Taking Kids Out Of School....

[Wishing on a star]

I just had to chime back in here!!!!

FredS.... Your daughter sounds like a very wonderful, motivated, intelligent, and focused individual. That is GREAT!!! Apparantly she thrives under this type of challenge and pressure.

I just have to chime in here and say, that to simply assume that every child and every school, and every teacher, should be the same way is, in a word, unrealistic.

I am hearing about the MA requirements, this states requirements, this school districts requirements, etc... I am hearing about students and parents being 'chastised'.... Sorry, but it like really really bothers me, this whole, SCHOOL IS GOD and can dictate requirements and run childrens, and parents, and families lives..... The pressure of all these 'requirements' and 'attitudes' has just become unreal, and unhealthy! You have teachers forced to 'teach the test'... Students completely stressed out... Grade school children already being taught and conditioned and the pressure put on for those first middle school and high school standardized aptitude tests.... (somebody here worried about an absence showing on a college application!!!!) Where does it end... I was told by my DS Mothers Day Out 'teacher' (Yeah right, that teacher mentality.....) when DS was only 2 1/2 years old (his room at Mothers Day Out was "HER 'class'room" )
that I needed to have him evaluated and tested or he would be behind... Did I just mention that he was not even THREE yet!! Where is there room for children to be children.... Individuals, instead of just numbers, their worth measured only by their test score or school attendance numbers.....

Like John Stossel... I say "Give me a break!!!!"

Okay, rant over, I will climb down off my soapbox now......

 

[Wishing on a star]

MIA, I now read your thread that came though as I was typing the above....

Just wanted to agree with you, and to say that my first post here was indeed an example of how I worded my Memo to my DS teacher/school..... But, as you mentioned, sometimes other things just have to be said....

 

[MiaSRN62]

But, as you mentioned, sometimes other things just have to be said....

I totally understand what you're saying Wishing. This school debate topic can result in very opinionated, passionate viewpoints. And I'll include myself in this reference as this topic definitely strikes a chord with me. I'm trying (my best) to keep my posts in check here
I don't feel anyone deserves to be judged by others who have no idea what that person's individual circumstances might be. These are personal decisions made by parents in regards to their children. These decisions are based on what works for their individual needs within their family & what is approved by the school. If my school district (teachers/administration) didn't support us in this, we wouldn't take them out.....
So....here's hoping this thread can move on...........

 

[rae519]

Years ago in the "dark ages" when oldest was in elementary school - it was a real BIG DEAL to take them out. Now it's a lot different because it is seem as a "cultural opportunity".

I'm homeschooling so for me, it's not a problem, but I do have to get motivated back to the routine once the cruise is over. He's ready, I'm not!!!

Rae

 

[Dreamer04]

ok..I guess we have strayed.

I am blessed to be employed by the same company for 23 years. Seniority enables to take vacations (4 weeks a year) when my kids are out of school. My husband is in similar circumstances.

If I implied that my way is the only way, I apologize.

We would save alot of money if we took our children out of school for a family vacation. We CHOOSE not to do this. Not because of the school board, or a principal or a teacher. But because of our children. Our high-schooler would have way too much work to catch up on. School is not God in our home, God is God.

 

[Cruisin]

Sometimes I think you just have to look at the big picture.
In 25-30 years are those days of school your children missed or did not miss really going to matter. They will still grow up, they will still achieve and they will still advance in life, a few days of school or there will not make or break a person.
In my opinion of course.

 

[MiaSRN62]

I am blessed to be employed by the same company for 23 years. Seniority enables to take vacations (4 weeks a year) when my kids are out of school. My husband is in similar circumstances. If I implied that my way is the only way, I apologize.

Dreamer....it's ok. Yes, you are blessed as far as your job goes. Count yourself lucky. That sure is a very generous vacation allottment. I don't think many get that. You are most definitely entitled to your own opinion where your children and their schooling is involved. I respect everyone's opinion, I only ask that some of you that try to make us folks look bad for taking our kids out for a week try and see our side of it. I have 13 years seniority at my work. This doesn't mean a thing when staffing requires that a certain amount of staff be present to take care of patients. The doors of a hospital never close and we must have full coverage 24/7----holidays included. Even when I attain 25 years, such as yourself, I'll still be working weekends, holidays, doing on-call and have a very difficult time getting off for the summer. It's just the nature of the beast of my profession. As a nurse with 14 years experience, I am entitled to ONLY 1 week vacation per year. I cannot take off more than 2 weekends per year----I work every other weekend. Of the 13 years I've worked at my present employer, I have gotten 3 summer weeks granted. One of those three grants came just 14 days prior to my vacation. I had airfare and hotels paid etc. The stress was unbelievable----this was after 8 years of continuous employment. My manager said she granted me off at the last minute because she found someone to take my slot. I can't go through that nail-biting, nerve wracking experience every year. My husband has 6 years at a major university in the Philly area. Once again---summers are very bad for him also. He is involved in project planning and all major projects and construction occur when the college students are out for the summer. It's just easier for the students/faculty and staff in general. Unfortunately, it's not easier for him in getting the summer months off either.
So this is what I mean about noone can possibly understand or relate to what another has to deal with. I appreciate the fact that you took the time to post again and clarify your thoughts.

