I think you're making assumptions about the type of kids whose families might go on those trips. Not everyone who goes to visit family in India is ESL.

Anonymous wrote:

Wow no fun and kind of racist! Keep it coming PP!

How is it racist to say that it harms immigrant kids who are still learning English to be gone months at a time? Especially, when many of them had never been to school prior to coming to the United States?

Wow no fun and kind of racist! Keep it coming PP!

Anonymous wrote:

You must not live in diverse school districts. Tons of kids in our area miss weeks at a time to travel to Mexico, India, Nigeria, etc.

Actually, I do. And, if you doin't think that creates a problem for those kids, you are sadly mistaken. Some of those kids are the ones who most need to be at school. Some of them miss months at a time--and yet they are still expected to pass the tests. You must not know any of their teachers or you would know that it is a very serious issue in the schools.

You must not live in diverse school districts. Tons of kids in our area miss weeks at a time to travel to Mexico, India, Nigeria, etc.

So what if I have multiple kids without overlapping breaks? Am I just SOL for those years? Only leave the area in the summer?

No one failed at life because they missed a week of school.

I have a toddler and we've only done 3-4 Florida vacations. Got a condo, rented a car and kept it simple. We used to travel a lot and hoping to start again soon. Couple of our friends who love to travel with their 4-8 yr olds routinely Have heir children miss school (preschool and kindergarten, elementary school) and believe that's the best way to travel. They did three and four trips respectively last year from 4-9 days long.

They've kept it to domestic trips and the Caribbean. One of them did Disney in April after spring break and loved it. For spring break they stayed in DC and did all the museums. Both spouses work but have some flexibility where they work even on vacation for 3-4 hrs and the children (3 out of 4) still nap when on vacation and sleep by 9ish?
What does DCUM think about this I am curious?

Anonymous wrote:

I have no idea what this association between showing up to a job every day and not being able to take a vacation is.

A strong association! You take the days you earn. You do not take off when you need to be at work. People, your kids get lots of vacation throughout the year. No one is saying not to take vacations--just take them when it is appropriate. You get summer break, a fall break a couple of winter breaks and a spring break. Take your kid during the breaks!

I have no idea what this association between showing up to a job every day and not being able to take a vacation is.

Anonymous wrote:

My son's teacher told us to have a blast at Disney! Nobody at school batted an eye. Most families at our school travel. It simply isn't an issue. It's only an issue in your own head...and you're really missing out on life because of it.

Good for you. But, some people manage to travel during school vacations. So, they are not 'missing out on life"........ And, for the record, I was a teacher--so it is not just an issue "in my head"........And, DH and I managed to take our kids to Disney without taking them out of school. Taking a kid out under special circumstances is certainly okay--but I am stunned at the number of people who think nothing of a week here a day there. But, whatever floats your boat.

DS always complained that I wouldn't let him skip school--and, guess what? Now he has a job where he is being rewarded because he shows up on time and every day. Many other young employees seem to think that is not necessary. DS now understands that the values he was taught mean something. Others are losing jobs--he got promoted. (And, yes, he does take days off and does go on vacation--just like we did.)

Anonymous wrote:

My son's teacher told us to have a blast at Disney! Nobody at school batted an eye. Most families at our school travel. It simply isn't an issue. It's only an issue in your own head...and you're really missing out on life because of it.

Good for you. But, some people manage to travel during school vacations. So, they are not 'missing out on life"........ And, for the record, I was a teacher--so it is not just an issue "in my head"........And, DH and I managed to take our kids to Disney without taking them out of school. Taking a kid out under special circumstances is certainly okay--but I am stunned at the number of people who think nothing of a week here a day there. But, whatever floats your boat.

DS always complained that I wouldn't let him skip school--and, guess what? Now he has a job where he is being rewarded because he shows up on time and every day. Many other young employees seem to think that is not necessary. DS now understands that the values he was taught mean something. Others are losing jobs--he got promoted. (And, yes, he does take days off and does go on vacation--just like we did.)

I have no idea what this association between showing up to a job every day and not being able to take a vacation is. I could understand this argument if the question was, 'Missing school to do something fun with mom' IE, just playing hooky to go...to six flags for the day or something (although I think even that is fun and awesome). But a vacation is something adults with jobs do too. Its called teaching your kids that just as its very important to take school seriously and keep up on your work, its important to take breaks to explore the world.

Maybe I could flip this back on you and say that I am teaching my kids how to manage workload after being out of the office for a bit, a valuable life lesson that will help them effectively manage leave when they arrive in the workforce!

There is more to life than work people.

My son's teacher told us to have a blast at Disney! Nobody at school batted an eye. Most families at our school travel. It simply isn't an issue. It's only an issue in your own head...and you're really missing out on life because of it.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Numerous threads on this.

Personally, we don't miss school for vacation. Ever. And it gets tough. Even if my kid misses a day for being sick, it's hard to make up the work.

Where do your kids go to school that it is hard for them to make up work? It is the 21st century there are email, remote log in, and virtual attendance options.

Where is virtual attendance an option? We're getting ready for my child to miss three days on an excused absence and trying to get the make up work and exams fit in is a real pain. Because it is excused, he won't drop any grades because of the absence so long as he completes assignments by the new due date. But it really is difficult to make up.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I have no problem missing school in preschool but would limit it more in K-2nd grade. Once in 3rd grade and beyond we've missed the occasional 1-2 days of school to extend a long weekend but I'd only take them out for a week+ for a really important family event like a wedding, funeral, etc. and only that long if it's a really great distance to travel. I know families that have taken their 5th graders out for a week for a trip to Disney (for no other reason than they just want to go when it's less crowded) and I think that shows a lot of disrespect for their kids' education.

+1 It's selfish, shows kids that your priorities are wrong and probably creates a lot of extra work for your kid's teacher.

Agree. Taking vacations during school time is bad parenting.

Anonymous wrote:

We took our older daughter (2nd grade at the time) to China, in March, for two weeks when we adopted our younger daughter.

The school's response?

"Have a great time and tell us all about your experience."

In no world is this comparable to taking your child out to go to Disney because it is less crowded then.