Would you let your eighth grader do this? (Update, first post)

[Tinkh]

Yes, I would without a doubt.

 

[aprilgail2]

To me there's two distinct issues.

1) The "skip" day. Regardless of where they are going, I wouldn't let my 8th grader take part in a "skip" day.
2) The "waterpark trip". I have no problem with an 8th grader going with friends and minimal supervision to a day at the waterpark.

We do lots of "skip" days here so its no big deal to me-- sometimes she just needs a break day from school and I let her stay home, other days if I have off from work I will keep her home for a fun mom/daughter day. My daughter missed 13 days of school this year- some sick some not...still managed to make high honors and get put into an honors program for next year. Skipping a day or two won't kill them.

 

[sam_gordon]

We do lots of "skip" days here so its no big deal to me-- sometimes she just needs a break day from school and I let her stay home, other days if I have off from work I will keep her home for a fun mom/daughter day. My daughter missed 13 days of school this year- some sick some not...still managed to make high honors and get put into an honors program for next year. Skipping a day or two won't kill them.

That is entirely your prerogative. I disagree with it (I get that it won't kill them). I think it sends the wrong message. YMMV

 

[luvsJack]

I don't think letting a kid take a skip day from school necessarily sends a bad message. They need to know the difference in skipping on a test day and on a day that will probably be filled with "busy" work but just the act of taking off isn't always a bad thing, IMHO.

 

[torinsmom]

I don't think letting a kid take a skip day from school necessarily sends a bad message. They need to know the difference in skipping on a test day and on a day that will probably be filled with "busy" work but just the act of taking off isn't always a bad thing, IMHO.

Totally agree. I mean, who hasn't taken a "sick" day when they weren't sick? Even kids need a break sometime. When DS has a dentist appt., I will sometimes just let him stay home the whole day. The excuse note says he had a doctor's appt. and it is always excused.

 

[CurlyGirl]

Would I let my child skip school to do this? Yes but ONLY IF exams were over with and there would be no repercussions for not being in school that day (aside from school absence). I say that because my nephew's 8th grade class (Catholic school) was going to have an 8th grade skip day on the last Friday of the school year. The principal caught wind of it and said that if anyone missed school that day without a doctors excuse on doctor's letterhead, they would not be allowed to attend graduation. If that were the case, my child would be going to school.

Honestly, I'm surprised that a teacher would support this and go along with it! Unless that teacher has an 8th grader?

If you want to go and can't drive, OP, then be a "chaperone" and ask another parent if you can ride with them.

 

[Abbie]

I think it sounds like fun and I wouldn't have a problem with it. What I can't figure out though is that if there are six drivers and figure six kids per car....there are only 36 students in the eighth grade class??

 

[CurlyGirl]

I think it sounds like fun and I wouldn't have a problem with it. What I can't figure out though is that if there are six drivers and figure six kids per car....there are only 36 students in the eighth grade class??

My nephew's school's graduating 8th grade class had 45 kids in it.

 

[golfgal]

Sure. I don't see the big deal.

Some folks find melodrama everywhere.

That is entirely your prerogative. I disagree with it (I get that it won't kill them). I think it sends the wrong message. YMMV

I guess it is all in how it is done. We let our DS18 participate in senior skip day last year and will let our twins do the same when they are seniors. They fully understand that going to school is important and THEY don't like to miss school because of how much homework they have to make up--but for something like this, I don't think it sends a bad message at all.

 

[Magpie]

I think it sounds like fun and I wouldn't have a problem with it. What I can't figure out though is that if there are six drivers and figure six kids per car....there are only 36 students in the eighth grade class??

There's 25 kids in my son's grade 8 class... or at least, that's how many showed up for the class photo.

How would you squeeze six kids into a car with a driver?? From what I've seen, you usually can't get more than four in, and that's only if someone rides in the middle of the back seat. Most people don't own SUVs around here.

 

[LisaNJ25]

yep! I would not have a problem with it at all!!!!

 

[Happy Mom2]

I may be in the minority, but given all the circumstances, I would let my kids go, if I could go with them.

 

[sam_gordon]

Totally agree. I mean, who hasn't taken a "sick" day when they weren't sick?

Me.

Even kids need a break sometime.

Kids HAVE a break... summer, spring, & Christmas. To say nothing of all the 'single day' holidays/teacher work days/etc.

I'm sorry, the fact that "all the friends will be going to different HS" does nothing for me. Can't all the friends agree to get together during the next two months at some point? It HAS to be THIS day?

I guess it is all in how it is done. We let our DS18 participate in senior skip day last year and will let our twins do the same when they are seniors.

We're talking 8th grade, not seniors. Sorry, different in my mind.

 

[lizanne]

I didn't read all the responses so not sure what was said previously, but it seems to me that it is school sanctioned but they think by not having the parents sign consent forms that they are not responsible for anything that may go wrong.

If you have letters from parents saying their child is leaving school and they are leaving from school property and a teacher is going.......I'm not so sure the school has no responsibility.

Would I let my child go along - it would depend on how well I knew the chaperones and the other kids and how much I trusted my child. More than likely I'd say OK.

One question, are the chaperons being given permission to act in case of an accident or if some other health issue arises?

 

[Magpie]

One question, are the chaperons being given permission to act in case of an accident or if some other health issue arises?

The mum who is driving my son has my phone number (as will the teacher), and my son will have his health card info on him. If an accident is serious enough to require medical permissions, they shouldn't have any trouble contacting me.

I've never had to give permission to act when my son's gone off with the parents of a friend... is this perhaps more of an issue in the US, where medical insurance and money is involved?

 

[StitchBuddy]

I have a DD that just got out of 8th grade and no she would not be doing this. I think the teacher must be insane for doing it! I am a teacher and this would not turn out well for him/her if the my principal found out. Also, it isn't that I wouldn't let my DD14 miss school, but it has to be for a good reason. She typically missed 2-4 days a semester for sports, not wschool sponsored. They can go to a water park on the week-end or another time during the summer.

 

[Abbie]

There's 25 kids in my son's grade 8 class... or at least, that's how many showed up for the class photo.

How would you squeeze six kids into a car with a driver?? From what I've seen, you usually can't get more than four in, and that's only if someone rides in the middle of the back seat. Most people don't own SUVs around here.

Well that just goes to show you how we view things through our own experiences! Our school is considered small but there were at least 100+ kids in the 8th grade classes here. And I was just picturing vans since that's what we drive. Truthfully we're in the minority since everyone I know with kids have an SUV!

 

[si-am]

As the parent, yes! As the teacher, no way would I do it!

 

[aprilgail2]

Well that just goes to show you how we view things through our own experiences! Our school is considered small but there were at least 100+ kids in the 8th grade classes here. And I was just picturing vans since that's what we drive. Truthfully we're in the minority since everyone I know with kids have an SUV!

My daughers 6th grade class has 400+ kids which is what her 8th grade class will have too. Everyone I know that has kids either has a minivan (which you can put 6 kids plus the driver in or an SUV- not many car drivers here when you have kids!

 

[Poohforyou]

Well that just goes to show you how we view things through our own experiences! Our school is considered small but there were at least 100+ kids in the 8th grade classes here. And I was just picturing vans since that's what we drive. Truthfully we're in the minority since everyone I know with kids have an SUV!

I was wondering how small the school was that the OP's son went to. It sounds like it's a private school. I went to one and had 32 girls in my HS graduating class. We're in a small district here in NJ but even with that my DD had about 350-400 kids in her 6th grade class.