What's your Threshold for Taking Kids out of School

[Gumbo4x4]

Hi, I have a question. What excuse do you guys normally give to your children's school to take them out for vacation?

My family is going on our first real vacation this December from the 16th-26th. We've never been to Walt Disney World so we're very excited. My brothers are in their junior year of high school. They're going to miss the last three days of school before the winter break starts. Our trip carries over into the break so we figured it could work. Plus mom couldn't get vacation time until now and it needed to work with my brothers school schedule.

Be honest. I would assume if the trip is coming up that soon, it's all been worked out.

That timeframe wouldn't work here as Christmas break marks the end of the semester & HS kids would be taking finals.

 

[Spyells]

Thank you guys for answering my question. My mom said it was very helpful. She knows what to do now.

 

[bethy]

We've always taken our 3 kids for at least one week per year. Last month we took them out for 2 weeks. We don't give an "excuse." We just let the school know they will be gone and we accept any consequences of our decision.

 

[sk8jdgca]

I'm taking my high school Sr out of school the first week back after Christmas. My kids go to different schools so the only time they have off together is 4 weeks in August. My son doesn't get Christmas break until Jan 4th. That being said, she has 3 classes and is in an Arts program. The last time I took her out ( in February) 3 of the 4 days she was out were snow days. Her school has school sponsored trips every year that take some of the kids out of school for a week to travel to New York so really what is the difference.

 

[ReluctantDisaholic]

We took them out for a week for our trip each year when they were between 6-10...then I started working in a school so our schedule changed a bit and we went during March Break and added a few days (so we'd miss 3 days of school). Now that our oldest is in high school it's too much to miss - we go in August now so nobody misses school.

 

[jevs]

No threshold here We don't live in the USA so our rules are a bit different. The first trip we made my kids missed 5 weeks of school (Grades 5, 2, 2). The trip this year they missed approx 3 weeks as we went over our holidays as well. The next trip (Dec/Jan 2016) they will miss 2 or 3 weeks of school at the beginning of December depending on when the cheap fares over finish.

Most principals in Australia are very open to family travel, we just have to inform them of dates.

 

[eeyoreandtink]

No threshold here We don't live in the USA so our rules are a bit different. The first trip we made my kids missed 5 weeks of school (Grades 5, 2, 2). The trip this year they missed approx 3 weeks as we went over our holidays as well. The next trip (Dec/Jan 2016) they will miss 2 or 3 weeks of school at the beginning of December depending on when the cheap fares over finish.

Most principals in Australia are very open to family travel, we just have to inform them of dates.

It blows my mind that your kids were able to miss 5 weeks of instruction time without an issue. That is over half of a grading period here. In 5th grade, my child (who is a very strong student) would have missed a large amount of instruction and I would have needed to teach her the missed concepts. For math and science, that would have been a large chunk of new material. Do you teach your children while on that kind of extended trip?

 

[jevs]

No formal teaching. Lots of day to day maths i.e. calculating how much pocket money they would have left if they bought X. Writing it all down, adding it up, subtracting etc. They kept a journal. They are all excellent readers so we had books. Last trip they decided they didn't want to bring their devices (didn't want to carry them!) so they read a lot on the planes and waiting in airports etc. We always do museums (trips are not 100% only DL/WDW - they make up a small chunk) or other places of interest. Alcatraz and GCNP trumped WDW on this years trip.

Also, they are very chatty and will talk to anyone. When waiting in lines they struck up a conversation with Americans asking all sorts of things like if they have a 'special day' like Australia Day, then then learnt all about 4th July, Thanksgiving etc. So very much hands on learning.

They catch up very easily once back at school I think it's very much a personal thing dependent on the child/ren, if my lot were struggling then things would be different. Add to that, the distance Australia is from the USA I find it pointless going for two weeks, and I'm not ready for my kids to experience SE Asia at the moment

 

[Hidadsoup]

We have taken the boys (11&14) out of school in Oct every other year since 2006. Never been a problem. We are visiting DW the week before Christmas and keeping them out of school.
They will return to school for one day before school vaca and pick up all the work they missed and complete over the holidays.
This will be the last time we keep them out as it is getting more difficult for my highschooler.

 

[scrapquitler]

Hi, I have a question. What excuse do you guys normally give to your children's school to take them out for vacation?

My family is going on our first real vacation this December from the 16th-26th. We've never been to Walt Disney World so we're very excited. My brothers are in their junior year of high school. They're going to miss the last three days of school before the winter break starts. Our trip carries over into the break so we figured it could work. Plus mom couldn't get vacation time until now and it needed to work with my brothers school schedule.

I never gave an excuse of any sort, even if it was 'she's sick'. I'm the parent and I get to decide if she attends school or not on any specific day, and I get to determine if it's a good reason or not. In our district, the rule is that they can not miss more than 10 days a year, any days AFTER THAT require a doctors note. So for the first missed 10 days, its up to me. Anytime I ever called her out, I never ever ever gave a reason or excuse. When I called I simply said "XXXX will be out today (or today and tomorrow, or all week)" End of conversation. Any nobody ever asked for more than that.

