Older Kids missing school for vacations...Thoughts

[Special K]

Well, in that case, I'd set a good example for my child and lie to the teachers telling them my kid will be experiencing a scheduled sickness.

Ok, maybe not.

[TMK9973]

I am old school on this (sorry about the pun).

They get almost 3 months of the year in the Summer to go on vacation. Do it then.

IF all parents had that attitude, then it would be a big mess for the teachers.

they don't play spring training in the summer...

[pointyfootball]

I am old school on this (sorry about the pun).

They get almost 3 months of the year in the Summer to go on vacation. Do it then.

IF all parents had that attitude, then it would be a big mess for the teachers.

You & I are same age...when I was in middle/high school, you went around to your teachers with a form and they signed it & gave you the work and it was considered an excused absence. Course, maybe' it's because they wanted me out of there?

[dfitzo53]

As a teacher here's how I feel about it.

You can do whatever you want with your kids. If your kid does well in school it's not the end of the world for them to miss a few days. (Even if your kid doesn't do well in school it's not the end of the world to miss a few days, but I do wonder about the message it sends to take a vacation when Jr. isn't pulling his or her weight.)

That said, don't expect me to do extra work because you're taking a vacation. I'm not going to put together a special assignment or anything. If the student wants credit for the work that was missed, he or she needs to take the responsibility for making it up, and that doesn't mean taking a huge packet of practice problems to work on during the vacation. That's just busy work and makes the vacation a drag, which doesn't really serve anyone. The student can coordinate with me to figure out what the best way to make the work up is.

[KDawg]

As a teacher, I can tell you that most teachers dislike vacations where they are for an abnormally long period of time. Call up the teachers several weeks in advance and let them know what's going on. Tell them that while you are going away, you want your child to have any work that they may deem appropriate. Even if they haven't made copies of many of the assignments, ask if there is any reading your child can do. Also tell them that if they are available, and at their convenience, your child will be staying after school to make anything up that they need to. I'd even make a comment about any tests that are being taken while your child is away can be done before you leave. Preach responsbility and make sure the teachers know and they will be able to work with you. If they aren't, they're morons anyways

[Kilmer17]

My wife is a teacher. And we're taking the whole family (her included) on vacation in the spring outside of normal school breaks.

It's not a big deal as long as you and the kids understand they have to make up the work. As pointed out, it is NOT the teachers responsibility to send off work etc.

[Cooleyfan1993]

i think its not a problem.at all. i missed 5 days of school last year (i was a senior) in the first week of march to go to prague and budapest with my parents and brother i made up all the homework, and i finished the year with all A's.just tell your son to make up the work (maybe even email them yourself letting them know to give him the homework he will be missing) and he should be fine.

[MissU28]

Not a big deal. The only time I (as a teacher) would have a negative opinion would be if the kid is not on grade level and misses a lot of school to begin with. Teachers don't mind if kids miss a few days unless it's a kid who really needs to be there.

[LadySkinsFan]

Have your children prepare for vacation when they will miss school days like we do for vacations from our jobs: work ahead and work hard when one returns. I don't think it's a big deal.

[AsburySkinsFan]

Balancing act here. Both in elem school (5th and 2nd grade) school gives us a certain number of family days that are excused but work needs to be made up. However, when on vacation we typically make sure that we file an educational experience form to get the days excused and we work with their teachers to arrange a presentation of what they learned and experienced so they can get extra credit. This is exactly what we did last week as school was out only Wed/Thur/Fri, but we were in DC all week so we got Mon/Tues excused and then did educational stuff for two days.

[Bubble Screen]

I am old school on this (sorry about the pun).

They get almost 3 months of the year in the Summer to go on vacation. Do it then.

IF all parents had that attitude, then it would be a big mess for the teachers.

nevermind

[SWFLSkins]

First the grades, second prepare as best- get the homework or extra work done, third, you learn a lot on vacation by seeing a different environment. Also Life is not forever you must stop or go and smell the roses while you can.

---------- Post added November-28th-2012 at 08:50 AM ----------

Not a big deal. The only time I (as a teacher) would have a negative opinion would be if the kid is not on grade level and misses a lot of school to begin with. Teachers don't mind if kids miss a few days unless it's a kid who really needs to be there.

This is what my son's teachers said to me when we did the vacation thing. My kid goes to tutoring and is getting good grades, so they were okay with it. Even thanked me for asking them about it and assured me they would help him if he missed something important. I happen to have great teachers so I think matters as well.

[TMK9973]

Not a big deal. The only time I (as a teacher) would have a negative opinion would be if the kid is not on grade level and misses a lot of school to begin with. Teachers don't mind if kids miss a few days unless it's a kid who really needs to be there.

What grade to you Teach?
BTW - On a different note -I am much less active on these boards then I was years ago - But didn't you live in Southern CA before? I ask because I did and I seem to remember that you were close to me. A little stalkerish that you now followed me back to VA? LOL

[Thiebear]

I just got yelled at by the Ex. Went to Florida for Thanksgiving Monday - Monday(saved 500$ on the flight). (Wed 1/2 day, Thurs/Fri off).
Though i did tell the teachers ahead of time and they neither child has received a "C" this year so i don't care.
Thats why its called the Holiday Season.

[TMK9973]

I just got yelled at by the Ex. Went to Florida for Thanksgiving Monday - Monday(saved 500$ on the flight). (Wed 1/2 day, Thurs/Fri off).
Though i did tell the teachers ahead of time and they neither child has received a "C" this year so i don't care.
Thats why its called the Holiday Season.

How long have you been divorced? Some of that is just control.