?? For Teachers about taking kids out of school...

I have always said I would never take my kids out of school for vacation. I am researching a cruise right now and the cheapest time is in October. It would be the week of the Columbus Day holiday so they would only miss 4 days.

Do teachers frown upon this? Will I be making more work for my children?
They will be in 2nd grade and 7th grade by then.

Re: ?? For Teachers about taking kids out of school...

I would worry more about the 7th grader than the 2nd grader. Will he/she be able to make up the work? Or do the work before vaca? What if you wait a week or so to book and feel out the teachers. I don't agree with taking a child out of school for vacation if they are any older than 2nd grade...but that is JMO. I feel that they just miss too much work.
This is a great post because as teachers we come across this a lot during the school year. Maybe post this also on the Teachers board?

Hope this helps.

Re: ?? For Teachers about taking kids out of school...

My school's policy on this is that if they are taken out for a vacation they get 0 on any graded assignments that they miss. We are also told NOT to give any work because it is an illegal absence and we should not condone this.

That being said not every teacher abides by it. As a teacher I would rather Oct then May or June.

Re: ?? For Teachers about taking kids out of school...

Re: ?? For Teachers about taking kids out of school...

Posted by JML83

I would worry more about the 7th grader than the 2nd grader. Will he/she be able to make up the work? Or do the work before vaca? What if you wait a week or so to book and feel out the teachers. I don't agree with taking a child out of school for vacation if they are any older than 2nd grade...but that is JMO. I feel that they just miss too much work.
This is a great post because as teachers we come across this a lot during the school year. Maybe post this also on the Teachers board?

Hope this helps.

Re: ?? For Teachers about taking kids out of school...

I've always taken my kids out of school. Lifes to short not to enjoy it. Sometimes family time is just to important. Some teachers aren't accomodating. I just call them in sick. Not every one can afford trips when it is peak. My one friends husband's company pays for a family trip in march or april when school is in session She goes. Hope this helps.

Re: ?? For Teachers about taking kids out of school...

Re: ?? For Teachers about taking kids out of school...

I'm guilty of taking my kids out of school for family vacations. I refuse to go to Disneyworld when they are off and it is peak season. However, I only take them out for about 3 days (I usually try to do it around a 3 day weekend like Columbus Day or the Jewish holidays).

Re: ?? For Teachers about taking kids out of school...

Not a teacher butI took Emma out of school, granted only Kindergarten for 5 days to go to Disney in Sept last year. I would do it again in a heartbeat!

Re: ?? For Teachers about taking kids out of school...

Our school also has a policy about illegal absences (missing school for a vacation and not an illness is considered illegal) where the students cannot make up the work missed and will receive a zero for any assignment missed during that time.
I find it annoying to have kids miss several days of school for vacation, but one or two days is no big deal. I usually tell them not to tell me if they're going on vacation so I don't have to punish them for their parents booking a vacation at a time that is out of their control.

Re: ?? For Teachers about taking kids out of school...

As a teacher I understand how $$$ it can be to go on vacation during peak times. We can only go during those times also. I just got back from Disney and it was 95 degrees...I guess if I wasn't a teacher I'm not sure what I would do in this situation.

Re: ?? For Teachers about taking kids out of school...

Message edited 8/31/2008 11:20:58 PM.

Re: ?? For Teachers about taking kids out of school...

I am a teacher if there is a test that is going to go on for that period of time and they are illegally absent then they will get a zero (school policy) HOWEVER it is harsh I do give an option of taking the test on an off period before they leave

the only time I did not give that option was when a parent took their kid on vacation to the last week of classes! We had a final!!!!!!!!!!!!!! That was announced a month earlier and the trip didnt come up until a few days before. I wasnt giving the final out early. The dad pleaded that airfare is cheaper....then asked me how bad would it be to take the 0 the girl had a 80 something and it made her fail for the qtr however with her grades she passed for the year and he was ok with it!

Re: ?? For Teachers about taking kids out of school...

