What about Disney is educational?

[Susiec]

My schools did not deem Disney as educational, so it would be a moot point in trying to make them think so. The teachers were fine with my elementary school age kids going, even if the admins didn't think so.

I also sent my DD on a trip to NYC when in HS, thinking that visiting a new place with lots of new experiences, some educational would merit the trip being 'educational'. Nope. Unexcused absences.

It's most likely that your days off will be considered unexcused. But, you do get a number of those a year to take.

The school system here allowed her to take a cruise last year and we used the same leave and it was all covered and excused for her.

 

[ChloesDaddy]

Any opportunity can be educational, and when combined with the excitement of a Disney vacation, the opportunities are endless. More importantly than textbook smarts are the emotional and life experience developments that come from a family vacation. Have fun!

If that philosophy actually works for the OP's purpose then it seems there is no point in having the standard. If there really was an educational purpose for taking the trip in the first place then it should not be difficult to justify without seeking help. If it is difficult to come up with an educational purpose and/or if you are coming up with one after booking the trip then you are likely engaged in an elaborate rationalization (or "BS" in the terms used by the PP). My advice is to take the unexcused absence and enjoy the vacation trip.

 

[sharonabe]

Ithas to meet the following: having an educational purpose, having significant educational value, how the activity is related to one of the core subjects such as English, science, math, social studies, foreign language or the arts or college visits.



This is what is on the paper we have to fill out for the leave.

Without knowing her age or how detailed you have to be, here are several options:

Sum of All Thrills: science as you have to design your own roller coaster and then test it.

EP WS: interact with people from many different countries...you could choose one country to explore at a deeper level or decide on a phrase to learn in the language of each country

HS Art of Animation has a drawing class for free where you learn to draw a character.

All parks: determine how many different stories are represented in WDW

There really are many different ways you can approach this and so many opportunities to learn at WDW.

 

[LSUfan4444]

Ithas to meet the following: having an educational purpose, having significant educational value, how the activity is related to one of the core subjects such as English, science, math, social studies, foreign language or the arts or college visits.



This is what is on the paper we have to fill out for the leave.

English: Reading Assignment. 125 pages on the Timucua Indians. Before Eurpoen settlers arrived, more than 50k lived in Central Florida.

science - At Rafiki's Planet Watch and the Conservation Station they have quite a few speakers discussing different animals and such. Have your child sit in on a couple of them, then see about taking a pic with the speaker

http://allears.net/tp/ak/ak_rpw.htm



math - Go over the vacation budget with the child. Explain the percent of income spent on the vacation, airfare or gas costs, lodging costs, food costs, ticket costs, etc., than change some of the variables and ask them to explain ways to save money and how much could be saved etc.

social studies & foreign language - Talke about the noticeable differences in culture, food, architecture, etc. among the different countries

 

[disnut8]

Ithas to meet the following: having an educational purpose, having significant educational value, how the activity is related to one of the core subjects such as English, science, math, social studies, foreign language or the arts or college visits.



This is what is on the paper we have to fill out for the leave.

You can always get an Epcot World Showcase passport and have the Cast Member(s) at the Kidcot stations sign them with a little message from that nation's national language (with translation from your child). Definitely relates to foreign language and it's easy to do. You can even make your own passport (I think ideas are on the budget board.

Ellen's Energy Adventure shows all kinds of energy alternatives and how to combine to make things run longer.

Animal Kingdom - watch Flights of Wonder and go out to Rafiki's Planet Watch.

Studios - Great Movie Ride, The Living Seas with Nemo and Friends, One Man's Dream.

When I was a kid, we never took vacations during the school year. But that didn't matter as we just naturally assumed we'd learn something no matter when we went, where we went, or how long we stayed.

