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

[StewartG]

We are taking our kids (5 and 8) out of school for two days next month to go to WDW. It has nothing to do with cost or crowds... Rather, we are just trying to hit the EPCOT F&W Festival AND Mickey's not so scary Halloween party.

When I return, however, I'm going to give them notes to bring to the school that they were abducted by aliens.

Can someone remind me to take some pics at Buzz Lightyear to document my story?



The REAL fun with the school district will be next February. Monday the 15th is a holiday, but Tuesday the 16th is not. We are going to New Orleans for Mardi Gras that weekend and not planning to return until Tuesday afternoon. What do you think the teachers will say when I tell them they were gone that Tuesday for Mardi Gras in New Orleans? (I'll just have the kids bring in some beads!)

 

[larryz]

I don't think 3.5 hours is unreasonable in a year's time. You are saying as a teacher you are too lazy to send a 60 second email? What if the child was failing due to failure to submit homework? Wouldn't you send off a note to the parent? All the OP's email would have to say is we covered pages 2-4 or whatever. Did the OP say her child was in AP classes? Did OP say her child was Special ED? No one is asking for a teacher to copy & paste your lecture. Parents realize that their child is missing something valuable, but a family vacation is also valuable.
We chart several hours past our 12 hour day without pay at times. If a patient has an emergency seconds before we are due to go home should I not save that life because it is too much paperwork? If I am able to jot down something on 106 patients, then a teacher should be able to write a small summary of an assignment or lesson on a homework message board for each class. How many classes can a teacher have 8-10? At 3-5 minutes an email you could do it before the bell rings after each class.
I am glad you aren't teaching my child. I do appreciate my child's teachers for putting forth the added effort & so far providing me with enough information to keep my children from getting too far behind. (Even if we did have to learn the Civil War in 4 days.)

I was going to come back in and thank you for being a dedicated medical professional, and remind you to consider spending some time in another's shoes before making unwarranted demands on their time.

But after reading this post, I realized that would just be wasted effort. So instead, I dance...

 

[Scott MC]

eh, I just don't have enough energy to post what I posted in the other taking kid out of school thread, so I'll just compact my answer:

1. I support my kids' teachers wholeheartedly

2. I don't try and get around the rules

3. When I take them out for a week, I suck up the consequences.

This poster has it exactly right.
As previously stated, I am a teacher and I'll try not to drag my soapbox out too much here.

What you do with your kid is none of my business. If you choose to tell me that you're taking your child out to go to WDW, I'll be a little jealous (whereas, I cannot do the same...or I'd be fired), I'll tell you that my district's policy is to not allow your child to make up any missed work, I'll wish you a good trip, and I'll secretly hope that when/if your child begins to struggle shortly after returning, you won't turn the blame on me.

On another, similar thread, a teacher was very nice and accommodating of a kid being removed, and some poster here responded with, "Bring her back something cheap but nice."

...And people wonder why teachers feel under appreciated.

 

[photobob]

Our daughter is only allowed to make up work or tests when they have excused absences. I don't think a trip WDW would be an excused absence! Anything missed for an unexcused absence will be given a grade of ZERO which could wreck a semester grade. I couldn't risk screwing up her grades with the hopes of academic scholarships on the very near horizon. If you are talking about a kindergarten student I can see it, otherwise I'm not so sure.

 

[Leajess99]

This issue gets beat to death on these boards. Same people argue all the time how wrong it is to take the kids out of school. I think they wait for the next "I'm taking my kid out of school" thread to show up so they can start preaching. This topic is going to end up in the same catagory as all tipping threads and that is BANNED! Probably a good thing.

If taking your kids out of school - like we do - works for you, then great. If you would rather not, then don't. Just because someone does take their kids out of school does not make them a bad parent nor will it make their kids dumb. I actually think it makes them better. School is important but not the only learning experince in a childs life. Besides, life is too short not to enjoy it. The time you have with your children is even shorter so enjoy it while you can. When they grow up they will remember the good times they have with you on vacation, especially at WDW. Take advantage of the opportunity to spend time with the kids as it will create great memories for them and you.

