Told the school today...

[CowboyCO]

I am awaiting flames here, but it seems that all of you seem to think the rules are here to keep your kids from Disney and to make your lives miserable. As a HS teacher, I see a huge corrollation between absenteeism and academic performance as well as many other things. Maybe your communities have people, unlike all you SAHMs who want to homeschool and take your kids to every activity, that don't care about their kids education and let them stay home 2-3 times a week because they are "sick" or the weather is bad, or they are hung-over, or they were at a concert last night...

The fact that we all have to deal with a few hoops and endure a little momentary guilt (which all of you agree is unwarranted) is something I'll gladly keep as a "tax" to help keep those other "non-Disney" kids in school where they are safe and have a chance to better themselves. You know in your heart of hearts that you're probably not going to be arrested for taking your kids to Disney, unless you are being excessive, but maybe some other negligent parent will be, saving a kid's future. Enjoy your trips, be responsible and know that we as educational professionals are behind parents who love their kids as much as we do. You'd be surprised by the number who don't...

 

[Threeriversdisneyfan]

Yes-I was quite SHOCKED to hear her say that... I was literally waiting for her to say she was just kidding..... but the principal of our elementary school has this thing about wanting to be #1 for attendance in the district. There are 16 public schools in our city and we always fall in 2nd or 3rd place. My DD had perfect attendance last year in Kindergarten, but my neighbor called her DD out on a couple of occasions. Once, the principal answered and she gave my neighbor the 3rd degree. She said if her DD did not have a fever and was not throwing up or complaining of diarrhea, she should be in school The superintendant and school board just instituted a policy where you cannot have more than 10 absences during the school year or else you will automatically be held back I wish I had the patience to homeschool!!!!!

I can see if the principal had some rules or policy to back him/her, but to force sick kids to school for a selfish reason is just wrong. Sending a sick kid to school probally usually increases the length of the cold/sickness9 due lack of rest) and it potentially exposes the the entire school. I would hope that this princpal realizes forcing sick to school only creates a snowball effect (there goes that #1 ranking). The next time at very public meeting, I would ask him/her what's more important, striving for #1 for attendance or #1 in standardize testing? Ask him/her if they ever called and gave the 3rd degree to parent of kid who just got an "D" or "F"?

It's getting to the point you need a lawyer anytime you take your kids out of school. The problem with school is as children we are forced to obey and never question the teacher, the majority of parents never out grow this. Respecting teachers is something I always do, it one of the toughest jobs out there, however I will not let them bully my kids or me.

 

[barkley]

our school finaly realized that allot of the parents can't get vacation time during the summer or standard breaks (and they also aknowledge that it's not the best time financialy for people to travel) but they realy support the concept of traveling for the educational benefits or the 'family time'. so they revised their school calendar and took several of the odd or minimum days off (non holiday tied) and threw them into the week of president's day. so the kids have a week off on a week that most parents get the monday off and they are encouraging people to use this non peak travel time for planned vacations.

 

[TAKitty]

I am awaiting flames here, but it seems that all of you seem to think the rules are here to keep your kids from Disney and to make your lives miserable. As a HS teacher, I see a huge corrollation between absenteeism and academic performance as well as many other things. Maybe your communities have people, unlike all you SAHMs who want to homeschool and take your kids to every activity, that don't care about their kids education and let them stay home 2-3 times a week because they are "sick" or the weather is bad, or they are hung-over, or they were at a concert last night...

The fact that we all have to deal with a few hoops and endure a little momentary guilt (which all of you agree is unwarranted) is something I'll gladly keep as a "tax" to help keep those other "non-Disney" kids in school where they are safe and have a chance to better themselves. You know in your heart of hearts that you're probably not going to be arrested for taking your kids to Disney, unless you are being excessive, but maybe some other negligent parent will be, saving a kid's future. Enjoy your trips, be responsible and know that we as educational professionals are behind parents who love their kids as much as we do. You'd be surprised by the number who don't...

I am a high school teacher as well, and there isn't always a correlation between absenteeism and academic performance. As a parent you know your child best, take them out of school if you think they can handle it.

I have students miss all the time for vacations. In fact, my school excuses any absence as long as a parent has called. There is also no limit to the number of days that can be taken off of school!

It saddens me to see the rights of parents diminish as the school gains more control.

 

[dmonroe]

We are another family that has to take vacation during the school year. Dh has to request vacation time a year in advance, and it is granted based on seniority. We take 2 family vacations a year. We don't have any trouble getting 1 week in the summer; but we will possibly never get a week when school is out for any other holiday. Right now it is easy because ds is in 2nd grade. I know it will be more difficult as he gets older.
Our school district isn't too bad about missing though. We get 12 unexcused days per year. We usually pull him out for 6 days for Disney. Any other days he misses are because he is sick.

 

[shelly3girls]

We just enrolled our children in public school after 3 years of private. I was very nervous about the policy. When I spoke to the principal he said go and have fun! He said the teachers may or may not send work but it is his policy that children are to have fun and there are many ways to learn in and out of the classroom. He sounded very in touch with the fact that not everyone gets time off during school holidays. I get 4 weeks vacation yet there are only 5 days all summer I can take off. This forces us to vacation during the school year so we have always taken the kids out of school. But we are diligent with making up work and they each only had one sick day in the past three years.