We would save alot of money if we took our children out of school for a family vacation. We CHOOSE not to do this. Not because of the school board, or a principal or a teacher. But because of our children. Our high-schooler would have way too much work to catch up on.

Just to clarify here. This is the second or third post where I saw mention of saving money in off-season. Once again----this is NOT what vacationing in off season is to us. I'm sure it's not the main reason for most folks here. I'd say, besides the above employment issues mentioned, weather and crowds play more of an influence. We often vacation with my mil and her age makes it difficult to endure the very hot and humid Florida temps. Sure it's nice to save some $-----but it's definitely not our motivating factor.
It's great that you choose not to take your children out---this is your own, very personal decision. Only you know your own children and what they can handle. Only you know how much work YOUR school /teachers gives out. If we didn't feel our kids could handle making up the work, we wouldn't stress them out doing it. We have family meetings about how we will stratigize the school work and discuss openly if it's something they feel they can do. My son has nothing less than a "B" on his report card and he is in HS. My middle school child is on the honor roll and was just inducted into the National Junior Honor Society this past Wednesday night.
They have never had a problem keeping up, and when they return, they may be (at most) a couple days behind. The teachers are more than accomodating in assisting them to catch up. So, it is our personal, private decision to take our kids out. We are well-aware of what our kids can handle and if we felt they would struggle too much, we wouldn't do that to them. I, personally, am very glad the school district does not dominate our free choice to do this. They work with us rather than against us.

 

[Dreamer04]

I'm glad no one is offended by my opinion. I am happy for those of you that can take the kids out of school when you need to. That's great. I mean no insult to anyone about anything. Really. I am also aware that not everybody has the option of vacationing when their children are off from school. I am very grateful for my hard earned benefits.

I mentioned the cost difference because that is the only variable for us. It is cheaper to cruise when the kids are in school, but since we can take our vacations at the same time, we wait until they are off. This does not mean that anyone who takes their kids out of school to cruise is only doing it to save money. Some people can only afford to go at that time. Some can only get time off then.

My kids are both A students. My DS 14, is in an advanced school, taking college level courses. The work is challenging, his grades don't come easily. If I took him out of school for a week, he would have a ball, then pay the price catching up when we got home.

My DD 6, is in the first grade. There would be no problem for her to catch up-she wouldn't miss much.

Ok, I hope nobody is offended, again. I'm sure we all have the best interests of our children, at heart.

Take care.

 

[MiaSRN62]

Ok, I hope nobody is offended, again. I'm sure we all have the best interests of our children, at heart.

Thanks. I appreciate you saying this Dreamer. I'm glad that you see that everyone has different sets of circumstances. I'm not offended at all.

 

[rae519]

Originally posted by Dreamer04
School is not God in our home, God is God.

Even in parochial schools, God isn't in the schools - that's the main reason I chose to homeschool - now we have the equation right for us!

Rae

 

[aprilgail2]

Another reason I don't feel badly about pulling kids out of school for a vaction is the fact that when it actually IS their winter or spring vacation they get SO much homework that it is not much different than the work they have to make up by missing a week. Last year they gave them work that HAD to be done in the local library so even when school is out you can't go away! But the main reason is the fact that you never know what the future holds....thinking back to all the vacations we took Matt out of school for and the enjoyment he got out of them before he died.... there is not ONE regret about doing it even if his grades may have been a few points lower than they would have been if he had not went to Florida, or the Bahamas or anywhere he went. There is no gaurentee that anyone will be around until they are old, or even when school break comes and I will make darn sure that my daughter gets to experience as much as she can in the time that she has, be it one month or 90 years! I never want to have to say gee I wish we did something or another, I am glad we can look back and say "wow I am glad we took Matt out of school and let him enjoy his life, as short as it may have been"
But that is just my opinion, maybe if I hadn't lived through seeing a childs life end early I would not feel this way....

 

[rae519]

During the times that teachers "get sick, take a personal day, or just have an off-day at swchool etc." - I found out that the kids generally have a "goof off" day with the substitute.

It was quite interesting to sub at schools while having one enrolled and getting the "low down". One teacher made a comment about bringing in a movie that "sort of touched" on the subject because she felt tired (pregnant) and didn't want to do much that day.

Who ends up with twice as much work - students?

So what's the point???

Rae

 

[ChattyKathy]

Hands out chill pills...

 

[AnnMorin]

Originally posted by ChattyKathy
Hands out chill pills...

I don't think that was really necessary Kathy, people were having a discussion, no one appeared in need of medication. Often individuals will have polor points of view and they may be passionate about it. I myself have often found my opinions changed by hearing others points of view. If someone is not being sarcastic or nasty I am always glad to hear what they have to say.

 

[Quirky Cruiser]

Another reason I don't feel badly about pulling kids out of school for a vaction is the fact that when it actually IS their winter or spring vacation they get SO much homework that it is not much different than the work they have to make up by missing a week. Last year they gave them work that HAD to be done in the local library so even when school is out you can't go away!

