British Dad Fined For Taking Daughter To WDW

[MisterPenguin]

Homeschool Parent: Hey, kids, wanna go to Disney World!

Kids: Yay!!

HP: And your 20 page report on the trip is due two days after we get back.

Kids: Aww!

 

[MySmallWorldof4]

Homeschool Parent: Hey, kids, wanna go to Disney World!

Kids: Yay!!

HP: And your 20 page report on the trip is due two days after we get back.

Kids: Aww!

Ha! Yeah, done that. Not 20 pages though. Report on animals we saw at AK.

 

[Lisa Boisjoli]

I am a Grade 1 teacher in Canada. Yes, students will miss lessons and classroom work while away on vacation. There will is no way to replace this lost time and work. But I feel that the experience of traveling and visiting new places is also a learning experience for students. In my experience when I have prepared work for students that are away for vacation, it has never been returned to school completed. So I now send a Trip Journal so that students can share their vacation with their classmates when they return and also some additional reading materials. These things are usually completed!

 

[larryz]

I homeschool my 4 kids in PA. I don't find the documentation or requirements onerous. I send the school district what we plan on studying the coming academic year, and which kids are getting homeschooled. I make a portfolio every year of the work my kids have done. We meet with an evaluator once a year and she talks to the kids and looks over their work. It actually makes me more secure meeting with her because she just lets me know that I am doing a great job. They are all ahead grade wise and that is what matters.

Congrats! I'm not surprised you're doing a great job, and that your kids are above grade level. In addition to the dedication and personal interest you're bringing to your kids' education, PA's system almost won't let you fail, and if it looks like you might, you'll get lots of input from the school.

But in comparison to Texas, that's onerous. Texas' requirement is to send the local school district a letter saying you're home schooling your kids.

 

[MySmallWorldof4]

Congrats! I'm not surprised you're doing a great job, and that your kids are above grade level. In addition to the dedication and personal interest you're bringing to your kids' education, PA's system almost won't let you fail, and if it looks like you might, you'll get lots of input from the school.

But in comparison to Texas, that's onerous. Texas' requirement is to send the local school district a letter saying you're home schooling your kids.

Thanks. The requirements just mean you will actually make sure your kids do school and are not playing all day.

 

[21stamps]

I am a Grade 1 teacher in Canada. Yes, students will miss lessons and classroom work while away on vacation. There will is no way to replace this lost time and work. But I feel that the experience of traveling and visiting new places is also a learning experience for students. In my experience when I have prepared work for students that are away for vacation, it has never been returned to school completed. So I now send a Trip Journal so that students can share their vacation with their classmates when they return and also some additional reading materials. These things are usually completed!

Whenever I read about these trip journals it drives me nuts. If it's international travel a report on top of school work is great. Maybe extra credit. But, Disney World? I don't know.
I think kids should make up all of their work, and parents should be held accountable for the completed class and homework.

Thanks. The requirements just mean you will actually make sure your kids do school and are not playing all day.

I have a friend who homeschools her two kids. I am in a constant state of jealousy over their lesson plans and activities.lol. They are on vacation in Iceland right now, did a long Europe trip last year, and live in the D.C. area where it seems to have a great homeschool community.

Our museums here all have daily homeschool activities, there's so many that I wish I could attend!!!
Kudos to you!

 

[MySmallWorldof4]

Whenever I read about these trip journals it drives me nuts. If it's international travel a report on top of school work is great. Maybe extra credit. But, Disney World? I don't know.
I think kids should make up all of their work, and parents should be held accountable for the completed class and homework.



I have a friend who homeschools her two kids. I am in a constant state of jealousy over their lesson plans and activities.lol. They are on vacation in Iceland right now, did a long Europe trip last year, and live in the D.C. area where it seems to have a great homeschool community.

Our museums here all have daily homeschool activities, there's so many that I wish I could attend!!!
Kudos to you!

Thanks. We are an hour and a half from DC and not far from Gettysburg so we have a lot of historical outlets. We even have seen a Mason Dixon line stone since there is one not that far from where we live.

 

[21stamps]

Thanks. We are an hour and a half from DC and not far from Gettysburg so we have a lot of historical outlets. We even have seen a Mason Dixon line stone since there is one not that far from where we live.

