To Pull or Not To Pull??? That is the question

[Terk-1]

My nephews will be in school (1 will be in 1st grade and the other in Pre-K) during our upcoming trip at the end of September. We are now facing the debate of pulling them out to go to WDW. What is your thought?

 

[DisneyFix]

If you haven't already, you might want to do this poll on the Families board also.

We always take our dd's out of school. Our oldest will be in 2nd grade this fall, and we're taking her out. Our youngest will be in kindergarten. We've taken them out every year since preschool, and we won't do it any other way until they show signs that it's too difficult to keep up in class. Hopefully, that time is still a few years away. Our dd's go to private school, and the teachers are very supportive of their trips to WDW. In fact, I noticed that many of the families take their children out of school for their WDW vacations, which makes me feel better (a little less guilt regarding the work they'll have to make up when we get back to the real world).
If it gets to the point that it's too difficult for them to keep up with the class, then we'll consider the 7-Day Disney cruise, where I don't think it will matter if we vacation when everyone else vacations (peak season), as you can only fit "so many" on a cruise ship, right?!

 

[Jacket93]

We usually take our children out of school for trips to WDW, But early in the school year when it is mostly review of last years work.

 

[Disnydad]

We take our two out (now 3rd & 4th grades) all the time. We do however do it when there is a long weekend. Example: Veterans Day or Martin Luther King Day. Cuts down on the days they miss. Also, most years we have been "lucky" and there have been some snow days that happened while we were there.

 

[ShuisFan584]

If the kids are that young, I would say to take them out of school. They wouldn't be missing much work at that age and the crowds are much lighter around that time.

My family goes in the summer now because I'm a junior and my sister is in eigth grade and we would probably miss a lot of work in school at our age. But when we were younger, my parents took us out of school to go to Disney, one year in September and another in October.

 

[rbuzzotta]

We have taken our DD out of school every year to go to WDW. She is now in the 4th grade and next year will be in the Middle School. We try to take her out when it is either a long weekend or there is a teachers inservice day or half day during the week.

We feel that she learns alot about other cultures and people when we vacation at WDW. She gets to spend good quality time with us and her 2 younger DD's. I will continue to do this so long as she doesn't fall behind or have difficulty making up the work.

I say, "Go For It" at this young age and then ponder over it in later years.

 

[randyro]

We'll see you there during the last week of September!

Mom, Dad, Son (2nd grader), Son (Kindergarten) and Daughter (Pre-K).

Vacation with the family will have a far more lasting impact than one week of school.

Go for it!

 

[Poohmom]

Pull em'!

We did with our kids two years in a row, and they had no problems with school! Plan ahead, let the teachers know.

I can't imagine taking them in the hot busy summer or the busy, busy holidays when they're young. Maybe as teenagers... even then I'd have a hard time dealing with the crowds.

Have Fun!!!

 

[ugadog99]

I am an elementary teacher in Georgia. I have taught K,2,3,4 grades for the last 17 years. I say without hesitation, pull the kids out! In fact, my own two children will miss 2 1/2 days in November. Don't let a teacher fool you, your kids CAN make up the work missed. The teacher just doesn't want to take the time to pull the work prior to the trip or to catch the kids up if needed. Have a great time. They grow up way too fast and Disney is TOO magical to miss.

 

[sha_lyn]

I'm sorry but I really don't think it teaches kids commitment to school to pull them out to go on a vacation. That is what school vacations are for. It also makes it harder on the kids in other way other than just catching up. I know from when I was in school and from what my Ds has seen in school the kids who do get out of school to go somewhere are picked on by the other students. Don't get me wrong I don't think a day
or too tagging onto a long weekend is wrong but I have ran across may on these boards that take their children out for 2 weeks at a time. I know in our district I would never chance taking them out for that long becasue anything over 15 days during a 1/2 yr requires a hearing to pass on to the next grade and anything over I believe 5 unexcussed absense (sp?) a 1/2 yr or it might be 10 a yr but not broken up into 1/2 yr, is automatic failure.

 

[disney09/2001]

We are doing this in September with our DD who is in 2nd grade. She has made straight A's all through 1st grade and I am sure will have no problem catching up on the work. We are celebrating a special occasion on this trip and that's what made us choose September.

In your case pre-k is not mandatory so you should have no problem with taking that child out of school. As far as the first grader, if he/she did well in Kindergarten I wouldn't worry about taking them out of school either. They will probably just be reviewing at the beginning of school. I would let the school know ASAP to know how they feel about taking kids out of school. Every school is different when it comes to this!!

GOOD LUCK IN MAKING THIS TOUGH DECISION!!!!

 

[lisapooh]

As early as possible as the first weeks of school are basically review.
Also make sure your district doesn't have a absentee rule. In ours if a child misses more than 5 days the parents are called in for a conference and they can be referred to HRS. Be sure any notes for absences are turned in pronto and you keep a copy in case the teacher misplaces it. And don't give it to a sub! Some are great. Others I wouldn't give a plug nickle for. And I am a sub. I take notes and staple them to the notes for the teacher and staple that to the subfolder but not all do.

