Told the school today...

[sbpuckett]

Yesterday I sat down and typed up a letter for both the office and the teacher to let them know that my son will be absent from Oct. 20 - 27, returning on the 30th. I offered the teacher the opp to send work early and we will have it turned in before he leaves (marking period ends the day he returns to school). I also offered the teacher the opp to assign extra credit work for him relating to Disney that might enhance his experience there. He is in 1st grade by the way...

The secretary read the letter and looked at me and said... "you realize this will be unexcused absences!" Duhh...

The teacher wrote me a note thanking me for giving her such notice and that she would definitely be sending his work early.

I was also told by a parent that I should check with the BOE in regards to his absences b/c they may excuse a day or so of it based on the educational values of Epcot and other park areas... Although he is generally in good health and doesn't normally miss school (3 days due to illness last year I believe) I would love to limit the number of unexcused days but also am not going to stress over it!

I just thought it was really funny that the secretary thought I would expect our vacation to be excused!!

 

[The Great Baboo]

They call them illegal absences where my kids go to school -- have 3 days coming up in November and 6 days in January --trying to spread it out so the school may not notice ---but it's not going to stop us from going (5th grader & 1st grader)

 

[sbpuckett]

Illegal absences??? Wow! That sounds really harsh... do you get arrested or something? No, really, sometimes the schools can be ridiculous... not every parent out there lets their kids stay home all of the time.

 

[julsmom]

That "illegal absences" thing is really ridiculous. Sometimes I really don't like how my DD's school makes me feel as a mom. Like they have taken over some kind of ownership of her and I have to tread carefully regarding it.

 

[OhioFamily]

Our school system is very harsh on any time taken off for vacations. They sometimes won't let a child make up work and will just give them a zero. School times are the only times that my husband and I can both take off of work to use any vacation time. I think it's ridiculous that I can't call my son off without getting the 3rd degree... Why he's out?, what's wrong with him?, is he sick?, what are his symptoms?.. it gets crazy.
I can understand them being hesitant for students that are struggling in school, but my son is on the honor roll and is listed as one of Ohio's gifted children. I doubt a week of fun at Disney will cause any damage. Sorry, just got ranted and couldn't stop

 

[CherCrazy]

Our school district is incredibly tough too. They do the unexcused absence thing and make you feel like a bad parent. To me, travel is a gift and a wonderful learning experience, but they don't seem to take it that way.

One of my friends owns a travel agency. Her son has travelled all over the WORLD, not Disney World , and you should hear the grief she gets. This kid has been to places most of us only dream of! He even had a tux for the formal nights on the cruises by the time he was 5.
I don't understand how the schools can't consider that a learning experience.

 

[tinkerbell211]

No wonder more and more people choose to homeschool! Sounds a little "socialistic" to me!! Is Big Brother watching?

 

[ilovejack02]

That "illegal absences" thing is really ridiculous. Sometimes I really don't like how my DD's school makes me feel as a mom. Like they have taken over some kind of ownership of her and I have to tread carefully regarding it.

Hence the reason I am considering homeschooling, LOL I prob better put on my flame retardent suit hehe.

 

[fakereadhed]

I think it is ridiculous that schools want to have that much conrol over the kids when the families that are vacationing together are usually the ones who also value learning and make sure their kids make up their assignment.

If the school does not allow my kids to take our vacation in Dec. for five days I will disenroll them. There are lots of other school districts in the area that would like my tax dollars. I could also home school them for the remainder of the year and enroll them in the fall.

 

[VirtuallyMe]

Our school pitches a fit if I pick my kid up 30 minutes early for an immediately afterschool dental appointment...

They have in the past approved our family trips when we are doing historical reinactments- because it is educational- shoot usually most days we have school kids and teachers that my kids are teaching lol

My kids rarely miss for illness so a few days here or there wouldn't bother me to pull them out- but I would ask the teacher for work ahead of time if I can get it- most are more than willing to give you something

Oh and Girl Scout trips- I've pulled girls out for Girl Scout trips before and all have been fully approved, but try to take them to the dentist... and I get the third degree lol

 

[luckymommy]

Hey all....being a teacher I know how you all feel. Unfortuantely, the schools are coming down hard on the parents because the state departments are coming down hard on us. Within my own classroom I love it when parents want to take their kids out for vacations. I think family time is just as important as school time. I can see both sides...

 

[MNRMommy]

I was terrified to tell our 1st grad teacher that we were going to be gone from Oct. 11th through the 23rd. Thanks to Fall Break and weekends the 13 day trip only equates to 6 missed school days. She was AWESOME. She said she likes to send journals with the parents and I told her that I was actually taking a journal for my DS to compile and she thought that was perfect. She said she would be done with testing by then and it should all be ok and even set up my conference for when we get back. I don't think we will take so many days off as he gets older but this is kind of a blow out for when I quit my job later this year to stay at home more so we are going for it.

 

[DisneyDad in PA]

Hey all....being a teacher I know how you all feel. Unfortuantely, the schools are coming down hard on the parents because the state departments are coming down hard on us. Within my own classroom I love it when parents want to take their kids out for vacations. I think family time is just as important as school time. I can see both sides...

