Teachers are giving me a hard time pulling kids out of school

[nickieblu]

We leave next friday and this makes our fourth trip to WDW. This is the first year the teachers at school are giving us a hard time. They implimented a new attendance policy. I thought we were going early enough in the year that it wouldn't be such a big deal- both my DH and I have jobs that it is difficult to travel any other time then the fall-

I emailed the teachers and stated that we are taking a laptop and that I would email them daily to receive assignments since most of them can not give me a prepared lesson prior to our trip. No disrespect to teachers out there but I don't understand why they can not email me daily to let me know what pages in the text book they went over and what homework they assigned. I can not even get excited about our trip because this has become such an ordeal... Anyone else experience this with their trips?

 

[cruisingkat]

We leave next friday and this makes our fourth trip to WDW. This is the first year the teachers at school are giving us a hard time. They implimented a new attendance policy. I thought we were going early enough in the year that it wouldn't be such a big deal- both my DH and I have jobs that it is difficult to travel any other time then the fall-

I emailed the teachers and stated that we are taking a laptop and that I would email them daily to receive assignments since most of them can not give me a prepared lesson prior to our trip. No disrespect to teachers out there but I don't understand why they can not email me daily to let me know what pages in the text book they went over and what homework they assigned. I can not even get excited about our trip because this has become such an ordeal... Anyone else experience this with their trips?

I can sympathize with you. Some school districts make it really tough for families to take vacations at non-traditional times. I think part of the reason is that school districts get funding based on attendance.
There are some school district that count anything over a certain number of absences as an automatic fail. I know that some districts in Texas have that rule - our daughter had to cut her planned visit with us over our family Thanksgiving short because our grandson couldn't miss too many days of school or he would have failed.

 

[Oz-kateer]

Serious? Maybe it is because I am taking my son overseas or maybe because he will only miss the last three days of the term but his teacher and the principal actually ENCOURAGED the trip.

Things he will learn travelling abroad and spending quality 1 on 1 time with me for 2 weeks far outweigh regular school.

 

[ScrapperBelle]

My son is in high school and attends a very small country school. He has 7 different teachers each day. Every day I receive an email from at least 3 or 4 of them detailing their assignments, tests, etc. The others I receive at least 2 emails a week. They even text test reminders to my phone.

Maybe it's because the school is small and there aren't an overwhelming amount of students to attend to. But 99% of the messages are pretty generic, though...every student would get the same one. It's not like they have to do them individually for each student. It's just type the message once and send to every parent on the email list.

I like this system much better than sending notes home or expecting them to copy their assignments from the board because I had trouble with my son not doing some of his work before this started. Now I know what is going on without having to visit the school and teachers every day.

 

[ryalluvdiz]

Funny, I am a first grade teacher and we had "Open House" tonight. I actually let it slip that I would be out for 4 days in October to go to WDW. All comments were - "Can we come!" So I was on the other end of it..... Actually my school district does not require us to give work in advance to parents. They just have to make it up later.

 

[bwilcox]

We leave next friday and this makes our fourth trip to WDW. This is the first year the teachers at school are giving us a hard time. They implimented a new attendance policy. I thought we were going early enough in the year that it wouldn't be such a big deal- both my DH and I have jobs that it is difficult to travel any other time then the fall-

I emailed the teachers and stated that we are taking a laptop and that I would email them daily to receive assignments since most of them can not give me a prepared lesson prior to our trip. No disrespect to teachers out there but I don't understand why they can not email me daily to let me know what pages in the text book they went over and what homework they assigned. I can not even get excited about our trip because this has become such an ordeal... Anyone else experience this with their trips?

Just curious-what is the attendance policy? The teachers may be reluctant to help if it would mean they are not following the policy.

 

[msteddom]

We leave next friday and this makes our fourth trip to WDW. This is the first year the teachers at school are giving us a hard time. They implimented a new attendance policy. I thought we were going early enough in the year that it wouldn't be such a big deal- both my DH and I have jobs that it is difficult to travel any other time then the fall-

I emailed the teachers and stated that we are taking a laptop and that I would email them daily to receive assignments since most of them can not give me a prepared lesson prior to our trip. No disrespect to teachers out there but I don't understand why they can not email me daily to let me know what pages in the text book they went over and what homework they assigned. I can not even get excited about our trip because this has become such an ordeal... Anyone else experience this with their trips?

I'm a high school teacher, and I understand the hesitation about sending out daily e-mails to make sure that your child keeps on top of assignments. To you it's a quick message.

