Taking Kids to Disney World on School Days

[goofy4tink]

My dd misses a week in K, a week in 1st grade, and then in 3rd she missed 4 days. It never made a difference until last year, 3rd grade. We were almost punished for missing those days. I told the teacher we were leaving and asked what dd could do to not fall behind. She said "Nothing.' But when we got back, she handed poor dd a stack of papers about 1" thick and said "Needs to be finished to get credit." So, my feeling is, if your child is a good student then fine. If not, you might not want them to miss. I figure good grades are a terrific incentive to get to WDW. But until you get to 3rd grade, I just don't think it's an issue. Especially if you aren't asking the teacher to put together a packet before the trip. A lot of schools have that policy. You get it when you get home, not before.

So, our big trip will be in August, but we are going for Thanksgiving and she will miss Mon, Tues, and Wed of the following week. So be it.

 

[Danauk]

aprilgail2, perhaps some school authorities allow their staff to take time off during school time to go on holiday. Where I work, and where a lot of teachers I know work this is not allowed.

 

[aprilgail2]

Originally posted by Danauk
aprilgail2, perhaps some school authorities allow their staff to take time off during school time to go on holiday. Where I work, and where a lot of teachers I know work this is not allowed.

Actually she just calls off sick, her school only allows 2 personal days a school year.

 

[Princess_Aurora]

Originally posted by crazelion
IWhy not just take the kids to WDW when they is out school.

I would go WDW when kids have summer vacation or 4 day weekend.

Believe me, the first thing I did was check next year's calender for four-day weekends. The only time they come around is for Thanksgiving, Christmas and Spring Break. I know a lot of people go during those times, but I would never consider it. I don't want to go in the summer either. The crowds for all those times are so huge! Plus, since it's considered peak time, it costs more so we wouldn't be able to afford to stay as long. So what ends up happening is you have a family vaccation where the point of the vaccation is to run around, stand in lines forever, and try to get everything done in the short amount of time that you have. I also have a 2 year-old that will be going, and I don't want this trip to Disney World to frustrate him.

Going during a school day means you can get twice as much done during the same period of time. Sure there are lines, but none that I've actually had to wait hours in. Plus it's not as hot as it would be in the summertime, so we wouldn't all be misrable. To me, the point of a family vacation is to actually be able to have time to enjoy it. I don't think anyone would enjoy it if all we were doing was running around and standing in line the whole time.

Trust me, education is VERY important to me. I know what a lack of education can do to your life. So many of my friends dropped out in HS and they don't have much of a life. I stuck it out through HS even though I ended up getting pregnant and having my DD in my jr year. But I knew how important education was and I worked my butt off to finish HS and turned around and went to college right after that. Now I'm able to give my daugther a better life than I had. Trust me, if I thought it would really hurt her to miss three or four days of 1st grade and get zeros, I wouldn't even consider it. I know that she's a brillant student, though, and that she would easily be able to bounce back from it. I was just worried about me looking like a bad parent.

But I guess if I am a bad parent, it looks like the majority of the parents on the DIS would be bad right along with me
I think you guys are right. Being able to spend qaulity time with your family is very valuable. If you can take advantage of that chance you should take it. One day my sweet, innocent, little DD will become a TEENAGER and then she probably won't want to have anything to do with family vacations.

 

[joats]

Now mind you, I don't have kids yet. I WOULD take them out of school to go to WDW. I would NEVER take them during school vacation weeks. What a waste of time and $$ in my opinion.

My first time at age 7 was during the school year when I was in 2nd? grade. I had to keep a daily journal of my experience and hand it in upon return.

Do I think your a bad parent, ABSOLUTELY NOT!! Go, enjoy and have fun. I think the school is being a bit ridiculous: giving zeros...give me a break!

 

[hugabearjo]

I guess I am the ultimate bad parent. I first must say that I was an elementary teacher for 12 years before recently changing careers not because I didn't love it but, for financial reasons.

