That is the sort of statement which will cause this to be locked or moved to the debate board, where it has been hashed and rehashed. I think it inappropriate to say that parents who choose to follow the school and/or state guidelines for school attendance are "afraid" of anything, or that they are not "exercising" their "right to the care, custody and control of their children." Nor do I see how abiding by those rules prevent schools from being efficient, safe, etc..... On the contrary, many of us choose our schools, their rules, and to comply with truancy laws because we feel that those actions make schools more efficient and more conducive to learning. You have your opinion, which you are certainly entitled to, but I don't understand why you feel the need to insult parents who feel differently by stating that they are afraid of something or that they are not fully exercising their rights as parents. I think it simple to state one's response to the original poster's request without slamming those with differing views.
To all school age parents
- Thread starter Phyllisi
- Start date
- Status
That is the sort of statement which will cause this to be locked or moved to the debate board, where it has been hashed and rehashed. I think it inappropriate to say that parents who choose to follow the school and/or state guidelines for school attendance are "afraid" of anything, or that they are not "exercising" their "right to the care, custody and control of their children." Nor do I see how abiding by those rules prevent schools from being efficient, safe, etc..... On the contrary, many of us choose our schools, their rules, and to comply with truancy laws because we feel that those actions make schools more efficient and more conducive to learning. You have your opinion, which you are certainly entitled to, but I don't understand why you feel the need to insult parents who feel differently by stating that they are afraid of something or that they are not fully exercising their rights as parents. I think it simple to state one's response to the original poster's request without slamming those with differing views.
graygables
<font color=blue>Doesn't like to discuss the Y2K P
- Joined
- Mar 4, 2004
- Messages
- 3,411
I was responding to the posts that refer to a "fear" of a child being held back a grade or CPS/CFS being called on them if they exercise their parental right to excuse their child from school whenever they see fit. Having been on both sides of the public school system, my statement that parents are afraid of consequences the state may place on them when they choose something different for their own children is valid, as is my own experience talking with many, many other parents who are afraid to exercise their parental rights in this area for fear of retribution from the school. I certainly didn't believe I was "insult"ing or "slamming" anyone, just expressing "aloud" my frustration that this question even has to be asked in the first place. Many parents are not aware that they even have these rights since the state/public schools don't exactly advertise it. I cannot count the number of times that I have heard, "Really?!? I had no idea the Supreme Court said that!"
As I said, it is my soap box!
As I said, it is my soap box!
traycie2201
FUBAR'S BABE
- Joined
- Aug 24, 2003
- Messages
- 1,017
Gosh , what a subject, i take my DS out of school approx once a year for WDW for 2 weeks , in the uk schools accept that it is just too expensive for many people to travel during holidays as the travel industry hikes up the prices during holidays and therefore has some leniency in applying for 2 weeks out of each school year, they just ask that you avoid going during exam weeks which is only fair. We have always looked upon our trips as both holiday and education, DS would never have been able to see space shuttles and equipment in the UK , nor would he see the same eco systems and sights of the everglades or get to experience and learn from the fantastic future visions at epcot, all of these experiences enrich his life and his education for the better. Obviously our education system is different in the uk and we certainly don't get reported to Child Protection / Court for taking holidays which seems a bit harsh when as previously mentioned there are kids out there being treated badly in and outside the home. I know my DS doesn't feel that being taken to WDW / DCL is a hardship and I would wonder that the CPS surely would have more important things to do than worry about 2 weeks vacation each year, i'd be more worried about kids with bruises / unexplained abscences / no home support etc.
Anyway just my two pence worth , every parent has to make a decision that they are comfortable with in this situation.
have a great trip whenever you travel
Anyway just my two pence worth , every parent has to make a decision that they are comfortable with in this situation.
have a great trip whenever you travel
april riddle
<a href="http://www.wdwinfo.com/dis-sponsor/"targe
- Joined
- Jun 15, 2001
- Messages
- 469
We have always taken our children out of school for vacations - and once again they will miss a week in November for our cruise. Sometimes it is a juggle and I try very hard to make sure that they are not a week during review for the end of term tests that the state of NC has. The last time we were going to DW my son's 4th grade teacher and I emailed each other several times to make sure that he would not miss something important and we had work ready for him while we were gone. Of course it was a journal of what we did and he had reading assisnments. In these times of two parents working - a week together is a memory shared. I am forty-five and I can still remember vacations we took as a family and want to share that feeling with my kids so in turn they will do the same for their children.
