Would you take your child out 2 extra days to save $150?

[Disfan1968]

Most teachers aren't going to bend over backwards to assist you with this, and honestly they shouldn't have to so...

This is an important point to always remember. While I have been supportive in this thread of the fact that some families have to take kids out of school every once in a while to do their thing, it definitely frosts me when kids, or even worse, parents approach me with their hackles already up sternly looking for "all the work their kid will be missing while away."

I always remind them that absences such as this are technically "illegal absences" in NYS, but that we understand that it sometimes works out that this is the only way a family can take a vacation. I then explain I can provide some of the work in advance, but not all of it (especially for longer vacations) and that in no way is a textbook chapter or some worksheets a true substitution for the teaching and learning that will occur in the classroom while their child is gone.

Parents need to expect it will take some real effort to get their kids caught up from extended absences like these, and that we are willing to help out provided the child is serious and proactive about it.

 

[AndreaA]

I have zero problem taking kids out of cool, and will be taking my twins out of first grade for eight days in September.

However, I would just point out that Saturday and Sunday are traditionally very busy park days, no matter what time of year, due to the locals. That being said, I would lean towards a trip that doesn't encompass a weekend, even if it costs more money.

 

[DisneyFive]

No big problems at 2nd grade in that situation. It's getting to that questionable amount of time away though, IMO.

We took the kids out late Sept for 5 days in 2010, 2011, and 2012. 2013 was our max at 6 days pulling the kids from school, and that was a bit much. They were in 6th, 4th, and 1st grades though. Piece of cake for the 1st grader, but tougher on the other two. They all do very well in school, it was just the sheer amount of makeup homework/quizzes/tests. After we returned, about a week straight of nothing but homework in the evenings.

If it's only $150 total then I wouldn't do it.

Dan

 

[HockeyIsLife]

I am sure its not just me, but I take my kids out of school for a Disney trip every chance I get. The only time I haven't is when we have traveled with my cousin, who works in a school system and doesn't have the option to travel during the school year.
The crowds are more manageable, the flights and accommodations can be a savings, and it always feels like the trip is more special when they could be in school.
In fact, one of my favorite "games" to play when we need a vacation attitude adjustment is the "What would you be doing if we were at home right now?" game? In a long line? Hot? Hmmm what time is it? You would be in Math, you say? Yep. That's right, you would rather be here. Me too.

 

[pinkangel460]

I'm reading these responses and quite a few people I think misunderstood your post because they say "yes, pull them out, make memories, enjoy the magic" and if I understand correctly you will be pulling them out regardless. The question is if you pull them out 5 days or 7 days with a $150 savings.....

My personal opinion is don't do it. I pulled my son out for a week last September - it was fine. I see no problem missing school. But, it is not like school isn't important. I agree that making memories is worth more than missing some school, but I don't thinknthe $150 savings is worth missing MORE school for the same length of vacation.

I suppose I am biased because when we got home last fall after 5 days off, my son immediately got a stomach bug and then missed 2 more days of school. Then in December he got the flu, then January he missed 4 days for a stupid fever, then a few more in February for strep. So, he has now missed like 15 days and I know it doesn't really matter since they have been spread out, but that total just kills me. Ugh.

Again. I think pulling them out is fine. I just don't think another 2 days of school is worth $150 in savings.

 

[DatFan]

Flights are $150 cheaper if we go a certain day of the week. If we do that, our child will miss another 2 days of school.

That being said, she is only going to be in 2nd grade, is above her grade level academically (I'm not trying to brag, its just a fact that might help one's vote) and we are going the first month of school so everything is review anyway.

DH doesn't want to, I say we should. Prices keep going up. I've heard the best time to get flights is 6-8 weeks beforehand but can't take that chance since we will be locked in once our ADR's are set at 180 days. $150 doesn't sound like much but it all adds up. That could pay for our Aloha Show.

I would have put this on the budget board but I'm sure they would be bias to one side.

Yes. 2nd Grade and two days... Have fun!

