Pulling the kids out of school for "off season"

FlatlandMounty · Post by **FlatlandMounty** » Apr Wed 19, 2006 12:13 am

This idea really depends on the teachers and the school. If I skipped for like 2 days so my folks and I could go down on a Thursday and be back to school on Monday. It probably wouldn't be a problem. But when the days start getting more and more towards a week. Schools don't tolerate it as much as they used to. Its a copmetitive world out there. Children are learning Calculus in MIDDLE SCHOOL now. Pulling a student for any period of time can be harmful. I'd say at this point in society, unless the teacher will give you hwk the kid can work on on the plane or in the hotel? I wouldn't do it.

kjmore · Post by **kjmore** » Apr Thu 27, 2006 8:54 am

I think it depends a lot on your child -- are they struggling with school or ahead, what grade are they in, etc. We've done this for three years now, pulling our girls (ages three and eight) out of school for a week to 10 days. Don't hesitate about the younger one. For the first time this year we won't be doing that -- we're going around Christmas and are pulling them out for only three days before official vacation starts. The school we're in doesn't have a problem with this, though I understand some schools really do. We just figured that the older one is starting to get more challenging work to do and it would be easier for her to not miss (a lot of) classes.

knedeau · Post by **knedeau** » Apr Thu 27, 2006 2:25 pm

My parents used to pull me out of school for this almost every year. I don't think it would be a problem. Most teachers have to submit lesson plans every so often, so they cna just get the assignments and make sure the work is done. If you have computers and access to the internet, you could even have your child email homework.

jbvenn · Post by **jbvenn** » Apr Thu 27, 2006 3:55 pm

We took our kids out of school to go to WDW through their middle school years, and they both handled it pretty well. We decided to quit doing it in high school because they're both taking pretty heavy courseloads and it would be too hard to make up the work.

The school doesn't really have anything to say about it though, since it's a family vacation and the parents have sanctioned the absence. My son even has a friend who misses a month every January to go on J-term with his college professor dad. Like others here have said, learning doesn't have to be restricted to a classroom.

Fantasrick · Post by **Fantasrick** » Apr Thu 27, 2006 3:59 pm

I can tell you that the kids will think that you are the coolest. That is one thing I know for certain. As for school work that they miss they can make it up, but family memories are more important than a couple of days missed at school.

Post by **spaulo** » Apr Fri 28, 2006 11:37 am

Again, those of you who have lenient policies at your schools about making up work, be thankful... not everyone is so lucky.

abrcrmbegrl20 · Post by **abrcrmbegrl20** » Apr Fri 28, 2006 12:44 pm

My parents did with me a few times. But I also attended a year around school. And we got like 2-4 weeks every few months in junior high and so we use to go in September on my break and it was nice. Less crowds for sure. I don't see a problem with taking kids out. But now that I am in college I wait till school is out before I go.

rct247 · Post by **rct247** » May Wed 03, 2006 3:43 pm

My family went in 1997 and 1999 both in October. We usually had somewhat of an October/Fall break (back in Dallas it was for Fair Day to go to the State Fair). Anyways, we went over that week. I only missed about 4 days of school and I was in elementary school. October was the perfect time and frankly, at the elementary school level you can afford to. Grades are not as big of a deal, kids get "sick" easier at that time so you have an excuse if you need it, and if you add up all the days spent doing nothing but watching movies, cleaning out desks, play days, and field trips, a good 2 weeks are spent doing nothing out of the school year if not more.

So is it worth it...yes until about middle school.

MouseMan · Post by **MouseMan** » May Thu 04, 2006 3:52 pm

I better vote in favor of it since I did just that last February. But we also planned it when there was some sort of teachers instutute day so they really only missed out of 2 or 3 days and not a whole week. The teachers give you the work to make up. My son was in first and my daughter in fourth grade. They suffered no ill effects school-wise.

peachypie · Post by **peachypie** » May Thu 04, 2006 10:38 pm

I plan on doing it...my daughter will be in kindergarten though.My guess is that the older they get the harder it would be to makeup work.

FlatlandMounty · Post by **FlatlandMounty** » May Thu 04, 2006 11:27 pm

My daughter is a high school junior and we pulled her for a week for a family vacation to WDW in March. She can miss nine days in a year unexcused (no doctor's note), so we made sure to keep within that. A couple of teachers were not pleased, but in general they worked with us. The circumstances were somewhat extenuating, as my son was going into the service in April so it was to be the last "family" vacation for a while, but we pulled her for a couple of days in previous years and just called her in sick.

see, now this is ok. But some of you have been talking about taking kids out for like 2 weeks and you don't mention school policy, or make-up work. Plus, if you can only go on vacation from work during school...or a person is headed for the service...or something like that...its cool.

If you are just taking your kids out of school so you can skip long lines at Disney World, you really need to rethink your priorities. I know Disney is an awesome experience...but being intelligent enough to work your way past the Disney World Janitorial staff is an even better experience.

tiggerrrrrr · Post by **tiggerrrrrr** » May Mon 08, 2006 12:45 pm

I've taken my kids out of school at every age for family trips. I have found, however, that it's best to get a feel for how the teacher feels about absences. Sometimes we tell the teacher what we're doing, other times we just use "sick" days. It all depends on the individual. My youngest is now in high school and we still take 2 days in September for a quick weekend at WDW. She only misses one hour of each class because she is on block schedule. I personally think perfect attendance is highly overrated.