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

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

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.

+1. You don't have to pull your kid out of school when it's in session to bond.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

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.

+1. You don't have to pull your kid out of school when it's in session to bond.

What if the parents have jobs with a slow time that doesn't coincide with the school vacations? or what if that's the only time Grandma can join them on the Disney trip? or a million other reasons that might make sense for the family.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

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.

+1. You don't have to pull your kid out of school when it's in session to bond.

What if the parents have jobs with a slow time that doesn't coincide with the school vacations? or what if that's the only time Grandma can join them on the Disney trip? or a million other reasons that might make sense for the family.

Bond on the weekends. Fly grandma to you. School is in session only 180 days/year (DCPS). That means that there are more days out of school than in school. You SHOULD be able to figure it out.

[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.

This is your opinion and you are entitled to it but it certainly isn't one that I share. My kids don't get to skip school just because but we are not raising them that school/work is the only thing that matters in life. That just isn't our philosophy. I get it that for many people life is about academic and career success and climbing the ladder and making money and that for those parents instilling the work is life attitude starts very young. we don't share those values or goals and therefore we don't instill them in our children. A strong work ethic can be taught without that focus. I am not teaching my kids that school is their only job in life. I am teaching them that life and character is more important than formal education or achievement.

[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.

This is your opinion and you are entitled to it but it certainly isn't one that I share. My kids don't get to skip school just because but we are not raising them that school/work is the only thing that matters in life. That just isn't our philosophy. I get it that for many people life is about academic and career success and climbing the ladder and making money and that for those parents instilling the work is life attitude starts very young. we don't share those values or goals and therefore we don't instill them in our children. A strong work ethic can be taught without that focus. I am not teaching my kids that school is their only job in life. I am teaching them that life and character is more important than formal education or achievement.

And how does missing school to take a trip to Disney foster the attitude that life and character are more important than achievement?

[Anonymous]

Gosh I have to say I'm really surprised by this thread.

I have taken my kids (K and 1st grader) out of school for 2-3 vacations this year that involved missing school for 2-3 days each. (frequently extending a long weekend).

I agree that I try to teach my kids that school is important, and that it is their "job". But I also think family time is SUPER important. We are lucky enough that both sets of grandparents are in good health, and WANT to vacation with us. Due to large families, we can't always work everything around the kids schedules or school vacations. I acknowledge that pretty soon -- 3rd? 4th grade? -- they will start missing actual learning when we pull them out of school, and it will get harder and we won't do it as often. But right now? Its an issue of priorities.

My kids go to a very well regarded elementary school in Ffx County... but let's get real -- there is NOTHING that they are missing currently for 2-3 days that they can't figure out. For me, its a matter of priorities. While school is important, I also think connecting with family and knowing your grandparents is also important. I took both kids out of school for 3 days in January to go on a cruise with the grandparents. By educational standards, it was complete crap (like Disney). They didn't "learn" anything -- other than the important life skill of how to be flexible travellers and the excitement of visiting Mexico (even if all they saw was a beach in Cozumel for 5 hours) But I would do it again in a heartbeat. When they're 20, they will not be damaged by having missed 3 days of school... but they will always remember the excitement of going on their first cruise ship with Nana and Granddad. That is worth something in my view. Even if it is just purely fun.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Gosh I have to say I'm really surprised by this thread.

I have taken my kids (K and 1st grader) out of school for 2-3 vacations this year that involved missing school for 2-3 days each. (frequently extending a long weekend).

I agree that I try to teach my kids that school is important, and that it is their "job". But I also think family time is SUPER important. We are lucky enough that both sets of grandparents are in good health, and WANT to vacation with us. Due to large families, we can't always work everything around the kids schedules or school vacations. I acknowledge that pretty soon -- 3rd? 4th grade? -- they will start missing actual learning when we pull them out of school, and it will get harder and we won't do it as often. But right now? Its an issue of priorities.

