Taking kids out of school?

[skiwee1]

Well, skiwee1 and her family are not like most of us.

From what I gathered from her past posts just within the past few weeks in fact:

* her 6yo dd has sensitivity issues and is a picky eater and she attends half day kindy
* a post about her 6yo dd: "My 6 y/o threatens to not go to WDW if we don't stay at the Poly. She refuses to try the GF and don't get her started on the All Stars Arena, and she so kindly puts it, she isn't having any of it!"
* they don't save for souvenirs and basically "just buys what she wants"
* spends $1000/$1200 per month on groceries and "buys what [she] wants"
* spent $15,000 on vacations this year
* they eat out for every meal at WDW except room service
* her only debt is her mortgage and [they]pretty much buy what [they]want"
* she pays $2.45 a gallon for premium gas and she stated she doesn't "know how much the lower grade stuff is because [she] doesn't use it"
* and her dh owns a H-2

Not to place her under a microscope or anything , but I did have to do my research. It seems like she has a lifestyle, way of life, and values that are not common so therefore I can't judge. I believe, though, there are ultimately repercussions to such actions of taking out your child whereas they miss a lot of school or other choices you make as a family. Kids do learn by what they live.

I personally don't take my kids of of school for long lengths of time, but some people like skiwee1 do. Different strokes for different folks, I guess. Your kid - your choice.

Gee, are you jealous? LOL!

 

[grlpwrd]

Gee, are you jealous? LOL!

No, really, I'm not.

I was just curious how you live and what your values are, that's all. I don't think it's fair for us to criticize or assume too much without understanding you and knowing a bit of your background. Most of all, I don't think it's fair for us to blame you for your success and enjoying what you think is important for your family. I am always concerned, though, what a child learns from their parents so I guess I did add my 2 cents.

Like I always say your child - your choice... except I am a bear when it comes to child welfare, safety, and things of that nature.

 

[skiwee1]

No, really, I'm not.

I was just curious how you live and what your values are, that's all. I don't think it's fair for us to criticize or assume too much without understanding you and knowing a bit of your background. Most of all, I don't think it's fair for us to blame you for your success and enjoying what you think is important for your family.

Like I always say your child - your choice... except I am a bear when it comes to child welfare, safety, and things of that nature.

I don't see where any of this has to do with taking a vacation?

 

[grlpwrd]

I don't see where any of this has to do with taking a vacation?

Well, you obviously have certain standards and values which extend into having vacations, your family choices, etc. Your choices are unique, such as taking your child out of school for long periods of time and you take separate vacations from your dh and other children (right?), and I think much of what you posted in the past explains why you do what you do.

I'm only observing and commenting, okay - not trying to being snarky, rude, or anything like that.

 

[tlbwriter]

Well, it's just like when someone complains about people peeing in plain sight at WDW, and someone else reminds us that this is common in other parts of the world and not considered offensive. Maybe grlpwrd is suggesting that in your peer group, taking your kids out of school for such long periods of time is no big deal. While to others, it's "simply not done," and you may as well be peeing on the sidewalk!

 

[KAG Mom]

Thank you from a teacher! I did mention all that you wrote in an earlier post (maybe page 4 or 5?).

There are things that just can't be taught on paper, via homework or textbook. And, if you miss out on class, you miss out on the info. and that means I have to reteach it. It also means that I have to disrupt my class to catch that one child up. That means everything comes to a screetching halt while I catch up the student. Now, as much as I'd love to pull a student out of a "special" (art, gym, music, etc.), I am not allowed to. I cannot force a child to stay after school to catch up, either. And, lunch is their time to "unwind". So, I have to set students up at an activity that I wouldn't normally have them doing just to get that student up to speed. I cannot carry on lessons if my students do not have understanding of the core concepts they need to master the materials. Finally, I have to cram things in which we missed by having to reteach materials that were covered. Things which I'd prefer to take my time on. But, I have certain things to cover by state law by the end of the school year.

And, please don't say "What's the difference between doing it for a child on vacation and a sick child" -- the difference is that nobody plans on getting sick. However, someone does plan vacations.

Thank You! I am also a teacher and agree with you 100%. I work extremely hard on my lesson plans as I'm sure you do, and as you stated, we all have material that we are required to cover. When a child is ill and needs to miss school, I am very understanding and am willing to do whatever it takes to get that child caught up. I will do whatever I can for a couple of vacation days. But for five weeks......that is asking too much of your child's teacher and also of your child, no matter how bright he or she is.