I have pulled my 3 kids 3 times to go to Disneyland, and will be pulling them again to go to WDW. They will miss 11.5 days of school. I have cleared it with teachers, who give me their blessing. Basic work to make up (math and reading) and a short report about something educational we learned while gone. That is for kids ( 3rd grade and 5th grade). DS 7th grade the office was taken back abit by the length of time but, will gather assignments etc. for him to take with him/ do ahead / do when he returns.

The school doesn't have that much power to fail a 1st grade student because her family thought that family time was important. IMHO the secretary surely is wrong. That early in first grade the focus is generally on Reading and social skills. Take lots of books read together everyday and have fun.

 

[Zurg]

We have taken the kids out and would/will do so again without thinking twice. If it is the right time for the family to go - go.

The family is a unit and everyone has schedules that will be disrupted, work projects as well as school. Go when it works.

I doubt anyone on this board can remember any grade they got in 1st grade and I am confident that a few days one way or the other will not adversely impacted their education.

Now I bet there are a ton of people who can tell you about trips they took with their parents at that age and how important it was to do something as a family, how that trip has influanced their ideas and values about the usefullness of family time.

Who is more important in your childs growth, you or the school?

Yes school is important, this is why you make time for you kids to do their home work and check that they do it, have them read and read to them every day. Why you take time off to go to school plays and presentations. This is also why you have every right to take you kids out.

IMHO not making time to do special things with your kids would make you a bad parent.

Your milage may vary.

 

[shleybird]

I would suggest talking directly with the teacher rather than the office. Last week at parent teacher conferences, I talked to both my boys teacher's and explained that they would be gone the first week in May. They were both fine with us being gone, and my 7y/o had asked his teacher to join us since she didn't get to go with us last June.

I think that the school's need to understand that not everyone can get off work during breaks from school. Some companies busy seasons are in the summer months, being from the midwest and farming country, you just can't leave in the summer. If your new in a work place you may not get the choice times of summer for vacation. There are so many things that factor in. Alot of schools only look at the fact that they will lose x amount of dollars if that child is gone. I'm lucky that my district is not like that.

 

[MAGICinMYHEART]

Most of this comes down to $$ if your child is absent no money for the school on that day.

Plus parents can't always pick prime vacation (school vacations) at work most have projects and seniority issues.

Added to the list most children seem to be going to school many more additional days during the year...anybody remember when school year ended the last week in May and you didn't have to go back until after Labor Day.

But I know for a fact that my nieces and nephews have always been exposed to new cultures and learning experiences while on vacation. So they have missed some school for vacations.

 

[chris1gill]

Yup, add me to the REALLY bad parent list... there's bad & then REALLY bad, we just pulled our third grader & kindergartener out of school for more than two weeks for our Australian vacation!! Ya know what? I'd do it again in a heartbeat, believe me, they learned so much more there than they would have in school....

Having said that, if you child isn't behind in class & is on target academically, don't feel bad for taking her out. It's different if she's lagging behind though, just keep that in mind. We've taken DS out for two weeks every year for our Disney trips since kindergarten, but this is the first year he missed nearly three.... The school totally understood.

 

[FINFAN]

You are the parent. You are molding a child for a complete life ahead, not just the years they spend in school. Technically school is a small portion of their life, but a huge portion of their childhood. Is taking a zero for a few days going to blast her education out of the water? no. Is the time spent together as a family going to help mold her into the adult she will become and hopefully pass those values/love and dedication on to her own kids? Basically, it all comes down to the state testing. At least that's what we've seen schools focus on...IMHO, the schools themselves have participated in "zero" days....y'know, all those days where all they do is go over the practice tests again, and again, and again I'd be gone in a heartbeat...the travel industry only encourages me to do it also by their ridiculous prices charged for typical school break times.I tend to buck the system, so I realize my advice isn't what most would do, but that's just me.
Have a blast on your trip!

 

[Planogirl]

I personally wouldn't worry about it when they're in elementary school. Later on it becomes a bit more questionable but even then it can certainly be done depending on the school's rules and the kids' performance. I wouldn't just blatantly ignore the rules but go talk to the teachers. I bet that it can be worked out.