To me it is much more than that. I don't know how your child's classes are, but I do not rely on the textbook to do my teaching. It is difficult, if not impossible for me to convey what we covered in a day by typing a five minute e-mail. That means I would have to type up the class notes for the day and attach images and primary source documents. To do less would cheapen what I am trying to teach and put your child behind when he returns. This could take me anywhere from 30 minutes to an hour. I'm not happy about having to do that because you want to take your family to Disney World during school.

Then, what happens when your child has questions? More e-mail for me. Then your child is understandably behind when he returns, which means I will have to spend time with him after school. Don't get me wrong, I am happy to do it, but realize that my work day is now increased because I still have papers to grade and lessons to prepare. All because you wanted to go on vacation.

I hope your family has a wonderful time on vacation, but please cut you kids teachers some slack.

Melissa

 

[BarleyJack]

I'm a high school teacher, and I understand the hesitation about sending out daily e-mails to make sure that your child keeps on top of assignments. To you it's a quick message.

To me it is much more than that. I don't know how your child's classes are, but I do not rely on the textbook to do my teaching. It is difficult, if not impossible for me to convey what we covered in a day by typing a five minute e-mail. That means I would have to type up the class notes for the day and attach images and primary source documents. To do less would cheapen what I am trying to teach and put your child behind when he returns. This could take me anywhere from 30 minutes to an hour. I'm not happy about having to do that because you want to take your family to Disney World during school.

Then, what happens when your child has questions? More e-mail for me. Then your child is understandably behind when he returns, which means I will have to spend time with him after school. Don't get me wrong, I am happy to do it, but realize that my work day is now increased because I still have papers to grade and lessons to prepare. All because you wanted to go on vacation.

I hope your family has a wonderful time on vacation, but please cut you kids teachers some slack.

Melissa

 

[daisyduck123]

I hope your family has a wonderful time on vacation, but please cut you kids teachers some slack.

Melissa

I teach 1st grade. If a parent asked me to send daily emails about assignments, I would be . Sorry, but that would be quite time consuming.

We are not required to give out any make up work prior to a student's absence. It sits on his desk until his return. County policy.

**Btw, I am the QUEEN of pulling kids out of school for WDW. I do it every year with my own, & pull myself out too. Hope you have a great trip!

 

[LadyZolt]

My DD's high school had a web site where every teacher posted his/her assignments so you could see each day what the homework was, and when projects were due. For example, you could click on a future month and it would say "October 21 - science project due - solar system" or "November 1 -- book report due, Scarlet Letter" or whatever.

That said -- if the school is giving anyone a hard time about your own children, I'd simply pull my kids out and say I'm homeschooling them. Then when we were ready, I'd re-enroll them and have them take the placement test or whatever the school would require a new incoming student to do. The child would not be "on the rolls" for attendance or anything else, so the teacher isn't responsible for homework, make up work, etc. Then, do what you'd do anyway -- ensure your child is keeping up with work that he/she would be expected to know during the time period of your trip.

You can easily Google your state's regulations on homeschooling to see if this will work for you.


-Dorothy (LadyZolt)

 

[msteddom]

My DD's high school had a web site where every teacher posted his/her assignments so you could see each day what the homework was, and when projects were due. For example, you could click on a future month and it would say "October 21 - science project due - solar system" or "November 1 -- book report due, Scarlet Letter" or whatever.

-Dorothy (LadyZolt)

That information is meant to supplement and reinforce what is taught in the classroom, not replace it.

Melissa

 

[caseybruna]

Serious? Maybe it is because I am taking my son overseas or maybe because he will only miss the last three days of the term but his teacher and the principal actually ENCOURAGED the trip.

Things he will learn travelling abroad and spending quality 1 on 1 time with me for 2 weeks far outweigh regular school.

From what i've read on these boards it seems that people have a lot harder time taking their kids out of school in the US rather than here

 

[denecarter]

I'm a high school teacher, and I understand the hesitation about sending out daily e-mails to make sure that your child keeps on top of assignments. To you it's a quick message.

To me it is much more than that. I don't know how your child's classes are, but I do not rely on the textbook to do my teaching. It is difficult, if not impossible for me to convey what we covered in a day by typing a five minute e-mail. That means I would have to type up the class notes for the day and attach images and primary source documents. To do less would cheapen what I am trying to teach and put your child behind when he returns. This could take me anywhere from 30 minutes to an hour. I'm not happy about having to do that because you want to take your family to Disney World during school.