 

[jimandami]

We have taken our DS9 out every year since kindergarden and the absences have always been excused as an EEO. We fill out the form before hand, which is actually fairly specific and you must state how your trip will meet actual learning objectives for each grade, not just how it covers a broad subject such as Science. He also writes a report about the trip. One year, we had him go to a CM in each country in Epcot and learn how to say a phrase in their language...it was actually really cute. Anyway, for those saying take the unexcused absences, for us, that would result in him being unable to miss a single other day of school for the entire year, because only 5 are allowed. IMHO, if the school offers EEO, and you are ok with your child missing school, go for it!

 

[Susiec]

Without knowing her age or how detailed you have to be, here are several options:

Sum of All Thrills: science as you have to design your own roller coaster and then test it.

EP WS: interact with people from many different countries...you could choose one country to explore at a deeper level or decide on a phrase to learn in the language of each country

HS Art of Animation has a drawing class for free where you learn to draw a character.

All parks: determine how many different stories are represented in WDW

There really are many different ways you can approach this and so many opportunities to learn at WDW.

She is in 8 th grade and 14

 

[Susiec]

We have taken our DS9 out every year since kindergarden and the absences have always been excused as an EEO. We fill out the form before hand, which is actually fairly specific and you must state how your trip will meet actual learning objectives for each grade, not just how it covers a broad subject such as Science. He also writes a report about the trip. One year, we had him go to a CM in each country in Epcot and learn how to say a phrase in their language...it was actually really cute. Anyway, for those saying take the unexcused absences, for us, that would result in him being unable to miss a single other day of school for the entire year, because only 5 are allowed. IMHO, if the school offers EEO, and you are ok with your child missing school, go for it!

We are in KY as well and that is the same thing here 5 is all you can miss before you get into truancy issues with the EEO you can take 10 days all counted as being in class.

 

[luvmy3]

LOL. It's "educational" to watch your parents try to BS your teacher and principal into selling a family vacation as an "educational enhancement opportunity".

Just take the unexcused absence, unless the point of your WDW vacation is education. Are you actually going to be making sure your child is learning lessons while there?
You are taking your kid out of school for the purpose of a family vacation, just take ownership of that.

 

[rkime66]

This will be our second trip and second time we pulled kids out of school for a week, just can't stand the heat or crowds. I created journals for the kids to complete so that they could not only remember what they did years from now, but also go back and share with their teacher and class. I got the initial idea from The Mouse for Less website. At first the kids sort of frowned, but did get into it. They look at the journals often to remember.

Daily they had to write about what they did, what was their favorite, etc.. For the Animal Kingdom and Epcot journals I had more detailed questions about the animals and various countries.

 

[Bean786]

Just take the unexcused absence, unless the point of your WDW vacation is education. Are you actually going to be making sure your child is learning lessons while there?
You are taking your kid out of school for the purpose of a family vacation, just take ownership of that.

Why can't it be both? The op has a right to take her child of of school for vacation and it be educational and have family fun.. No?

 

[Gumbo4x4]

Ithas to meet the following: having an educational purpose, having significant educational value, how the activity is related to one of the core subjects such as English, science, math, social studies, foreign language or the arts or college visits.



This is what is on the paper we have to fill out for the leave.

I think you're going to need a LOT of luck getting approved under those parameters.

Were I the administrator, the first question I'd raise is, "What specifically makes October in Disney more educational than June in Disney?".

I'm with PP who suggested the YES class. To that, I'd add the Behind The Seeds Tour and other very specific educational features if you want this to fly.

 

[Gumbo4x4]

Why can't it be both? The op has a right to take her child of of school for vacation and it be educational and have family fun.. No?

I may have been born at night, but it wasn't last night

 

[Susiec]

I think you're going to need a LOT of luck getting approved under those parameters.

Were I the administrator, the first question I'd raise is, "What specifically makes October in Disney more educational than June in Disney?".

I'm with PP who suggested the YES class. To that, I'd add the Behind The Seeds Tour and other very specific educational features if you want this to fly.

Our cruise was approved last year for the same reasons.

 

[Raenstoirm]

Ithas to meet the following: having an educational purpose, having significant educational value, how the activity is related to one of the core subjects such as English, science, math, social studies, foreign language or the arts or college visits.

