I had already made hotel reservations and bought plane tickets. For us, we like to go to WDW when my brother and his family can join us. They live in Florida, so that means we need to go before June 11, or after school starts again in the fall. We can't go Thanksgiving or Christmas (I am on call Christmas day and New Years weekend). So, there you are. I just hope my husband is able to join us, because he also has work demands. It is sometimes easier to deal with the wrath of the school and teachers than to deal with the idiocy of my work schedule/coworkers.

 

[BuckNaked]

I've never known of anyone at our school that has been denied this type of request, but the teachers don't put the work together ahead of time anymore. The student has however many days they missed to make up the missed work when they return.

 

[Sleepy]

My son's school doesn't have a problem with it, but parents have to understand that if they choose to remove their kids for a vacation, ALL the days are unexcused and therefore, once you reach the 10 day limit for the year, everything after that is also unexcused.