 

[poohlover]

I say pull them now while they are young. It gets much harder as they get older.

2 yrs ago we pulled our kids for a fall trip, our oldest was in 8th grade, one in 6th, 3rd and 1st. My 8th grader was given a lot of work to do to keep up with the classes, but just not being in class for discussions made it difficult for her. And she's a very good student.

We went in Feb. during our winter break. She said there was no way she could miss a week of school and keep the grades she wants! Plus when they get older the get involved in sports and other things that take up LOTS of time. It makes it harder to get away at all.

Go now and enjoy!

 

[Disneydays]

I agree with the majority of responders here. I see no problem taking them out of school when they are younger. Most teachers are great about it and even give "educational" assignments such as keeping a journal, etc.
It does get harder when they are older. You know your child best and will be able to determine if an absence from school will be too difficult to overcome.
My mom raised me with the philosophy that you never know what tomorrow may bring...limit any potential regret..and enjoy your family to the fullest every day....
(not always easy tho)...I will be pulling my dd's out next December...they will be in 7th and 8th grade....bet there will be lots of homework in the hotel at nite!!!!

 

[candykisses]

My boys will be in 9th & 2nd grade this year. We will be at WDW this year from Nov 2-12. My little one will not have a problem with making up work as he will be given a packet ahead of time. And during that time he will only miss 2 full days and the rest half days due to parent conferences.

My older son may not receive his work ahead of time. We will call the voice mail system our school has for assignments and he will also check with select friends for assignments. We will copy his text books, so that he doesn't have to carry them to WDW.

Going in the summer for us is generally out of the question since my husband is paralyzed and has a hard time regulating body tempature.

Next year we may have to go in Aug because of the workload in 10th grade but we'll see.

 

[EAJ1071]

All I have to say is you all are very lucky.....as any abscence that last more than 2 consecutive school days here must have a valid excuse.....which is one of two things..........physicians documentation and death of a immediate family member and/or grandparents (and believe it or not hey can request proof) anything else is unexcused. And 4 or more unexcused in a semester is considered truancy and can result in the parent spending some time in the detention center for failure to send a child to school.....and I am referring to the jail not the room in the school......and believe it or not is does happen......so needless to say a lot of people around here plan on four or five day weekends which we have like three or four of per school year in adition to holidays and breaks........Liz

 

[LisaT]

I think it depends when in the school year and for how long the trip will be. Generally, I think anything more than a week is excessive.

Meet the teacher ASAP and get lesson plans ahead and plan ahead! Find out if any testing will be held while your chld could be away or shortly after returning.

I would not want to remove my child later in the school year when testing and evaluations are heavy and very important (not only for my child, but for the school!) Testing scores in my area affect how much funding they will get in the NEXT year!

I give his teacher every consideration of time to give us lesson plans ahead of time. I either make him do them ahead of vacation or during. He would rather not do them during vacation, so he does the extra effort. I did have him keep a journal of our trip, so he is working on his writing, spelling, etc. I have him keep a bank book to keep track of spending, so he practices math.
This year, Epcot is going to be a little of a science trip!
You might even ask a teacher if their child can write a report on the trip?

Yes, I think the younger children are, the easier it is to pull them out, but I also think that the lower grades are foundation years. THis is when young students develop a work ethic in dedication to their schoolwork and social structure!

Good luck
Lisa

 

[sleepingbeauty1212]

My Dh and I are taking our neice and nephew next sept. 1-11 and we are having their mother pull them out of school, my neice will be in 2nd grade and nephew in 4th. The memories will last forever( sounds good doesn't it)

 

[Poly Pal]

Sorry, I would not pull my children out of school to go on vacation. In my book, that teaches putting pleasure before work - not very responsible IMO. Would you leave your job to go to Disney if you did not have the vacation time? I don't think so. School is my children's work.

Happy vacation memories can be made anytime during the year. As for those of you who think a trip to Disney World is a wonderful cultural experience for your children, it is - but it is all American culture. Yes, a trip to Disney can be full of learning experiences. But while there will always be another day at Disney World, you only get so many days of school.

 

[thinkerbell]

I'm a teacher and I also say TAKE THEM TO DISNEY!! A few days out of school is NOT going to make or break their whole year. We have always let our son take "Tom Sawyer Days" with his grandpa to go fishing. I see absolutely nothing wrong with it. I do value work and I do think it is very important in life but it isn't the MOST important. Staying out of your job without vacation days and staying out of school a few days is two different things. If I stay out of my job for a few days without vacation days I will lose my job. In most cases staying out of school for a few days will not make me repeat unless I am not doing well to begin with. My daughter is 20 with a part-time job. We have let her miss days of school before but she would never think of taking off of her job unless it is scheduled vacation or if she was sick (which hasn't happened in the four years that she has been working). I think as children grow they can see the difference in the two.