My kids go to a very well regarded elementary school in Ffx County... but let's get real -- there is NOTHING that they are missing currently for 2-3 days that they can't figure out. For me, its a matter of priorities. While school is important, I also think connecting with family and knowing your grandparents is also important. I took both kids out of school for 3 days in January to go on a cruise with the grandparents. By educational standards, it was complete crap (like Disney). They didn't "learn" anything -- other than the important life skill of how to be flexible travellers and the excitement of visiting Mexico (even if all they saw was a beach in Cozumel for 5 hours) But I would do it again in a heartbeat. When they're 20, they will not be damaged by having missed 3 days of school... but they will always remember the excitement of going on their first cruise ship with Nana and Granddad. That is worth something in my view. Even if it is just purely fun.

Why couldn't you schedule the cruise around vacation?

[Anonymous]

Because cruises, hotels, airlines, etc are all charging premium fares these days during holidays, many families can not afford to go during those times.
(That and sometimes the hotels/restorts/Disney/wherever is so busy and crowded that its not as enjoyable.)

[Anonymous]

my kids are my business and I know what's best for us, I have once taken out 3 kids (6th, 4th, and 1st) for a week...2 were in AAP for a cruise in Jan. They did fine and did not have problem catching up. I think it gets harder to keep up by middle school..defintely harder when my DD enter TJ next year.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Because cruises, hotels, airlines, etc are all charging premium fares these days during holidays, many families can not afford to go during those times.
(That and sometimes the hotels/restorts/Disney/wherever is so busy and crowded that its not as enjoyable.)

so not only do you condone truancy, you're cheap.

[Anonymous]

Missing a week before 3rd grade shouldn't have any academic impact on your child. If you are in MD and your school has implemented 2.0 it is even less of an impact. Since there is no acceleration, your child really wouldn't be missing much other than repetition. ES principals are not discouraging absences because they affect the academic progress. They get rated on how many overall unexcused absences occur within the population. Sad but true.

We don't take time off during the school year but I completely understand why people do it. Our relatives on the West Coast have much more family friendly school breaks. They have 1.5 weeks at Thanksgiving rather than 2 days and an additional week off around Christmas. My office closes down longer at Christmas than MCPS. MCPS has all of these ridiculous days off in the middle of the week or two half days next to each other. Our family reunions usually occur during the summer but down the road when they shift back to Thanksgiving or around Christmas, we probably will take off to attend. I can also understand that families on a budget need to travel on off times.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Because cruises, hotels, airlines, etc are all charging premium fares these days during holidays, many families can not afford to go during those times.
(That and sometimes the hotels/restorts/Disney/wherever is so busy and crowded that its not as enjoyable.)

So, you find an alternative that fits your budget and your kids' academic schedule. Not hard.

[Anonymous]

I am teaching my children to obey the rules.
I do not think cutting school to go to Disneyworld teaches character. quite the opposite.
Those who espouse this philoposhy will have kids who will cut you off in traffic, take the parking space you were waiting for - etc. Their time is more important than yours. Having fun is what counts.

[Anonymous]

I'd really like to hear some more teachers weigh in on this. It seems to me that if it becomes the norm and completely acceptable to take kids out of school, the class itself will have so many ongoing absences of kids that it "could" be disruptive to the teacher and/or classroom setting. 2 or 3 kids taking off a week here and there doesn't matter too much. But if most of the 25 kids take off time during the school year, doesn't it hinder learning to some degree? I know that my office has always been far less productive during summer months because of everyone's vacations.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

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?

While I understand your point, and agree with you to a certain extent, I also will admit straight up that my child is my first priority, and that many of these decisions are a balancing act. Personally my kids are young - oldest is 4.5 - but we already know that we will most likely pull them from school over the next few years in order to go on a family ski vacation.

Why? Because logistically the ability to go that vacation will happen during the academic session, and for my particular kid I think that a week of skiing will benefit her more than a week of school. My kid doesn't struggle academically, but she DOES struggle some with (a) physical skills, (b) conquering her fears, (c) perfectionist tendencies and (d) being worse at something than her peers. Skiing challenges her in ways that school doesn't, and I look at it as an opportunity to foster some really important life skills, like grit.