school vs disneyworld

[420WDW MONSTER]

i live in texas and school starts in aug. we are going to the world the last week of sept, i have custody of my 14 year old bro this will be his first year of high school. hes not the best student ....ok he doesnt get good grade but he trys....sometimes. we will be go from school for 5 days he can miss only 9 before he looses credit, hes never had a problem with attendance. my question is has anyone ever pulled thier kids out of school before? do i have to lie and say we have to vist our sick aunt or something.
this is the only time of year we can go
springbeak-too much money, husband can't get work off(plus star tours is closed)
summer-hotter and stickier than the devils ball sack!- husband cant get off work
winter break- way to much money! husband can't get off work
my husband is a chef in a tourist spot downtown san antonio and anytime anything is going on holidays and whenever kids out of school he has to work!

 

[Phonedave]

I must still emphasize that EPCOT is not viable substitute (get the pun?) for a classroom education.
Fun, with a little educational value on the side? Sure.
A good replacement for the classroom? Not so much.
There are plenty of other places in most areas that serve well for field trips, and they all cost less.

Very true.

I does not matter how you learn, or what method you use to learn - if the information is not there, there is no way to learn it.

EPCOT does not present anything more than a general flavor on the subjects it 'teaches'. Somone may retain that general overview better because they received it in a stimulating and memorable environment. But they are not going to learn something that is not presented.

As for field trips, most of the time it is a single subject for a good portion of the day. Thats not EPCOT. EPCOT is many subjects, each given in +/- 30 minute snippets.

-dave

 

[Scuttle]

Necessary? Maybe not...but pretty darn funny.....and true


I foresee this thread being closed very shortly as this topic NEVER stays very nice for long.



BTW...MONSTER....your brother possibly losing a year of school for absences surely isn't worth the trip if you tell the truth. (take that as you may)

Very true, I live here June and July are freaking insane and in my opinion the absolute worst times to visit WDW. Extreme crowds plus extreme heat sucks.

 

[ann0d]

I'm sorry, but I can't let that pass. Disney is NOT a learning experience, by ANY stretch of the imagination. I'd learn more about China from Wikipedia than I would by visiting the China pavillion at Epcot. And by pulling kids out of class, you are creating a bad precedent with them for college, where the consequences are more severe (college professors are known to fail students who miss so much as ONE class). And simply continuing to make good grades is inconsequential, and I'll give an example. They simply just might not be tested on the material they missed immediately, so their grades won't suffer, but future need of the material may hurt them.
When I was in high school, I missed a couple of days of school (don't remember why). That week, in my algebra 2 class, the teacher taught matrices. When I returned, they had already moved on. Matrices weren't really needed for any additional material we were learning beyond it, and the test only had one question about it, so my grades never suffered. Guess what? When I got to college, it came up both in my chemistry courses and my advanced calculus courses. I was so lost I spent days trying to learn them to no avail. Some concepts just can't be learned from textbooks, and many teachers test from material taught in class. Textbooks are an aide, not the entire course. Sometimes further explanation/exploration is required.

That was just a specific example, and by no means indicative of everyone. But it illustrates that missing school and maintaining good grades could cause missed learning opportuniites. Not to mention, you are imposing an increased workload on your child/ren. They now have to study harder/longer to make up missed material, often in a shorter amount of time. But it also depends on the coursework. History, English, literature, etc. are much easier to miss out on than math, science and foreign language classes.

OK I know I am going to hear flack about this....

How about learning family values, togetherness, the importance of family, Actually seeing different cultures is different than look at Wiki.

I don't know my kids all survived and are well adjusted, intelligent, normal kids in their 20's, college graduates (never complained they didn't know something because they went to Disney). I don't think I did anything wrong, if the school doesn' have a problem with it. We live in a wealthy community and people take their kids out for ski trips, so at least Disney has some learning experiences, weather it be directly or indirectly. Just depends on how you look at it. As far as missing school, I missed a whole month in my senior year due to illness, I survived and graduated in the top 50 of the class. Being a little uptight, IMO.


. :shrug:

 

[wm49rs]

How about learning family values, togetherness, the importance of family, Actually seeing different cultures is different than look at Wiki.

I don't know my kids all survived and are well adjusted, normal kids.

:shrug:

You're not immersed in another "culture" at EPCOT, rather the Disney, LCD version of it....

Nor is a school likely to excuse a vacation for family values or togetherness. For them, the summer would offer ample opportunity....

 

[ann0d]

You're not immersed in another "culture" at EPCOT, rather the Disney, LCD version of it....