Aprilgail2 - thank you for pointing that out! See, this is where I see both sides of the spectrum! I remember all the school vacations I spent lugging books to Florida, New Hampshire, wherever. It was awful! Actually, two years ago, while I was studying abroad in London, my family came to visit during April Vacation. My sister was a Junior in high school and was expected to work on group projects, write a research paper, and do "regular" homework all during this "week off". My mother was so mad!!!! (and she's a teacher!!!). So while we were off doing things I would consider educational (there's lots of history in London!), she actually stayed behind in the hotel room to get some work done. This only happened the first day - after that my parents said "no more - this is your vacation too". My parents along with many other parents wrote letters to the high school saying that it is unacceptable to expect students to complete the amount of work they were given over a school vacation. Even in college, we were never given work over breaks to complete. Maybe a little reading, but nothing excessive. After all, a vacation is a vacation....there is so much stress during the school year - asking for a mental break for a week is not asking a whole lot!!!

 

[brack]

I have read all the posts with great interest and remember that the original post was about telling the truth.

Still I want to say a word about the debate. As a parent of a child who is 31 year old we have gone through this. We took our son out of school for special occasions and vacations. His attendance record could not be called stellar by any stretch of means. Still he graduated from HS (not at the top but not that far behind it), he was accepted at the college he wanted and today works at a job he likes making very good money doing it. Could he have been the top in HS school if he had gone everyday ...maybe but we had some very wonderful memories that will last a "lifetime".

We still go to Disney together ... when his wife lets go!

 

[Wishing on a star]

Kathy, LOL on the 'chill pills'!!!!

And, to add to what quirkycruiser just said. Yes, expecting work to be done during time off is just part of the additional, sometimes unnecessary stress, put on students in the school systems today. I remember back in the Spring, several parents were posting over on the CB that they were upset that their kids, sometimes middle-school or younger, came home for Summer with entire workbooks, etc. to complete.

But, OHHHH we have to meet this and such 'requirements' of the State.... some students are doing hours of homework every night... not just working on projects that may take input outside of school, but hours and hours of basic homework.

I have one sister whose daughter has been in Ballet. She simply found it impossible to participate in this very wonderful, beneficial, and worthy endeavor due the excessive demands of their school district.

At the first 'Meet the teacher' night this year, my DS Kindergarten teacher outlined to the group of parents some of the things that they would be covering. SHE even admitted to being unhappy about some of it, "But, it is being required." she explained... Again, we are talking about 5 year old Kindergarteners.

I tutored a middle school girl for several years, as part of a Mentor program. (Or tried too....) It was nearly impossible because when we had our weekly meetings, they were moving thru the subject material so rapidly that she would be on fractions this week, equations the next, and ALWAYS something completely different the next week.... And just how is a normal child supposed to learn, understand, and absorb the subject material at such a demanding pace?

I have to agree with the last posters mom when she finally said 'enough'....

Education is very important, and our children are worth it... But so is being a 'family' and having the ability to enjoy some of what life has to offer outside of the local school district... because, yes, our children are worth it.

 

[jlawall]

I have to express my opinion on this topic. First of all, I never take my children out of school anymore to vacation now that they are in secondary school. Primarily, this is because of all the work and hassle it is for them to make it up. Also, since I am now a teacher of 4th grade, I can't take off at that time of year.

However, my DH and I were talking recently about some of our family trips over the years. We've taken our kids to Hawaii, the Caribbean, NYC, skiing in New England, Las Vegas, Mexico, Canada, California, Florida beaches and Disney and several states on the East coast. Our family vacations are definitely the highlights of our family time over the years. My children have definitely been enriched by their travel experiences.

As a teacher, our classroom discussions are enriched when students share a story about a place they have traveled to. Also, when the flu hit my class this year, several students missed 3-5 days of school. We all survived it and the students missed some classroom instruction but still have done an amazing job once they returned to class.

Bottom line......LIFE IS TOO SHORT.... I recommend that we enjoy the time we have together as a family! Go on your trips and make some MAGICal memories.

 

[FredS]

Originally posted by Wishing on a star
Education is very important, and our children are worth it... But so is being a 'family' and having the ability to enjoy some of what life has to offer outside of the local school district... because, yes, our children are worth it.

I find this very objectionable and the reason why I posted again previously. If someone can justify pulling their child from school, it works for them, whatever, FINE. But what is just getting obnoxious are the comments that those who take their children from school for vacations somehow are actually BETTER than those who don't???!!!! That is taking it a bit too far. Be it good planning, good leave benefits at our jobs, choosing to put our kids' attendance at school over whatever we may may need to juggle, karma or whatever my family is fortunate enough to spend a lot of time on vacations together WITHOUT missing school. I fail to understand the comments about how those whose children skip school for vacation think that they feel that their children are somehow "worth" more?? It is not a choice between education and being a family in my book, and any implication that those of us who manage to take vacations without having our children miss school are somehow cheating our families and not valuing our children is just WRONG.

 

[ChattyKathy]

anytime Wishing!! ...Guess ya got my 'drift' huh?