 

[Lewski709]

Go, have a good time. Don't worry about school. It's gonna be going on with or without her. Is giving her a zero in first grade punishment to her or you? What do they do for funerals when a kid misses school? Give them zero's then too? GO~

 

[m&m's mom]

Forgive me if this has already been mentioned- I am in kind of a hurry.
I am in LISD as well and believe me - They mean it!
We took DD out of Kindergarten last school year for a week after Thanksgving. Teacher said "Great, have a good time!". No problem.
Well fast forward to this year. We had planned our first Summer trip and my DH had a heart attack last Summer and that scrapped those plans. We re-scheduled in Oct. because our DD's, 4 and 7, were very much looking forward to going. Well, I was told immediately upon school starting that the rules had changed and my DD would get zeros for every day she missed.
To make a long story short I explained my DH's heart attack and situation and they ended up excusing but it was a HUGE hassle.
My DCousin is a teacher in Abilene and she said they lose around $120.00 per day for the rest of the year if the student has unexcused absences. Not sure the specifics but, it has to do w/ funding.

 

[lindamg]

A couple of thoughts upon reading this thread, probably guaranteed to cause someone, somewhere, to flame me about something. Some points from the other side of the coin (a teacher with 24 years of experience, this particular year being longer than most!)

Money - schools are paid for your child's attendance. However, this really isn't affected by your child's daily attendance unless your child is absent during FTE week. This is the week the children are counted and the money is doled out. If your child is not in school at least one day during FTE week, your school will get NO money for your child for that entire school year. Forgive them if they are a little touchy around FTE week.

Teachers and vacations - I get 6 personal days a year. I do not have to account to anyone for those days. Yes, I sometimes use them to go to Disney World. I even took a whole week off for my honeymoon this year. (gasp!) However, when I am gone, I leave detailed lesson plans, a qualified substitute teaches the class, and your child's education continues. DO YOU LEAVE A SUBSTITUTE FOR YOUR CHILD WHEN YOU GO ON VACATION? (and no - writing a lovely journal does not cover the work that was missed in school -I'm talking about the actual skills that were missed, not the lovely learning experience in Epcot's countries)

Teachers and making up work - It's not just your child who misses my class. There are lots of vacations, there are custody issues, there are doctors appointments, "things that HAVE to be done today!", cousins visiting, grandparents visiting, new pets, younger siblings who need babysitters, parents who just don't get up in the morning to get the kids to school, parents who pull their kid out early because they don't want to wait in the parent pick-up line at the end of the day, it was too cold (this is Florida, for goodness sake, how cold can it get?) it was too warm, it was too rainy, it was too windy, it was too nice (had to take the boat out) . . . . . get the picture? It is my job to teach your children during regular school hours. It is NOT my job to plan individual lesson plans based on each child's schedule, and then find time before and after school to catch every child up. I am a good teacher, I work hard at what I do, but this is my JOB, it is not my LIFE. I get to have one of those things too, you know.

State testing - No, teaching for testing is NOT good practice, it's not even close to adequate practice. But we now have this thing called "No Child Left Behind". In our state we also have this thing called FCAT, and while most of you think elementary school isn't as critical as the upper grades, guess again. Here it is, plain and simple: you fail the FCAT test in third grade you do NOT go on to fourth grade. You are absent during the FCAT test in third grade, you do NOT go on to fourth grade. It doesn't matter if you get straight A's, it doesn't matter if you're gifted, you don't get to try again later - YOU FAIL - plain and simple. Missing out on the presentation of some basic skills because you were pulled out of school for two weeks, could have serious consequences now.

Okay - while I'm sure you may not agree with what I've written, please at least think about it. Taking a child out of school isn't as simple as many of you make it sound. I'm not telling you to stop, I'm just saying perhaps the school or teacher does have some legitimate concerns and are not just trying to make your life or your child's miserable by saying "NO" to your vacation.

 

[Dakota_Lynn]

lindamg - I don't think all teachers feel as you do about the situation. Before I even made the decision to take my child out of school for a week in February, I asked her teacher whether it would be ok. Her response was of sheer delight. She was thrilled for my daughter and completely gave her support. She gave us her assignments for the week, my daughter completed them, and all is well. Her teacher even came over for dinner last week so she could view our Disneyland pictures.

