Taking kids out of school for a cruise About This Page:

[Moxrox]

I think it depends on the kind of student you have though. Some kids don't have the work ethic to complete the work they get prior to the vacation, and struggle making it up afterwards.

Some don't have an issue at all though. It really depends on the child and how you think they'll respond to making up the work.

[deanna23]

My oldest child wants me to take him out of school and I am sure my other will not mind. My oldest is in the ap classes, which are like a college prep class, but he miss a week last Feb. due to the flu and had no problem catching up. On the other hand, my youngest is not that motivated with school. Thanks for all the help. Deanna

[cakesnjammom]

I am taking both of my kids out of school for a week and 1 day! ages 5 (K) and 7 (2nd grade) I am going to try and get their work ahead of time and make sure that school is a priority.
I have mixed emotions about this topic BECAUSE when i was a child my parents asked our teachers (my bro and I) if they thought it would be ok to take us out of school for a week to take a trip to Washington, DC..the teachers advised my parents against it so we stayed home w/ my grandmother and my mom and dad went. I know no one can ever predict the future..... but my parents divorced later and this would have been one of the lst trips I could have taken with them together....so my poin is that YES I think the work is extremely important but I also think that none of us knows what the future holds and these are very precious time with our family members and that is extremely important too. Weigh the pros and cons.

[hoosiermomma2]

This is something we have struggled with for our upcoming WDW visit. My kids are 6 (going into 1st) and 12, 13 the day before we leave (and going into 7th). There is a part of me that really feels bad about taking them out but the price is worth it and this is something we've never done before.

I contacted the principal at both of their schools when we made the decision early this summer and they said it was fine but we need to fill out paperwork requesting the time off-and both kids will have work to take on the trip probably--but I figure between airplane time and the Sunday we have when we get back, their vacation won't be that disrupted--and hopefully we can keep them from falling too far behind.

It really depends on your children--and you know them best. Do you think they will be able to handle missing that much school and not end up so far behind that they wish they'd never gone? Are they secure and confident students who can handle a week off and a week of classes that they or you will have to teach them?

One good thing for us is that it's only about a month into the school year and they will be doing lots of review. We will be going even if it's not an excused absence--mine will only miss 4 days because the Monday we are gone they are off anyway...

Good luck--follow your instincts, talk honestly to your older children and see what everyone thinks and feels....that's my opinion anyway.

Vicky

[scrappyjae]

We are going in October of this year and lucked out that the week of our cruise is only a 3 day school week. They have the Monday and Friday of the week off. Mine will be in 10th and 12th. Sometimes, you have to go with what works best for you, your job, and your wallet. I worked at a place that once April came, you could no longer request any time off for vacation the whole summer due to staffing shortages. How can you have a family vacation during Summer in those type of circumstances?

[stinkrbell]

We have been taking our kids out of school for vacations for years. We always get the work ahead of time and let everyone know. The teachers have always been supportive and more than one has talked about what a great learning experience it would be. My Kids will be in 7th and 3rd this year.

I cant imagine wasteing money and going to a major tourist destination during the obvious times. (summer and spring break) I think you miss so much standing in lines and the weather is usually so hot. A cruise is a little different (they can only let so many people on) but I cant afford to go in the summer months.

I would say just plan ahead on the homework and hope they stay healthy and dont miss school for anything else.

[shellybelly72]

I do it every year, with an elementary, middle & high school student.
It was EASIER with the older ones. Since the teachers can email the kids their homework. Just let the teachers know way in advance.

[CAVA Magic]

We did the 7-day cruise the first week of October in 2008. It was definitely difficult for my 9th grader - school rules, teachers, etc. Much less so for my 6th grader. Definitely check with district policies and contact each teacher individually and discuss not just the work they will miss but if there is any extra credit your child can accomplish. For example, a short report on what they learned at Cape Canaveral or even a daily log of activities might make an English teacher happy. I understand the value of daily attendance at school but teachers must consider the teaching experiences that visiting another country provide, swimming with the manta rays, etc.

