To pull or not to pull kids out of school?

[crisi]

I vote for another variable in addition to age, school policy, state law, and the individual child and his ability to keep up. That's the number of days you are talking about. i.e. someone might feel differently about pulling their kids Friday afternoon for a few hours, when they have Monday and Tuesday off school, and missing half a day than they feel about pulling a child for two weeks. Also the frequency of the event - a once in a lifetime vacation (that truly is once in a lifetime and not Disney this year, Hawaii next) might be different for you than "we pull our kids out of school every year."

We pull ours for three days and will do so pretty much yearly until junior high. But I wouldn't pull my own for more than a week.

 

[Princess Mommy]

We are pulling the girls the 1st week in December- They are only in nursery school & kindergarten though.

 

[daisyduck123]

We pull our DD11(now 7th grade) & DS7 (now 2nd grade) each year for 5 or 6 days. We've never gone during peak times & never will (hopefully). It's just too nice going in the off season & being able to walk up to an attraction with no (or very little) wait. I am a teacher & know that above-average students grades should not suffer because of one week of school missed. I know how grading works, percentages, & everything else that determines grades on report cards in our county & one missed week can't drop someone from an "A" to a "C" if they are high achieving students.

It also works for us that our county is not as strict as some others listed here about attendance.

 

[jenimay]

My boys (1st and 2nd grade)will be out 3 days next week(the school is closed the other two), and possible the following Monday(we fly standby and the direct flights are pretty full on Sun, but open on Monday). I got all of their assignments ahead of time and we worked on some yesterday and will try and finish before we leave tommorow afternoon. We'll just bring some reading material so they can remain current with that.

I don't want them to miss too much school(hence scheduling it on a week they already had 2 days off), but there's no way we can vacation during the summer or holidays because the flights are full, plus dh can get his choice of vacation days in the fall. So if I have to make the choice, I'll choose taking them out of school for vacation. We took them out 3 days last year for a trip to Hawaii. Best 3 days out of school they could have had, and I'm hoping the trip to Disney will be the same.
I will probably do this for 2 more years and then have to stop. The older they get the harder it is to get caught up I think. We'll enjoy it while it lasts!

Jeni

 

[Captain Blue Sky]

PULL THEM OUT!

Don't settle on just going to WDW during the hot summers or over crowded vacation periods! The Fall is the best time to go, I think!

Your kids will not shrivel and die from missing a week or two for a vacation!

I'm dancin' for ya!

(Today is 'everyone dance' day!)

 

[3littleHalls]

We are doing it for the first time in January. DD is in Kindy, so I don't think that is as bad as the higher grades. Other than dr appts/and illness, Disney is our only other reason for missing school We have 3 young kids and my DH owns his own business. It just doesn't work for us to wait in long hot lines. This might be the only year we do this. We'll see

 

[lulugirl]

I agree w/ the majority, it depends on your child/school/circumstances.
I will pull my kids as long it works for our family.

 

[JDarling]

My folks pulled me out of school many times for "once in a life time trips". In Second grade, they pulled me out for a month long trip to Austrailia. In high school, they pulled me out a couple time for a week at a time for family vacations to New York and Disneyworld.

Every time they've pulled me out, I've been expected to do my homework or reports.

Basically, my parent's philosphy (and mine, now that I'm 25), is there are some things you can't learn in the class room. Sometimes it's worth pulling away from your books to remind you of the really imporant things - like who your family is.

It's up to you though!

 

[Bob NC]

I got reamed on here during one of these discussions. Someone posted ASKING if she was doing the right thing taking her kids out of school for a Dis vacation. She even said her son was really struggling in school. I know the OP isn't doing this, but WHY would someone post that question, then beat the heck out of someone for giving THEIR opinion.

We used to do the 'pulling kids out of school' thing, when the kids were younger. Ever since my daughter hit 6th or 7th grade, much as she loves Disney, she does NOT want to miss school for a vacation. She's straight A, honors courses in a private high school now. We kinda put the kids education above our personal convenience in relation to Disney vacations. For the past 4 years we have gone during school breaks and during the summer. I can't believe it is just coincidence that every one of those weeks we have picked have NOT been wall-to-wall, hour waits for everything kind of weeks. Sure, it's a little busier in June than November, but, we haven't experienced heavy to extreme crowding.

Look, the kids don't know the difference between a 2 minute wait or a 15 minute wait at Disney....The Disney addicted Moms & Dads, however, who read these boards....Want EVERYTHING to go perfectly, with NO wait times, best seat at every show, best eating time at every restaurant.

I think the excuses for pulling kids away from their educations are really stretched to the breaking point on this board.

All of the above is MY personal opinion.

 

[lyeag]

I have three kids -dd in 8th, dd in 2nd, and ds in pre k. I really don't think I am willing to pull them out of school for a vacation. I know lots of people do, but I am personally not comfortable with the idea. DD is in marching band so fall is totally out of the question with football season anyway.

Our district has a policy if a child misses more than 10 days in a semester, then the can be retained in that grade for missing too much time. It isn't automatic, but if you take your child on a vacation where they miss a week and then say they catch something nasty you could have problems here.

Also, dd 13, has the incentive not to miss more than 3 days. If you have an A in a class with 3 or less missed days, you are exempt from taking semester tests. For B's it 2 days, and C's it is one day. She is a straight A student and hasn't taken a single semester test in middle school. She doesn't want to miss the time and have to take the tests!

