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

[roxazul]

DD is only in pre-school but I intend to go with her on vacation whenever I feel like it for all of her school years.

We have unattendance policy here in Canada too... But as an example, we also have a new academic program teaching religions that is mandatory since last year. A good percentage of the population is not happy with it & the case is now in supreme court, thanks to some parents who's got courage.

A PP made a comparison of a job with 2 weeks vacation & the impossibility of taking more. I may sound silly to some but as an employee I've always managed to get at least 1 month vacation yearly, even when I had only 2, & whenever I wanted them (unpaid days of course). That sometimes meant quitting a job & finding something else with more flexibility.

I guess it depends also on the way the child is doing at school though...
but that would just mean extra work. Worth good family quality time IMO.

 

[newlife]

im a bit of a fence straddler here. i have a close friend who is a teacher and she really doesnt agree with taking kids out of school for a vacation. a few days can be ok but a week she just cannot justify. my brother was assigned vacation time so he had no choice as to when he could take his vacation. so i can empathize with families who are in this situation.

personally i did one time pull my sons out of school for 4 days for vacation and they did have a bit of difficulty catching up. some teachers were very wiling to give me their lessons for the week and a couple of them told me "NO". so i had my sons call their friends after dinner and we had to dedicate some time to them trying to catch up on their schoolwork while we were at WDW. they werent happy about doing this but it was part of the deal we made with them to take them out of school. we never did take them out of school again.

ultimately you know your children the best. if you honestly feel that they can catch up with their schoolwork and not suffer because of the missed time then go for it and enjoy. if you are only taking them out because you can save a few dollars and have an easier time touring the parks then you will have to deal with the possible consequences.

it aint an easy choice is it?

 

[JPN4265]

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?

How dare those bad, bad teachers, they think that going to school is more important then going to some amusement park. They should be whipped.

 

[carmiedog]

I don't have time to read the whole thread and don't know anything about your attendance policy. But I do know that in OUR school system, teachers wouldn't be happy with people going in the next couple weeks because our standardized testing (ugh!) is early October, so that's where a lot of their focus will be. Any time NOT close to testing, however, teachers have no problem with. I don't know the schedule in the OP's district, but wanted to point out in general that what might seem like a good time may not be.

 

[Nancyg56]

Family comes first......

Nope, didn't sound silly at all!

It is not silly. But what you mean is "My family first." and that should not mean that the teachers need to accommodate you while your and your family enjoy a vacation. I have no issue taking kids out of school but the responsibility of keeping the child up to date falls on you, not the teachers. If your child is behind and fails any tests or if homework is not accepted that consequence is not unfair. It is simply a consequence of your decision.

Unforeseeable circumstances occur and school systems will bend over backwards to help kids but if the circumstance is a conscientious decision to pull a kid from school then the teacher should not need to take on extra work to attempt to keep your child on schedule.

Wow, if the lid's on this tight, sounds like it's time to go to a full school year with a slightly shorter day and floatable vacation time.

I am not sure that moving to full time school would mean that the education would suffer. I believe that children would benefit from shorter breaks but more of them.

I am aware of the difficultly parents face when trying to schedule vacations when the kids are not in school. In jobs where seniority plays a role in vacation scheduling it can be impossible to arrange a family vacation in what can be a short window of time. Having more breaks to choose from would open that window quite a bit.

 

[itchin2go]

For the past few years, we have pulled my daughter out of school for a week for our Disney vacation. I have NEVER received any resistance or attitude as a result, but I have NEVER dictated how the teachers should handle that absence.

Is it possible the attitude you have encountered is not because of the absence, but because you have dictated how they should handle the absence?

I have ALWAYS asked the teacher how she would like to handle the absence. We can do the work ahead of time, take some of it with us, or make up the work afterwards. During this conversation, I always add (and I think this is key): "Whatever works best for you." I NEVER want MY choice to take a during-school-year-vacation to add to the teacher's burden.

To anyone thinking of taking their kids out of school for a vacation, that would be my advice to you. Try to work with the teacher to do whatever is easiest to make up the work. Leave it up to the teacher as to how to accomplish that.

 

[jkahne9]

For the past few years, we have pulled my daughter out of school for a week for our Disney vacation. I have NEVER received any resistance or attitude as a result, but I have NEVER dictated how the teachers should handle that absence.

Is it possible the attitude you have encountered is not because of the absence, but because you have dictated how they should handle the absence?

I have ALWAYS asked the teacher how she would like to handle the absence. We can do the work ahead of time, take some of it with us, or make up the work afterwards. During this conversation, I always add (and I think this is key): "Whatever works best for you." I NEVER want MY choice to take a during-school-year-vacation to add to the teacher's burden.

