Taking Kids out of School

[kaytieeldr]

Should only sad occasions be accepted? Because no one dies on vacation does that mean it should wait? One could argue that taking a special trip with grandparents while they are still alive is more important than attending funerals once they are gone.

Well, if you consider that people getting sick can't be helped, and people dying can't be helped, but people take vacations is most assuredly not a requirement,,,

 

[minnie61650]

We can't stand heat or crowds, so have taken the kids out of school for our past Disney trips, which always worked out fine (and never affected their grades). But now they're both in high school, where every grade counts. We have a trip planned for the second week of March, which will be a 3-1/2 day school week (end of term). It's the best week I could think of to go, regarding the weather and missed days of school. I'm still having some doubts, but don't want to postpone Disney until they've graduated ... anyone else feel guilty or have any trouble with doing this?

When my children were in HS we did not take them out of school for family trips. When our younger son was a Senior and our youngest Daughter was a Freshman thier Maching Band went to WDW during spring break (actually they did miss one day of school) and dh and went as chaperones. It was a 24 hour ride on the bus ride down from Michigan(no overnight stop had to sleep on the bus)> The Students behave well and
It was so much fun watching the students enjoy WDW.
HS is very important. It is better to plan your vacations during thier vacations.
Linda

 

[Miller1412]

ITA!! The schools do indeed, work for me.

Actually, the schools work for children. But, that being said, ITA that kids should be able to go on a family trip. Not everyone's family dynamic works with the school vacation system. My DH works summers because he owns a pool and spa business. If the kids couldn't vacation a little during the school year, they'd never vacation with their dad...I'm sure the same holds true in certain custody situations.

By the way...I teach K in the public school system and I'm taking 3 days off to go, and I NEVER send homework to my students that are going. I just put work that they missed into their cubbies and let them make it up as they can. They should go and have fun.

 

[nigel-bigel]

Actually, the schools work for children.

(Part of me is telling myself to let this go, but I always get fired up talking about schools, I can't help myself! )

The law states, at least here in Michigan, that it is the parent's responsibility to educate their children, and it is the school's role to assist parents in this regard. This means that schools work for me, the parent.

Further, schools depend on parent's tuition or tax dollars. If the parent doesn't feel that the needs of the child are being met, they can spend those monies elsewhere. It is the parent who must be satisfied with the school, not the child. Therefore, schools work for the parents.

However, I totally believe that public schools see themselves as working for children.

 

[vatmark]

I think the schools should have rules but if the school were to look back at the other years of my childrens schooling they would see that this incidence is a one time thing. They were never absent for more then 1 or 2 days the whole year and that was due to illness. I'm sure if you looked at previous years of kids of some crack head mother the school would see that the unexcused absences are a not just a one time thing and I am sure their grades reflect this as well.

I think some of these teachers look at parents who take their kids out for vacation as bad parents. When in reality most of these parents are not the ones they should be worrying about. I bet if you looked at the kids of these parents you would see that the kids are excelling in school. And the parents feel confident letting their children miss school because they know it will not be detrimental to the child because their child is such a good student.

Annie

 

[mickman1962]

No school is going to argue with a family that takes a student out of town for a death in the family. The child would of course be allowed to go to pay their respects to the relative and grieve with their family.

My kids school did last year. Sent a letter home to us and my DSIL about our kids having 4 unexcused absences. The school and teachers knew my MIL was gravely ill and then passed away. Went to the school minutes after getting the letter and trust me you didn't want to be in that room. I'm truly tired of other people (most of whom have never met my children) trying to tell me what's best for my child. Every kid is different and the parents have the best knowledge of what their kids are capable of.

 

[Zippa D Doodah]

Just thought I'd post our experience on this issue...

DD (now in 3rd grade) has missed school every year so far for a WDW vacation (and will this year too I hope!). We have always talked owth here teachers in advance and been respectful of whatever work the teacher suggested for her to do. DD has vindicated our decision by excelling at school -both academically and socially. When she was named "Principal's Student of the Year" (top award at her school) last year out of the entire elementary school, DW and I knew we must be doing something right. We are trying to teach her the value of family, as well as the value of commitment. So far we have been in agreement with her teachers that "commitment" can be lived out on a flexible basis. I have appreciated the teachers' flexibility as they have (I hope) ours.

If I can scrape together a few bux, DD will be missing 4 days in mid_December or January for a trip. So will DS who is off to a great start in kindergarden. Having said this, if either child was struggling in school I would make different decisions about how to handle things. I think that what we parents sometimes forget -we must decide how to raise our children. Consequences and all.

 

[aterriq]

My twin dd are in a year round school. They started two days after the 4th of july. Their first break started Labor Day week and they started school September 26th. The next break starts the Wednesday before Thanksgiving and they start school after the new year. Our only problem is I started a new job and don't have the vacation days to go back to WDW in December.

 

[NJ2Boardwalk]

I so agree with not letting our schools run too much of things. We are taking our dds 5th and 7th grade out next week. They will miss 4 days of school. They both get good grades and will make up the work. Fortunately, our schools don't make a big deal out of it and will let them make up the work. I also live by, these are MY children and if i want to spend some family time with them at WDW or at home painting our toenails, I will.

 

[Kimmielee]

My twin dd are in a year round school. They started two days after the 4th of july. Their first break started Labor Day week and they started school September 26th. The next break starts the Wednesday before Thanksgiving and they start school after the new year. Our only problem is I started a new job and don't have the vacation days to go back to WDW in December.

We have ONE year round elementary school in our district (out of 7 total). That school and two others are "lottery" schools that you enter to get in. The other lottery schools are a school of the arts (which my DS got in!!) and a school where they teach in "groups" rather than "classes" - so the kids go through the entire elementary years with the same kids - don't get split up, etc...

Anyway, the year round school was first on our list (and many others) and we didn't get in. That would have been ideal to avoid the high rates during "normal" school vacation time.

With that said... I agree with the other gentleman that said he and his wife were doing something right.... after their daughter won such a great award!!

WE as parents have to judge what is right for our kids... if they are mature enough, not struggling with their academics, etc... I also believe in a good working relationship with my DS's teacher and including her in the decision. If she felt that DS wasn't capable of handling the missed time, then I would not pull him. I think, with discussion, most teachers will be honest, regardless of the "rules" - although they may deny saying it's ok!!!

 

[hrh_disney_queen]

The question is how does the school district write a rule that can be followed uniformly that differentiates between yourself and the "some crack head can't get out of bed for three days to get her kids ready for school". What side do they error on? Or should the school district just not be concerned with unexcused absences at all?

Not attacking just asking.


Just my 0.02.

I guess that's where the dreaded DSS interview comes into play, to decide what kind of environment is keeping the child from school. It's too bad that some kind of discussion can't be upfront so the stress is taken out for the well meaning parents, like me telling the teacher exactly what we are doing AHEAD of time. I doubt that a crackhead (I'm sorry, this is a really awful example..) would notify a teacher 2 months in advance that her kid won't be in class for 2 days And also, if I was a crackhead who knew these policies, I would just write a medical excuse for the kid and not have to worry about it.. No policy is perfect, I know, but they seem to be going a little overboard all of a sudden due to NCLB.

Of course you are entitled to your opinion, I hope I didn't sound too defensive. Mine is also that, just an opinion... I couldn't debate my way out of a paper bag!! Even if I was 100% right!