And the states are coming down hard because they will lose some federal funding if they don't follow what the feds want. But

My DD and DS's school district allow 2 "Educational" trips per year not totaling more than 5 days. So when I take my kids out of 4th and 2nd grade, in 17 days , they will not be marked as unexcused as long as I notify them at least one week in advance.

 

[sue]

We have a child in 8th grade and I can't begin to tell you how many days a year that she comes home and says this teacher or that teacher wasn't in school again to teach us. Yet, the school pitches a holy fit when we take her out for no more than a week per school year for a well deserved clear our heads family vacation. The state pays the school for everyday your child is there for the school year. I realize the school wants their money, but we want the teacher's there too. It is hard for the students as well to have different teachers teaching their class every other day. Some kids don't handle change well and their grades may suffer as a result.
Hope this year is a good one for all of you and your children !! Don't be afraid to show your kids you love them and love being around them. Family vacations can be a very good thing for all that particpate !! I bet if you offered to take the teachers with, you wouldn't have a problem at all.

 

[schlepsnort]

What I don't get is that with the new HIPAA laws I wouldn't think that schools would be allowed to ask personal medical information. And I would consider doc., dentist, and even illness call ins to be protected under that. If I have to call in my child because he is sick, that is all I'm going to say, he is sick, he will not be in school PERIOD.
I understand the school position because of all the new requirements, etc. so they are in essence covering their beehinds but still, it shouldn't be at the expense of the parents and making them feel like felons for taking little Johnnie or Susie on a family trip for a few days!!

We told our sons teachers this week that he will be missing two days at the end of September and they were very excited for him to get to go to WDW! Though DS is very excited about going to school! I think for about 3 seconds he will be upset that he is missing school once he figures out that we are going to Mickey Mouse House!

 

[sukhakuli]

That "illegal absences" thing is really ridiculous. Sometimes I really don't like how my DD's school makes me feel as a mom. Like they have taken over some kind of ownership of her and I have to tread carefully regarding it.

This was a big factor in our decision to homeschool our kids. I'm the mom, I make the decisions. Period. We're lucky to live in a big homeschooling area, and most of the moms at my church homeschool as well, so we have a co op. I also love the one on one time my daughter and I spend together doing school. It's so much fun. Today for arts and crafts we made recycled crayons. The flexibility is great, too, because we can do school when she is in the best mood for it (like early morning and before bed, and I avoid her cranky times of day), and of course we can vacation whenever.

 

[ryanally]

We have a child in 8th grade and I can't begin to tell you how many days a year that she comes home and says this teacher or that teacher wasn't in school again to teach us. Yet, the school pitches a holy fit when we take her out for no more than a week per school year for a well deserved clear our heads family vacation. The state pays the school for everyday your child is there for the school year. I realize the school wants their money, but we want the teacher's there too. It is hard for the students as well to have different teachers teaching their class every other day. Some kids don't handle change well and their grades may suffer as a result.
Hope this year is a good one for all of you and your children !! Don't be afraid to show your kids you love them and love being around them. Family vacations can be a very good thing for all that particpate !! I bet if you offered to take the teachers with, you wouldn't have a problem at all.

ITA... DS kindergarten teacher was absent in March/April more than she was there. She missed almost 3 weeks at one point. She did have a death in the family, but where I work you get 3 days off with pay. Granted she may not have gotten paid for the majority of the time off, but it was not the only time she was off that school year.
As for family vacations, we also feel that spending time as a family unit is important. Life is too short.
The only days that DS missed last year, were the 7 we used for 2 Disney vacations. Do I feel a little sheepish telling the school? Yes, but will we stop going during the school year? Not til he is older. As long as he keeps up, we are going!

 

[Tinker53]

WOW I am shocked you all have to go though all this. I sent my 4 DS's letter to the School on Wednesday telling them they would be out for 5 days in Oct. it was sent to the board and signed as an excused absent and I got the call Thursday afternoon. I guess we are lucky!
Sorry to hear you have such a problem with yours schools

My DH and I said even if they don't give us the okay, we were going anyway because they are our kids and this is a once in a life time trip. My kids are good students and we are willing to keep up the work and make sure they don't fall behind as well.

I am still shocked that other Schools are that bad.

Hope you all have a wonderful trip

 

[angel's momma]

We live in a small rural community, and fortunately our school district is very relaxed about this.

All that's required is a note to the teacher a week before, and it's an excused absence. They don't "allow" the student to do homework during the trip, they have how ever many days are missed to make up the work when they return.

This is our 3rd year taking DD out, and all 3 teachers have been great. This year's teacher asked if we would adopt her so she can go with.

 

[ryka]

Here if you have 3 or more days absent from highschool in each marking period you have to appeal. They only grant your appeal if you have doctor's note. If you aren't granted one then you get left back. Sometimes they make part of your appeal that you attend summer school and that costs about $300.

We also have state testing in almost every grade starting from kindergarten. So I think maybe that is why they are very strict about missing days here. My daughter had to take the test in May for kindergarten. Now when she goes back for 1st grade next week they will start preparing them for the test they have to take in May.