 

[BugsDaddy]

If it was just for two days, I would say it probably isn't that big of a deal, even at the start of the school year. But, it sounds like this will be a total of 7 days missed? For me, personally, that is pushing the envelope a little bit. That is just me though. I am not sure that there will be a lack of "magical memories" if you went for two days less and $150 is probably a nominal sum compared to the overall cost of a vacation.

I know a teacher who told me once that she didn't mind if parents took their kids out for vacation but did not and would not provide a weeks worth of lesson plans to the child. They would need to make it up when they got back. The reason being is that she said she would spend all this time putting together assignments for the child and then they would come back with the folder and nothing done. The best laid plans tend to go right out the window when it's a choice of going to MK or doing math homework.

 

[csmommy]

Until they are in High School, yes. Have fun!

 

[smiths02]

I would go by school board policy

 

[smiths02]

I have to agree with PP that said Wed-Wed is more disruptive.
For second and now third grade, the schedule has been for our son that most lessons begin on Monday and tests/quizzes are Thursday/Friday.

 

[poeticdiabetic]

First of all, I agree with the poster that says that you need to review the school and district policies concerning unexcused absences. You may be creating a bigger problem that you realize if you take the child out for too long. (For instance, you are only allowed 5 unexcused absences at my kids' district. They consider the child truant after that and they come after the parents!)

Another thing is the first weeks of school. That's another big issue because it may be review, but the review puts the future lessons in context.

However, it's only the 2nd Grade. The child may easily catch up- academically and socially. That may not be that big a deal.

So here's my verdict: If the school or district policies warrant it, save the $150. You can make preparations to resolve any other eventuality.

 

[Moms]

Just a question ... and forgive me if this has already been asked and answered (this is a long thread!). Are you staying on site and have you booked through Disney? We had to change our reservation a couple of years ago as they shortened the Winter Break to make up days lost in a teacher's strike. Because of the change we had to fly rather than drive which changed our arrival and departure days at Disney. The change cost us $250.00 If you have to change your dates you might want to check on any "adjustment" costs you might incur which would negate any savings. That was an expensive change as the airfare cost us $1500.00 ... but we are teachers and we aren't allowed to pull ourselves out of school ... even for a magical trip to WDW!

 

[Magpie]

I feel this is the time more than ever to save money and go on vacation during the school year because we won't want to in a couple years once she starts getting an overload of homework.

Honestly, it may be MANY years before your child starts getting an "overload of homework".

I remember working through the same logic that you are now!

I have two children, well... they're young adults. One was tagged gifted/learning disabled and struggled in school. The other was labeled just-plain-gifted and never struggled academically. We took them out of school for family vacations right up until our eldest was in 11th grade, when they both decided it was - finally! - too much effort to make up the work they'd miss.

If your school district is free and easy with absences, as ours was, and you are actively involved in your child's learning, then family trips are a wonderful thing. Five days or seven days... The most my son ever missed of school was fourteen days, thanks to catching the croup over his 10th birthday and ending up in the Emergency room. And that was such a frickin' sad way to take two weeks off, and had SO little impact on his learning, that we decided we'd never second guess taking the kids out of school again.

The school never gave us a hard time about it. In fact, they were overtly encouraging. One spring when our struggling student was in grade 7, the school LD resource teacher actually pulled us aside to ask when we'd be taking him out again because, "His stress is getting out of hand. He really needs a break!" In grade 10, when my daughter was wavering over whether or not to go on one last family trip, her Chemistry teacher said, "Are you crazy? Go! Go now, because next year you won't be able to!"

Time off never did my kids any harm, socially or academically or character-wise. I don't think it's a "quality-of-parenting" issue, as some folks seem to want to make it, either. It's simply a choice. Do or do not, there is no wrong choice here. (Though, of course, there can be wrong choices for individual families. The thing to remember is that's wrong for one family might be right for another - there are no absolutes when it comes to family vacations.)

 

[Magpie]

For me, its not about whether the kid is getting As.