Something to consider though.... I'm not sure what part of the country you live in but typically kids in the midwest go back to school about mid-August or two weeks before East and West coast kids who go back after Labor Day. This year Disney dropped the prices to their fall rates the last two weeks of August. We are going the week before school starts back up and saving almost $2000 over the summer rates.

Good luck with whatever you decide to do!

[naranjofamilyof5]

I am taking my 3 girls (5th grade, 2nd grade, and Kinder) out of school the week before Christmas vacation begins for our cruise. I am a teacher myself so I had to find a time that would not have a huge academic impact on my daughters and my students. I knew that during this week, the kids will be doing a lot of Christmas "winter" type activities (parent presents, crafts, making gingerbread houses, we even have a movie day, etc...) and party, and catching up if needed. My daughters were totally fine with missing all of the schools "winter" activities so we went ahead and booked. It took a lot of thought and planning, I would suggest lookig at your childs yearly academic calendar and find a time where the kids are already on vacation a few days and try to plan it that way. Also ask for work they will miss ahead of time. I know the curriculum we use and the teachers well because I work with them but I am sure most teachers would appreciate the assistance from the parents as well. We plan on and I am acutally requiring my girls to spend at least 30 minutes each night before bed with me reading, and practicing other skills (sight words, multiplication, etc....). Fortunately for me they enjoy that and know they have to do it. Overall, it was cheaper to go on the cruise that week versus waiting until the next when we were on "vacation" the cost almost doubled because of the holidays.

[Belle123]

From an educator's point of view, I advise against taking your two adolescents out of school for a whole week, especially so early in the year. The exception would be if this is a potentially once-in-a-lifetime trip, or a huge milestone such as an anniversary celebration with the grandparents, etc.

That said, as a parent I can totally sympathize. It's very tempting to want to take advantage of smaller crowds and lower prices. But keep in mind that having a lot of other teens onboard will likely be an attraction for your kids, not a detriment, and one that might be lacking that time of year.

I suggest a compromise---maybe take a 4-night cruise (not the Western Caribbean, I know, but still great---this is Disney after all!). The number of school days missed will be limited, especially if you plan it to coincide with a week that contains any school holidays (Columbus Day, e.g.).

If you decide to travel during the school year, please let all teachers know in advance out of courtesy, but don't expect them to cater to your plans by having homework ready beforehand. And make sure your kids understand that they will have a large amount of make-up work to contend with when they return (as well as missed experiences that can't be made up). Also be sure to check the school calendar to ensure that there is no statewide standardized testing being conducted that week.

Good luck!

[mackeymouse]

Originally Posted by Belle123

From an educator's point of view, I advise against taking your two adolescents out of school for a whole week, especially so early in the year. The exception would be if this is a potentially once-in-a-lifetime trip, or a huge milestone such as an anniversary celebration with the grandparents, etc.

That said, as a parent I can totally sympathize. It's very tempting to want to take advantage of smaller crowds and lower prices. But keep in mind that having a lot of other teens onboard will likely be an attraction for your kids, not a detriment, and one that might be lacking that time of year.

I suggest a compromise---maybe take a 4-night cruise (not the Western Caribbean, I know, but still great---this is Disney after all!). The number of school days missed will be limited, especially if you plan it to coincide with a week that contains any school holidays (Columbus Day, e.g.).

If you decide to travel during the school year, please let all teachers know in advance out of courtesy, but don't expect them to cater to your plans by having homework ready beforehand. And make sure your kids understand that they will have a large amount of make-up work to contend with when they return (as well as missed experiences that can't be made up). Also be sure to check the school calendar to ensure that there is no statewide standardized testing being conducted that week.

Good luck!

ITA. I am my going to share my opinion, which comes from my years in school and the fact that I have parents and friends that have worked in our school system, and my background in PR.

I went to a private school my whole life, and not that it matters public or private, but only to make the point that the way our policy worked may have been a little less accomodating. I don' t know that there was a "no vacation" clause in our school handbook, or what they would have done had anyone actually gone on vacation during the school year, but it was more of an unspoken rule really. But, we did have a pretty strict absences policy, no such thing as excused or inexcused. (My sister had mono one year and had to go before the school board) After 3rd grade, I remember a couple of people going on trips, but after 6th, until we graduated, no one vacationed during the school year.