That's awesome!

 

[UKDisney Dave]

Kids in the UK attend school for around 190 days a year - that leaves 175 days a year to do all these other things people suggest are just as worth while, like travel, make memories with family.

Is it really unreasonable to ask parents not to pull kids out of school for a holiday? At current those kids being pulled out off school are in the minority, but if this became the norm, and lots of kids were taking weeks at a time off the disruption in classrooms would be huge. Plus where does it end? A week a year, a week every term/semester? Four weeks to go trek the Himalayas (no I don't mean the stuff in the back of Animal Kingdom!) Every Friday off because we want a long weekend?

Term times are set, published in the U.K. at least a year in advance, and.......:::..

Nah.... I can't keep the argument going with a straight face anymore. I don't care if the kids miss school, I just don't want em on holiday with me! Grrrrrrr. I don't want to sit on a plane for 9 hours with kids charging up and down the isles, I don't want to queue 110 mins for it's a small world, and then share my boat with kids being sick cos they have eaten 4 Micky bars for breakfast. I don't want to have to make space for them so they can see the parade, or be stuck behind the family having an argument at cosmic rays cos mum wants the kid to have some fruit, and the kids just want fries again. I don't want to have to pay a premium for villas, tickets, air fares and everything else. I like the fact it's quiet in September, I like the fact it's cheap, I like that I can walk onto small world, and not listen to some kid moaning they feel sea sick before we have even left the boarding station. I like holidays in term time. I even work weekends so I can do stuff mid week when it's quiet and no kids about.

Now get back to school you little buggers, and leave us grumpy old men in peace

 

[21stamps]

Kids in the UK attend school for around 190 days a year - that leaves 175 days a year to do all these other things people suggest are just as worth while, like travel, make memories with family.

Is it really unreasonable to ask parents not to pull kids out of school for a holiday? At current those kids being pulled out off school are in the minority, but if this became the norm, and lots of kids were taking weeks at a time off the disruption in classrooms would be huge. Plus where does it end? A week a year, a week every term/semester? Four weeks to go trek the Himalayas (no I don't mean the stuff in the back of Animal Kingdom!) Every Friday off because we want a long weekend?

Term times are set, published in the U.K. at least a year in advance, and.......:::..

Nah.... I can't keep the argument going with a straight face anymore. I don't care if the kids miss school, I just don't want em on holiday with me! Grrrrrrr. I don't want to sit on a plane for 9 hours with kids charging up and down the isles, I don't want to queue 110 mins for it's a small world, and then share my boat with kids being sick cos they have eaten 4 Micky bars for breakfast. I don't want to have to make space for them so they can see the parade, or be stuck behind the family having an argument at cosmic rays cos mum wants the kid to have some fruit, and the kids just want fries again. I don't want to have to pay a premium for villas, tickets, air fares and everything else. I like the fact it's quiet in September, I like the fact it's cheap, I like that I can walk onto small world, and not listen to some kid moaning they feel sea sick before we have even left the boarding station. I like holidays in term time. I even work weekends so I can do stuff mid week when it's quiet and no kids about.

Now get back to school you little buggers, and leave us grumpy old men in peace

This was great!

 

[flynnibus]

I really wish this would happen regularly in the USA. Kids should only miss school when they are too sick to go. There is plenty of off time during the year.

And ehat do you think of every child that competes at workd level competitions? Should they all be held back, or just forbidden from advancing in anything but their lowly school district?

Or how about all those days band members miss, or high school athletes?

The point is its not about how many real days a kid is present or not... its if they are able to perform and demonstrate their competence.

 

[DfromATX]

Wow, I would never take my kids out of school for a vacation. I didn't realize so many people did that. Not knocking it, just surprised is all. I might let him miss one or two days, but not a whole week. Can't imagine the extra work for that or the special treatment being able to be off. I would not allow it. Lucky for us, just this year they gave us the whole week off for Thanksgiving (used to be early out Wednesday, then off only Thursday and Friday).

 

[DfromATX]

I really wish this would happen regularly in the USA. Kids should only miss school when they are too sick to go. There is plenty of off time during the year.