 

[dtsaos]

Thank you from a teacher! I did mention all that you wrote in an earlier post (maybe page 4 or 5?).

There are things that just can't be taught on paper, via homework or textbook. And, if you miss out on class, you miss out on the info. and that means I have to reteach it. It also means that I have to disrupt my class to catch that one child up. That means everything comes to a screetching halt while I catch up the student. Now, as much as I'd love to pull a student out of a "special" (art, gym, music, etc.), I am not allowed to. I cannot force a child to stay after school to catch up, either. And, lunch is their time to "unwind". So, I have to set students up at an activity that I wouldn't normally have them doing just to get that student up to speed. I cannot carry on lessons if my students do not have understanding of the core concepts they need to master the materials. Finally, I have to cram things in which we missed by having to reteach materials that were covered. Things which I'd prefer to take my time on. But, I have certain things to cover by state law by the end of the school year.

And, please don't say "What's the difference between doing it for a child on vacation and a sick child" -- the difference is that nobody plans on getting sick. However, someone does plan vacations.

Don't you think that maybe there's something wrong with the school system in regards to this? It seems ridiculous that the entire class has to do a special "activity" because another student has missed a lesson, whether it be due to illness or vacation. There simply should be a better solution in terms of "catching up" for that student.

Generally though in regards to this thread, I think that it's a very personal decision whether a family choses to take their children out of school for vacation. School is VERY important of course, however I don't think it's the end all of who a child becomes as they grow up. Missing a week or two of school each year is not going to ruin someones life-that is if they are raised properly. When I look back on my life there are very few school moments that stand out and that's not to say that school didn't do tons of good for me; but it certainly didn't make me who I am today by itself. The special times I remember most as a child are all the wonderful vacations that my parents saved for every year that we took. (and none of them were at WDW by the way). Basically, what I'm saying is that if a child is(by his/her family) loved, respected, taught to respect others, taught responsibilities, taught to appreciate the good things in life and not just take them for granted and is a good student-does it really matter if he/she misses a couple of weeks of school? 20 years from now will those missed weeks matter or will who they are as a responsible adult be what's important? But I hope that all of you who are against taking kids out of school for vacation continue to feel that way so that the parks stay nice and slow when we (the irresponsible parents) dare to do so. Just my 2 cents...

 

[weregoingtodw]

I don't see where any of this has to do with taking a vacation?

It makes sense to me. She's pointing out that you come from a different socioeconomic background than the majority of us, which could account for some of your viewpoints.

I'm sure this is a reflection of my values, but an atitude such as "My 6 y/o threatens to not go to WDW if we don't stay at the Poly. She refuses to try the GF and don't get her started on the All Stars Arena, and she so kindly puts it, she isn't having any of it!" absolutely blows my mind. I can't imagine my 9yo DD saying something such as that; our family vacations are not about surroundings, trappings, entertainment, etc. so much as they are about spending quality time together.

Just from these comments that you're not denying, which I assume were made by you and are not taken out of context (please correct me if I'm wrong), your family appears to be a great deal more materialistic than mine. Judging from your comments elsewhere in this thread, it appears that education is a higher priority for my family than yours. Your choices reflect those values, and give me a greater understanding of why taking your child out of school for five weeks seems insignificant to you.

 

[skiwee1]

Well, you obviously have certain standards and values which extend into having vacations. Your choices are unique, such as taking your child out of school for long periods of time and you take separate vacations from your dh and other children (right?), and I think much of what you posted in the past explains why you do what you do.

I'm only observing, okay - not trying to being snarky, rude, or anything like that.

Well you are taking everything out of context but why would that surprise me? I do vacation without my husband but I vacation more with him. My Disney trips do not include him because he doesn't like WDW. The thread you read that in had about half of the others also saying they too go on trips without their DH sometimes. No big deal. My choices are not unique yet you want to portray me as such. On any of those threads you pulled to get those tidbits had many posters that spent more then me, had better cars, traveled more, bought the good gas, (had to laugh at that one as it seemed so ridiculous!). I mean, buying the premium gas because my 1999 minivan is supposed to have it, somehow reflects my values? LMAO! This borders on the absurd. Unbelievable.