You're right it is not the only learning experience in their life but you can teach them on breaks and that from school. If you CHOOSE to take your kids for a break than do NOT expect the teacher to cater to you or your child's needs when they get behind or have to make up the work.

My children have had a lot of learning experiences and the bug thing they can tell you is they did not have to miss a week of school to take the trips. The only time my kids missed a week of school was when we had to go back to Michigan for my Uncle's funeral and that was an excused and last minute absence. I will take my kids out for one day in 2 weeks to start travel early but otherwise my kids have been to many states and seen many different things and it has never interfered with school or their learning. What they learn now can have an impact on their future.

 

[bairdbeth]

For many schools, attendance is part of what determines AYP(annual yearly progress) If they do not meet the requirements set up under No Child Left Behind then the school will eventually be placed on the failing schools list. This means that other requirements will then have to be met and if the school continues to be placed on the failing schools list, then the whole staff could be fired. That puts pressure on schools to implement stricter attendance policies, especially when dealing with unexcused absences. While I think that family time is important,but it would be a shame for a school to be on the failing schools list due to too many families pulling out their kids for a family vacation and then the same kids get the flu(yes, excused absences are counted too), have a family emergency, ect.

 

[Leajess99]

I'm sure you're a brilliant teacher - but really? I'm curious what you teach that's so unique and important that no parent could grasp it well enough to approximate with their child, and no child could make it through school if they miss even a few days.

I'm assuming there's some form of factual element to your teaching. A period of history, a periodic table - something. I'm sure with enough effort your student's parents could impart at least a small bit of the knowledge to their child.

Believe it or not, as important as you undoubtably are, you're not the center of your students' universe - or their families' lives. If you don't feel like putting in extra effort to recreate the wisdom you've shared with your attending class, then don't. I'm sure making do without is punishment enough.

But in the end, the choice belongs to the parents. Not you.

HOW RUDE!!!!!!!!!! Seriously, I guess you have never been in a college class where the professor has not used a book either but has used other areas of the information to teach the subject?? Just curious but what is your child going to do when he/she attends college and chooses to skip out for a vacation or party?? Will they then need you to write a note to get their notes?? One of my professors from the Spring stated straight up that if you miss his class it is your responsibility to get what he taught and he does NOT teach the way the book does. He only used it as a supplement to his teaching. I did have to miss his class and reading another person's notes did not help really help me with what I missed. There are teachers who choose to supplement with a book that have knowledge from other areas and if they test from their lectures than your child is the one who has missed out. NOT THE TEACHER'S FAULT IF YOUR CHILD MISSES OUT!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[tinkabella627]

Beautifully said.
My philosophy, as a teacher is, "Take them out all you want. When you return, I'll be glad to give you a photo copy of my planbook for the days your child missed. I don't want to hear about it though, when your child is struggling with work that he or she missed due to a family vacation."

Love that!! I wish I could tell some parents that. It is bad enough to catch the kids up when they come back from being sick, let alone when they get back from a nice week long vacation.

I'm sorry I am posting so much but you should see my white board in my class room. There are lists all over the place of who owes me what assignment because they were absent. But in order for them to make up that work, I have to get the rest of my class to do an assignment so that I can sit down with that one child that was absent and reteach the lesson. And then I will do it again tomorrow when the next sick kid returns, and so on. Imagine how much the rest of the class will suffer if I had to do this for a child out for an entire week! (I teach 3rd grade, there is no afterschool for kids unless they are in the after care program.)

 

[Leajess99]

No one ever said I was the center of the universe, but most parents are NOT capable of teaching their children calculus based physics, and it is something that is almost impossible to teach yourself from a textbook without help. I am sorry, but that's the way it is. I have had only a handful of students who were out for a week and able to catch up without help form me. It is typically not something they are capable of doing, even with help from their parents. I never said I don't want to put in the effort to help. In fact I would prefer that I was allowed to teach the child the concepts when they return rather than expecting them to get it on their own. And while they can "make it through school" missing a few days, my class is one where concepts build and missing and entire week without putting in the one on one time with me to get caught up puts them as a serious disadvantage and almost always negivately impacts their grade. The only thing I have said that I have a problem with is parents who are not willing to respect my schedule when getting their kids caught up.
There is really no need to be so rude and condescending. I am not trying to offend anyone, just trying to give a teacher's perspective here. This is what I have seen over the years with my students to be the case. Take it for what you will.

