Have you ever taken your kids out of school to go to WDW?

[Joshua&CalebDad]

Some of these stories are outrageous. Parents no longer have the ability to raise our children, the "Nanny State" is taking care of everything for us. My child is my child and it will be over my dead body before I let the government raise them for me!

On a side note, my oldest son just started Kindergarten this year and we will be taking him out of school for a full week so that he can go to WDW. Yes I know its only K-5 but we will probably continue to do this as our sons grow older.

The key to making this work is letting the teacher know far enough in advance so that the child can get their work in advance and have it completed by the time they get back. Something we have also done is ask the teacher for ideas on educational things we can do while we are on the trip.

 

[princessmelinda]

My parents took me out of school every first week of December almost every year up until high school/9th grade. All of my teachers were really understanding about it and would put packets together for me. The younger years it was mostly just keep a journal, which are great to look back at now! Sometimes I would come back to school and be ahead of everyone else! One year there were like 3 snow days and I ended up missing only 2 days of school ! I just graduated college and this year is the first time I'm going back the first week of December since 8th grade!!!

 

[ShookieJones]

I don't even know if I could have done that here. My friend had to supply a copy of a death cert + funeral and religious observance details. It really just sickens me. While homeschooling is really not for us, I know a number of people who are now going this route b/c of this nonsense.

I'm having such a hard time wrapping my mind around this. I can't tell you how wrong this rubs me.
GRRRRRRRRRRR!!!

 

[Todd H]

My son's kindergarten has a winter break in February and we're taking him out a couple of days before. His teacher doesn't seem to mind.

 

[eeyoremum]

I have taken my kids out of school for vacation. I could make any number of excuses but the fact is my kids, my rules we prefer to go at slower/cooler times of the year. We live in Ontario so we need a break in winter.

I am also one of those nasty parents that doesn't tell the school ahead of time. I call them the day before. We are on vacation I don't take work on vacation and I don't want to deal with homework on vacation. The only time someone got snippy was when my son was in high school and the attendance secretary wanted me to fill out some form. I said yeah I'll get right on that but didn't bother.

 

[mamamouse]

I pull mine out for a week every year to go to WDW and when my dad was alive I pulled them out for a week to go visit him too!!

 

[woody98]

I take both my DD out of school for 2 weeks every year. It has never been a problem with the school but I attribute that to it not being a public school. My brother has nothing but problems when he takes his kids out of school for vacation. My problem is gonna be that the school only goes to 8th grade.

 

[plutofan15]

Same here... Teachers gave me work on what was being teached that week. My mom or dad would help me along if i needed it.. It was always done on the 3 hour flight so no disney time was lost on BS... I mean important school work

"Being teached that week"????? I see it worked out well for you.

 

[ShookieJones]

It is reactionary - to parents who don't give a flying fig about their kids. Deadbeat parents who never make sure their kids go to school slide by, so the governement has to step in to do something, and everyone gets caught in the mix. The whole "no child left behind" thing.

As for taking kids out of school to go on a trip, my personal feeling is no. My feeling, you knew when you had kids they were going to be going to school from ages 6 to 18. If you wanted to go on trips in the winter, then you should have though twice about your committment. Sometimes that is what happens.

As for what happens when you miss school, I will say it is hit or miss. I remember missing school at times when I was a kid (sickness, death in family, etc) and being fine. However I also remember missing a class once in High School because of another school function I was involved with. I just happend to miss physics on the day they introduced imaginary numbers in current flow. I was so behind by missing that one class that it took me a number of weeks to catch up.

My wife is a teacher (middle school), and what they are pushing kids to learn now in middle school and up (at least around here) creates a very full schedule. Her students are sort of an exception because she is a Special Ed teacher, so all of her kids have customized lesson plans anyway.

-dave

As far as your first paragraph I couldn't agree more as to this being the "why" for the other side of the coin.

As far as your second paragraph? Hmmm not so much.
As a parent of a 16 and 12 year old there is no way to determine what your life is going to be like. I don't care what your parents told you, I don't care how many volumes of "parenting for dummies" you've read...there is no way in heck for a person to really know what to expect until they get there. You can tell someone kiss spontaneity and free time goodbye..they just won't get it until they're there!

I didn't I even know if was going to be going to be able to afford vacations let alone what would happen if I decided to take my future rugrats out of school. I'm all about responsibility and at least having some sort of overall foresight but to expect anyone to understand these implications that far into the future..(especially with the laws I'm hearing about in some of these states)..is kind of off the wall.

As far as paragraphs 3 and 4 I'm back on the same page with you and again I totally 100% respect and support our teachers everywhere it's a thankless and tiring job especially in this "not my fault" society we live in.

 

[wendysue]

I have and I would again. Teachers will say no, and I think it's so judgmental. If I had the amount of vacation time they had, I'd be free to go whenever I wanted as well.

I work at a school and for a truancy office, and we took our children out of school to go to WDW...didn't hurt them a bit. One is now a teacher himself.
Regarding that vacation time....the teachers in our family usually have to take extra classes in the summer at their own expense to keep their certification. Every year the rules seemed to be changed so they end up taking more classes than doctors to be certified.

 

[JillC LI]

Elementary, absolutely.

Middle or High School, it will hugely depend on the type of student they are. If they're doing poorly, Im not going to take them out OR reward them for a vacation. If they're a good student and I know they wont have a hard time catching up, then we'll consider it : )

Exactly. Know your child and make your decision accordingly.
My parents pulled me out of school for vacation nearly every year all through high school, and I was my high school's valedictorian.

 

[Phonedave]

As far as your second paragraph? Hmmm not so much.
As a parent of a 16 and 12 year old there is no way to determine what your life is going to be like. I don't care what your parents told you, I don't care how many volumes of "parenting for dummies" you've read...there is no way in heck for a person to really know what to expect until they get there. You can tell someone kiss spontaneity and free time goodbye..they just won't get it until they're there!