Now, here is my advice, from a PR and just common decency standpoint. You need to throw yourself at the mercy of the system. I mean, really, really humble yourself. Rather than saying, "These are our plans," say "This is what we'd LIKE to do. Is this week going to be a problem?" Offer to speak to each of the teachers individually. Offer to have work done ahead of time. Offer to do extra work. You really need to come across as open (whether you are or not).

Then, you can delve into the juicy stuff, like asking if the absences would be excused (if your school does excused vs. unexcused) and seeing if there would be any academic/extracurricular repurcussions. Now, if your school seems willing to work with you, and you do not mind chancing that your student will fall behind, go for it. You're in the clear.

Now, here is the flip side. If your school is tougher, and explains that the absences would be unexcused, and that they would not recommend it, etc, then you have to be willing to accept the consequences of your actions. If you are going to vacation, despite the school/teachers' suggestions, then it makes it really hard to go up and argue if your kid's grades slip. If your child misses a week due to cruise and then, God forbid were to get the flu and miss another week or more, and it is hard for them to keep up with schoolwork, they are probably not going to garner a lot of sympathy from classmates and teachers alike.

No one likes a whiny parent. The teachers are not the bad guy. If their personal teaching policy penalizes absence from class, then you must respect that. Here is what doesn't work: trying to justify it, by saying it is an educational experience. Any vacation is "educational" if you spin it that way- Epcot, Hawaii (Pearl Harbor), Washington DC. But, kids can gain educational experiences in the summer months or during breaks. So, call a spade a spade. You want to vacation during a particular time because it is cheaper. I don't blame you. But to try to justify travelling during the school year with, "It's an educational experience," just seems, well, lame, and like you're reaching.

So just be humble, be honest, and good luck!

[HeatherD]

You need to throw yourself at the mercy of the system. I mean, really, really humble yourself. Rather than saying, "These are our plans," say "This is what we'd LIKE to do. Is this week going to be a problem?"

I'm gonna have to respectfully disagree here. I agree that parents need to work WITH the teachers, doing what they can to lessen any extra work on the teacher (example, I offered to do the copying of the worksheets my daughter would need for homework). And important dates (testing, etc) should be taken into consideration. But, if I have decided as a parent that this particular vacation would best serve our family at this time; that this is when we would have the best quality time (quality vs quantity), then that's all that matters, IMO.

And I'm not a my-way-or-the-highway kind of parent. I went in and talked to the AP at DD's school when we wanted to plan a surprise trip, because we were getting close to the number of allotted absences due to an unexpected hospital stay.

But to try to justify travelling during the school year with, "It's an educational experience," just seems, well, lame, and like you're reaching.

Well, being neither lame nor the type that reaches for excuses....

Did we take our vacations (yes, plural) last year because they would be learning experiences for our kids? Did we go to WDW just so DD could learn about Mexico at Epcot and conservation at AK? No, of course not! But, if the choice is to do these trips during the school year or not at all (for whatever personal choices the family makes), then at least parents are looking to make them learning vacations.

Traveling, as a character builder, is highly underrated. Even if the learning isn't overt and quantifiable (ie - we're visiting foreign ports of call on our upcoming cruise, we may visit Ernest Hemingway's house, the kids will learn about dolphins when they interact with them, the kids will see coral reefs and tropical fish (none of which exist in the desert where we live)), the traveling itself makes for a more well-rounded human being. And, again, yes the traveling could take place only in the summer or only on school breaks (I feel sorry for destination locations, if that ends up happening). But if that's not an option, parents shouldn't feel like they have to "justify" the reasons to others.

[mackeymouse]

I'm gonna have to respectfully disagree here. I agree that parents need to work WITH the teachers, doing what they can to lessen any extra work on the teacher (example, I offered to do the copying of the worksheets my daughter would need for homework). And important dates (testing, etc) should be taken into consideration. But, if I have decided as a parent that this particular vacation would best serve our family at this time; that this is when we would have the best quality time (quality vs quantity), then that's all that matters, IMO.