To anyone thinking of taking their kids out of school for a vacation, that would be my advice to you. Try to work with the teacher to do whatever is easiest to make up the work. Leave it up to the teacher as to how to accomplish that.

My sentiments exactly!

 

[si-am]

I agree with a lot of the posters here that teachers should NOT have to add extra work to their already busy days just because you want to go to Disney World.

Family time is important, but so is school. If you want your children to stay caught up in school, then don't yank them out for a week in the middle of the year. And if you do, then you need to respect the teacher's (and school district's) policies on makeup work.

 

[laceemouse]

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?

You lost me at "fourth trip."
This is not a once-in-a-lifetime thing for your family, it is an every year thing, and that is not necessary, no matter how much you like it.
All I can say is, if you have your kids in school, ANY school, they have rules and you have to abide by them. Just like a job, if you want to work there you have to follow the rules they set. If you don't like the rules, you find another job. If you don't like the school's rules, find another school. It's that simple. We started homeschooling many years ago. It had nothing to do with vacations, but now we are in charge and we make the rules.

 

[tarak]

For the past few years, we have pulled my daughter out of school for a week for our Disney vacation. I have NEVER received any resistance or attitude as a result, but I have NEVER dictated how the teachers should handle that absence.

Is it possible the attitude you have encountered is not because of the absence, but because you have dictated how they should handle the absence?

I have ALWAYS asked the teacher how she would like to handle the absence. We can do the work ahead of time, take some of it with us, or make up the work afterwards. During this conversation, I always add (and I think this is key): "Whatever works best for you." I NEVER want MY choice to take a during-school-year-vacation to add to the teacher's burden.

To anyone thinking of taking their kids out of school for a vacation, that would be my advice to you. Try to work with the teacher to do whatever is easiest to make up the work. Leave it up to the teacher as to how to accomplish that.

I agree with the bolded statement 100%. I'm taking my daughter out of 1st grade for a week at the end of the month. I will just ask her teacher how to handle the missed work. I would never ask her to do extra week because I've chosen to take a vacation during the school year.

 

[CarolAnnB]

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?

Teachers don't set the attendance policies - those are usually set by the school district. Perhaps the teachers need to implement/enforce the policy to keep their jobs. Perhaps the school district has cracked down on attendance policies and the teachers have to follow the policy. I would not risk my job breaking the rules so you can enjoy your annual trip to the World.

What type of jobs do you have that you can only go in the fall? I am trying to understand but really don't.

And to the posters who say family first, what about the teachers? Don't their families count? Do you think it is fair of you to ask them to take time away from their families to stay late and keep your kid up to date while he's at a theme park?

 

[lbklyn]

My son is 27 now, graduated high school years ago and thank goodness is out of the NYC school system. I could never go through that again. Most of the teachers are hard working and doing a good job but the system ITSELF is horrible!!! And then there are the teachers and guidance councilors who just do not give a cr#p. My niece is 15 and this year was told she had to make up some work by going to summer school. Fine, she lagged behind and could not agree more on her having to spend her summer making it up. But my sister (who works two back breaking jobs) NEEDED a few days away. So she asked the school if it would be okay for her daughter to miss the first 3 days of summer school. They said it would be FINE.
We get back and they do not have her program ready. FOUR days later they have it for her. NOW she has missed 7 days and has automatically failed summer school. NO TALKING to them about it. "Thats the way it is" is what she was told. I really do not know the rest of the particulars because my sister gets to upset when I bring it up. But I do know even though my son did well, I also was beyond frustrated with the school system when HE went years ago. Again, I know there are SO MANY wonderful hardworking teachers out there but the whole system needs an overhaul IMO. Alot is off subject but I needed to vent. Sorry!

 

[KellyNY]

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 sorry you having a problem with teachers but why did not you try to talk to them in person instead of sending emails, you would get better results IMO.
Moreover do not get upset with them, they really do not have to do it for you. Emailing you every day is extra work, not like they have nothing else to do, sorry but it sounds like you think they are responsible to keep your kid on track You asking them to report to you daily and wonder why they say no. Ask for HW when you back, or ask any parent you know to help you with daily tasks.
I'm not flaming at you but please be reasonable at this matter.

 

[laceemouse]

Teachers don't set the attendance policies - those are usually set by the school district. Perhaps the teachers need to implement/enforce the policy to keep their jobs. Perhaps the school district has cracked down on attendance policies and the teachers have to follow the policy. I would not risk my job breaking the rules so you can enjoy your annual trip to the World.