I think of school as their "job." Would I call in sick from work so I could go on a trip? Absolutely not. How would my employer feel about me just skipping days to go on a trip, rather than using scheduled vacation time? Probably not too happy. So I don't want to teach my kid that this is an acceptable way to run their lives.

I wouldn't call in sick, but I certainly wouldn't hesitate to talk to my employer about booking time off from work for a family vacation. I don't think anyone's suggesting the OP lie to the school.

I taught my children that their job is learning. I don't think of my kids as working for their teachers, I see them as utilizing the resources the school offers (teachers, materials, etc) to achieve their own learning goals. If school wasn't working for them, then they didn't have to go. We homeschooled for several years in elementary, and I was always prepared to return to that if necessary. Interestingly, both my kids chose to remain in the public system, and gave it their best effort. I personally think they valued the experience more, because they had decided themselves that they wanted to participate.

I think if we were to look at school as a job, then the one thing that should matter more than anything else (even more than learning!) is the quality of their output. All As on the report? Well, then, the kid is exceeding his quarterly objectives. Give him some money!

 

[texasroni75]

I have never regretted any of the times I've decided to take the kids out of school for vacation. We don't get to take big trips every year, so when we do, I feel no guilt about it. I'd change the travel days to save the money - but I'm pretty frugal, and I can think of plenty ways to make good use of that money

That said, I have had teachers who were pleasant about it, and others that gave us the impression they would be penalizing our child for their absences (and I can certainly go on a rant about this but I won't). Since it will be a new school year, you probably won't know ahead of time what to expect from your child's teacher. My take on it is, if I make sure my child does the work they missed, there is no reason for me to worry that there will be long-term negative effects of them missing a few days of school to be with family.

 

[Maleficent Dragon]

For a 2nd grader, yes I would do that.

 

[kittyninja]

Yes, but we homeschool. Kids, do your history on the plane!

Seriously, I probably would do it for a second grader in the situation you describe. It's one of those things that has no one right answer, but is highly dependent on situation, school, and child.

That was always us!! I loved the freedom that came from homeschool!! We went to a wedding in DC and dad took us early to sightsee. We did journals every night and had lessons on everything when we got back!! That was so much better than learning from a book!!

Currently, when one of my college students comes to tell me he or she is leaving to do something, I simply refer to the syllabus. If they can accept the consequences spelled out for missing classes (I don't accept late/make-up work), they go, and I smile and wave goodbye. But there's no negotiating on the late work policy. My feeling here is that my employer would never approve my request for a seven day vacation during the academic year. You're lucky just to be able to go!

I know this is not the norm, and I'm sure you wish your students did this, but if I have somewhere to go I look at my syllabus and try to submit work due early!! The teachers are usually fine with it and I get to enjoy my vacation!! Then again, I am the student that is done early anyway!! I am glad you're a professor who sticks to due dates as I have found so many let them slide too often for silly reasons!!

OP: I would do what you feel is best!! However, you've gotten some very good responses with pros, cons, and opinions!

 

[Ametista]

I just booked Frontier's weekend flash sale and got us round trip for $118 each. She is missing 3 days of school. Do I feel a little guilty? Yeah, but I will have her do her reading and math on the trip. The fact is we wouldn't have even gone with the way prices were before the sale. She is in 4th grade. The truth is once they hit middle school you CAN'T really take them out of school. I have taken her out for a few days every year since Kindergarten.

 

[UpstateMick]

As a veteran teacher, those kids who have the best attendance are usually the best students...those kids who miss days for any reasons will suffer. I myself have taken my daughter out of school for two days for a Disney trip. Those are the only two days she has missed in the past five years. That was her decision. It really is a very personal decision. For me, I would say it would not be worth it.

 

[vinotinto]

I'm on the camp that pulling kids out of school is generally OK, if they are at least average students and will catch up on their work, because family travel and bonding time is important. However, I think 7 school days for Disney to save less than $500 is not something *I* would do. However, I think it's OK for someone else to do. Every family and situation is different.