If your school presses you for an explanation, I'd simply say "XXX will be out from Wednesday thru Friday, and will return after the holiday break because of our holiday plans". End.

 

[eeyoreandtink]

I never gave an excuse of any sort, even if it was 'she's sick'. I'm the parent and I get to decide if she attends school or not on any specific day, and I get to determine if it's a good reason or not. In our district, the rule is that they can not miss more than 10 days a year, any days AFTER THAT require a doctors note. So for the first missed 10 days, its up to me. Anytime I ever called her out, I never ever ever gave a reason or excuse. When I called I simply said "XXXX will be out today (or today and tomorrow, or all week)" End of conversation. Any nobody ever asked for more than that.

If your school presses you for an explanation, I'd simply say "XXX will be out from Wednesday thru Friday, and will return after the holiday break because of our holiday plans". End.

Problem is that some school systems count any absence not for sickness, doctors appointment, court appearance, or death of a family member as un excused and give zeros for the missed work. This is how our school system works, and you can only excuse 4 absences a year with a "xxxx is sick" note.Beyond that it has to be a doctor'so statement. 4 un excused absences result in a trip to truancy court, so if you are honest about a week's vacation you are going to have to see a judge to explain your action, and your child will get a zero on a weeks worth of assignments and tests. If you lie,you can only cover 4 days without a doctor's note, and then you are out of parent notes for the year. Parents do get to decide when their child goes to school, but they also can and do reap legal consequences for the decisions they make. Their kids also reap the consequences.

 

[marinejjh]

We are taking our kids out this January for a week. They are in 1st and 4th grade. The teachers are supportive and I can't get vacation any other time of the year. They will get all there work a week early so we will only have reading to do each day. Our district is on a balanced calender so our summer break is only 6 wks. It will be fun to be there when the crowds a low.

 

[SuzaBanana]

For Disney? Through elementary school, I suppose. I can't see going to Disney much beyond that. I know I did as a kid an was over it by middle school. I went in high school for Magic Music Days and while it was fun to miss school to be in Florida for a few days, it wasn't "family time".

For travel to experience another part of the world for the first time or a family reunion or a milestone birthday (i.e. my grandmother turned 100 last year and I pulled the kids from school for a few days for that), I have zero issue pulling them from school at any time. There is no better education that experiencing the world - especially with your family. It wouldn't matter to me if my kid was failing school or Valedictorian. World travel will always be a priority for our family regardless of any school policy. If/when it becomes an issue, I will happily find a schooling option that supports our philosophy.

 

[FlightlessDuck]

The only time my children have gone to Disney during the school year has been with the band or chorus. I don't particularly like the idea of having them miss time in the classroom.

 

[kamik86]

Problem is that some school systems count any absence not for sickness, doctors appointment, court appearance, or death of a family member as un excused and give zeros for the missed work. This is how our school system works, and you can only excuse 4 absences a year with a "xxxx is sick" note.Beyond that it has to be a doctor'so statement. 4 un excused absences result in a trip to truancy court, so if you are honest about a week's vacation you are going to have to see a judge to explain your action, and your child will get a zero on a weeks worth of assignments and tests. If you lie,you can only cover 4 days without a doctor's note, and then you are out of parent notes for the year. Parents do get to decide when their child goes to school, but they also can and do reap legal consequences for the decisions they make. Their kids also reap the consequences.

I don't have kids but that just seems so stupid to me.

I missed school quite a bit. My parents would let me stay out if something was going on (I never did long in high school but a day or two here or there) I also was involved in alot of school sanctioned missing school for various clubs and competitions. There is no reason to have a policy like this besides that the school is concerned about their funding being tied to attendance.

I would be surprised if schools that have policies this strict don't see a uptick in home schooling families.

Well that or families that lie in other ways... waht proof does the school get for death of a family member? A family member in another area of the country passed away and they will be out for a week.

 

[pregnantw4thprincess]

We were planning on taking my first grader out for half a week after Christmas break, but looks like we may be extending our stay for the entire week...I talked to her teacher about it and she said it's a week of review anyways and since DD is such a strong student she isn't worried about it at all. The only thing I will probably do while we are gone is get her spelling words when they become available and practice them here and there (they are available online)

 

[eeyoreandtink]

I don't have kids but that just seems so stupid to me.

I missed school quite a bit. My parents would let me stay out if something was going on (I never did long in high school but a day or two here or there) I also was involved in alot of school sanctioned missing school for various clubs and competitions. There is no reason to have a policy like this besides that the school is concerned about their funding being tied to attendance.

I would be surprised if schools that have policies this strict don't see a uptick in home schooling families.

Well that or families that lie in other ways... waht proof does the school get for death of a family member? A family member in another area of the country passed away and they will be out for a week.

Our school system is a very large one, and most of this came about because people were abusing the loopholes in the system and children were not being educated. Schools hands were legally tied a lot of the time because of "discretionary" absences. If one child got a free pass, everyone should, so the grey area sadly had to be taken out of the rules. Principals would use good judgement about when to grant an excuse and someone would sue. They would win the suit because ti wasn't the "written policy".