Anyway, you mention that you get 6 personal days a year. Honestly, I see no reason at all why the kids shouldn't get personal days, too. You have to go through the trouble of creating class assignments for the time you are away, and my daughter has to go through the trouble of making up missed work for the time she is away. If you have a right to have vacations, then certainly so does my child. And I think you minimize what it means for kids to have a substitute teacher. I recall being a kid and loving subs, because we goofed around all day and did far less work. My daughter expresses the same sentiments when she has a sub. So I guess one could say the kids suffered for you having your honeymoon during the school year. Perhaps you should have waited until summer?

I see no problem with a child going on vacation during the school year as long as he or she has a good attendance record. Now if the child misses a lot of school during the school year, I'd say no, the kid shouldn't go on vacation. In fact, this is how I get my daughter to attend regularly. I hold Disneyland over her cute little head. She knows the only reason for missing school is because of illness, and any other reason will result in no Disneyland. This works quite well for our family! Last year, the ONLY days she missed were the five for our vacation. My daghter's teacher said she'd rather have a kid miss five days for a vacation than 20 or 30 because they overslept or didn't feel like coming. But everybody has a right to their opinion. If my daughter were to get a teacher who strongly opposed our vacations, we probably wouldn't go, for no other reason that I wouldn't want my child to be treated badly by an offended teacher.

 

[lindamg]

And there's the parental argument I love the most - if I don't share your opinion I am going to be offended and treat your child badly. How about replying to any of the other points like testing and missing critical skills and new state requirements?

I take great care in requesting a substitute for my room. I guarantee you there was no free for all happening while I was away. Oh, and one criticial difference between your daughter's vacation and mine. I'm an adult, this is my job, I can fulfill the requirements of my job and still take a vacation without breaking any school board rules. She is a child, it is her education, the requirements for her are different. If the school board says she has to be in school those are her requirements and as a child she is expected to fulfill them. I don't have to pass state testing, my students do.

But hey, thanks for trying to look at it from another point of view. And I promise not to even touch the statement that you get your child to attend school regularly by holding Disneyland over her head!

 

[joshsmom]

The three times I've taken DS to WDW, it has ALWAYS been during school. I didn't feel a bit guilty. They are only young, innocent, and in awe of Mickey for so long. With DS's medical issues, we can't go during any really hot months. So, we've gone September (which was still REALLY warm--warmer than we anticipated), January, and April. Heavy Heavy crowds aren't our thing, so we don't go during peak times. At first his school (a parochial school) REALLY frowned on my decision to take him during school (Kindergarten, 1st grade, 2nd grade). However, after much explaining, discussion, and commitment on my part to work with him to keep caught up, they have come to accept the fact that this is my decision and they work with me to ensure he stays caught up. We do all of his assignments either ahead of time or as soon as we get home. I respect our teachers and principals. I know they are only looking out for the best interest of the children. I would never take him out during a critical week, as mentioned by one of the above posters. But, at this point, our school is supportive of us and really works wtih us to ensure that he still gets all he needs. Actually I think they think it's a little humorous at this point because they think we are complete Disney Nuts!!! Who US?? Disney Crazy??? NAW!!!! I think this will get more difficult as he gets older, but I'll cross that bridge when we come to it!! We may have to completely rethink our vacation strategy.

BTW--DS has EXCELLENT attendance, we never go for more than 5 days of school time, and he LOVES school.

 

[stevenpensacola]

My kids are all for this idea...

 

[*Fantasia*]

Ay yay yay!! I am dreading this situation that is coming up this May! I am taking the kids out from school for 4 days and I just feel kind of unease about this, but I can't change it now cause I already bought the air ticket. BTW, my son is in 1st grade and my daughter is in PK.

Maybe the school or his teacher won't mind cause this is a private school and I am paying for his schooling and even if my son misses a few days, I am still paying and they are not loosing out, but I am.

My son loves school, he even asked me, mom why not go when the school is out. He didn't want to miss any school days. I told him that we need to visit your new school in Orlando before the school is out. I feel kind of bad that he is going to miss school.

You see...that is one of the reason why we are moving to Orlando, my kids will never ever miss school to take a vacation to Disney. We can be there anytime we want!