[bethishooked]

Just curious about other people's viewpoint about taking kids out of school to go to Disney. My son has a medical condition where he's just not able to handle long lines and heat, so for the past couple of times we've gone to Disney, it's been off season. But, as you know, off season means taking them out of school. As my kids are getting older, more and more people seem to frown upon it. What's your thoughts.

[jodilt]

I'm a teacher and I wouldn't hesitate to take my kids (if I had any!) out of school for a trip. Especially with your son's condition. As long as kids can make up their work, or even spend a little time each day doing some on the trip, I don't see a problem. Heck, I'm a teacher and I'm taking 4 days off to go to WDW!

[quartz7]

HI ,

I am taking my DD out of school for 9 days. She will miss 9 days of 4th grade. I'll be honest, I hemmed and hawwed over this decision until I realized life is way to short to worry over a few days. This is going to be a trip of a lifetime for us. She will learn many new things. Meet new cultures. Things she may not get here. We are taking her out the 1st 2 weeks of Dec. When we get back she has only 3 days left until christmas vacation. But you must do what you feel is best for your family. Don't let anyone else tell you different. If you feel it is ok to go, then go and have a magical time. I know we will. Have fun planning!!
Janelle

[quartz7]

Originally Posted by jodilt

I'm a teacher and I wouldn't hesitate to take my kids (if I had any!) out of school for a trip. Especially with your son's condition. As long as kids can make up their work, or even spend a little time each day doing some on the trip, I don't see a problem. Heck, I'm a teacher and I'm taking 4 days off to go to WDW!

Can you be my DD teacher, Please!!!

Janelle

[tink74]

We have taken our kids out of school for our last 3 trips. In fact, they missed the first day of school last year. We're going back in January (right after Christmas break), so they'll be missing it again. They both get good grades, we have never had any trouble getting the work they miss made up, and our teachers are always understanding!!

[roxie]

Originally Posted by quartz7

Can you be my DD teacher, Please!!!

Janelle

Mine, too!

Anyway...we have had this discussion before and I think that a whole lot of people feel the same way. There are many points of view though. I think it is perfectly fine to take them out of school to such a great place. And I really believe in good family time. Go and don't worry, just make sure you tell your teachers ahead of time and try to stay on their good side.

[MrDisneyfan1]

Hello all...
We take ours out also, up until now it has been pre K and K but now it's 1st grade and 7 days in Dec.

We always try to avoid the crowds and the heat!

[Dana]

I took my DD out of school for our last two trips and will again for our upcoming one and she is going into fifth grade this year. I try to take my trips over a weekend to lessen the days missed at school. I tell the teacher and keep a good communication line open, and hope for the best. My Dd knows that she has to work harder when we get back to make up what she missed and may have to study a bit harder and until she can't catch up, we will continue to go in the off-season. Spending quality time with your family and experiencing different kinds of people and things is a life-lesson no book can teach. Take your child and have fun.

[disneyguy]

Originally Posted by jodilt

I'm a teacher and I wouldn't hesitate to take my kids (if I had any!) out of school for a trip. Especially with your son's condition. As long as kids can make up their work, or even spend a little time each day doing some on the trip, I don't see a problem. Heck, I'm a teacher and I'm taking 4 days off to go to WDW!

I wish you were my teacher!!! Some get real uptight when you tell them you are leaving school to go to WDW. I do all the work they give me, I don't see the big deal.

[MerlinMatt]

I have no patience for teachers that don't appreciate how hard I work as a parent. My kids get terrific marks in school, so I won't hesitate to allow them to miss a week. I'll admit that anything more than that would make me hesitate, but so long as my kids make up the wrok, what right would the teacher have to give me a hard time?

Especially with his condition, you shouldn't hesitate.

[jodilt]

As a teacher I can tell you that a tremendous amount of pressure is put on us with the state mandated testing and the no child left behind act. I am from Texas and the state testing dictates everything and when kids miss school for any reason they are missing instruction that is valuable to their success on the test.(While I don't necessarily agree with the testing and the pressure put on kids and teachers, it is a reality in my job). Also, alot of school funding is based on attendance figures, so if enough kids are absent a given percentage of days the schools lose money.
All that being said, I still would not hesitate taking my kids (if I had any) out of school for a vacation be it to WDW or anywhere. I am a believer that life experience is vital to the development of a child and traveling to different places is how you experience things out of your norm.

[disneyguy]

I truly hate No Child Left Behind, but lets not go to politics. I will just say it sure makes me glad that I go to a private school. No standerdized testing, except the PLAN, PSAT, and SAT which are all things that public schools deal with.

[Princess D]

I have taken my DS out of school for two trips to WDW and I will be taking him out again for this coming trip. Our birthdays are in the beginning of Dec. and we have found that going that week is much better than trying to fight all the crowds at Christmas or in July. My son too gets great grades and I feel the life experience he gains from travel is just as important as a math test. This is just one Moms opinion, hope you find my comments helpful.

[Disneywife]

I would do it, but not repeatedly (ie, several times a year). My son will miss *one day* for this trip, and you should have heard my MOTHER freak out (I should note that I am a teacher myself) but she finally calmed down when I reminded her that my son has had PERFECT attendance for the past few years and gets very good grades. Family is just as important, if not more so, than school.

When he was in preschool I took him out for a MONTH to go to Greece to visit dh's family. And I would do it again, and probably will (tho probably not for a month, that was an awfully long trip to spend with dh's family )

[skwak]

We take our kids out of school to go to WDW every year. We just explain to them that they need to work extra hard while in school so that we can continue this luxury. By doing it this way we share the responsibility with them. So far it has worked out really well.

Do it!