 

[disneyjunkie]

I got reamed on here during one of these discussions. Someone posted ASKING if she was doing the right thing taking her kids out of school for a Dis vacation. She even said her son was really struggling in school. I know the OP isn't doing this, but WHY would someone post that question, then beat the heck out of someone for giving THEIR opinion.

We used to do the 'pulling kids out of school' thing, when the kids were younger. Ever since my daughter hit 6th or 7th grade, much as she loves Disney, she does NOT want to miss school for a vacation. She's straight A, honors courses in a private high school now. We kinda put the kids education above our personal convenience in relation to Disney vacations. For the past 4 years we have gone during school breaks and during the summer. I can't believe it is just coincidence that every one of those weeks we have picked have NOT been wall-to-wall, hour waits for everything kind of weeks. Sure, it's a little busier in June than November, but, we haven't experienced heavy to extreme crowding.

Look, the kids don't know the difference between a 2 minute wait or a 15 minute wait at Disney....The Disney addicted Moms & Dads, however, who read these boards....Want EVERYTHING to go perfectly, with NO wait times, best seat at every show, best eating time at every restaurant.

I think the excuses for pulling kids away from their educations are really stretched to the breaking point on this board.

All of the above is MY personal opinion.

ITA

I could never pull my son (9th) out of school for a week just to go to WDW. I'd be willing to have him miss a day or two before a break but that's it.

We vacation during peak and regular seasons. I've always been able to get a great code for our room. In three trips we've only stood in three HUGE lines.

I would love to take a trip during value season. The Halloween party and Christmas parties are high on my must do list. However, they'll have to wait until 2009 when my son graduates from high school.

 

[tessqt]

I'm pulling mine out, kindergarten and 3rd. I was told (by teachers in the school) it would be easier now then 4th-8th. The school is big on family time and if we wanted we could pull them when they are older, but we are not regulars at WDW, not by my choice LOL, so I don't think that will be an issue. It is a private Catholic school too.

Good luck and have fun!!

 

[mom2kazkids]

We will be pulling out our kindergarten son for 8 days at the end of April, beginning of May. Our state allows for 10 days missed from school for family vacations. We decided to take a longer trip next year when we are pulling just one out, than the following year when there will be two in school.

Barb

 

[Rella Bella]

We have pulled our DS now a 4th grader for several days every year. We try to go during breaks or partial breaks so he misses a little as possible. So far his teachers assume it's his once in a lifetime trip... and we just don't correct them. I'm sure at some point they'll catch on but so far they each have been very encouraging... new priciple this year so things could go differently.
One year his teacher asked him to journal. One year she sent homework to do on the plane. We'll see how it goes this year! This is the first year he'll miss 5 full days. I load him with vitamins and vita-C to keep him healthy and he doesn't usually have sick days... so I figure he's even with the other kids.
It is so worth it going during school to miss the lines! With out the wait they get to experience so much more. And Future land at Epcot is very educational... at least this is how I justify it.

 

[rjthkids]

I vote for another variable in addition to age, school policy, state law, and the individual child and his ability to keep up.

I agree, I don't think there is a blanket answer to this question.
We are a homeschooling family, one of the many upsides to homeschooling is getting to take a vacation whenever you feel like it!

 

[DISNEYLOVER70]

I take my DD12 and DS 8 out for 5-7 days for vacation and I don't think that I am putting my vacation convenience before their education. Education ranks very high in my family, we have dr.'s, pharmacists.... If your child struggles daily, then yes, it would be of concern to miss that much time. But my children don't and haven't been harmed by it in anyway, their lives have only been enriched

You are going to get mixed vibes on the DIS, I would go by your gut feelings (you know your child best) or ask the teacher what he/she thinks of it.

 

[JenDaveBrendan]

Ahhhhh... I love this topic..... I posted recently on this (titled "pulling kindergartener out for 2 weeks), and yes, I received many mixed replies. Very hot topic..
I decided to pull DS 5 out for 2 weeks this Jan... I think though that this will be the last year we will do this. After this year, I would probably pull him out for a week in the 1st/2nd grade, then see how he is doing from there. I think that in middle/high school the kids miss too much to pull them out for vacation. But then again, I guess this also depends on how your kids are doing and the schools policies on vacations.
However, you know your kids and what is right for your family, so go with what you think is best. It really doesn't matter what other people think!!
Personally I hated traveling to Disney during school vacations growing up, and I will never do it again!! After going in the off-season, you will never go back to going in peak season!
Good luck!
Jen

 

[we3disneygo]

we pulled dd out of school for a week at disney in kindergarten, 3rd and 4th grades, next year dd will be in 7th grade and we will take her out for a week, she is now going to a private school which requests that you take your vacations when school is not in session, but dh works retail and can only take time off during certain months. so.......... we might just say it's a family situation...... my dad does live in FL so he might need us to visit for some family reason.......

 

[kkheburn]

I think it depends on how your child is doing in school. I have a 5th grader and we have let the teachers know what days she will miss and she will do the work on the way to DL and will have the weekend too. We leave on Tuesday and come home Saturday. We are having a little trouble in math but she will go to her tutor when we get back so she does not get behind.

 

[*Fantasia*]

To Pull or Not to Pull Kids out of School?

I know this is a very hot topic - it seems everyone has an opinion.

If the answer is yes, how old is too old to pull out of school for a once in a lifetime trip to see the Mouse?

I only read your post. And no debate here. How old is too old. Ask your child.. she/he will let you know. My son who is in 3rd grade told me before the school started that he will not miss a day of school. I respect that and I will grant his wish.

It really depends on the student, how they're doing in school. It depends on the school system too. It depends on how long you're planing to take your child out and when.