We are those dreaded parents who take 2 week trips during the elementary school year. I used to be on the fence about it and discussed it with teachers, and they they have always said, “if it were me I would do it.” My kid gets all A’s, 99%ile MAP scores, top PARCC scores, and excellent behavior reports. I don’t think taking a trip during the school year is a problem for us and I don’t see how it’s a problem for other parents. If you value attendance over travel opportunities, then don’t take your kid out of school for trips. We often have paid opportunities to go abroad for work but are not able to dictate when we go, so either we go as a family during the school year to an educational and exotic location, or we can wait to go to some boring local beach during the summer break. We choose the take the exotic experience and feel our daughter has gained so much more from these experiences than she would have sitting in a classroom. You may disagree and not do this with your kid, but why does it annoy you that somebody else chooses differently?

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Anonymous wrote:We do it as long as grades and school behavior are good with no red flags. It seems to work out fine. School is a kid's main job but even working adults get vacations.

Kids have summer VACATION in the... summer.

That's awesome that your kids have a true summer vacation. My kids, unfortunately, have to be in camps or daycare all summer because I have to work. Sure, camps are theoretically more fun than school, but let's not pretend that they're lollygagging around doing whatever they want on a true vacation.
For many people, their work precludes summer vacation. That's the reality, whether you can see that from your high horse or not.

Dp. Well, we're talking about whether it's a good idea to take kids out of school to take a family vacation. If you are working, why would you take vacation during the school year when they would otherwise be in school ("childcare") and not during summer vacation so you avoid paying some weeks of camp/daycare? Makes no sense. For example, say you get four week vacation in your job. If I take those four weeks during my kids school breaks, that's 4 weeks of camp I don't have to pay for. If I choose to use two weeks of vacation during school time, I'm paying for two more weeks of camp. Why would I do that?

To annoy you.

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Anonymous wrote:The teachers are NOT all for it. That's what they tell you, but they realize you don't prioritize education.

100% spot on.

well I'm a teacher and pulled my kids out in elementary school for vacation a few times. Gasp! Now what?!

We do it all the time. Disney too hot in April so we do a week in March and 10 days in Hawaii before Christmas. Sometime Hawaii only means a few days of school missed. Sometimes a whole week.

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Anonymous wrote:We do it as long as grades and school behavior are good with no red flags. It seems to work out fine. School is a kid's main job but even working adults get vacations.

Kids have summer VACATION in the... summer.

That's awesome that your kids have a true summer vacation. My kids, unfortunately, have to be in camps or daycare all summer because I have to work. Sure, camps are theoretically more fun than school, but let's not pretend that they're lollygagging around doing whatever they want on a true vacation.
For many people, their work precludes summer vacation. That's the reality, whether you can see that from your high horse or not.

Dp. Well, we're talking about whether it's a good idea to take kids out of school to take a family vacation. If you are working, why would you take vacation during the school year when they would otherwise be in school ("childcare") and not during summer vacation so you avoid paying some weeks of camp/daycare? Makes no sense. For example, say you get four week vacation in your job. If I take those four weeks during my kids school breaks, that's 4 weeks of camp I don't have to pay for. If I choose to use two weeks of vacation during school time, I'm paying for two more weeks of camp. Why would I do that?

Again, since you clearly missed it - many people have jobs that preclude them for taking summer vacation.
Jobs where vacation is by seniority, younger people (who have younger kids) may not get any summer weeks.
Some jobs are busiest in summer.
Some people are deployed over summer.
All *sorts* of reasons that vacation during the summer isn’t an easy answer for every family.

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Anonymous wrote:The teachers are NOT all for it. That's what they tell you, but they realize you don't prioritize education.

100% spot on.

Well, it hasn’t stopped them from giving my kids straight A’s. Guess I’ll just have to live with it.

Everyone gets straight As.

Well it can’t be bothering the teacher that much then.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The teachers are NOT all for it. That's what they tell you, but they realize you don't prioritize education.

100% spot on.

Well, it hasn’t stopped them from giving my kids straight A’s. Guess I’ll just have to live with it.

Everyone gets straight As.

Anonymous wrote:Love how everyone’s all like “travel is the greatest education!” as if to justify taking the kids to South of the Border in May because they don’t want to fight the crowds in July, or to see Great Aunt Edna in Sheboygan is some kind of great transformative experience lmao

The point is, we don’t have to justify our decision to you. Not sure why you care what some other kid is doing. Stay in your lane.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The teachers are NOT all for it. That's what they tell you, but they realize you don't prioritize education.

100% spot on.

Well, it hasn’t stopped them from giving my kids straight A’s. Guess I’ll just have to live with it.

Anonymous wrote:Love how everyone’s all like “travel is the greatest education!” as if to justify taking the kids to South of the Border in May because they don’t want to fight the crowds in July, or to see Great Aunt Edna in Sheboygan is some kind of great transformative experience lmao

To be fair, Sheboygan has a terrific art museum.

Anonymous wrote:Love how everyone’s all like “travel is the greatest education!” as if to justify taking the kids to South of the Border in May because they don’t want to fight the crowds in July, or to see Great Aunt Edna in Sheboygan is some kind of great transformative experience lmao

^^Love this!! We go on awesome vacations, but what does my daughter learn on vacation? how to read city maps? different types of architecture? how much to tip on Uber? that room service can be slow? Maybe... vacations are fun and relaxing. If she learns something, cool; but it's not our primary goal.

Anonymous wrote:The teachers are NOT all for it. That's what they tell you, but they realize you don't prioritize education.

100% spot on.

Anonymous wrote:Teacher here, and it is FINE.

Family time is so important.

There are less crowds (everywhere, not just disney).

Trust me, missing a week of 1st grade/5th grade is FINE.

Just don't ask me to make special circumstances for your child. Their grade and schoolwork might suffer. Or not. Whatever. It's elementary school. GO!

Love this answer!!!
Cause I’m pulling mine out too! And to hear you say Go!!!
Makes me happy!

Teacher here, and it is FINE.

Family time is so important.

There are less crowds (everywhere, not just disney).

Trust me, missing a week of 1st grade/5th grade is FINE.

Just don't ask me to make special circumstances for your child. Their grade and schoolwork might suffer. Or not. Whatever. It's elementary school. GO!

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Anonymous wrote:We do it at least once a year. Travel is more important to us.

You can do it during school breaks,

Too crowded.

Only if your idea of travel is Disney.

You have never been to London, Paris, Rome, etc in the summer?

I have actually, Paris is empty in August as people escape to the countryside and beaches. Rome empties out a bit too.

Because it is hot and stinky.