I can understand how some people may abuse. That is why I like the idea of not banning but limiting missed days. In our high school each child can have up to 11 unexcused absences. As long as you have a dr. note it does not count towards these days.

 

[leighe]

I am awaiting flames here, but it seems that all of you seem to think the rules are here to keep your kids from Disney and to make your lives miserable. As a HS teacher, I see a huge corrollation between absenteeism and academic performance as well as many other things. Maybe your communities have people, unlike all you SAHMs who want to homeschool and take your kids to every activity, that don't care about their kids education and let them stay home 2-3 times a week because they are "sick" or the weather is bad, or they are hung-over, or they were at a concert last night...

The fact that we all have to deal with a few hoops and endure a little momentary guilt (which all of you agree is unwarranted) is something I'll gladly keep as a "tax" to help keep those other "non-Disney" kids in school where they are safe and have a chance to better themselves. You know in your heart of hearts that you're probably not going to be arrested for taking your kids to Disney, unless you are being excessive, but maybe some other negligent parent will be, saving a kid's future. Enjoy your trips, be responsible and know that we as educational professionals are behind parents who love their kids as much as we do. You'd be surprised by the number who don't...

ITA with your post. I'm a high school teacher and a parent and it breaks my heart when I think about how many kids sit in my classroom every day whose parents don't care where they are or if they are in school or not. Then I have kids whose parents do care but let them miss school like crazy. I had a student last year in my honors class that missed I'd say about an average of 2 days a week. She missed almost a week once because her boyfriend's mom had surgery and she was supposedly at the hospital with him and his family the whole time!

The rules aren't there because schools have some kind of complex and want to keep parents from making decisions. I think vacation time is very important and if your work schedule prevents you from going during school breaks then, by all means, miss school. The rules are there because there are plenty of parents who wouldn't do the right thing otherwise.

 

[danalee]

Oh boy my little guy starts tomorrow, and I will be dropping the "He will miss days for disney" bomb!

I called the school a couple of weeks ago and spoke with the secretary who was really nice UNTIL I told her about are trip

My son will be in 2nd grade and does well, so I am not worried about that, if I were I wouldnt be going at this time. Like alot of you its really hard for my DH to vacation in summer months anymore. He did it last year and swore he wouldnt do it again

I did look up policy in our school district and we are allowed 5 days for vacation, so at least I have that on my side when I have to personally confront the secretary in the morning!

 

[kribit]

We haven't even been to Disney this year, and we're already planning our next trip in Dec 07! My dtwins will be in K at this point and we're thinking of pulling them out for a week. I know this is far too premature given they just turned 4...I like to pre-plan.

Seriously, when I was younger, my parents pulled me out in September (I went to private school), and I never remember having an issue. However, we plan on sending my children to the same private school, and I think things have changed a bit. Certainly, they can't TELL us what to do, but they can "recommend" against it. In all honesty, we're going to gauge our children over the next year and actually see if it's a feasible option to miss school. If not, looks like it's back to August!

Have a great trip!

 

[Harmony]

Haven't read all of the responses (but plan to later on) so I don't if this has been brought of yet but can't you un-enroll him/her in the school and just re-enroll your child when you get back from vacation? Just "homeschool" the child for the days/week that you are in WDW. After all, isn't WDW a wonderful learning experience? Would this idea be "doable" or am I just dreaming up a way to take my children to WDW w/o being punished by the school board? LOL

 

[disnutt]

and threw them into the week of president's day. so the kids have a week off on a week that most parents get the monday off and they are encouraging people to use this non peak travel time for planned vacations.

That week is quickly becoming a peak travel time as lots of folks from my former state of CT and other cold NE states are taking time to catch some sun.

 

[noodleknitter]

ITA with your post. I'm a high school teacher and a parent and it breaks my heart when I think about how many kids sit in my classroom every day whose parents don't care where they are or if they are in school or not. Then I have kids whose parents do care but let them miss school like crazy. I had a student last year in my honors class that missed I'd say about an average of 2 days a week. She missed almost a week once because her boyfriend's mom had surgery and she was supposedly at the hospital with him and his family the whole time!

The rules aren't there because schools have some kind of complex and want to keep parents from making decisions. I think vacation time is very important and if your work schedule prevents you from going during school breaks then, by all means, miss school. The rules are there because there are plenty of parents who wouldn't do the right thing otherwise.

Actually the rules have very little to do with caring about the children and a ton to do with finances.

 

[kmccain]

This happened to me too! I received a letter stating that my children had received illegal days. It went on about jail! I went to the Superintendent and he told me it was nothing to worry about, nothing to worry about! You are threatening jail!

I went on the Department of Education site and they have a Family and Educational trip policy. I think it is like 10 days a year that is allowed. I wrote a letter to our school board and they adopted the policy.