Everyone is not hard wired to act in their child's best interest, and many parents just don't want to make the effort to get up and bring their children to school. They will abuse the system, and their children pay for it. It happens more often than any of us would think because it is such a foreign concept for us.

For a death in the family, you must submit the obituary.

 

[kamik86]

Our school system is a very large one, and most of this came about because people were abusing the loopholes in the system and children were not being educated. Schools hands were legally tied a lot of the time because of "discretionary" absences. If one child got a free pass, everyone should, so the grey area sadly had to be taken out of the rules. Principals would use good judgement about when to grant an excuse and someone would sue. They would win the suit because ti wasn't the "written policy".

Everyone is not hard wired to act in their child's best interest, and many parents just don't want to make the effort to get up and bring their children to school. They will abuse the system, and their children pay for it. It happens more often than any of us would think because it is such a foreign concept for us.

For a death in the family, you must submit the obituary.

I understand that is the reason behind such policies. I am married to someone whose mom thought he didn't have to go if he didn't want to and wouldn't make him. Luckily he was smart enough to still get by and didn't really fall behind. However generally in most things in life am of the opinion that you don't stop someone from doing something just because someone else shouldn't do it.

Then on top of that the policy you quoted is an incredibly short amount of time. I imagine you have alot of kids going to school sick because they aren't sick enough to warrant a doctors visit (which is expensive and involves someone having to be off work to get them there). Which then just gets everyone else sick. 2-3 days for a mild flu or a cold is normal and could happen twice in a year. Making the policy more then 10 days would still curb those that just "can't be bothered to get their kid to school" but still allow a few illnesses without going to the doctor, or a family vacation and the burden of having to get the kid to the doctor every other time.

How do these kids even get into the doctor every time for minor things? I haven't gone to the doctor in years because my doctor kept cancelling appointments then no new doctors are taking new patients closer then 6-7 months away and I just keep putting it off. Now with a kid I might be more proactive in making sure they have a doctor but what if they can't get in to see them?

 

[eeyoreandtink]

I understand that is the reason behind such policies. I am married to someone whose mom thought he didn't have to go if he didn't want to and wouldn't make him. Luckily he was smart enough to still get by and didn't really fall behind. However generally in most things in life am of the opinion that you don't stop someone from doing something just because someone else shouldn't do it.

Then on top of that the policy you quoted is an incredibly short amount of time. I imagine you have alot of kids going to school sick because they aren't sick enough to warrant a doctors visit (which is expensive and involves someone having to be off work to get them there). Which then just gets everyone else sick. 2-3 days for a mild flu or a cold is normal and could happen twice in a year. Making the policy more then 10 days would still curb those that just "can't be bothered to get their kid to school" but still allow a few illnesses without going to the doctor, or a family vacation and the burden of having to get the kid to the doctor every other time.

How do these kids even get into the doctor every time for minor things? I haven't gone to the doctor in years because my doctor kept cancelling appointments then no new doctors are taking new patients closer then 6-7 months away and I just keep putting it off. Now with a kid I might be more proactive in making sure they have a doctor but what if they can't get in to see them?

I never have a problem getting my kid into the doctor same day. On the rare occasion when we do have an issue there are multiple urgent care offices in our immediate area, and we are not in a large city. I have only kept my child out of school sick for multiple days once in 6 years and it was for the flu. If they don't have fever or vomiting for 24 hours they can go back to school. They don't need to be 100% well to sit in a classroom, as long as they aren't contagious. Of course, if you feel like your kid needs 3 days or more to recover you are definitely free to keep them to keep them out that long, but if my child were that sick we would definitely be at the doctor anyway.

If it truly takes 6 months to get into any GP in your area, it sounds like there is a serious health care shortage. Where are you located? (if you don't mind sharing) We are in the southeastern US and don't see anywhere near that kind of wait time for anything but the rarest specialties like nephrologists or hematologists.

 

[kamik86]

I never have a problem getting my kid into the doctor same day. On the rare occasion when we do have an issue there are multiple urgent care offices in our immediate area, and we are not in a large city. I have only kept my child out of school sick for multiple days once in 6 years and it was for the flu. If they don't have fever or vomiting for 24 hours they can go back to school. They don't need to be 100% well to sit in a classroom, as long as they aren't contagious. Of course, if you feel like your kid needs 3 days or more to recover you are definitely free to keep them to keep them out that long, but if my child were that sick we would definitely be at the doctor anyway.

If it truly takes 6 months to get into any GP in your area, it sounds like there is a serious health care shortage. Where are you located? (if you don't mind sharing) We are in the southeastern US and don't see anywhere near that kind of wait time for anything but the rarest specialties like nephrologists or hematologists.

I live in middle of no where MA (picture the shape of MA and I live in the part as far away from Boston as you can get...) If you drive into NY to Albany I hear it gets better and I might do that but that is an hour and 1/2 from my house. So that isn't something I would wnat to do if I was just slightly sick.

There is one hospital (the thing that used to be a hospital but is now just an emergency room and the outpatient center don't count) in the entire county.

This has been a common complaint of many of the new hires at work. They can't find doctors.

I knew that big cities didn't really have this issue but I assumed many other rural areas probably did which would still be an issue for many school children.