BuncoHappens
Earning My Ears
- Joined
- Mar 30, 2004
- Messages
- 33
I'm glad I homeschool my kids and can travel whenever we want to!
As a teacher in the public schools sytem, I have several comments:
First, I have no problem with pulling a child out for 2-3 days. The average child will be able to manage the make-up work without undue trouble and will not fall behind. With a quick look-see at the school calendar, you can easily choose vacation weeks that'll incorporate teacher workdays, holidays, etc. so that your family can take a full week vacation without the child missing a full week of school. Since schools across the country have different schedules, this will also allow you to travel at off-peak, less expensive times without the crowds.
Here's what my own children have done this year: one week at WDW, a four-day Disney cruise, a week in Charleston, a four-day weekend at a fishing cabin in the mountains, a four-day weekend in a beach-front cabin, at least 4 weekend camping trips, and at least 4 out-of-town visiting-family trips. How many days of school did they miss for all that travel? THREE DAYS TOTAL. It can be done.
I think pulling a child out for a week (or more!); however, is too much. The child attends school 180 days per year. That leaves 185 days for family time. I always hear people touting the importance of quality family time when this subject is discussed -- and I agree that it's important. However, I maintain that if a family isn't able to have "quality time" in those 185 days, they aren't likely to discover the secret by pulling the kids out of school for an extra week.
I also think we're over-exaggerating the educational value of a Disney trip. Sure, a person who is actively searching for something of educational value can point out some things: geography comes to mind right away, as does culture. But most kids are going to spend their Disney cruise swimming and playing, and it's hard to justify that as educational. What do more kids see: Disney Dreams or Mexican ruins? On our cruise, my children did study the maps to understand where we'd be traveling (15 minutes), and they learned about dolphins in the dolphin swim (1 hour, not including travel time). It's hard to honestly rationalize a trip as educational because of and hour and 15 minutes! They walked through the streets of the Bahamas, but I can't say that they saw anything beyond the tourist traps. The honest truth is that most of our kids are doing the same things we're doing on vacation: playing and relaxing. There's value in that, but let's not make it into something it's not.
Then there's the make-up work. I've been teaching for 13 years, and I can assure you that THE GREAT MAJORITY of the kids who miss my class for lengthy vacations do not make up the work, regardless of how soon I send the work or how many times I call home. A good percentage do absolutely none of the work, most make some attempt but do not complete everything, and about 10% actually do a good job. Of course, everyone says, "Not my child", and it's very likely that only conscientious parents would choose to answer this question. I'll add that I teach high school, so the workload is more significant than elementary school. In almost every case -- even honors students -- the time away from school has hurt their grade. My class is only 18 weeks long, and there's a state end-of-course test grade that'll go in the child's cumulative folder; if your child is out for one week, that's a significant amount of time. Is the vacation worth the almost-certain cut in grades? That's something only you can answer.
Also, when you reach high school, there's the question of eligibility. A child who's applying for newspaper staff, the basketball team, or the marching band will be asked, "How many days of school did you miss last year?" With lots of other equally qualified applicants, a student with a poor attendance record may be seen as a liability to the cheerleading squad or the student council. This isn't a matter of the coach or teacher juding the value of your family's vacation -- it's a matter of needing to know that he or she can count on every team member to be present on a regular basis. High school sports, for example, run only about two months; if your child is out for a full week, that's going to hurt the team -- the coach has to be concerned with this.
Are teachers going to complain when you say you're taking your child out? Of course not. When you approach the teacher, you've already made your decision -- you're informing, not asking permission. The teacher lives in the real world; she knows that disagreeing with you will make an enemy of you, which will only hurt the child. So the teacher makes up a packet of work that probably doesn't come close to matching what the other students will be doing that week and "calls it even".
