Up to what grade is it 'OK' to take kids out of school for a vacation?

[Anonymous]

We don't take our kids out ever on school days--but I really, really wish the child-free teachers at my kids MS would stop assigning intense "projects" over 3 day weekends and during T-giving and Spring Break. This past year the kids were swamped with work every single weekend and during holidays. It really had a negative effect on our family. They were stressed out and miserable over it. I mention their child-free status because I really think that most of the teachers have no clue and zero sensitivity to how important family downtime is. It really is nearly impossible with sports (games and practice) and or plays or other non-academic activities to have any family down time--vacations? FUGGEDABOUTIT.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:
I feel sorry for your kids that they are denied a quintessential childhood moment because of a foolish, elitist parent.

I feel sorry for people who preface any post with I feel sorry for your children...lol.

[Anonymous]

Yet another reason to support year-round school calendars -- much more flexibility in vacation planning AND no lost knowledge over the summer....

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:We don't take our kids out ever on school days--but I really, really wish the child-free teachers at my kids MS would stop assigning intense "projects" over 3 day weekends and during T-giving and Spring Break. This past year the kids were swamped with work every single weekend and during holidays. It really had a negative effect on our family. They were stressed out and miserable over it. I mention their child-free status because I really think that most of the teachers have no clue and zero sensitivity to how important family downtime is. It really is nearly impossible with sports (games and practice) and or plays or other non-academic activities to have any family down time--vacations? FUGGEDABOUTIT.

I would give feedback about this to the teachers and principal of the school. It might be something for the PTA to discuss.

There needs to be a balance between rigor, and having time for other things!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Disney is "experiential learning"?

waste of time and money. Ugh

Boy, you seem like a barrel of fun.

we've been to: Hawaii, Grand Canyon, Bryce, Zion, about 10 zoos including San Diego Zoo, New Orleans - all lots of fun, but not a waste of time and money like Disney. Complete crap IMHO.

I feel sorry for your kids that they are denied a quintessential childhood moment because of a foolish, elitist parent.

And I feel sorry for anyone who thinks Disney is a "quintessential" childhood moment.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:We don't take our kids out ever on school days--but I really, really wish the child-free teachers at my kids MS would stop assigning intense "projects" over 3 day weekends and during T-giving and Spring Break. This past year the kids were swamped with work every single weekend and during holidays. It really had a negative effect on our family. They were stressed out and miserable over it. I mention their child-free status because I really think that most of the teachers have no clue and zero sensitivity to how important family downtime is. It really is nearly impossible with sports (games and practice) and or plays or other non-academic activities to have any family down time--vacations? FUGGEDABOUTIT.

Totally agree. We do try to use the long weekends for travel (and don't ever take the kids out of school), like a ski trip over MLK or Presidents Day weekend, but there have been some where the kids had to do homework/projects half the weekend.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Disney is "experiential learning"?

waste of time and money. Ugh

Boy, you seem like a barrel of fun.

we've been to: Hawaii, Grand Canyon, Bryce, Zion, about 10 zoos including San Diego Zoo, New Orleans - all lots of fun, but not a waste of time and money like Disney. Complete crap IMHO.

I feel sorry for your kids that they are denied a quintessential childhood moment because of a foolish, elitist parent.

And I feel sorry for anyone who thinks Disney is a "quintessential" childhood moment.

+1. Ugh. It's a theme park. Folks at Disney knew what they were doing when they made that "they grow up so fast! Get them here pronto or you'll regret it forever!" commercial. My quintessential childhood moment at Disney was puking up pink cotton candy while waiting in a 2 hour line for the goddamn teacups. Spare me the glitter-encrusted maudlin violin performance.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Disney is "experiential learning"?

waste of time and money. Ugh

Boy, you seem like a barrel of fun.

we've been to: Hawaii, Grand Canyon, Bryce, Zion, about 10 zoos including San Diego Zoo, New Orleans - all lots of fun, but not a waste of time and money like Disney. Complete crap IMHO.