Mine are 11 and 13 and my step-daughter is 7. I know all about what to expect. Yes, you don't know what is going to happen, but you do know SOME things that will happen. Less free cash, less free time, no more vacations on a whim, and that the kids will be in school. Those are pretty much givens. As I am sure you know, kids change your life in a big way.

Maybe with the trend of couples having kids later in life this will change, and people will not be quite so young and not totally realizing the imlications when they have kids.

-dave

 

[Phonedave]

Regarding that vacation time....the teachers in our family usually have to take extra classes in the summer at their own expense to keep their certification. Every year the rules seemed to be changed so they end up taking more classes than doctors to be certified.

Or some of the days that are vacation days for the students are in-service days for the teachers where they attend various training classes to keep up their certs.

-dave

 

[bethymouse]

I am a third grade teacher and it never really bothers me. At the beginning of the year I give the parents state testing dates and ask if they can make sure their child is in school during those days. Any other time is fine with me. I'm jealous that I can't go during off season and always beg my students to take me with them!

Second Grade teacher here. Hi there fellow colleague! We went Sept. 23-29, and missed 5 days! I had 6 days leave w/o cause days to take: so I did! My principal was not happy! I brought her back a princess pen( the Diva that she is). I filled out "educational" leave forms for my boys who are in 3rd grade. It was early enough in the year that we didn't have that much "make-up" work. We wrote in a journal every night, spent lots of time at Animal Kingdom and the Kids Discovery stops, spent lots of time at EPCOT World Showcase, and stayed at the Polynesian ( got videos portraying the different cultures). It was awesome! I'll do it again when I accumulate enough leave w/o cause days. We only get 2 a year. My husband hates summer time ( too hot) and holidays ( too crowded). Our school district is quite strict w/ absences and tardies. They'll take you to court!
Bottom line is: I wouldn't do it EVERY year, but every other year is justifiable to me. WDW is a very educational place to visit, and of course the most magical! Enjoy any time of year!

 

[bethymouse]

I'm having such a hard time wrapping my mind around this. I can't tell you how wrong this rubs me.
GRRRRRRRRRRR!!!

OMG- nonsense is right! I'm a teacher and I know the Board of Education/government has made our lives ridiculously/hopelessly imprisoned. Now we can't even drink a soda in our classrooms. We have to have it in a "container" of some sort! I can't imagine having to lie about a family member's funeral and/or death notice. It's bad enough you have to have a doctor's excuse. Unfortunately, there are people who abuse the system, and we all have to suffer for it!

 

[bethymouse]

I work at a school and for a truancy office, and we took our children out of school to go to WDW...didn't hurt them a bit. One is now a teacher himself.
Regarding that vacation time....the teachers in our family usually have to take extra classes in the summer at their own expense to keep their certification. Every year the rules seemed to be changed so they end up taking more classes than doctors to be certified.

OMG- you're so right! Teaching is the ONLY profession that basically FORCES you to get a Masters Degree! We have so many meetings, workshops, classes, etc... to attend! It's outrageous!

 

[bethymouse]

There are actually a few states where parents can receive prison time for keeping their kids out of school. I grew up in NJ and this was never an issue. The law here in TX changed to this insanity a few yrs ago. It made me sick when my friend had to go to court b/c her kids missed a few days due to a death in the family. It wound up being excused but it was wrong to have her go through this in the first place. Grrrrrrr

WV has that law too, and it really stinks! P.U.!

 

[bethymouse]

The whole "no child left behind" thing.
OMG Don't even get me started on NCLB or Race to the Top! Test scores, test scores, test scores! BLAH!

 

[HouCuseChickie]

WV has that law too, and it really stinks! P.U.!

My beef isn't so much about not being able to take vacations (although, a little more freedom with that would be nice ), but how it impacts other beneficial things. I had to skip my cousin's wedding last month b/c the amount of time I'd need to cover travel and wedding stuff would have put us in violation of the law. The part that really bugs me...school sponsored overnight field trips (i.e. high school history trips to D.C., Philly, and historic Williamsburg for several days) are not covered as excused absences under this law. So any in depth trips like this have to be done during spring break, and the prices are usually so high that the trips are often out of reach for many students, even with fundraising. I nearly hit the roof when my friend's school insisted on a note from his Rabbi for his son missing 3 days for the Jewish High Holy Days. I mean really, religious holiday observance are Federally protected and these aren't obscure holidays where some districts might call it into question.

I know our school is a bit more flexible than some. My daughter's classmate was approved to travel to the Phillipines to visit family last year, so that gives me hope. Although, we have a new attendance officer. She seems nice and our teacher seems pretty good with things, but the reality is- the choice to turn it into a criminal case often comes from the district level.

My issue is that the schools here that seem to have the biggest problems are the least likely to enforce this law, yet the better rated schools really stay on top of it since better attendance = more funding. I know that extra $ is supposed to be passed on to the students and teachers, but this solution doesn't seem to be helping the country's education woes...i.e. they need to go back to the drawing board and rethink this.

 

[mousefan1972]

OMG- you're so right! Teaching is the ONLY profession that basically FORCES you to get a Masters Degree! We have so many meetings, workshops, classes, etc... to attend! It's outrageous!

Um, teaching is definitely not the only profession that requires a Masters. I am a physical therapist. We can't practice unless we are licensed in the state we work in. In order to be licensed, we have to pass an exam. There is a long list of requirements needed to take the exam. When I took the exam in 1996, a Masters Degree from an accredited program was required. Now, a doctorate in Physical Therapy is required.

You knew what was required for continuing Ed when you became a teacher, right?

And we get a lot less time off than teachers do....