Trouble getting out of school? About This Page:

[SuperKate]

While I have no advice, I just wanted to give this thread some ! I like reading everyone's perspective on this topic!

[graygables]

Dina, !
I don't think any of us are going to kick you off for expressing your opinion! Lordy, I would have been gone ages ago!!! I was just trying to point out that the make-up work is the usual teacher concern and that, in my situation, I made it so that it wasn't an issue, since I encouraged my students and parents to take time away from school. That is just how I structured my particular class, since English was one of the subjects that required "teacher approval" for the excuse slip. I grew up in Europe and my parents took me out of school a *LOT* to travel (many military families travelled stateside in the summers, since we travelled locally, my Dad's commander preferred he stay around in the summers to take up the slack) I was also sick a lot, in fact, I spent more time away from school than in it from 1st-6th (skipped K) and still did OK. DoD funding, of course, was different and didn't require that I be in my seat.

I also understand school funding issues, but I personally have a problem with how schools are funded in the first place (coming from a state whose Supreme Court has said our funding is unconstitutional, but nothing has changed ) The teacher has to do his/her job just as well for 28 kids as for 33 kids; do they get a bonus for the extra students?...OK I'm getting on another soapbox! I hope you didn't think I was referring to you specifically in my post, b/c I certainly wasn't!

As far as the student goes, he absolutely agreed with me and even cried about it with me, saying that his mom even made him come to school when he was sick, b/c she insisted that he have perfect attendance. It was clear that his mom already plotted the course for his life and would not let up on him one minute. I never did find out what happened with him after I left, but I hope he did Senior Skip Day! (ok, that was kind of evil, but his mom was a piece of work!)

[Jaya]

Sorry, everyone, I didn't expect to cause such an uproar here!!!

As I said before, I don't think anyone's point of view is necessarily wrong. Dina, I do appreciate where you're coming from, and there's nothing like someone playing Devil's advocate to stir up a conversation. All I was really trying to do at the start of all this was get everyone's opinions and let people share their stories, good or bad. I happened to have a bad one, but it was because of a teacher with a bad attitude. Like I said, the rest of the faculty/administration had no problem with my vacation. And I can imagine that say, if the same child took lots of vacations, or extended ones, that it would warrant some concern from admin. But, as others have said, summer/school holidays are not always good times for families to go on vacation. In my situation, it was my single mother paying for our first ever (and only) one-on-one vacation after my parent's divorce just over a year prior. We went in May of 96, when it was very slow, and it was fairly inexpensive, because that was the only way she could afford to take me. I had a wonderful, magical trip with her that still makes me smile today. In addition, since it was only about 4 weeks before the end of school, there wasn't a whole lot that I was missing - at that time of year at the school I went to, kids were getting antsy, and teachers were getting creative; that was the time of year we'd have, for example, 'field trips' outdoors to enjoy the May weather and learn a little at the same time.

I do love reading what everyone has to say on here, though - both agreeing and disagreeing!! Everyone have fun, and just remember - play nice!!!

[Happymommy]

Oh my gosh, I am so sorry - you weren't even asking for my opinion. Then, I'm sorry for getting defensive. I didn't mean you guys shouldn't take vacations during the school year (yeah I know I did say I wouldn't do it, I shouldn't have went that far), I just replied to express my opinion that I don't know if I agree with the absences being "excused." But, we also had a policy that you could miss 30 days of school before it affected your grade - so missing 10 days for vacation would go on your record, but you certainly wouldn't fail on account of it. I kind of always thought they should count on the record, because I felt it kind of sent the wrong message - do you know what I mean? But, I do also understand that it must be difficult if a family can't go away during the summer, I guess I never really thought about it. I just always assumed people didn't want to wait in line, or go when its hot- etc., etc. Like I said, I personally never gave the student a problem (I wouldnt' even give them homework to take because I wanted them to have a good time, but at times, usually only if that student was having academic problems, I admit, I would be annoyed even if I didn't let it show). But I did go too far on my first post and say that I wouldn't do that - blah, blah, blah. I wish I didn't write that post- I just went back and re-read it, and I think I really sounded like a jerk - I don't know why I wrote that. I guess I just wanted to say that some teachers that give you a hard time, may have a reason for it, there not all "bad." But yes, I totally agree there are some people that should not be teaching. We had one young teacher in my school that was on a total power trip. He gave kids such a hard time - really just because he could. He subbed my class one day when I was out due to complications w/my pregnancy, and they didn't give him a problem, but he just decided to show that he was boss. When the bell rang (this was the last class of the day), he wouldn't let my class leave (I know for a fact they didn't misbehave), he only let them out one at a time. Half my kids missed there bus home. Believe me, I was fuming when I got back. So, I'm just saying I do understand, there are some "power tripping" teachers. I just thought you meant me (because of what I wrote), and I was far from it. I shouldn't have taken that personally, I'm really really sorry. I shouldn't play devil's advocate if I can't take the heat either.- but I know I went too far and gave my dumb opinionm when it wasn't called for -- sorry(again I mean this in a really nice way). And, because of me, this thread totally got off the question asked. I'm sorry I got defensive and everything. I don't know what got into me last night!! And, I really hope I'm not making everything worse again like I did with my second post. Just wanted to really say sorry for getting everyone off track.



Also just for the record, I was trying to explain the teacher's reaction to a student being out for 2 weeks (that's an entire unit in my class), I was not referring to a student being out for 2 days, 3 days even 4 or 5 days - getting caught up from that isn't as much of a challenge.