OH YUCK!!!!!!! Sorry but I ad to take Physics when going for my Computer programming degree (dropped that idea after one semester) and you are right the book was worthless. Thank goodness for a good instructor and lots of extra credit points. lol

 

[erv1216]

Our daughter is only allowed to make up work or tests when they have excused absences. I don't think a trip WDW would be an excused absence! Anything missed for an unexcused absence will be given a grade of ZERO which could wreck a semester grade. I couldn't risk screwing up her grades with the hopes of academic scholarships on the very near horizon. If you are talking about a kindergarten student I can see it, otherwise I'm not so sure.

Im a teacher ALSO. I have my own opinions, but all I want to say is that just like this post, my school district only allows work/test to be made up with an excused absence and require a note. Going to Disney would not be considered excused. I've had some parents send me "sick notes" that the student was sick, but then I hear the student whispering to his/her friends that they just got back from Disney. Then I start to wonder, are parents teaching their kids that it is okay to lie??? Im not saying the OP is, im just saying in general. As a parent/teacher, I would take responsibility of my child missing school. If the teacher does not give the student the work before hand, then so be it and the parent's just assume responsibility of their childs grade when I they miss school with unexcused absences.

(sorry im typing very fast bc im packing for my weekend trip to THE WORLD AFTER I GET OUT OF WORK TOMORROW!!!! LOL)

 

[catne]

Our daughter is only allowed to make up work or tests when they have excused absences. I don't think a trip WDW would be an excused absence! Anything missed for an unexcused absence will be given a grade of ZERO which could wreck a semester grade. I couldn't risk screwing up her grades with the hopes of academic scholarships on the very near horizon. If you are talking about a kindergarten student I can see it, otherwise I'm not so sure.

Depends on your school district's policies, but what I've seen is for grade school, they tend to be more lenient...middle school the absentee policy usually toughens up & by high school it's usually pretty no-nonsense. Really, there's a lesson there about attendance for high school kids. It's not as if they go to school 9 months with no breaks...they get plenty of scheduled time off during the school year. Adults have to contend with the consequences of flouting employer's attendance rules...it's a good lesson to teach teens.

If your child is in high school, and has a good shot at academic scholarships there is no way a family vacation using an unexcused absence would be worth the difference in scholarships...my DD was valedictorian of her class...her cumulative GPA wa 99.52% for 4 years of high school. Second place had a GPA 99.37% One unexcused absence in that 4 years could have lost DD first place in the class and cost her points on scholarship consideration. Along with the valedictorian status, and her high ACT/SAT score, DD was awarded full tuition at private college...about $90,000 worth of tuition! Don't think a family vacation during the school year would have made up for that kind of $$$ We took her to Disney World AFTER she graduated to celebrate.

 

[tinkabella627]

I'm sure you're a brilliant teacher - but really? I'm curious what you teach that's so unique and important that no parent could grasp it well enough to approximate with their child, and no child could make it through school if they miss even a few days.

I'm assuming there's some form of factual element to your teaching. A period of history, a periodic table - something. I'm sure with enough effort your student's parents could impart at least a small bit of the knowledge to their child.

Believe it or not, as important as you undoubtably are, you're not the center of your students' universe - or their families' lives. If you don't feel like putting in extra effort to recreate the wisdom you've shared with your attending class, then don't. I'm sure making do without is punishment enough.

But in the end, the choice belongs to the parents. Not you.

the poster you replied to mentioned that they do a lot of question/answer discussion in class. What parents can't recreate at home is what is called the teachable moments. When a student asks a question that leads into a whole new lesson. Or when the class gets into a debate on the solution to a problem. Or when the students finally solve the problem as a class, without the teacher. That can't be recreated just by saying I taught so and so today. Contrary to what you may think, the way a teacher teaches a lesson is done for a reason. And saying "read pages x-x" doesn't do the lesson justice.

 

[Melissa<3Disney]

We are taking our kids (5 and 8) out of school for two days next month to go to WDW. It has nothing to do with cost or crowds... Rather, we are just trying to hit the EPCOT F&W Festival AND Mickey's not so scary Halloween party.

