Ok, Im not trying to start a debate LOL
What do you think about taking your children out of school to go on vacation?
The reason Im asking is because I visit that Disney board(wdwinfo.com)and they have lots of bulletin boards over there. And, it seems like every yr this topic gets brought up over there. There is always a debate whether people think its a good idea to take their kids out of school for a vaction..
We have taken my son out of school for a week each yr since Kindergarten simply because my husbands vacation schedule didnt correspond with my sons vacations from school. My son has never failed a grade from taking one week off of school, and we will do it again in May.
But, some parents get so irate when other families talk about taking kids out of school for vacations.
So I figured we have a mature bunch of ladies here, what are you ideas/thoughts on this matter.

By Colette on Friday, January 30, 2004 - 01:42 pm:

I wouldn't do it because my kids have to much homework as it is now, nevermind having to makeup a week's worth. But that's just me and that's pretty much the only reason I wouldnt do it. Working at school, I hear teachers complain about it a lot, but I think you should do what's best for your family. In the grand scheme of things, I don't think one week a year is a big deal and you are giving your children some great memories.

Personally, I don't care for Disney. I went once - before kids, and wasn't impressed. I don't like the crowds or the lines or the prices they charge or the bugs or the whole commercialism. However, if I was ever going to go to Disney or any other touristy type place, I would make a point to NOT go on school vacations to avoid the craziness of the crowds.

By Melanie on Friday, January 30, 2004 - 01:46 pm:

We took the kids out of school last year for a week and it was great. Granted, the oldest was only in first grade so homework wasn't an issue. We went to Disney the week before the kids got out of school for winter break. Because there were absolutely no crowds, I would do it again in a heartbeat.

My kids rarely miss school, so I had no guilt pulling them out for a week. The memories we created as a family were worth it.

By Tunnia on Friday, January 30, 2004 - 01:51 pm:

My parents took me and my brother out of school for vacations when we were kids. With Disney, April and October are great times to go so that's when we went. There were other trips where we were taken out of school for vacations as well.

I have checked my dd out of school to leave on a Friday before, but she has never missed an entire day for vacation because we haven't taken a trip that would necessitate it yet. I'm not totally against taking her out of school as I think that she is a good enough student that she wouldn't fall behind and she could take class work with her, but her school has a new policy this year that if your child misses a day of school for vacation it is counted as an unexcused absence and five days in a row of unexcused absences would definitely not be a good thing so we probably won't be taking a trip during the school year as long as she is in this school.

By Trina~moderator on Friday, January 30, 2004 - 02:04 pm:

We took our kids out of school for a week in November to go to Disney. However, the week was short due to a holiday and the remainder of the week consisted of early release days due to Parent/Teacher conferences. DS is in Gr. 2, DD in K. We purposely planned that specific week because they would miss the least amount of school AND it was value season and less crowded at Disney. I think it's OK to pull them out of school once in awhile, but I personally wouldn't do it on a regular basis. I think it would become more of an issue when the kids are older in school. Bottom line, it doesn't matter what other people think. Do what's right for YOUR family.

By Mommyof4 on Friday, January 30, 2004 - 02:11 pm:

We took our kids out of school for three days this month to go to Disney. We contacted their teachers the week before and they sent home their homework before we left. The girls did fine getting it done and ready to hand in when we got back home again. It really wasn't much. My sil & bil took their 2 boys out of school for a week in September as it was the only time bil family could get his brother's time share in cancun and they also did just fine with being gone and got caught back up very easily.

By Vicki on Friday, January 30, 2004 - 02:13 pm:

Really, I see nothing wrong with it. We hadn't planned on taking dd out of school last year, but it worked out that way! We had planned a trip to Florida over spring break. Well, they had too many snow days and didn't have spring break because they had to make them up!! I talked to her teacher about it about 3 weeks before we went. She sent home what they would be doing the week she was gone about a week before we left. In the subjects that it didn't matter if we went out of order, we started doing the work before we even left. In the subjects that order mattered, we did them on vacation and over the weekend when we got home before she went back. When she went back, she was actually ahead of the kids in class because they didn't get as far as the teacher thought they would. I should also say that dd was only in 2nd grade and is a good student. I think it is a personal choice, but I see nothing wrong with it as long as you are willing to do the work with your child so they don't fall behind. I don't think it is the teachers job to catch them up!