 

[skiwee1]

I'm sure this is a reflection of my values, but an atitude such as "My 6 y/o threatens to not go to WDW if we don't stay at the Poly. She refuses to try the GF and don't get her started on the All Stars Arena, and she so kindly puts it, she isn't having any of it!" absolutely blows my mind. I can't imagine my 9yo DD saying something such as that; our family vacations are not about surroundings, trappings, entertainment, etc. so much as they are about spending quality time together.

Just has to answer to this as the other stuff was just too ridiculous. My DD was not referring to "trappings" If DD was so materialistic she would have picked the GF! She said she didn't want to stay at the GF or as MY HUSBAND calls the Allstars, the Allstars Arena. My husband is not Disney literate and hasn't a clue as to names. It was my husband that referred to the Allstars that way. And DD wasn't having any of it! She likes the volcano pool, plain and simple. She has been there 6 times and just loves the place. So yes she has an opinion on it. It blows my mind that a nine year old would not.

 

[tlbwriter]

Well, you do have to admit it's a little ironic to justify skipping so many days of school by saying...

I don't see the harm in it if we are talking about elementary school and the child does well. I think family vacations are more important. I am considering homeschooling because we enjoy vacationing so much. With homeschooling you don't have to ask permission to spend time with family.

... and then later mentioning that these important family vacations don't involve your husband or other children. I mean, surely you can see why that would make someone say "huh?"

 

[weregoingtodw]

Just has to answer to this as the other stuff was just too ridiculous. My DD was not referring to "trappings" If DD was so materialistic she would have picked the GF! She said she didn't want to stay at the GF or as MY HUSBAND calls the Allstars, the Allstars Arena. My husband is not Disney literate and hasn't a clue as to names. It was my husband that referred to the Allstars that way. And DD wasn't having any of it! She likes the volcano pool, plain and simple. She has been there 6 times and just loves the place. So yes she has an opinion on it. It blows my mind that a nine year old would not.

It blows your mind that a nine year old would not refuse to go on a family vacation if she couldn't stay in the hotel she prefers? This is the first time I have EVER heard of a child refusing to go to WDW if (s)he could not stay in a certain resort. My incredulity is not in reference to the pool, it's in reference to your daughter refusing to go on vacation if she can't stay in a certain hotel. To me, that's shocking; obviously it's not to you. I was simply using that particular point to demonstrate my lack of ability to relate to the choices which you make.

 

[skiwee1]

It blows your mind that a nine year old would not refuse to go on a family vacation if she couldn't stay in the hotel she prefers? This is the first time I have EVER heard of a child refusing to go to WDW if (s)he could not stay in a certain resort. My incredulity is not in reference to the pool, it's in reference to your daughter refusing to go on vacation if she can't stay in a certain hotel. To me, that's shocking; obviously it's not to you. I was simply using that particular point to demonstrate my lack of ability to relate to the choices which you make.

OMG It was a joke! If I told her the only way we would be going to WDW is to sleep in a box she would be all for it! You know, I am done with this thread. There are some spiteful people on this thread. It was going so nicely for the longest time and then someone from another board, won't mention any names, comes over to start their usual trouble. Then everyone that is against ever pulling their child out for any reason jumps on the bandwagon. It is unfortunate that those that are so quick to judge hold themselves so high on their pedestals. Hopefully those posters teach their children better then they themselves treat others that have a differing opinion. Good night.

 

[grlpwrd]

OMG It was a joke! If I told her the only way we would be going to WDW is to sleep in a box she would be all for it! You know, I am done with this thread. There are some spiteful people on this thread. It was going so nicely for the longest time and then someone from another board, won't mention any names, comes over to start their usual trouble. Then everyone that is against ever pulling their child out for any reason jumps on the bandwagon. It is unfortunate that those that are so quick to judge hold themselves so high on their pedestals. Hopefully those posters teach their children better then they themselves treat others that have a differing opinion. Good night.

Wow. Just wow...

 

[Miss Inga Depointe]

I'm just curious. I have a question for the person who originally asked the question. Did you make your decision yet? Did anything about this thread influence you?

Also, how does your 5th grades feel about missing school at the beginning of the year? Is she OK with it?

Good luck with the planning no matter what you decide!

 

[Daxx]

Don't you think that maybe there's something wrong with the school system in regards to this? It seems ridiculous that the entire class has to do a special "activity" because another student has missed a lesson, whether it be due to illness or vacation. There simply should be a better solution in terms of "catching up" for that student.