I feel sorry for your kids that they are denied a quintessential childhood moment because of a foolish, elitist parent.

And I feel sorry for anyone who thinks Disney is a "quintessential" childhood moment.

Careful! Your snob is showing!

[Anonymous]

Children have one job in life and that's school. They get guaranteed vacations, but school is not optional or that thing you do when there isn't something more fun you could find to do like going to Disney or watching TV or going to the beach or sleeping or deciding not to go today because to don't feel like it. Our kids go to school unless school is out for vacation. I think the problem is that unless kids go to school when school is in session we're teaching them a weird sense of entitlement and that school isn't important. When school is less important than vacation kids learn the wrong message.

[Anonymous]

Whenever. Life is more important than school. They will make it up.

Most of what our kids learn in school is useless nonsense anyway.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Whenever. Life is more important than school. They will make it up.

Most of what our kids learn in school is useless nonsense anyway.

I'm a teacher. My personal belief, and that of many of my colleagues, is that during your child's formative years from the ages of 4-21, life is school. Your child's life and your family's life revolves around the school year. It may be inconvenient for you, but going to school is not simply about homework and lessons. It's about commitment to priorities, and school should be a priority. The only priorities that should be above school and learning are family and health. Disney is not a good excuse to miss school. Traveling to Orlando because grandma is in hospice care, OTOH, is a valid excuse to miss school. There have been some notable exceptions for travel, but these don't really apply to 99% of families. One example that comes to mind: a parent who is a chemist who works on clean water technology is taking her family to Bangladesh for field work, and the children are missing a week of school. That exposure, IMO, is priceless and cannot be beat by what's learned in the classroom. Disney? Do you see what you're up against?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I am old school. We only travel on school breaks. I teach from Kindergarten on that school/education is supremely important. My son had perfect attendance this year. I don't let them stay up late on school nights either.

There is a disconnect these days. Our Principal routinely has to send emails and letters admonishing family for continually taking their kids out of school for vacations. It is crazy to me. They get many 4 day weekends, week at Xmas and ov spring break and 2.5 months in the summer.

I think you need to have your kids respect and value school starting at the beginning.

Btw-- we are traveling 4 weeks total this summer. We have a winter trip the day after Xmas too.

I have a friend that routinely has her kid miss the first day of school due to vacations and I'm incredulous over it.

You are "incredulous" over it? What do you care? They're not your kids. Why are you incredulous over what someone else does with their own family?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Children have one job in life and that's school. They get guaranteed vacations, but school is not optional or that thing you do when there isn't something more fun you could find to do like going to Disney or watching TV or going to the beach or sleeping or deciding not to go today because to don't feel like it. Our kids go to school unless school is out for vacation. I think the problem is that unless kids go to school when school is in session we're teaching them a weird sense of entitlement and that school isn't important. When school is less important than vacation kids learn the wrong message.

I don't think people are saying that school is less important than vacation. They are saving that school is less important than family bonding time (even if it is at disney).

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Children have one job in life and that's school. They get guaranteed vacations, but school is not optional or that thing you do when there isn't something more fun you could find to do like going to Disney or watching TV or going to the beach or sleeping or deciding not to go today because to don't feel like it. Our kids go to school unless school is out for vacation. I think the problem is that unless kids go to school when school is in session we're teaching them a weird sense of entitlement and that school isn't important. When school is less important than vacation kids learn the wrong message.

I don't think people are saying that school is less important than vacation. They are saving that school is less important than family bonding time (even if it is at disney).

Families have the option of bonding during school vacations.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Children have one job in life and that's school. They get guaranteed vacations, but school is not optional or that thing you do when there isn't something more fun you could find to do like going to Disney or watching TV or going to the beach or sleeping or deciding not to go today because to don't feel like it. Our kids go to school unless school is out for vacation. I think the problem is that unless kids go to school when school is in session we're teaching them a weird sense of entitlement and that school isn't important. When school is less important than vacation kids learn the wrong message.

If only there were more to life than school...