In conclusion, again, I have no problem with 2-3 days (for a student who's healthy and not likely to miss many more days); however, I don't think a week or more is a good choice.
First, I have no problem with pulling a child out for 2-3 days. The average child will be able to manage the make-up work without undue trouble and will not fall behind. With a quick look-see at the school calendar, you can easily choose vacation weeks that'll incorporate teacher workdays, holidays, etc. so that your family can take a full week vacation without the child missing a full week of school. Since schools across the country have different schedules, this will also allow you to travel at off-peak, less expensive times without the crowds.
Here's what my own children have done this year: one week at WDW, a four-day Disney cruise, a week in Charleston, a four-day weekend at a fishing cabin in the mountains, a four-day weekend in a beach-front cabin, at least 4 weekend camping trips, and at least 4 out-of-town visiting-family trips. How many days of school did they miss for all that travel? THREE DAYS TOTAL. It can be done.
I think pulling a child out for a week (or more!); however, is too much. The child attends school 180 days per year. That leaves 185 days for family time. I always hear people touting the importance of quality family time when this subject is discussed -- and I agree that it's important. However, I maintain that if a family isn't able to have "quality time" in those 185 days, they aren't likely to discover the secret by pulling the kids out of school for an extra week.
I also think we're over-exaggerating the educational value of a Disney trip. Sure, a person who is actively searching for something of educational value can point out some things: geography comes to mind right away, as does culture. But most kids are going to spend their Disney cruise swimming and playing, and it's hard to justify that as educational. What do more kids see: Disney Dreams or Mexican ruins? On our cruise, my children did study the maps to understand where we'd be traveling (15 minutes), and they learned about dolphins in the dolphin swim (1 hour, not including travel time). It's hard to honestly rationalize a trip as educational because of and hour and 15 minutes! They walked through the streets of the Bahamas, but I can't say that they saw anything beyond the tourist traps. The honest truth is that most of our kids are doing the same things we're doing on vacation: playing and relaxing. There's value in that, but let's not make it into something it's not.
Then there's the make-up work. I've been teaching for 13 years, and I can assure you that THE GREAT MAJORITY of the kids who miss my class for lengthy vacations do not make up the work, regardless of how soon I send the work or how many times I call home. A good percentage do absolutely none of the work, most make some attempt but do not complete everything, and about 10% actually do a good job. Of course, everyone says, "Not my child", and it's very likely that only conscientious parents would choose to answer this question. I'll add that I teach high school, so the workload is more significant than elementary school. In almost every case -- even honors students -- the time away from school has hurt their grade. My class is only 18 weeks long, and there's a state end-of-course test grade that'll go in the child's cumulative folder; if your child is out for one week, that's a significant amount of time. Is the vacation worth the almost-certain cut in grades? That's something only you can answer.
Also, when you reach high school, there's the question of eligibility. A child who's applying for newspaper staff, the basketball team, or the marching band will be asked, "How many days of school did you miss last year?" With lots of other equally qualified applicants, a student with a poor attendance record may be seen as a liability to the cheerleading squad or the student council. This isn't a matter of the coach or teacher juding the value of your family's vacation -- it's a matter of needing to know that he or she can count on every team member to be present on a regular basis. High school sports, for example, run only about two months; if your child is out for a full week, that's going to hurt the team -- the coach has to be concerned with this.
Are teachers going to complain when you say you're taking your child out? Of course not. When you approach the teacher, you've already made your decision -- you're informing, not asking permission. The teacher lives in the real world; she knows that disagreeing with you will make an enemy of you, which will only hurt the child. So the teacher makes up a packet of work that probably doesn't come close to matching what the other students will be doing that week and "calls it even".
In conclusion, again, I have no problem with 2-3 days (for a student who's healthy and not likely to miss many more days); however, I don't think a week or more is a good choice.
Sue Sullivan
Mouseketeer
- Joined
- Feb 9, 2004
- Messages
- 242
In the younger grades, I have no problem taking kids out of school for a week if they are doing well and can make up the work/learning easily enough. We live across the country from our extended family and have very little time to spend with them as a family. It is worth it for my children to get to really know their cousins and Aunts and Uncles, plus they are learning so much by the experience.