I agree. It seems like they are always off for some kind of holiday. I know there's at least one day a month. To be honest, I'm really shocked to read so many in support of taking off for vacations.

 

[Laketravis]

First, second, and third grade our school never had a problem with us taking DS out for a week on either side of the Thanksgiving week they were already off. Then came the fourth grade and they started making an issue about it. Not only did he complete all of the assignments that were given to him, he wrote a four page essay on World Showcase and another on the physics of roller coasters. But they still wouldn't excuse his absence

So fifth and now sixth grade, we've been diligent parents that the school district can be proud of, and they've collected every cent of state funding possible because DS hasn't missed a day of school.

If DS weren't a straight A student who doesn't miss a day of school otherwise, I'd probably never consider taking him out for a vacation. If they didn't insist that he had to be at school the final week of the year even though all they do is watch movies and play games in the gym, I'd probably take him out that week as well. And if I really thought they were concerned about his educational welfare and not about the dollars they lose from the state because funding is based on daily headcount, I'd probably not consider pulling him out. But the real reason we don't pull him out anymore is because this school district will file in municipal court against the parents if a student misses four days in any six week period. Yeah, they are serious.

But the fact is he's learned just as much outside of the classroom as he has in it. I've seriously considered home schooling him (a very popular option here in Texas) not only for the educational benefits but for the ability and flexibility to venture out to unique and stimulating destinations beyond a classroom.

 

[DfromATX]

First, second, and third grade our school never had a problem with us taking DS out for a week on either side of the Thanksgiving week they were already off. Then came the fourth grade and they started making an issue about it. Not only did he complete all of the assignments that were given to him, he wrote a four page essay on World Showcase and another on the physics of roller coasters. But they still wouldn't excuse his absence

So fifth and now sixth grade, we've been diligent parents that the school district can be proud of, and they've collected every cent of state funding possible because DS hasn't missed a day of school.

If DS weren't a straight A student who doesn't miss a day of school otherwise, I'd probably never consider taking him out for a vacation. If they didn't insist that he had to be at school the final week of the year even though all they do is watch movies and play games in the gym, I'd probably take him out that week as well. And if I really thought they were concerned about his educational welfare and not about the dollars they lose from the state because funding is based on daily headcount, I'd probably not consider pulling him out. But the real reason we don't pull him out anymore is because this school district will file in municipal court against the parents if a student misses four days in any six week period. Yeah, they are serious.

But the fact is he's learned just as much outside of the classroom as he has in it. I've seriously considered home schooling him (a very popular option here in Texas) not only for the educational benefits but for the ability and flexibility to venture out to unique and stimulating destinations beyond a classroom.

I'm assuming you are in Lake Travis ISD? Supposed to be a good one. We are not too far... PfISD. Not to veer off subject, but I think we are also in a very good school district and I truly believe they care about their education. Besides, I'm assuming you got your property taxes in the mail recently... they get enough from that, right?!?

 

[Laketravis]

I'm assuming you are in Lake Travis ISD? Supposed to be a good one. We are not too far... PfISD. Not to veer off subject, but I think we are also in a very good school district and I truly believe they care about their education. Besides, I'm assuming you got your property taxes in the mail recently... they get enough from that, right?!?

Not LT but close. I've heard good things about PF. And yeah, our school property taxes are close to $1.52 per $100 valuation and that appraised value has been going up an average of 12% each of the last 4 years. This year the ISD portion alone is over $9K. It's crazy, and I don't think many homeowners are going to be able to afford the continued increases. Read where both Perryman and the Dallas Fed expect a recession in this area in the next 24-36 months because the economy got super heated and is now starting to cool.

Have six more years before DS graduates high school and we won't have to plan around public school schedules anymore.

 

[Raineman]

I have to say that I am glad that I live where I live, because we have never had any issues with taking my daughter out of school for a vacation-and we have taken a winter vacation every year since 2014. We let the school know ahead of time when my daughter will be gone, and contact the teacher and ask if there is anything she can do before she comes back. We've never had any pushback from the school board, no letters, nothing. My daughter is a good student who has no issues catching up, so we do not feel like it is a bad thing taking her out of class for a week to go somewhere. This "nanny state" frame of mind that some government agencies have is getting to be ridiculous-when it comes down to it, a child's parents have the ultimate say on what is best for their child, outside of any possible harm to the child. And, to put a Disney spin on this, my daughter is on summer vacation from the end of June to the beginning of September-do I want to spend a week at WDW in the sweltering Florida summer heat, when I can go in the fall, winter or spring when the temperatures are more forgiving? No way.