[tammyr]

This thread is very interesting. I have 3 kids, 10th grade, 8th grade, and kindergarten. I wrestle everytime I take them out of school but we too are on a very tight budget and have to go during a value season which is never when they have vacation. Our family vacations are very important for bonding for us for many different personal reasons so I feel that our vacations need to happen. They are only for one week a year so that's not too bad. But I have to say that I can understand how it would be difficult for the teachers because I would think it would give them extra work to have to deal with each and every kid that's out of school but I just hope the teachers can understand. But I do see both points of view. However I do think that the family is very important and if your kids are not too bad off in school then it should be okay. Just my two cents

[poohmaine]

It does not seem to be a problem for lower grades, but it is a huge hassle in our high school.



Last year, I took my daughter out for ONE DAY and you would think it was for ONE MONTH! She had to have a form signed by each and every teacher (whether she had them for class that day or not), and then had to get it signed by the principal, and then had a little meeting with the principal! Then she was told they wanted a two-page report on what they did that day! This is absolutely ridiculous, IMO. My daughter was doing the right thing by giving her teachers notice of an absense, and they made it seem she was doing something really wrong. My daughter is on the honor roll, too.



We will be taking them out for 3 days prior to the start of the official Christmas vacation this year. I agree with the earlier post, I might just call her in sick those days instead of putting her throught the same hassle again.

[buckysmom]

Dina, you did not sound like a jerk, just gave a different perspective.
I am one of the only people in my age group who hasn't seen ET b/c we lived overseas when it was out...and I couldn't leave b/c it was such a small base that the policy was that an "unexcused absence" was an automatic "0" for that day in each class. So...no vacation during the school year for me. Never heard "ET..phone home..." never saw Drew Barrymore without tattoos. Not too messed up
That said, seriously, other than high school, grades aren't the end all be all, and if my DD wants to actually SPEND TIME with me by golly, I'm going to say forget the grades and take her on vacation with me! I kicked booty in college in American History and Shakespeare I think b/c I travelled extensively to historical places on the East Coast and England and experienced what I later studied.
There is a fine line between respecting experience and the school cirriculum as well as parents' best judgment.
I think what I remember most is not the routine but the breaks from the routine-so those are what I want to make memorable for my DD

[paradox]

Hi dina,
I read your most with a lot of interest. I would agree with you about this, "I personally" would not take my daughter out of school for a vacation. That's just my opinion. I would never knock anybody for taking their child out of school for any reason. I didn't find offense with you posts.
I have friends who are teachers, and I understand most of what they go through. My situation with school was that my daughters absences were because of several broken bones, that all happened at school during school hours. We were quoted school policy until a lawyer stepped in. The school did an immediate 180 degree turn from their policy. That is what really upset me.
I would love to home school my daughter, but some of the bonds that she has made in school have shown me that needs to be in school. She has some of the best friends in the world, and all of them are from school.
I don't see any problem with taking your child out of school for any reason, and any resonably parent would do anuthing to catch them up.

[GoofyMom]

[ QUOTE ]
I was just curious if any of you moms (and dads!) even had problems having your kids excused from school for a Disney trip.


[/ QUOTE ]

Funny you should ask this question! I am meeting with the Vice Principal of our high school on Thursday. My kids are in Grades 10 and 11 and both are honours students. This is going to be our last hurrah as a family taking a vacation together since we don't want to take our son out of school in Grade 12 for a vacation. We can't afford to go during school vacations because that's when the hotel and airline industry seems to like to "stick it" to you.

We booked our trip (for this December) last February. We will be gone from Dec. 4-19, which means the kids will have 3 days of school, 10 days missed, and then 3 more days of school before Christmas holidays. But before I booked anything, I phoned the V.P. to ensure that they could be excused. Our school has one of those policies that 10 unexcused absences earns expulsion. He told me it would not be a problem at all; he would be happy to sanction their absences. He also said how happy he was for us that we were going to have a lovely vacation in Florida and how the children would benefit so much from the trip and the family time. I think it helped that I asked for his input as to whether we would be able to set up their course schedule so that the first semester was made up of "lighter" subjects and maybe even a spare or 2.

So Thursday, I am meeting with him to arrange DD's timetable so that she has an easier first semester than what she's been scheduled. DS's timetable is already perfect - he has managed to be scheduled with 2 spares in his first semester! I hope that their teachers will be as happy for my kids as the V.P. is. After hearing about how some teachers go on power trips, I'm a little nervous!

[snoozy]

I just finished talking to all of the kids teacher's about our up coming trip, so they could be done with their first quarter work a week early. All but one were very cooperative.

The one who wasn't is also the football coach so he is a scattered brain right now. According to him he can't think that far ahead, he's a football coach so it can get for him. Just kidding! No really he such a jock.

So, ok, off I went to catch up with the Principal, he said no problem if we have to we will do independent study for them.

He did however want to know who was going to sub for my position, whoops I said, I'm waiting for the new sub list to come out. He laughed. He's my boss too, he is also the principal at the school I work for.

[BritDisFan]

We always had trouble when I was at school. My Dad worked (and still does) shift work, he never got to choose when he was allowed to go on holiday. His dates were rostered four years in advance and he was not allowed to change them. Neither of my parents were thrilled about taking me out of school to go on holiday but if we wanted a family holiday we had to. It wasn't even as if we could spend Christmas as a family together as he only got a Christmas off every seven years.

We went to the Canary Islands one February and I missed a week of school. All my teachers were fine except one, who noticed I had a bit of a tan and that I was absent the week before. He then proceded to run my parents down in front of the whole class saying how they didn't care about my education and they just wanted to book holidays in term time so it was cheaper etc.

I was normally very shy at school but on this occasion completely stuck up for my poor Dad who just wanted some family time together and couldn't choose his holiday anyway. I said that it was very nice that my teacher had six weeks off in the summer and three weeks off at Christmas and he could go away with his family then but not everyone is so lucky. He turned bright red and my woodwork class gave me a round of applause. I don't think he ever quite forgave me though.

Karen