CarolAnnC
<font color=blue>Caught Smuggling Jello Shot Syrin
- Joined
- Oct 9, 2000
- Messages
- 12,230
Everyone has to decide for their own family what is the correct thing to do.
We were a family with two full time working parents. In order to be able to vacation together as a family, it required us to decide if the girls would miss school at times. To coordinate time off with two employers and then school vacations was next to impossible for us.
It was shortly after one of these trips that my husband suddenly passed away. My girls were teens. Do I have any regrets? Absolutely not. My girls have wonderful memories of their dad relaxing with them at WDW and on the Disney cruise that they otherwise would never have experienced with him.
My older DD, now a junior in college, was recently inducted at school into an Honors Convocation as she has been on the Dean's List since day one.
My younger DD, an honors student about to graduate high school, has been accepted into a nursing program at college for the fall.
They both have received several very large grants to help fund their education due to their scholatic achievements.
Will everyone achieve these results? Maybe not, but I live my life with no regrets and enjoy each day to the fullest. Hugs all....
We were a family with two full time working parents. In order to be able to vacation together as a family, it required us to decide if the girls would miss school at times. To coordinate time off with two employers and then school vacations was next to impossible for us.
It was shortly after one of these trips that my husband suddenly passed away. My girls were teens. Do I have any regrets? Absolutely not. My girls have wonderful memories of their dad relaxing with them at WDW and on the Disney cruise that they otherwise would never have experienced with him.
My older DD, now a junior in college, was recently inducted at school into an Honors Convocation as she has been on the Dean's List since day one.
My younger DD, an honors student about to graduate high school, has been accepted into a nursing program at college for the fall.
They both have received several very large grants to help fund their education due to their scholatic achievements.
Will everyone achieve these results? Maybe not, but I live my life with no regrets and enjoy each day to the fullest. Hugs all....
Mrs. Pete you are correct in some areas, Unfortunately I am not only a single parent but a single parent with two jobs which the second job is not only evenings but weekends. When I was married we had every excuse in the book on why we could not do a vacation. Too many hours working and the school calendars not corresponding with vacation time from your job. This is the 3rd year that I have taken my kids out of school for 6-8 days including the weekend. It is not about education on the trip it is about not knowing how long you are on this earth to spend this great time with your family.
I have lost my parents, grandparents, aunt, uncle a brother in college and a nephew 2 weeks ago in a matter of 3 1/2 years .
I really feel as long as you are not abusing the vacation (meaning try to limit it to once a year that requires time out of school, then go for it. We are only here once.
Also, I live in NY and the reason for the unexcused is that the state aid does not pay the school on the days that the child is not present. Also, they are not suppose to give out homework packets or review docs for unexcused absences (what a state we live in). I have 2 teens and 2 elem kids and they look forward to having this time together and meeting new faces from around the world.
I apologize for the long reply its just I value family time and think that it should happen more often than none.
I have lost my parents, grandparents, aunt, uncle a brother in college and a nephew 2 weeks ago in a matter of 3 1/2 years .
I really feel as long as you are not abusing the vacation (meaning try to limit it to once a year that requires time out of school, then go for it. We are only here once.
Also, I live in NY and the reason for the unexcused is that the state aid does not pay the school on the days that the child is not present. Also, they are not suppose to give out homework packets or review docs for unexcused absences (what a state we live in). I have 2 teens and 2 elem kids and they look forward to having this time together and meeting new faces from around the world.
I apologize for the long reply its just I value family time and think that it should happen more often than none.
Another thing to keep in mind is that schools get paid for the days children are in school. When your child misses school, the school misses funding. They still need to pay for books, teachers, heating the school, administration and all the rest. I don't agree with this situation, but that is how we've chosen to fund our schools. We've also made schools "accountable" for performance - often performance to tests - another idea I'm not comfortable with. It isn't fair to make a school accountable for the performance of their students if those students don't have to show up for school. Classroom time is often dedicated to teaching to the test - something you are probably not doing on vacation. We, of course, all have wonderful kids who are A students and aren't dragging down a schools performance - but there are kids missing school who are dragging down your schools performance - translating into a loss of dollars and a refocusing of material to teach what the kids who are in class already learned - which is why there are policies like this.