What type of jobs do you have that you can only go in the fall? I am trying to understand but really don't.

And to the posters who say family first, what about the teachers? Don't their families count? Do you think it is fair of you to ask them to take time away from their families to stay late and keep your kid up to date while he's at a theme park?

Excellent!

 

[Leajess99]

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.

I would think a big issue with it now is that they just STARTED school like last week or the week before. It seems ridiculous that people expect the teachers who are already busy enough with planning and that to bend over backwards for them. Here you can take educational enhancement days that must be approved by the school principal but that is not something often allowed. We can have 6 days excused with a note from the parent and all excused due to appointments as long as there is a doctor's note.

There are many teachers who will encourage it but you also have to look at the timing. Missing the beginning of the school year with a middle schooler can be tough for them to catch up and technically, the days missed may very well be unexcused tehrefor leaving that child with zeros to make up.

 

[laceemouse]

DD is only in pre-school but I intend to go with her on vacation whenever I feel like it for all of her school years.

We have unattendance policy here in Canada too... But as an example, we also have a new academic program teaching religions that is mandatory since last year. A good percentage of the population is not happy with it & the case is now in supreme court, thanks to some parents who's got courage.

A PP made a comparison of a job with 2 weeks vacation & the impossibility of taking more. I may sound silly to some but as an employee I've always managed to get at least 1 month vacation yearly, even when I had only 2, & whenever I wanted them (unpaid days of course). That sometimes meant quitting a job & finding something else with more flexibility.

I guess it depends also on the way the child is doing at school though...
but that would just mean extra work. Worth good family quality time IMO.

Wow, you actually quit jobs that don't let you take a month off each year? I guess your government pays your bills when you are between jobs? That is not real life. My husband supports himself, me, and our 4 kids. He makes good money but he also works long hours. If they are too busy at work he can't take vacation. If he quit his job we would lose our home and be on the streets in a matter of months. These days, he may not be able to find another job at all, and if he did it would most likely pay way less!
Taking a kid out of pre-school or elementary school is no big deal. But by high school if their grades suffer from missing work (and some schools will not ALLOW students to turn in late work, etc.) it could very well make a difference as far as them getting into a good college. Things are that competitive. Family time is important, but no vacation is worth risking good grades for. And, if the teacher can send an e-mail covering what was missed in class in about 5 minutes I would really worry about the quality of education my kids were getting.

 

[SuperTink]

When we pulled the kids out of 7th grade for 3 days last year at the end of the Thanksgiving holiday, most of the teachers (a total of 12) allowed the kids to make up work when they got back. The rest gave the kids zeros. We sucked it up because the choice was ours and we knew the possible consequences before we left. They maintained their grades but it was a struggle in the honors classes.

I am so on the fence about doing that again. I think only way I would do it is if it were for 3 days or less and I knew there were not going to be any heavily weighted assignments in their absence--which might be impossible to fortell. This will only get harder with AP classes and the demands of high school so it may not happen at all.

 

[princessmom29]

I am seeing a lot of the "family comes first" argument, but I think if we are relly honest with ourselves it is less about some kind of family bonding experience that can't happen any other time, and more about going to WDW when it is convinent for us. I am pulling DD for 3 days in NOv, and I will be using my personal time to be away forms school. I have no problem doing this, I am not violating any attendance policies to do so, and I am up from about my reasons. This is when we want to go, and when DH can get off. It is NOT about so sort of magical "family time" ect. We have lots of family time at home and a week vacation is not necessary to maintian that. WE want to go ahve fun at Disney and everyone's time off is "legal" and approved, so we are going. End of story.

 

[laceemouse]

When we pulled the kids out of 7th grade for 3 days last year at the end of the Thanksgiving holiday, most of the teachers (a total of 12) allowed the kids to make up work when they got back. The rest gave the kids zeros. We sucked it up because the choice was ours and we knew the possible consequences before we left. They maintained their grades but it was a struggle in the honors classes.

I am so on the fence about doing that again. I think only way I would do it is if it were for 3 days or less and I knew there were not going to be any heavily weighted assignments in their absence--which might be impossible to fortell. This will only get harder with AP classes and the demands of high school so it may not happen at all.

You may just have to break down and go in the summer or some other school break. Now that we have kids in college it is either that or no Disney for us

 

[goofy4tink]

It's timely that somone has brought up the 'change in school year' issue. I was talking to some teachers during band camp the end of August. Many think it's time to go to a trimester system, rather than two semester system. That way the kids would have three longish periods off rather than one really long one (summer vacation) and a few week-long ones (Christmas, Feb and April). But, that's an argument for another thread I would suppose.