She is in 8 th grade and 14

Easy cheesy. Take a tour and a yes class. There are a number of animal based tours for her age and Behind the Seeds and such as well. And tons of Yes classes for the middle school set based on whatever her interests are.

 

[luvmy3]

Why can't it be both? The op has a right to take her child of of school for vacation and it be educational and have family fun.. No?

But is it both? Is she going to make sure its educational, or is she just looking for reasons it is so she can list them and her vacation can be excused?
I have no problem taking kids out of school, I've done it myself. I just didn't try to excuse what I did. It was a for a family vacation, plain and simple. I mean what's next- I took my dd out of school for a manicure and pedicure, she learned good hand and foot hygiene. I took my dd out of school for a day of shopping so she could learn budgeting. Schools are making it easy for parents to buck responsibility and teach their kids to do that too, when they let parents excuse a family vacation IMO. If I'm taking my kids out of the classroom, its for my own personal selfish reasons (which is my right) so I'll take full responsibility for it and deal with whatever teh consequences of that choice are.

 

[neffernie]

She is in 8 th grade and 14

If you have the time and/or budget, take a tour. We did the Marceline to MK when DD was 13. I would say it is educational from a history of theme parks standpoint. There should be a couple of others that your daughter is old enough for.

 

[WDSearcher]

Why is it BS? Our school system allows this so a child can learn. We were able to do it for a cruise last year.

It's not exactly BS, but whether or not Disney is "educational" depends on the parents and the child. Plus, you can say all you want about how educational places like Epcot and DAK CAN be, but whether they actually ARE depends on the parents making an effort to make it that way.

Simply going on a standard-issue, ride-the-rides-see-the-shows Disney vacation isn't really educational. Disney was not set up to be an educational destination (like Gettysburg, say, or Pearl Harbor). It has the potential to be educational if some care is taken to note the educational aspects and take some time relaying that information to the kids. Most parents aren't really planning on doing that when they expound to the school administration about the "educational value" of a WDW vacation.

The "BS factor" comes in when someone says, basically, "Tell me how to take my kid out of school for WDW and still get to count the days", not "I want to make WDW educational for my kids ... anyone got any helpful hints?"

 

[luvmy3]

It's not exactly BS, but whether or not Disney is "educational" depends on the parents and the child. Plus, you can say all you want about how educational places like Epcot and DAK CAN be, but whether they actually ARE depends on the parents making an effort to make it that way.

Simply going on a standard-issue, ride-the-rides-see-the-shows Disney vacation isn't really educational. Disney was not set up to be an educational destination (like Gettysburg, say, or Pearl Harbor). It has the potential to be educational if some care is taken to note the educational aspects and take some time relaying that information to the kids. Most parents aren't really planning on doing that when they expound to the school administration about the "educational value" of a WDW vacation.

The "BS factor" comes in when someone says, basically, "Tell me how to take my kid out of school for WDW and still get to count the days", not "I want to make WDW educational for my kids ... anyone got any helpful hints?"

 

[Susiec]

It's not exactly BS, but whether or not Disney is "educational" depends on the parents and the child. Plus, you can say all you want about how educational places like Epcot and DAK CAN be, but whether they actually ARE depends on the parents making an effort to make it that way.

Simply going on a standard-issue, ride-the-rides-see-the-shows Disney vacation isn't really educational. Disney was not set up to be an educational destination (like Gettysburg, say, or Pearl Harbor). It has the potential to be educational if some care is taken to note the educational aspects and take some time relaying that information to the kids. Most parents aren't really planning on doing that when they expound to the school administration about the "educational value" of a WDW vacation.

The "BS factor" comes in when someone says, basically, "Tell me how to take my kid out of school for WDW and still get to count the days", not "I want to make WDW educational for my kids ... anyone got any helpful hints?"

When I take my kids out of school for a trip of any kind I make it educational or they don't go that's just how it is and always will be that's why DD is an all A honors student who in middle school has already earned some high school credits as well.