OceanStateKelly
Mouseketeer
- Joined
- Nov 12, 2003
- Messages
- 371
Hi- We always take the kids out off school in the winter for a week sometimes a week and ahalf. I feel they are only young once and if I waited till they were out of school they be adults. My husband has a Landscaping business so any thing in the summer is out and then he plows all winter and works at a ski resort so are time is very limited that we can go anywhere, we don't have all this time to take 4 to 5 small vacations -not even talking about the money for all these trips. and I don't feel like going on vacation to stand in long lines, like everybody on these boards knows what Disney is like near or on school vacation weeks.
My two DD's (6 AND 16) are never out of school inless its for a vacation or they are sick, so I really don't see a problem with it and they always make up there work that I ask for and tell the teacher that she can send it now or after she comes back that way she just sets it a side for her.
As for the education value, I think my daughter would remember more of the trip that we took to Bahamas and the Dolphn Swim then if they talked about it in school, sorry but I can't remember anything in Kindergarten or grades 1-6 for that matter- but I can remember going on all kinds of trips with my family when I was young. I do feel these things are special to me being my mom died at age 55 and I miss her alot but I don't miss school. And I hope to make some great memorys for my kids to remember me and there dad-family is number one and school will always be there when we get home.
Kelly
My two DD's (6 AND 16) are never out of school inless its for a vacation or they are sick, so I really don't see a problem with it and they always make up there work that I ask for and tell the teacher that she can send it now or after she comes back that way she just sets it a side for her.
As for the education value, I think my daughter would remember more of the trip that we took to Bahamas and the Dolphn Swim then if they talked about it in school, sorry but I can't remember anything in Kindergarten or grades 1-6 for that matter- but I can remember going on all kinds of trips with my family when I was young. I do feel these things are special to me being my mom died at age 55 and I miss her alot but I don't miss school. And I hope to make some great memorys for my kids to remember me and there dad-family is number one and school will always be there when we get home.
Kelly
christinou
<font color=teal>Is now a Tag Fairy believer and i
- Joined
- Nov 25, 2002
- Messages
- 2,240
We took our 2 girls, first and third grade, out of school for a week in February, we got their work 1 week before we left, and they had all of their work done before we left, they had no problem whatsoever, and I plan on doing the same next year. After that I am not sure, we will see when they get older.
TheWog
<font color=indigo>The Curse has been Reversed<br>
- Joined
- Apr 1, 2004
- Messages
- 5,615
I have to disagree. Schools do not miss funding if a child is out of school. You pay your taxes and each year there is a set amount per child. They don't selectively do that. Can you imagine the tracking nightmare of trying to figure out who is attending and not when it comes to writing checks. I choose to pay to send my child to a private school. Do I get a refund from the City or State for the money that has already been taken for education through my property tax bill? No. Your school does not suffer for a child being out.
Do you think it is wise to teach to a test? Do you think that serves any purpose other than making a teacher or school look good? They are only teaching what they have to in order for the school to make some magic number of children passing a test. I would prefer the teachers to teach and children to learn and if it was taught well enough the children will retain it and pass any test on the subject thrown at them.
I do work with my child on vacation. I do not make it a chore though. Waiting in an airport we are doing flash cards or reading a book. When there is down time, let's try the word wall words to work on spelling. No, I am not sitting with a lesson planner and going over the weeks work while I am sitting on the verandah over looking St. Thomas, but he is still learning just the same and when he returned he had one week to make all work missed. He was caught up by the Wednesday we were back. That is a reflection on the child realizing what he got to do was special and still wanting to take pride in his schoolwork. He knows if he can't keep school on top, he doesn't get to do special things like this. My son's school doesn't issue letter grades for 1st and 2nd grades, but he does very well on the marks he receives, he is not a behavioral issue or need special attention other than what we want to see him practice on his own so I am not going claim that I have an all A student. The ones that should be worried about being made to go school are the ones with parents who don't care enough to wash or send them with lunch. The kids who are just skipping because no one cares enough to make sure they go. I would love to see any school system fight me or another parent on this.
