Teens missing school for free dining?

[TraceyDisney2008]

Just wondering if anyone else is taking their teenagers out of school for free dining, I am begining to think I shouldn't do it but its too late to cancel. My daughter(16) is an A student so we hope she will catch up easily. We are going from Wednesday to Wednesday so she will miss a little each week instead of one straight week. DH couldn't get time off in the summer and this is his first time going so I hope it turns out ok.

 

[Ham Ham]

Each student if different and so our parents comfort level with pulling kids out for holiday.
My kids well do well in school and I would have no problem pulling them out.

We took a cruise last year at Thanksgiving.
We left Friday and were back the following Sunday. Because of the holiday Monday they only missed 5 days of school. We talked with the teachers, DD9 teacher just wanted a journal, DD 13 wasn't assigned much.

Pulling them out early on in the school year gives them more time to catch up.
The first week they're off the Monday, Tuesday is the 1st day, not a lot get done and then your left with only 3 days missed.

I would check with the school to see if there are any special exams/events the time you plan to be away.

Our DD 14 starts high school this year and the DW doesn't want her to miss too much school.

I know that if my parents had pulled me out of High School for week it wouldn't have had much of an impact on my less than stellar performance in high school. My kids are so much better students than I ever was. I'm proud of them.

 

[ahalla]

As of right now, I know of two seperate families who are going to Disney in September. The one family will leave during the kids first week of school (they are in grade 12), the other family will leave the following week.
Good or bad, but due to family holidays, my son has missed at least one week of school every year for the past 4 years. I do not see a problem with this, my son is a straight A student, but even if he weren't I would still go. Financially, we go when it is cheaper, which is not generally during any holidays. Secondly and most importantly in my opinion, society expects our kids to grow up so fast, I want my children to enjoy their childhoods, life is too short. You can always make up homework, you can't ever get back a missed opportunity! JMHO

 

[Marcy Mouse]

Actually he will miss the first week!

I wish he was an A student!

Everyone has differnt view, beliefs, morals, etc. I look at is as the first week is usally a wash. Most of the work is review from last year. Also, I consider the time we spend together without life getting in the way as a gift. It keeps us close and you never know what life is going to bring; so, I try to make sure we have a least one, if possible two, good family trips a year. Your kids are only young once and you are giving them memories that will last a lifetime.

Just my thoughts,

Marcy

 

[TraceyDisney2008]

Thank-you for the replies it makes me feel better knowing I am not the only one who thinks a family vacation is important.

 

[Nostalgia]

I booked my Disney trip for September under the impression that the crowds would be less because all of the (other) kids would be back to school. That was before I discoved DIS and heard about free dining... There go my short line ups!!! LOL!

What was my point...? Oh, yeah.... I was prepared to pull DD9 out of school for a week anyway (Sept 14-21). She's a smart kid, so I'm not too worried about her falling behind, and I'll be giving her teacher a heads up that she'll be away in case (s)he wants to send some homework along with her. Knowing her, she'll get as much homework out of the way on the plane so that she can enjoy her vacation to the max!

 

[laura001]

At one point or another, we have taken all three of our kids out of high school for trips to Disney. A couple of trips were for extended periods of time, with both of our kids being A students.

A couple of teacher's got their shorts in a knot over it.........but, too darned bad, and for the most part it usually went over alright. The one teacher told our son that we should learn to take our holidays on school holidays like everyone else.....well, I was a little upset about that. No one knows the dynamics of each family, what, how and when they can take vacation. (that year, we had one in elementary, one in high school and one in University and the we figured it was more important to work around the U student, plus we figured it would be our last family vacation, which was exactly right and that was 3 years ago and we still have not been able to get us all together again)

Last year I took youngest DD in October, she is not an "A" student, and she missed 5 days of school. No one gave her a hard time (grade 11) and even the principal encouraged us to go....she caught up on her work and there was no problem at all.

In my eyes and perhaps not everyone will agree, that is ok too.....but I think that our family time is so so so so short, you can never reclaim that, you can't reclaim the experiences, the togetherness, and the memories.....you can however reclaim a few days at school without too much of a problem. I say that because if I could figure out a way for our whole family to get away like that again, I would, the schedules just won't let that happen. Take it when you can, before you know it your kids will be grown up and those opportunities are forever gone. I would go, have a GREAT time, enjoy, enjoy, enjoy!!!!

 

[dbaggs]

Don't feel bad. My son will miss the first two weeks of school. We originally planned for him to miss the first week, but made a mistake when booking our Disney vacation and he'll now miss the first two. He's not a teenager, he's 8 years old and in Grade 3.

We've been working with the school to ensure he's not that far behind when he returns. The school doesn't seem to care at all, but we are worried sick. Since he is in French immersion, maybe we'll just drop him off for a couple of days in the French pavilion in Epcot!