Nor is a school likely to excuse a vacation for family values or togetherness. For them, the summer would offer ample opportunity....

Everyone is entitled to their opinion!
Not everyone has the opportunity to take summer vacations either!

 

[emaginear]

Not commenting on if pulling them out of school or not is the right thing to do. But the bolded part is a load of rubbish.

What do you learn about Mexico - they make Animales Fantasticos, like Tequila, and boat rides ? Where is the whole interaction with what is now Texas. Is Santa Anna even mentioned in the pavilion ? Any mention at all of the recent (amazing) strides Mexico has made in 'moving up' in the rankings?

Lets move to Norway. Stave Church has a glossing over of viking history. What else do we learn? Norway is full of trolls and Helly Hansen clothes apparently. Oh, and Norway will always be one with the sea. How about some info on their GDP and ranking in the world. Their concept of property rights and if that is a good or bad thing. Any mention of why it refuses to join the EU?

Don't get me wrong. EPCOT is great, and it is a wonderful way to get someone INTERESTED in a country - but to suggest that there is any in depth learning of any kind there is silly.

-dave

Have you never talked to any of the country representatives. Not the American CM's the actual citizens of the countries. I realize actual social interaction (face-to-face) is a lost art form today. But more is taught and learned through talking and interaction one-on-one than any text book will ever do. A text book can NOT tell you how actual day to day life / struggles are first hand. Text books are not always truthful or accurate. For example TEXAS (where this family is from) decided to alter history by dropping Thomas Jefferson from a world history section of text books devoted to great political thinkers. Really? Jefferson NOT a great political thinker?

The one on one SPEAKING interaction is truly educational. And in order to start the fire you need to kindle the flames of learning. EPCOT does this.

 

[rsoxguy]

Have you never talked to any of the country representatives. Not the American CM's the actual citizens of the countries. I realize actual social interaction (face-to-face) is a lost art form today. But more is taught and learned through talking and interaction one-on-one than any text book will ever do. A text book can NOT tell you how actual day to day life / struggles are first hand. Text books are not always truthful or accurate. For example TEXAS (where this family is from) decided to alter history by dropping Thomas Jefferson from a world history section of text books devoted to great political thinkers. Really? Jefferson NOT a great political thinker?

The one on one SPEAKING interaction is truly educational. And in order to start the fire you need to kindle the flames of learning. EPCOT does this.

I appreciate what you are saying, I honestly do, but I think that the forum member that you quoted was making a much broader point. The issue was centered around the ability to justify substituting time at school with a trip to EPCOT. Consequently, this issue is more about justifying lost time at school because of EPCOT's perceived educational value. According to your example regarding social interaction (which I wholeheartedly agree is a lost means of enlightenment), a trip to a convenience store can replace a day at school as long as the store is run by a foreign national. I think that it is a great idea to approach a place like EPCOT with an eye toward education as an additional benefit, but never as a source of replacement for more formal schooling. Just an opinion, mind you, not an attack.

 

[Phonedave]

How about learning family values, togetherness, the importance of family,

If a family needs to go to WDW to instill those values in a child, then there is more problems then going to WDW is going to cure.

Actually seeing different cultures is different than look at Wiki.

Very true. So they get immersed in the culture of theme parks. Actualy GOING to the country - thats a different story.

-dave

 

[Phonedave]

Have you never talked to any of the country representatives. Not the American CM's the actual citizens of the countries. I realize actual social interaction (face-to-face) is a lost art form today. But more is taught and learned through talking and interaction one-on-one than any text book will ever do. A text book can NOT tell you how actual day to day life / struggles are first hand. Text books are not always truthful or accurate. For example TEXAS (where this family is from) decided to alter history by dropping Thomas Jefferson from a world history section of text books devoted to great political thinkers. Really? Jefferson NOT a great political thinker?

The one on one SPEAKING interaction is truly educational. And in order to start the fire you need to kindle the flames of learning. EPCOT does this.

I talk to them all the time. While the odd one may give you some insights into their culture, very often they don't know much about it themselves. Some of them are very insightful, others, not so much. They are just like a normal cross section of people in the street. Pick a person at random and ask them about the culture and history of the US - check out the answer you get.

I agree with you that EPCOT can start the fire of learning. It still does with me. For example last time I was there I became interested in the carved wood boxes for sale in Morocco. The burling on some of them is very attractive. I asked the clerk about the wood and the carvings (there is a little card on the stand next to them). His response was to tell me what is on the card. Wow, learned a whole lot from that interact. When I got home I looked it up and read up on it. I do that quite a bit when I am there. I will take close up shots of all sorts of things. A book, a product, an ingreident, etc for further research when I get home. So yes, EPCOT does provide the spark, but beyond that spark the fire comes from elsewhere, not EPCOT.