Then, what happens when your child has questions? More e-mail for me. Then your child is understandably behind when he returns, which means I will have to spend time with him after school. Don't get me wrong, I am happy to do it, but realize that my work day is now increased because I still have papers to grade and lessons to prepare. All because you wanted to go on vacation.

I hope your family has a wonderful time on vacation, but please cut you kids teachers some slack.

Melissa

High school teacher here also... science. The majority of our classes are demonstrations (by both me and the students), investigations, and experiments... and we don't use a textbook. That doesn't translate into an assignment that can be done on vacation very easily.

As far as time... I'm "down" to 156 students in two courses. To keep up with grading, paperwork, and prepping for labs I'm already staying late... 6:30 on average, sometimes even later. Don't get me wrong, I love my job. I just hope people understand why the daily email idea might not be embraced.

Have a great trip!

 

[nickieblu]

By no means do I mean to offend any teachers. I have family and close friends that are teacher- My oldest child will be graduating from College with a English major in hopes of teaching High School- so believe me I mean no disrespect.

Because of our Jobs- this is the time of year we can travel. We both are professional and educated adults. It bothers me when teachers feel like parents don't give a damn about our kids education. I think that I am very responsible and want to make sure that the kids do not fall behind. However they will miss 5 1/2 days of school.

We also belong to a small rural country school in Michigan- However, with today's technology -My 7th grader has 7 teachers, one gym, one band, one study hall leaves only 4 teachers that need to email me- He is in class for 50 mins, Is asking each of them to spend an extra 10 min sending me an email to much to ask?

I am sorry- but I spent over an hour today listening to one my employees complain about another employee- I wish I put in an 8 hour day and a 40 work week. I am not asking teachers to type out every word spoken- but again I am not a stupid person. They could type - read chapter 3, discussed ecomomics differences between china and the US. I could look it up on the internet and have discussion with my child about it.

I am sorry if I sound harsh- I am frusterated and tired and really ready for this vacation

 

[bwilcox]

My DD's high school had a web site where every teacher posted his/her assignments so you could see each day what the homework was, and when projects were due. For example, you could click on a future month and it would say "October 21 - science project due - solar system" or "November 1 -- book report due, Scarlet Letter" or whatever.

An entire lesson for a day can't be accurately described as "science project due-solar system-" it's just not that simple. Not if your kids are actually learning anything in school, anyway.

 

[luv2plan]

My boys are only 1st & 4th grade, I just ask the teacher to collect their work while we are gone, and we will make it up over the week or so after we return. I haven't had a problem yet, but I haven't told the teachers this year yet.

I really don't want to put the teachers out before the trip by asking for my kids work up front. And I really don't intend on having my kids do homework while on vacation anyway. They do read on the plane & hotel before bed (sometimes). That's good enough.

Good luck!! & Happy planning!!

 

[bwilcox]

I am sorry- but I spent over an hour today listening to one my employees complain about another employee- I wish I put in an 8 hour day and a 40 work week.

I think you should be able to take your kids on this vacation as long as it doesn't interfere with the attendance policy, and I don't mean to flame you, but are you suggesting that teachers work 8 hour days? Because that is FAR from the truth. They get PAID for 8 hours, but it is nearly impossible to be an effective teacher without putting in your own time grading papers, attending meetings, talking with parents, attending school fundraisers, emailing parents...
I say go on your vacation and enjoy, gracefully accepting the consequences of your choice to vacation while school is in session. But don't criticize the teachers for not bending over backwards to make life easier for you.

 

[denecarter]

I am frusterated and tired and really ready for this vacation

I'm right there with you!

 

[aangel9114]

A few years ago when we were planning a trip I asked in the school office what I needed to do before taking my boys out of school. I was told that all I needed was to write a letter addressed to the principal to be approved. It was counted as un-excused and they had to make up any work that the teachers were not able to provide before our trip, but it was on record that the trip was approved by the school.

I would check with the office or your school superintendent to see what you can do. Most feel that a trip to disney is a very good learning experience.

good luck and have a great trip

 

[Feej]

From what i've read on these boards it seems that people have a lot harder time taking their kids out of school in the US rather than here

Maybe thats because they are not leaving the country and the school only sees it as a holiday to an amusement park? (which is, in essence, what it is)

I know when we took our trip to WDW in 2000, the school thought that our daughter(6) would learn a lot from the trip. Mind you, we also visited LA, Vegas, Maryland, Washington DC, NY and New Orleans, so it was a bit more than just going to WDW.

I guess that the local analogy would be taking your son or daughter out of school to go to Dreamworld or Warner Brothers, on the gold coast.