When I return, however, I'm going to give them notes to bring to the school that they were abducted by aliens.

Can someone remind me to take some pics at Buzz Lightyear to document my story?



The REAL fun with the school district will be next February. Monday the 15th is a holiday, but Tuesday the 16th is not. We are going to New Orleans for Mardi Gras that weekend and not planning to return until Tuesday afternoon. What do you think the teachers will say when I tell them they were gone that Tuesday for Mardi Gras in New Orleans? (I'll just have the kids bring in some beads!)

Best quote/advice so far!!!

 

[pooch]

Tell them to Mind there owen Buisness!!, Its your Family and you know whats best!! you do not need to hear there oppion over and over again. You do not need to explain and justfy your self to any one!!.Now days alot(not all) of Schools and Teachers feel that there oppion Is the golden rule. There jobs Is to Teach not give Family advice,when not ask for.The Fact that they would not provide email updates shows you there they are showing you there personal Bias.

yes, their job is to teach - spelling for instance - an abject lesson in the need for teachers!!

 

[tinkabella627]

I don't think 3.5 hours is unreasonable in a year's time. You are saying as a teacher you are too lazy to send a 60 second email? What if the child was failing due to failure to submit homework? Wouldn't you send off a note to the parent? All the OP's email would have to say is we covered pages 2-4 or whatever. Did the OP say her child was in AP classes? Did OP say her child was Special ED? No one is asking for a teacher to copy & paste your lecture. Parents realize that their child is missing something valuable, but a family vacation is also valuable.
We chart several hours past our 12 hour day without pay at times. If a patient has an emergency seconds before we are due to go home should I not save that life because it is too much paperwork? If I am able to jot down something on 106 patients, then a teacher should be able to write a small summary of an assignment or lesson on a homework message board for each class. How many classes can a teacher have 8-10? At 3-5 minutes an email you could do it before the bell rings after each class.
I am glad you aren't teaching my child. I do appreciate my child's teachers for putting forth the added effort & so far providing me with enough information to keep my children from getting too far behind. (Even if we did have to learn the Civil War in 4 days.)

BUT... it isn't like teachers leave at 3:30 and are done for their day. No ,they go home, plan, grade, research, modify lessons to reteach. And that 3.5 hours wasn't in a years time. I believe they calculated it to the ONE DAY or one week. I think yea that is a little much to ask. The problem is, if the teacher says ok to one, they have to do it for all. Then next thing you know we are spending our nights emailing parents instead of having OUR FAMILY TIME. I am a newlywed, and I see my husband for probably 2 hours a day before I go to sleep. The only day I see him is Sunday, which is the day I am spending planning. So please think before you speak about the teachers that aren't willing to send an email being so awful. That teacher might want to see their family for an hour or two instead of sending off a few emails. Or maybe they just want to read a book or relax. Teachers have that right too ya know.

 

[KellyNY]

I don't think 3.5 hours is unreasonable in a year's time. You are saying as a teacher you are too lazy to send a 60 second email? What if the child was failing due to failure to submit homework? Wouldn't you send off a note to the parent? All the OP's email would have to say is we covered pages 2-4 or whatever. Did the OP say her child was in AP classes? Did OP say her child was Special ED? No one is asking for a teacher to copy & paste your lecture. Parents realize that their child is missing something valuable, but a family vacation is also valuable.
We chart several hours past our 12 hour day without pay at times. If a patient has an emergency seconds before we are due to go home should I not save that life because it is too much paperwork? If I am able to jot down something on 106 patients, then a teacher should be able to write a small summary of an assignment or lesson on a homework message board for each class. How many classes can a teacher have 8-10? At 3-5 minutes an email you could do it before the bell rings after each class.
I am glad you aren't teaching my child. I do appreciate my child's teachers for putting forth the added effort & so far providing me with enough information to keep my children from getting too far behind. (Even if we did have to learn the Civil War in 4 days.)

no comment

 

[princessmom29]