 

[Phonedave]

The school system has no business dictating as to when parents take their children on a family vacation.

I agree. I also agree that if the parent decides not to abide by the rules of the school district, then they should suffer the consequences. If that means the child does not graduate that year, or has to attend addtional study hours at the parent's cost, then so be it. If you don't like those rules, then either attend a private school where they are not in place, or gee, I don't know, actually attend a PTA or BoE meeting.

This is not directed at the poster, but in general. I see many people complaining about various school systems - not just here, but in all sorts of social media. But ask them the name of their Superintendent, or their BoE member, and they can't even name one. If you don't like how things are, then get involved, that's how you change things.

-dave

 

[Glasgow]

This is a philosophical issue, of course, but in my opinion is just another issue that should be handled and decided at home, not by the government. If youre willing to potentially affect your childs education (for better or for worse) then that should be up to you (thr parent). But I fear that lots of parents are not qualified to make such decisions .. Hence why the govt has to step in.

I take more issue with those that don't want the govt (ie school system) involving themselves in their business but then complain about the state of education in this country. Its tough to have both.

 

[JIMINYCR]

Just want to say THANKS to all of my DS's teachers who were understanding and cooperative when we had taken him out of school for our Disney trips. Because of our circumstances we had narrow times available to get away and if they had not been willing to work with us we never would have taken the trips. He was never harmed by the days he missed and we gained much by having the precious family time together. THANKS to Teachers who are willing to work with parents and understand and work around unusual family circumstances.

 

[Phonedave]

This is a philosophical issue, of course, but in my opinion is just another issue that should be handled and decided at home, not by the government. If youre willing to potentially affect your childs education (for better or for worse) then that should be up to you (thr parent). But I fear that lots of parents are not qualified to make such decisions .. Hence why the govt has to step in.

I take more issue with those that don't want the govt (ie school system) involving themselves in their business but then complain about the state of education in this country. Its tough to have both.

For me it is more of an attitude of "don't do things that are going to cost me and then expect me to pay for it."


Seatbelt laws spring to mind. For those that are old enough, remember the outrage when seat belt laws came into existence. People resisted them left and right. One of the arguments was, if I want to risk my life by not wearing a seat belt, then the government cannot make me.


OK, that's fine. But if you get in an accident and need a large amount of medical care, then insurance should not pay for it, because I don't want my premiums to go up because of your actions. If you get in an accident and die, then your family does not get to apply for government assistance (WIC, food stamps, welfare, etc.) because my tax dollars are not going to go pay for a situation you caused by your actions.


I have no problems with helping people who are victims of unfortunate circumstances - in fact I do it quite often - but when somebody flouts the rules established by society, and then things go wrong, and they expect society to bail them out, that’s where I have an issue.


So, if someone wants to take their kid out of school, fine. But, any extra hours that a teacher has to spend helping your kid out because of it, is taking time away from a student that actually went to school. Your kid needs make up work or help - you pay for it. If your kid can’t follow the lesson on the Monday they get back because it builds on what was taught the week they took off to go to WDW, then tough - don't disrupt the rest of the class with questions - go pay for a tutor to get you up to speed.


For kids in band, or on debate teams, or who are out sick, those are activities that have been approved by the BoE and District Administration, and by my vote and voice to those bodies I have given tacit approval to because I think they are in the long run good for the student body in general, and the community in which I live (and pay for public schooling). But to let someone go on vacation with their kid because they don't like heat, or don't want to go when it is busy, or their job only gives them 2 weeks of vacation, nope - I am not going to help pay for that.


There are plenty of times when I would like to do something or go somewhere and I can't because of scheduling reasons. It's called life. I have two choices. I can either be an adult and realize that I can't do everything that I want, or I can (sometimes) pay extra (either in money, time, or something else) to change the situation. What I do not do, is fly against the rules that the society that I live in has established, and then expect that same society to pay for my actions.