 

[TwMuise]

I agree with what everyone is saying. We took our kids out of school for holidays from their first year to their last. In my humble opinion the experiences and family time was much more than they would have learned in school in a week. In MArch we even took Josh out for a week and he's in IB. He just put in the extra time when we got back. Our oldest turned out to be an RCMP, graduated youngest in his troop at 19 and let me tell you the life experiences he had from our "vacations" certainly didn't hurt in his RCMP interview. Our youngest (Josh), is in IB, like I said, and wants to be a Doctor. Let your kids be kids because they grow up wayyyy to fast as it is and you can't get that time back. Again just my two cents

 

[SherylWrites]

The 11th to the 16th and the kids won't return to school until the 18th.
There's more to education than what is taught within a school. I have no qualms about taking my kids out for a family vacation. They're still learning!
We took them out last year as well for nearly two weeks at Disney in September and they didn't suffer in the least. The teachers were fine with it because we assured them that our kids wouldn't get behind, and they didn't.
You do what's best for your family and enjoy your vacation!!

 

[merfsko]

If she's a good student, missing some days, especially at the beginning of the year, shouldn't be a problem.

I was pulled out for two weeks back in grade ten, in January, and since I go to a semestered school I arrived back with less then a week before exams.

I did kept in touch with friends when I was away so that I didn't fall behind in class, and stayed for help where I needed it (only one class) when I got back, and I did fine.

I also agree with SherylWrites- education and learning is more then just school,a dn in my opinion, more then straight knowledge. So don't worry about it too much. She'll be able to catch up if she wants to And as others said, it's Disney! So have fun, adn enjoy yourselves!

 

[Tiger926]

I am a highschool teacher, as well as a parent, so I understand that everyone's family is different in regards to how they feel about this issue, but, as a teacher, I agree that families need to vacation during scheduled vacation times, which here in Ontario are: July & August, Christmas, March Break and, Thanksgiving and Easter. As teachers, we would love to be able to vacation during September to get free dining, or, in January to get cheap cruises, but we can't as we are in class teaching your kids, as we should be.

If too many families take kids out of school, then we would have serious attendance issues. That being said, there are some emergency or special circumstances that can't be avoided such as death or weddings, but a vacation to WDW in September for free dining, could also have been taken in August, when school is not in session.

Parents seem to think that this only affects their kids and mention that their kids are straight A students. It's not just about grades though - it's about parents expecting us as teachers to prepare homework packages for kids to do while away (we just don't have time to do this), wanting us to give their children extra one on one assistance or stay afterschool upon their return to help them catch up, or, allowing families en masse to vacation at any time of the year, which technically is breaking attendance rules. I have babies at home too, so if I stay hours extra each night to help your child catch up because you took a vacation in September, that is time away from my own babies, KWIM?

I just wanted to provide another perspective to the whole situation and I leave you with one last thought? How would you react if your child's teachers (in highschool you could have as few as 4 and as many as 8 teachers in 1 day) all scheduled vacations during the school year? That is a lot of supply teachers and unnecessary disruptions to your child's schedule - as teachers, we do get disrupted when children take off for vacation as inevitably, parents always want homework and special treatment in order to accommodate a vacation that 9 times out of 10, can be taken during regular vacation times.

I hope you have a wonderful trip, Tiger

 

[I Run Long]

I would like to be able to take my kids during the summer break, spring break, Xmas break and numerous pro-d days but I have to work as well. As long as our school systems continue to work under this archaic system of having 2 months off in the summer which was originally for harvest reasons, then I have no choice but to take them when I can get time off and when I can afford it. I've done it twice: once to Las Vegas for their cousin's wedding, and once to WDW for free dining and cheapest time of year to go. Now bear in mind that when I do it, it is always at the beginning of the school year when they have 1/2 days, figuring out which class they'll have and always a pro-d day. So in actual fact they really aren't missing anything. I don't think I would do it any other time of year (in fact I haven't). I also don't expect the teachers to do any extra special work for my child - it is up to my child to catch up meaning extra hours at their desk.

 

[Sheribo]

I too work for the school board and must agree with Tiger926. It's not just catching up on the assignments but the missed instructional time needed for the student to do the work is often not recoverable. Some parents are able to take on the teaching responsibility to help the kids catch up but as they get older, that gets harder and harder to do. If they miss a test, do they get to rewrite during class time while the others have moved on or does the teacher have to arrange to supervise them at another time?

Having said that, as a mother of 3, I would love to be able to vacation when the weather is good and crowds are light. Although it hasn't been tested in this area, I'd love to see year round schooling. The students don't spend more time in school but vacation time is somehow spread out differently.