I don't think 3.5 hours is unreasonable in a year's time. You are saying as a teacher you are too lazy to send a 60 second email? What if the child was failing due to failure to submit homework? Wouldn't you send off a note to the parent? All the OP's email would have to say is we covered pages 2-4 or whatever. Did the OP say her child was in AP classes? Did OP say her child was Special ED? No one is asking for a teacher to copy & paste your lecture. Parents realize that their child is missing something valuable, but a family vacation is also valuable.
We chart several hours past our 12 hour day without pay at times. If a patient has an emergency seconds before we are due to go home should I not save that life because it is too much paperwork? If I am able to jot down something on 106 patients, then a teacher should be able to write a small summary of an assignment or lesson on a homework message board for each class. How many classes can a teacher have 8-10? At 3-5 minutes an email you could do it before the bell rings after each class.
I am glad you aren't teaching my child. I do appreciate my child's teachers for putting forth the added effort & so far providing me with enough information to keep my children from getting too far behind. (Even if we did have to learn the Civil War in 4 days.)

I read your post as suggesting that teachers should send out one email per student per day to update parents. That would make my day 14 hours every day. That is not what i signed up for as a teacher, and not a reasonable expectation of me. I also said that Iwould not mind posting it once for everyone, or cc-ing the email to everyone. I cannot however, send a personal email for each student each day. I send emails to someone's parent every day about something that is a concern, or to answer a parent's question. I am invested in my students and their success. I am perfectly happy to help them in whatever way I can and go the extra mile for them. I don't mid coming early or staying late, but sending home a personalized email update for each student every day would be a huge waste of time in my opinion. Parents have access to grades online, and can just shoot me an email if they need assignments for aprticular day their child is out. I don't mind answering them.

 

[tinkabella627]

As I think about this more and more... I think it is insane that some of you are saying it's not that much to ask and ragging on the teachers for not wanting to do it... do you know what I do for my students...

I DO NOT go on vacations during the school year. I would LOVE to go during the cheaper, non busy, free dining, pretty decorations times... but do you know what that would do to my students?! They would be taught by a substitute and no matter how qualified...they don't know my students like I do. They don't know that this little girl needs step by step instructions and a lot of one on one time. They don't know that this one needs calm repremanding and not raising a voice. They don't know that that one over there can't sit still because she has ADHD. And me giving them my lesson plans is not as good as me being there. When I miss ONE DAY I type up detailed plans and put all my worksheets, books, etc in the order they will be needed on my desk. Do you know what happens when I come back? Half the stuff isn't taught. Imagine me taking a week off so I could enjoy some disney!

SO while you are complaining that your child's teacher won't email you. THink of the fact that we are making sure we are there every day possible to make sure your child passes all the state tests and meets all the standards.

 

[Schmeck]

I'm a little apprehensive about taking my DS out of school this coming November for 3 days, he's in 7th grade. After all today during his "Adolescent issues" class he learned all about the dangers of high fructose corn syrup. And during his "Directed Learning" session they watched videos on YouTube. Add on lunch, gym, music, art. He will miss about 10 hours of school over 3 days. I don't know how he will ever keep up!!!

If your teacher can't tell you a general idea of the what he is teaching while your child is out it sounds like the teacher has no plan. Start moving up the food chain - the vice principle, the principle, the superintendant. You will get what you need. I have only known one person that had to go to the School Council of the Town.

My DS just started teaching in a Charter School. Every day is planned out by the administration. Very high success rate in the school.

Even if the teacher does have the general plan, the actual paperwork that might go with it may not be copied yet, and how the heck do you do work that is only known from a 'general plan'?

If the OP does have a complaint to make, yes, I'd suggest going to the principal as well. I'd make sure that the absence policy covered her request first though.

 

[pooch]

.
We chart several hours past our 12 hour day without pay at times. If a patient has an emergency seconds before we are due to go home should I not save that life because it is too much paperwork? If I am able to jot down something on 106 patients, then a teacher should be able to write a small summary of an assignment or lesson on a homework message board for each class. How many classes can a teacher have 8-10? At 3-5 minutes an email you could do it before the bell rings after each class.

you are equating the charting of perhaps vital medical information and emergency care with expecting a teacher to accomodate the OP's vacation plans. How are these 2 concepts even remotely alike??? One is or could be a matter of life or death if not done. The other inconveniences a vacationer???