By Melissa on Friday, January 30, 2004 - 02:31 pm:

I've done it to go to Disney and will again in May. I think it depends the school policies, some schools are very strict about unexcused absences if I had to lie to get my kid out for 10 days then no, I wouldn't do it. I also wouldn't if my kid was not doing very well in school. The school dd goes to now is private and they see trips as educational she is also in 1st grade when she is older and it might be hard to keep up then probably not. I love the Dis boards but they do get excited on this topic.

By Trisa on Friday, January 30, 2004 - 02:43 pm:

We went to Disney last March.
At my sons school instead of making them try
and catch up on all the homework they just give then notebook and they have to write about what they did everyday while on vacation. We even found some cute Disney stickers in a gift shop and put them in the book.

By Dawnk777 on Friday, January 30, 2004 - 02:44 pm:

When my kids were 9 and 6, we took them out of school just for the afternoon on a day when we were picking up a new car. At the Saturn dealership, they sing a song and do a cheer and take your picture. We wanted everyone to be there. After all, it's not everyday you pick up a new car. We did have a fun day together that day.

We don't have money to go to Disney, so that's not an issue. Since they are now in middle school and high school, I don't think taking them out for a week to go somewhere really isn't an option anymore. Sometimes they get enough homework in a night and can't imagine a week's worth, either.

By Lauram on Friday, January 30, 2004 - 02:46 pm:

Technically, it's an unexcused absense. I would have trouble doing it for that reason myself. I think it sends the wrong message to the kids. I also know as a teacher it is very disruptive to the student's work. I have prepared many an assignment for kids who go on vacation, but it's not the same as being there. Also it takes a lot of work on the teacher's part to do that. just MHO

By Cat on Friday, January 30, 2004 - 03:11 pm:

I think for young children, if whatever vacation you're going to be going on would be educational for any reason (historic-like DC area, Grand Canyon, etc) or create memories that would never be forgotten, I'd probably do it. I do think you have to be careful not to do it too often or like Laura said you'd send the wrong message to children (like school isn't important enough). For older kids, middle school or high school, I think it would be way too disruptive to their schedules. I remember in HS if I missed just one day it was a pain to make up. jmho

By Mommyathome on Friday, January 30, 2004 - 03:12 pm:

As long as the child is a good student I don't see a problem with it. I would do it, and probably will at some point. (oldest DD is just in kindergarten...so we haven't really had to deal with vacation time yet) DH will be having his vacation time during the school year. He gets six weeks off, but this year he can't take any of those during the summer months. So, that leaves school months! Of course the kids won't miss 6 weeks of school. Maybe just a week in the fall and a week in the spring.
Family time is very important IMO. If it calls for missing a week of school, so be it.

By Sunny on Friday, January 30, 2004 - 03:34 pm:

I took my 2 oldest kids out of school for 4 days in Nov 2001 to go to Disney. Like Trina, it was conference week, so they only missed 3 half days and a full day. I planned it that way so my kids wouldn't miss much. Now, my oldest was in middle school, but it was a light week as far as school work goes and there were no tests scheduled. Unfortunately, that will be the only time I do it since my oldest is now in high school and it would be too much to have him miss that much work and, I'll have 4 kids in school next year.
I, too, have read the debates and can see both sides, but ultimately, it's up to the individual family and any school policies. Our district requires pre-approval from the principal (it's considered an educational trip) in order for it to be excused. The teachers aren't required to give any work prior to the trip, but the school does require students to make up any work within a week of returning. I didn't have any problem taking them out, although I'm sure if the district felt it was becoming a problem, they'd change their policy.

