Question for Teachers... About This Page:

[HiddenMickey]

mcneal---I can't believe they are doing that to the poor kindergartners.......kids are NOT ready to read at that age for the most part and shouldn't be forced before they are ready...they are supposed to still be learning through "play" at that stage and just learning the ins and outs of the school scene itself. Schools are just pushing our children too hard! What they are getting is a bunch of burned out kids who have no interest in school work because they are forcing subject areas on them before their little brains are ready. UGH UGH UGH I just get sick thinking about it. -HiddenMickey

[stonewall]

I am a teacher in New York State, and we have regulations for everything! BUT, having sais that,there are also ways around most everything too! Our kids go to school in a suburban district, and the teachers are very good about working with you, especially if the absence if brief. I teach in the city, and half of the kids are absent on any given day anyway- they even arrange alternatives for the kids who are out on the days that the standardized tests are given. However, if you are taking a child out of school for a pre-planned vacation, and they will miss a state-wide grade level exam such as the English Language Arts Exam(here in NYS), then you could be in real difficulty, because there is a certain "time window" for garding those. If the child is a goodstudent and had NOT had attendance problems in the past, and the teacher and/or building administration is giving you a hassle, contact the school district's Curriculum Director or Superintendant- they should be able to help you out. Good luck!

[CU Tigger]

I have so much respect for teachers (especially the ones who were so great to me)! My B.A. is in Secondary Education and my student teaching experience (in SC - GoofyKids) was enough for me not to pursue teaching as a career! Teaching to a test and the rest of the bureaucratic nonsense was obvious even to a green student teacher like me. I'm not sure exactly what I learned since I'm now a College administrator, but that's another story entirely.

I think that it is important to remember when we get frustrated with the "party lines" that teachers have been conditioned to give, that as a rule in most of the country, teachers are still very underappreciated for the invaluable contribution that they make to the nation's children. For the impact that they have, they are not paid anywhere near what they are worth and the "thank yous" for their selflessness are few and far between.

Wow! How about that for a soapbox? I'm not even a teacher. Anyway, Fortissimo and stonewall, if it's been too long since you've heard it, "Thank You!" I wish I had a Mickey Bar to send you.

[ 08-19-2001: Message edited by: CU Tigger ]

[ 08-19-2001: Message edited by: CU Tigger ]

[stonewall]

Thank you CU Tigger- I'll be munching on Mickey Bars in 31/2 days, so I'll think of you when I bite his little ears off!
Wish me luck- I have a "big" interview tomorrow.......! [img]images/icons/cool.gif[/img]

[Teresa]

Update-
Talked to DD-8's teacher this afternoon. He said that we will figure something out later and to not even let the administration know yet. The days she will miss are - 1 early release, & 2 half days. AND- he will not be assigning homework or a lot of hard class work that week. He also tokd me he has taken his kids out for vacation and home-schooled one of them last year for 2 months so the child could be in a play, so he UNDERSTANDS! I sure am glad I requested him this year and he is "looping" next!

[CU Tigger]

Good Luck stonewall! Let me know how the interview goes... I'm sure that you'll knock 'em dead!

[stonewall]

The interview went well, and they appear to have a position that is "tailor made" for me. The switch to a community college would be quite a change from my little ones or "difficult" high schoolers, but, at this point in life I have really made the decision that I want to work with adults. Since I teach English to Speakers of Other Languages, nothing is EVER boring.
I gave them the number at the WL, so hopefully, they will call me next week. Wow, would that add to the pixie dust!!! 2 MORE DAYS!!!! [img]images/icons/cool.gif[/img]

[CU Tigger]

Awesome! On my first ever trip to Disney World (in 1997) I was job searching and was contacted to arrange an interview for the position I now hold. Disney's magic extends all over the place. I have my fingers crossed that you'll receive an offer while at WL! I can't wait to hear about that and your trip!!

[spanky]

I read these comments with great interest. I am an Elem. School Principal in PA. I find it hard to believe that any teacher or administrator would not allow a child to make up work due to a family vacation. It goes against every grain of my existance as an educator and a person who loves children. WDW is the ultimate in being a child. To disallow a child that experience should be criminal. Families make plans due to constraints that have noting to do with their child's schedule. I understand the laws of attendance differ state to state, but exceptions can and should be made.

If a child is absent due to a planned trip to WDW because of parental schedule problems then some arrangement should be worked out.

As a piece of advice to any parent who is thinking of taking their children out of school for any kind of trip, try to do your homework up front. I somewhat mean that litterally. Ask you teachers if they can do the homework they may miss ahead of time. Work a research project out with your child's principal and/or teachers. There are plenty of educational oppurtunities for children to learn on their vacation. EPCOT is educationally designed. Every curriculum in the book can be cover there. English, math, science, health, world cultures, history etc. I couldn't think of a better place to EXPERIENCE learing.

Try to show that you are a parent that values education, but at the same time you value the cohesion of the family as much. Ask the teacher if there is some extra credit that the child can use in place of the missed assignments.

There must be some middle ground on this issue. Panrents have to understand the need for continuity in the education of their child and that sometimes trips during the year interupt that process, but school teachers and administrators must understand the they should not let school interfere with a child's eudcation.

I hope I have't ground a hole in my soapbox. But before I get down--just a little pixie dust for all of you who are contiplating a mid-school year vacation to WDW, that you are able to expericenc the joy that comes from this magical place.