Do you think it is wise to teach to a test? Do you think that serves any purpose other than making a teacher or school look good? They are only teaching what they have to in order for the school to make some magic number of children passing a test. I would prefer the teachers to teach and children to learn and if it was taught well enough the children will retain it and pass any test on the subject thrown at them.
I do work with my child on vacation. I do not make it a chore though. Waiting in an airport we are doing flash cards or reading a book. When there is down time, let's try the word wall words to work on spelling. No, I am not sitting with a lesson planner and going over the weeks work while I am sitting on the verandah over looking St. Thomas, but he is still learning just the same and when he returned he had one week to make all work missed. He was caught up by the Wednesday we were back. That is a reflection on the child realizing what he got to do was special and still wanting to take pride in his schoolwork. He knows if he can't keep school on top, he doesn't get to do special things like this. My son's school doesn't issue letter grades for 1st and 2nd grades, but he does very well on the marks he receives, he is not a behavioral issue or need special attention other than what we want to see him practice on his own so I am not going claim that I have an all A student. The ones that should be worried about being made to go school are the ones with parents who don't care enough to wash or send them with lunch. The kids who are just skipping because no one cares enough to make sure they go. I would love to see any school system fight me or another parent on this.
DreaminDisney
<font color="purple">The TFs converted another BEL
- Joined
- Nov 19, 2002
- Messages
- 2,912
Well said.
I think to take your child out of school or not is a personal decision. At this point my son is in 1st grade and I don't have a problem taking him out for 6 days. His teacher agrees that family vacations are important said she is looking forward to him reading his vacation journal to the classroom when he gets back. In addition, he will have some make up work to do.
If he were older and were struggling in school I might not pull him out. However it's the Parents decision, NOT the teachers or anyone else's for that matter.
TheWog, I hate to disagree with you - because this is a stupid law - but here is a site from California. Other states have similar laws.
http://www.sanjuan.edu/schools/rules_abs.htm
Absences for most other reasons are considered unexcused, even if the parent notifies the school. For some allowed absences, the parent/guardian must request the absence in advance in writing, and it must be approved by the principal.
A student absent for reasons allowed by law may complete missed assignments or tests that can reasonably be provided and will not have his/her grade reduced or lose academic credit if the assignments or tests are satisfactorily completed within a reasonable period of time.
Whether the absence is excused or unexcused, the state only provides daily funding if a student is actually at school or on Independent Study.
http://www.sanjuan.edu/schools/rules_abs.htm
Absences for most other reasons are considered unexcused, even if the parent notifies the school. For some allowed absences, the parent/guardian must request the absence in advance in writing, and it must be approved by the principal.
A student absent for reasons allowed by law may complete missed assignments or tests that can reasonably be provided and will not have his/her grade reduced or lose academic credit if the assignments or tests are satisfactorily completed within a reasonable period of time.
Whether the absence is excused or unexcused, the state only provides daily funding if a student is actually at school or on Independent Study.
Greysword
DIS Veteran
- Joined
- Apr 6, 2004
- Messages
- 2,075
I think we need to keep things in perspective on a couple points. TheWog brings up some interesting points, however, I would like to play devil's advocate.
1) Schools are run either by municiple or county governments, thus the rules for the state and counties in New Hampshire are probably different then those for New York, thus we would be hard pressed to compare the two by stating we do it this way.
2) In the past decade, politicians have touted their desire to increase the education for our youth. Unfortunately, this has been realized in the form of standardized tests for children as young as elementary school level. If a teacher provides an education on the level we had while in school (speaking as a 35 year old Geration X'er), our children would most likely fail. If this occurs, the blame then falls squarely on the teacher, and not the system or parents.
This brings up a question I would really like to have an answer to from parents. How have your children done on your state's standardized tests, and how would they have done if they were not out of school? I am just curious.