By Yjja123 on Friday, January 30, 2004 - 04:57 pm:

EVERY year we take our children out for a week in October. We go on a family cruise with their grandparents (whom they only see once a year).
I notify the teachers at the beginning of school with the dates.
We complete all homework and classwork (for the week that they miss) prior to leaving.
While on vacation they write a short report each day on what we did and where we were.
Usually this ends up being extra credit and they get to read it to their class when they get back. This year we visted a rain forest in San Juan and both of my children enjoyed the tour and did a big report with pictures for their class.
We have cruised for the past 3 years and not once has anyone (teacher or principle) complained.
I feel like my kids work so hard in school that they deserve this break and as long as they are getting good grades and this doesn't interfer we will continue with this tradition.
I belong on a cruise message board and it is as you mentioned--quite a debate. Some people are very offended by it.

By Mommmie on Friday, January 30, 2004 - 05:38 pm:

In our public schools, it's unexcused. Get so many unexcused absences and you can fail the class or not get promoted. Most parents lie about it being a vacation. The schools HATE absences due to vacations bec part of the state ranking system has to do with attendance. You have to have a certain very high percentage to be ranked exemplary, so kids on vacation infuriate them.

They gave me a HUGE hard time last year when I took my then 2nd grader out for 3 days so he could spend them at the LD school we applied for (it's part of their application process to "try out" for it) and the day I took him out for a day long learning disability evaluation. Geez, all they think about is their precious ranking.

My son is in an LD private school where they think family vacations are more important than school, so no need to lie.

I think it matters more when they are older. And certainly in college, vacations when you should be in class are frowned on A LOT from my experience.

By Bellajoe on Friday, January 30, 2004 - 07:20 pm:

I don't have time to read what everyone else responded so sorry if I repeat anyone here....

I just think it depends on the kid and how they are doing in school. And how they are at doing homeowork. My parents took me out of school for a week a couple years in a row, for our Florida vacations. It wasn't a problem. I brought my homework with me and did it all on the plane and in the hotel room. I always got it all done.

As long as the kids know that they aren't getting out of doing the WORK and they will have to do school work on vacation and agree to that, i dont think it is a problem.

By Tonya on Friday, January 30, 2004 - 08:35 pm:

I think no. School has vaation times set up for a reason and I think those are the times that you have to work with. I never missed school and want my kids to have that same good feeling of knowing they were always there too. Perfect attendance is something that is great and not too many people can say they do it on a regular basis and if my child can say that then I am really happy.

By Marcia on Friday, January 30, 2004 - 09:14 pm:

Life is short, and family time is fo important. We take the kids out to go to Florida every year. We leave on the Friday before March break starts, and stay for the full week after the break. We have never had any problems with the teachers. Last year we had an email thing going on between the classes and my kids. It was great! My parents live in FL half of the year, and we stay with them. This time with their grandparents is just so important. We do take some school work with us, but don't usually do much of it.
As for being only kids who do well, that's not my kids. Mine struggle, and most of my kids have some sort of special ed help. They really need the break, and so do we!
I don't think there's any debate - every family should do what feels right and works for them.

By Brandy on Saturday, January 31, 2004 - 08:47 am:

Although i haven't read through any of the posts i used to believe it was crazy to do that but then you hear about people dying at young ages or something and it get's you to thinking more i say go for it you only live once right?So what if they are out of school they will have a fabulous time and you too.!Sorry if this message was a downer = ( but it's true you have to live life to it's fullest.

By Fraggle on Saturday, January 31, 2004 - 06:08 pm:

My oldest DD starts kindergarten next year and most likely we will be taking her out of school for at least a few days to a week to go to Disney. I don't mind doing it now while she is so young. I don't know what our cut off age for doing this will be. I guess it will depend on her teacher and how she feels about it. I love Disney, but with little ones in strollers I like to be there when it is not too crowded and not so hot!