 

[tiggerrulz]

Our kids have been 4 times, each time being taken out of school. The only time we thought twice was the last time when they were both in high school. We never asked for special treatment and both boys knew it was their responsibility to talk to their teachers about any missed tests, and their classmates about taking notes for them. I agree the school system needs to change. Two months is too long. Besides if I am holidaying during the school year, then I am not taking up the time when teachers are holidaying And I do know teachers that have taken vacation during the school year - I think by engaging their own subsititue. We don't like travelling in the heat of the summer, and I can not imagine the lineups either....

 

[TraceyDisney2008]

Tiger926, thank-you for your comments, some of them I had not thought of and I will keep them in mind next year when we book our trip, unfortunatley this year we had to go in September or not go at all and since my DH has never been we thought the family time would be worth the the sacrifice even though I am stressing a little for my daughter she says things will be fine. Fingers crossed.

 

[Ham Ham]

allowing families en masse to vacation at any time of the year, which technically is breaking attendance rules.

Will that go on our permanent record?

This school year we are not planning any trips when classes are on as DD 14 is starting high school. We've also cut our usual summer trip short so she can attend for her grade 9 orientation day a week before school starts.

If I pull my children out of school I don't expect the teacher to stay after school to help them catch up. I would like their assistance in giving any scheduled homework to us so we can keep up to date. I'm not a teacher but they must be some kind of plan/outline that you have laid out on what work will be assigned. Luckily my kids have teachers who help us out when we have travelled. The academic ability of the students does affect their ability to catch up.

Experiences when I was in school.

In grade 7 I went on a 10 day school trip to London, England over Easter, Missed 5 days of school.

When I was in high school the hockey team would often be away at tournaments missing days of school at a time. Didn't seem to be a problem with the school letting them miss classes for the sports events.
The team wasn't in class and not too much teaching was involved.

Some students would be involved in school trips/exchanges not everyone participated in and would miss days of classes.

In grade 10 I had a math teacher who was involved with the teachers union and was away more than 65%, (we tracked his absences) of the time on union business and we had a revolving door of substitute teachers. By the end of winter most of the class was failing, the parents talked to the administration and a permanent substitute was assigned for the rest of the year. The next year guess what? The same thing happened with the same teacher missing most of the year with no permanent substitute.

I wonder if these examples should be against the attendance rules?
Don't think that it should be against the rules to experience life outside the classroom and expose the children to new and different experiences. If students can miss days for sports & trips then occasional family vacations can't be that detrimental.

If a teacher will be absent frequently for what ever the reason there should be a sound plan in place to support the students.

A guarantee to have the summers off, 2 weeks at Christmas, Spring break and all legal holidays would be something I would be happy to have if I couldn't take time off during the school year. This is well deserved time off that teachers earn and deserve.

As for the folks calling for year round schooling the only way it will work is if every school in the province/country went that way.
Personally don't know if that's a great idea.
The kids need the break & so do the teachers. I don't know how much learning the kids would be able do when it is 35C outside and 45C inside as some schools don't even have air conditioning.
http://712educators.about.com/cs/reformtime/a/yearrounded.htm

 

[SandraC]

I work in a school and I take vacation when it suits my family, not my job.

HAVE A BLAST!

 

[LadyKay]

I work in a school and I take vacation when it suits my family, not my job.

HAVE A BLAST!

I agree 200%!!! I think teachers have the most important jobs following Mothers. We have even sent our daughter's teacher to WDW (SSR) last spring break and have booked for her to go again this March to AKV. However I think those opposed to taking vacations during school time are over dramatizing the whole scenario a tad. I work in education and know first hand that not all lessons (life lessons included) take place in the classroom! Children being absent from class are part of the job and have occurred since I can remember.

 

[disneymath]

I'm also a high school teacher and have to agree with many of the points that Tiger made ... when students take vacations during the school year it does add to the teacher's workload - whether the parents intend for that to happen or not. For one, the Ontario government has a strong focus on student success at the moment ... rightly or wrongly it's no longer simply a matter of letting a child catch up if he or she wants to (as others have implied) - rather it is my responsibility as a teacher to ensure that he or she does. Secondly, and in addition to my "responsiblity", I'm that kind of teacher who tries to keep my students best interests at heart - I will put in the extra time to prepare work ahead of time or help a student catch up upon returning from vacation. Believe me when I say that this is a much more involved process than simply looking at my daybook and pulling out the worksheets for the days the student was away.

I also agree with the posters who have said there is more to life than school and that family time is extremely important ... I guess my view is that if there is NO FEASIBLE ALTERNATIVE than to vacation during the school year ... then you have to do what's best for your particular family.

To the OP ... I sincerely wish you a great vacation!