-dave

 

[dizzney]

We thoroughly enjoy Epcot, BUT its not a substitution for classes. My children have asked if they could do any report on Disney, and the only assignment they were given was to continue the daily writing in their journals (they keep daily journals at school from 4th grade on to help writing skills) and they could write about their daily activities.

But we simply dont take them out to go to WDW from 6th grade on as they miss too much.

 

[ann0d]

I didn't say to substitute schools! For goodness sake, it is one week! And

 

[ann0d]

I didn't say to substitute schools! For goodness sake, it is one week! And yes there are cheaper ways and other choices, but that is my choice.

JMO!

 

[Disneykidder]

You're opening up a large can with this one!!

In NY, there must be an absent note to accompany an absence or there's trouble. However, a trip to Disney does not constitute an excused absence. A doctors appointment or an illness, yes...but not a trip. There is a student in my very own class who has been absent/late many, many times due to a serious illness. Although the school knows this is an illness, the mom forgets to write notes and without those notes, educational neglect will come. I personally spoke to the parent to have her write the notes and things are fine now but it was almost a scary situation for the family.

With that, if your brother isn't the greatest student, I wouldn't do it...no matter what grade he is in. He needs to be in school to receive instruction and will miss lessons. Sure they can give you worksheets, but lessons don't always come with worksheets. It's your call as the guardian but this is just my fifty cents.:animwink:

 

[Disneykidder]

life does smack ya in the face! when i was younger i was bad (only a lil bit) i had to straightin up pretty fast. and yes i still partake in the herb, but always behind close doors and NEVER in front of my silblings.

Oh no, you did not just admit to that on here? I don't think it is a good thing to do, let alone tell perfect strangers on here!! Plus, doesn't that take away from a lot of money that could possibly be used to go to WDW during times when school is not in session?

 

[420WDW MONSTER]

life does smack ya in the face! when i was younger i was bad (only a lil bit) i had to straightin up pretty fast. and yes i still partake in the herb, but always behind close doors and NEVER in front of my silblings.

Oh no, you did not just admit to that on here? I don't think it is a good thing to do, let alone tell perfect strangers on here!! Plus, doesn't that take away from a lot of money that could possibly be used to go to WDW during times when school is not in session?

hell i dont know anyone on here, most CMs are high (no drug test)
i dont really spend alot of money on it no worse then a case of beer or a bottle of wine
plus i aint tellin ya to go run out in do it
its just a screenname

 

[wm49rs]

hell i dont know anyone on here, most CMs are high (no drug test)
i dont really spend alot of money on it no worse then a case of beer or a bottle of wine
plus i aint tellin ya to go run out in do it
its just a screenname

Because you do it they must as well? Seems to be a bit of self-serving logic there....

 

[420WDW MONSTER]

no my older sister use to work at disneyland and a bunch of my friends worked there
there was a forum i dont remember what it was called but it was about cms that work at disney that smoke

im not sayin everyone does but alot of them do

 

[wm49rs]

no my older sister use to work at disneyland and a bunch of my friends worked there
there was a forum i dont remember what it was called but it was about cms that work at disney that smoke

im not sayin everyone does but alot of them do

Right. And therein lies the winner of the school vs. Disney argument....

 

[420WDW MONSTER]

hey man im sorry if i offended anyone but someone else brought up my screename, i was tryin to ask a real question, i aint gonna try to be fake for a bunch people i dont know

 

[sweetpee_1993]

hey man im sorry if i offended anyone but someone else brought up my screename, i was tryin to ask a real question, i aint gonna try to be fake for a bunch people i dont know

I'm not the most street-wise of people when it comes to verbage regarding such illicit activities. Until you said you partake I had no clue your userid referenced such. That's why someone mentioned your having come out and stated it plain as day. This in no way reflects my opinions of folks who do behind closed doors. However, I would hope that the CMs who are responsible for the safety of my children are not toasting their noggins with such especially when they're at work. If I had any inclination whatsoever that a CM were under the influence of anything other than what is legitamently prescribed by a proper physician (not one of these pro-weed thumping PhDs) you better believe I'm gonna take issue with it in every way that I possibly can. I suspect their employer would as well. Take that for what it's worth. Adults should be making more responsible adult decisions. It's as simple as that.