I am a teacher too- we don't have any strict school policies...and honestly, most times they will remember more about that 4 day vacation then what they learned in school during the 4 days...

I would try to get their work before going and make sure they do it...Oct. is much better than May IMO...

Have fun!

Re: ?? For Teachers about taking kids out of school...

Message edited 1/20/2011 10:49:08 PM.

Re: ?? For Teachers about taking kids out of school...

I'm a teacher and I say GO and don't feel guilty about it. Some parents take advantage and do it several times in the same school year. That's obviously an issue and they have little regard for school in general. Just speak to the teacher ahead of time. I hate when kids are out for a week on vacation without any notice.

Re: ?? For Teachers about taking kids out of school...

As long as you don't take advantage and do this a lot or for several days, I don't see a problem. We have a policy at our school where students can do an independent study packet while they are gone and get credit while the school gets back about half the student's daily rate from the state.
When I say daily rate I am referring to the reason why schools are so harsh on absences. Each school loses money for every student absence ( here in CA its about $30 a day per student- NY gets more per pupil so its probably closer to $90 per child per day). I know that seems harsh to gives zeros but if it discourages this practice of vacation absences, I certainly can understand why its there to save schools some money in these tough times.

Just wanted to give another perspective

Re: ?? For Teachers about taking kids out of school...

Im going to totally contradict myself...

I generally do not take my kids out of school for vacations. But Im HUGE on perfect attendance. It has definitely taught the twins the importance of fufilling a commitment, not playing sick, etc..something I hope that they take with them into the workplace when they are older.

With that said though...my eldest daughter is going to the Bahamas with her Dad the beginning of October. He has NEVER taken her away...spends very little quality time with her...and I feel that it is a good oppurtunity for her.

My DH is a teacher so I ran basically the same question by him when her trip was brought up. He told me the whole district policy thing etc etc...and then told me to let her go.

Re: ?? For Teachers about taking kids out of school...

I would hesitate to take my child out of school for vacation. It is very possible that he/she could miss an entire unit in all subject areas. That is a lot of work to make up. I have had very bright students miss a week for vacation and while they are sure to make up their work, their achievement is never at the same level it would have been at if they had attended class.

Re: ?? For Teachers about taking kids out of school...

Wow, I had NO idea schools were so strcit about this! When I was in school we were taken out every year as my parents refused to travel during the peak times. I wouldn't trade those memories for antyhing and I was ALWAYS able to get all my work before we left and have it done by the time we got back.

Re: ?? For Teachers about taking kids out of school...

I would just ensure that there are no state tests that week, because missing those can have significant consequences. Off the top of my head I don't think there are any (ELA is Jan; Math is March).

Message edited 9/1/2008 9:22:11 AM.

Re: ?? For Teachers about taking kids out of school...

I'm a former HS teacher, and for me, it all depended on how good a student the child was and how diligently he/she made up the work. I had students miss a few days who never made up the work and one who was gone for 2-3 weeks (for a family trip out of the country) and had every assignment completed when she returned.

The time of year is a big factor too. I agree that October wouldn't really be a bad time to take a child out.

Re: ?? For Teachers about taking kids out of school...

It never bothered me as a HS teacher. It was a pain to get the work together though.

I had one student whose aunt and uncle were taking her to France - that experience was way more worthwhile than my class. But she was a student who could definitely catch up...I guess know thy child.

Re: ?? For Teachers about taking kids out of school...

the younger they are, the easier it is to make up work and not fall behind. The older they are, chances are they have different teachers and heavier workloads and the teachers will more than likely frown upon vacations at that stage of the game.

I teach 1st grade and don't mind if the kids are taken out for a few days, but I've had parents take kids out to go to China for 12 days or Palm Springs for 10. Seriously???? While I say go for it, PLEASE don't expect the teacher to spend an hour getting everything together that will be done during that time and you also can't expect the teachers to get stuff together with a few days notice. So be prepared to do work when your child comes back.

But memories with family are a ton more important.

Re: ?? For Teachers about taking kids out of school...

Thanks everyone. I really appreciate all your responses.