3) I think it has been noted that it is significantly easier for an elementary school student to make up work and pass in comparison to a high school student. The learning is probably more focused, with only one or even two teachers (is this still the way it is?) istead of a battery of six or seven distinct subjects closer to college level. Thus, I would be hard pressed to say a high school, middle school, and elementary student would be able to make up work in the same capacity.
4) Although many children do their make-up work, in families on this board, the insight provided by MrsPete is eye opening. Her comment that the make-up work provided may not equal the actual work done in class in conjunction with homework, and is only a compromise is important to note. In addition, missing class discussions may hinder the child's ability to full understand by not hearing the information from the source and take away their ability to ask questions to clarify the points made by a text.
5) I feel this discussion is important to the DCL arena, as it gives parents and parents to be a perspective on when they should sail. It is as important a topic as seasonal pricing, length of cruises, and what port the Magic will be at in a given month.
These are just my thoughts. Thank you for listening!
1) Schools are run either by municiple or county governments, thus the rules for the state and counties in New Hampshire are probably different then those for New York, thus we would be hard pressed to compare the two by stating we do it this way.
2) In the past decade, politicians have touted their desire to increase the education for our youth. Unfortunately, this has been realized in the form of standardized tests for children as young as elementary school level. If a teacher provides an education on the level we had while in school (speaking as a 35 year old Geration X'er), our children would most likely fail. If this occurs, the blame then falls squarely on the teacher, and not the system or parents.
This brings up a question I would really like to have an answer to from parents. How have your children done on your state's standardized tests, and how would they have done if they were not out of school? I am just curious.
3) I think it has been noted that it is significantly easier for an elementary school student to make up work and pass in comparison to a high school student. The learning is probably more focused, with only one or even two teachers (is this still the way it is?) istead of a battery of six or seven distinct subjects closer to college level. Thus, I would be hard pressed to say a high school, middle school, and elementary student would be able to make up work in the same capacity.
4) Although many children do their make-up work, in families on this board, the insight provided by MrsPete is eye opening. Her comment that the make-up work provided may not equal the actual work done in class in conjunction with homework, and is only a compromise is important to note. In addition, missing class discussions may hinder the child's ability to full understand by not hearing the information from the source and take away their ability to ask questions to clarify the points made by a text.
5) I feel this discussion is important to the DCL arena, as it gives parents and parents to be a perspective on when they should sail. It is as important a topic as seasonal pricing, length of cruises, and what port the Magic will be at in a given month.
These are just my thoughts. Thank you for listening!
OurDogCisco
DIS Veteran
- Joined
- May 30, 2002
- Messages
- 4,004
Since, I live in the San Juan school district, I want to say that you can use independent study for vacations. We are doing that for our Disney Cruise in the next couple of days. I tried to ask for the work earlier but no avail. The work is due the 1st school day that we return from the trip. I am told the work will be equivalent to about 4 hours of homework per school day missed. I am not sure if this will be a fun vacation in that regard. I intend to make sure my dd does all the work.
Honestly, I haven't formed an opinion either way. I see both sides of the coin. My dd is only in the 1st grade so, I really don't have experience with standardized test since, they don't begin until the 2nd grade.
We'll see how this disney cruise goes and decide after the trip if we'll ever pull her out for vacations.
I also, think MrsPete gave some good agruments.
- Status
Share this page
-
Five Biggest Wastes of Space in Disneyland Park
-
New Must-Try Eats in Disney Springs for a Limited Time
-
'The Lion King' Fireworks Coming to the Disney Adventure Ship
-
DIS Unlimited: Weekly Disney News & Discussion Podcast
-
Why EPCOT and Skyliner Resort Hotels Aren't Ideal for Rope Drop Families
-
New Bootlegger's Dinner at Enzo's Hideaway Disney Springs
-
NEW Disney Cruise Discount: 20% Off + $250 Onboard Credit
GET UP TO A $1000 SHIPBOARD CREDIT AND AN EXCLUSIVE GIFT!
If you make your Disney Cruise Line reservation with Dreams Unlimited Travel you’ll receive these incredible shipboard credits to spend on your cruise!