Yes, the problem is money. My school does not have the money to place an aide in my class. If school did, then I wouldn't have to deal w/special activities. I could send an aide w/the child and the aide could catch them up while we worked on other things. As I stated, I cannot pull a child out from their "extra" classes (music, art, gym, computer, library) to catch them up. My district does not allow this. I cannot pull them from lunch. That's against school policy. I cannot hold them after class unless the parent agrees to it ... and not one parent signed the "after school help" slip. I do not have an aide in my class. I am it ... the sole teacher. I can't hand the absent/vacationing students off to an aide to have her reinforce the lesson. And, I can't advance my plans w/o my students knowing the core concepts ... so I have to play catch up. So, tell me ... when am I supposed to catch the absent/vacationing students up? Why should my students, who have spent time on the materials, have to sit through the lesson again? Is that fair to them? They're in kindergarten and it is monotonous for them to have to sit through what they've learned last week. They get bored b/c they "know the materials". I certainly can't have them doing the same worksheets they just finished doing. I have to make sure my students know the core concepts before I can advance them onto something new. If they know the concepts, they're going to get bored w/the repetition. What am I supposed to do w/the other 10 students while I'm catching up the 11th? I have to come up w/some educational activity for them so that they're not running all over the place. Thank goodness I have worksheets and comprehension activities that they can do. How mad do you think a parent is going to be when they come home w/the same work they completed the week before b/c Johnny was sick or vacationing and they had to make up for him. Why should I have to reinforce material for another week that has already been taught and reinforced for a solid week? I can put my 10 students on headphones, listening to a story and then answering questions that the tape reads for them. They're getting in extra learning that would have been wasted if I had to reteach all of them the same lesson. Unfortunately for Johnny, he won't benefit from the extra learning b/c I'm busy catching him up. What would you like me to do? My school can barely pay me ... they sure can't pay for an aide. Unfortunately, aide qualifications in my area are pretty high and qualified people do want to volunteer their time.

Missing a week or two of school each year is not going to ruin someones life-that is if they are raised properly.

I don't think anyone's saying that missing a week or two (or more) of school is going to ruin someone's life. But, by taking a child out of school for multiple vacations that result in 5 weeks of missed school, doesn't it seem as if it's teaching them that school is not important? That it's ok to miss that much time?

I'm curious on what you mean by the "if they are raised properly" part. I have parents who (obviously) don't raise their children properly but understand the importance of a good education ... and likewise, I have parents who raise their children beautifully and don't understand the importance of a good education. I'm not sure what you're driving at. Could you please elaborate? And, I mean no disrespect ... I am just not sure of your intent.

 

[DisneyDotty]

Well, wasn't this an interesting thread?!

 

[Marseeya]

I don't think anyone's saying that missing a week or two (or more) of school is going to ruin someone's life. But, by taking a child out of school for multiple vacations that result in 5 weeks of missed school, doesn't it seem as if it's teaching them that school is not important? That it's ok to miss that much time?

Maybe this is a little off the wall, but I think if parents want to take that much vacation time away from school with their kids, then they should be held legally responsible for making sure their child's work is caught up, even if that means they have to spend money for a tutor, paying the teacher extra to help after school hours, or some other sort of arrangement. Otherwise, the vacation shouldn't even be excused. Nobody else (including the teacher) should be inconvenienced for one family's vacation! It's just ridiculous, and the more I think about it the more I realize how much of an inconvenience it actually is for the teacher.

 

[tlbwriter]

I cannot hold them after class unless the parent agrees to it ... and not one parent signed the "after school help" slip.

You're saying people pulled their kids out of class for vacation and then refused to let them stay after school to catch up? That's just reprehensible.

 

[tlbwriter]

It was going so nicely for the longest time and then someone from another board, won't mention any names, comes over to start their usual trouble. Then everyone that is against ever pulling their child out for any reason jumps on the bandwagon.

Actually, in all 10 pages of this thread, only one person was "against ever pulling their child out for any reason." Or at least put that in writing. Everyone else either didn't give their opinion on that particular question, or said it was fine to pull a child out for a few days. I find it interesting that so many people have no problem with pulling children out of school for a vacation, and yet they find your plans excessive. You certainly cannot blame it on people who are against it no matter what.