And I'm not a my-way-or-the-highway kind of parent. I went in and talked to the AP at DD's school when we wanted to plan a surprise trip, because we were getting close to the number of allotted absences due to an unexpected hospital stay.

My point in all this was basically that you catch more flies with honey than you do with vinegar. It is all about perception. If the powers that be interpret you to be open, humble, responsible, and not one of "those" parents, then chances are good that they will work with you. Obviously, they cannot force your kids to come to school, but if the parent comes in with a "I'm not asking, I'm telling you" attitude, they are much less likely to go easy on the student in the days and weeks following the absence. Just my personal experience there.

I use the same technique when I ask for days off from work. Maybe it is just the way I was raised, I dunno. But, I always ask politely, make sure it is not going to be an inconvenience to them, and I have never had a problem getting time off (knock on wood). I do have other coworkers that basically tell the boss that this is when they are going on vacation, and they'll need that time off. They are adults, so we cannot exactly drag them here. But, I can tell you, I get a lot more leeway than they do.

Well, being neither lame nor the type that reaches for excuses....

Did we take our vacations (yes, plural) last year because they would be learning experiences for our kids? Did we go to WDW just so DD could learn about Mexico at Epcot and conservation at AK? No, of course not! But, if the choice is to do these trips during the school year or not at all (for whatever personal choices the family makes), then at least parents are looking to make them learning vacations.

Traveling, as a character builder, is highly underrated. Even if the learning isn't overt and quantifiable (ie - we're visiting foreign ports of call on our upcoming cruise, we may visit Ernest Hemingway's house, the kids will learn about dolphins when they interact with them, the kids will see coral reefs and tropical fish (none of which exist in the desert where we live)), the traveling itself makes for a more well-rounded human being. And, again, yes the traveling could take place only in the summer or only on school breaks (I feel sorry for destination locations, if that ends up happening). But if that's not an option, parents shouldn't feel like they have to "justify" the reasons to others.

I agree wholeheartedly. If you choose to take your kids out of school for a vacation, that is your decision. Only you and the Lord know the real reasons for doing so. If it is the only time you could both get off work, fine. If it is for financial reaosns, fine. But, that is what you should be telling them, the truthful reason you chose that time to vacation. Making a laundry list of ways the trip is educational is just silly. They don't care (they really don't) how educational your vacation is. It will either be an excused absence or it won't, and it does not matter how many learning opportunities your kids have, it likely won't change their minds.

ITA that some vacations can be life experiences that kids (and adults) can't get anywhere else, even school. And I do believe that those life experiences are important. But, I don't believe life experiences are something to cite in trying to get a school board to excuse an absence.

[HeatherD]

Making a laundry list of ways the trip is educational is just silly. They don't care (they really don't) how educational your vacation is. It will either be an excused absence or it won't, and it does not matter how many learning opportunities your kids have, it likely won't change their minds.

As silly as it sounds, I've read on the boards about schools that have a form you have to fill out for the absences that requires just that - a list of educational experiences. Now, my school has a form, but it is very basic - simply for paperwork (since a certain number of pre-arranged are allowed). But some schools require this information before approval.

So, it's a great help to read on here what people have noted that a parent may not have thought of otherwise, if it helps them with their school, isn't it?

[denwol]

Originally Posted by HeatherD

As silly as it sounds, I've read on the boards about schools that have a form you have to fill out for the absences that requires just that - a list of educational experiences.

Ours does require this info.........and you are only allowed 1 trip per year for less than 7 days.


We are only allowed 4 "unexcused" absences during the school year - after that you, as the parent, have to go to court (Yes, I said criminal COURT). So, in our case, taking a trip without school district approval (or more than one trip) is out of the question - we'd be charged and fined (or even possibly jailed) for doing so.




Now that we know the high school will be doing block scheduling - it will be even more difficult to take our oldest out during the school year. The classes move thru info more quickly, since each is only 1/2 of the year, and missing a week of school would be like missing 2 weeks of info.. Plus, that means 2 separate finals weeks, 2 separate weeks of starting new classes, etc......I guess we won't be taking our Feb. trip after all.