We have papers signed by all the children’s teachers with their homework for the time they are away and then the principal approves it.

 

[ryka]

Haven't read all of the responses (but plan to later on) so I don't if this has been brought of yet but can't you un-enroll him/her in the school and just re-enroll your child when you get back from vacation? Just "homeschool" the child for the days/week that you are in WDW. After all, isn't WDW a wonderful learning experience? Would this idea be "doable" or am I just dreaming up a way to take my children to WDW w/o being punished by the school board? LOL

This wouldn't work in my daughter's school. They have a waiting list of kids trying to get into this school. If I un-enrolled her somebody would take her place and she would then have to go to a totally different school and the one she is in now is the best school in the city we live in. ( that's why there is a waiting list)

 

[disneyjunkie]

our school finaly realized that allot of the parents can't get vacation time during the summer or standard breaks (and they also aknowledge that it's not the best time financialy for people to travel) but they realy support the concept of traveling for the educational benefits or the 'family time'. so they revised their school calendar and took several of the odd or minimum days off (non holiday tied) and threw them into the week of president's day. so the kids have a week off on a week that most parents get the monday off and they are encouraging people to use this non peak travel time for planned vacations.

Presidents Day week is PEAK season. I'm waiting to book airfare from JFK to MCO. So far the cheapest fare I can find for our dates is $900.00+ for my son and me.

 

[TheLittleRoo]

Actually the rules have very little to do with caring about the children and a ton to do with finances.

Exactly! My mom and sisters are teachers (retired and current) in a metropolitan school district, and explained to me that the child's school receives money based on your child being in attendance that day. Absent= loss of $250/day or more (this was about 10 years ago when she told me so figure for inflation it's now like $400...)

Naturally, the school wants that money per child per day to go into their coffers, thus the new "requirements" about limiting unexcused absences make a lot more sense. The schools don't seem to have an issue with checking out a child after 11:00 am, when they've taken attendance for the day.

As for my family, my son is 11 and like another poster here, he is also gifted and frankly bored in class most of the time. Luckily, I've never had any problems with his teachers giving us his assignments (which I also do when he's sick and "excused") but they also acknowledge he doesn't need to worry about keeping up because he could jump right back into the material upon his return. My other two are still too young for school but when they start, our decision to take family vacations during the school year will be based on whether or not their grades will suffer by missing the days. If yes, we don't go. If not, we go.

I think it all boils down to finances for the school. Yes, some teachers really do care about the kids whose parents are hungover and just can't be bothered to get their kids to school, and yes that happens sometimes, so that is the reason given to the majority of families who question the rules. But losing all that funding makes it hard to staff the schools, and that's the real bottom line, imo.

 

[leighe]

Actually the rules have very little to do with caring about the children and a ton to do with finances.

Well, yes, the school does recieve funding on a per child/per day basis but I don't see why people tend to stress that as if the school personel are lining their own pockets! It's not like the school administration gets a bonus for every day all of my students are in class. That money is used to buy books and computers and to pay salaries and all the other basic operations of the district. I agree that it's not a very efficient way to fund schools but a lot of that money is used to benefit students.

 

[TheLittleRoo]

That money is used to buy books and computers and to pay salaries and all the other basic operations of the district. I agree that it's not a very efficient way to fund schools but a lot of that money is used to benefit students.

Leigh - I definitely don't think the teachers are lining their pockets! IMO, they are underpaid for what they do, but that's another thread.

I think the problem lies with the way the school board funds the schools: why on earth should daily attendance numbers matter in the disbursement of funds to each school? Wouldn't the student population numbers be enough? Why not allocate funds to the school based on enrollment figures, rather than docking schools for absentees? That part just doesn't make sense to me.

Like I said, I've never encountered a teacher yet who gave me a hard time or really raised an eyebrow about my son's few unexcused absences. It's not as if he's missed more than 3-4 days per year for family vacations. But, for all the other parents who have gotten a ration of grief from a teacher, I'd bet it's because the teachers are getting pressure from the school superintendent on down to the principal about making sure the kids are in school every day. It's especially apparent in those schools where absent kids get an automatic zero, or have to "appeal" more than 3 unexcused days. Again, it seems to come back to funding based on attendance.

 

[robynguad]

As I sit here, I have a form in front of me asking the educational value of our trip. Do I honestly go on and on about Epcot and learning cultures of other countries, or studying animals and dinosaurs at Animal Kingdom? Or how about a lesson in air travel in a post-9/11 world? Ridiculous.

 

[flortlebap]

It's not strictly legal to do it here in the UK. For a holiday perhaps, but for a day out to a theme park, absolute no no, the truancy officers (branch of the police) would escort the child back to school and the parents would face a fine.

Yet we are taking my niece out of school for 10 full days! She is doing the work before we leave and it won't have any lasting effect on her (we hope). The school weren't best pleased about it but what can they do? It's the trip of a lifetime for them, they'll never go again and it was all paid for by my MIL (she nearly died last year and so this is a celebration trip )

Anyway they're YOUR kids. Not the school's. Sod what they think.