No School for You! Pulling Kids Out of School for a trip to WDW!

[Disneydude]

we have no problem pulling our daughter out (although she is only in preschool) like others here, some or my fondest memories with my parents are going to DW during the school year. My wife and I agreed before we bought into DVC this would not be an issue as long as they kept up their grades. We also think the homework kids are getting these days is ridiculous. In fact, we spoke to the head of our daughter's catholic school about their homework policy before signing her up.

[4boyz]

I happily pull my kids out of school to go to WDW. There is no way we are going during Christmas or Spring Break. Why would we go in the summer when summer is gorgeous at home. We want to be there when its cold at home and the lines are shortest.

[jessykah77]

This has been a very interesting thread to read and has really forced our family to think about what is most important to us. The post came about when we were recently discussing and finally choosing to withdraw our DD9 from our public ISD (which is highly rated) and choosing to homeschool. We value higher education, we're both graduates from schools we're proud of (LSU & Virginia Tech), but we do not believe that education must occur in a classroom from September-May, Monday-Friday, 8am-3pm. Any time can be a learning opportunity.

We're looking forward to visiting WDW during times that work best for us as a family. Our next trip is a mother/daughter visit in early May to the Flower & Garden festival. Already we're starting to study hydroponics and some of the other alternative planting methods they use at EPCOT. We're both very excited and looking forward to our 'field trip'.

[Disneydude]

My sister homeschooled her kids for 2 or 3 years and they had no issues when they returned to public school. Frankly, with all the liberal stuff happening in schools these days along with the lack of civility amongst the students and teachers, I think it may be a wise choice to honeschool. t

[KVanHilton]

I was pulled out of school for WDW, and I have no problem at all pulling my kids out too. There's actually great education to be had from a trip to WDW.

When I was young Disney actually had a series of classes for kids to take while they were there. I took three of them, they had textbooks and everything. These days parents just have to use their own gumption and realize how much that kids can really learn while on vacation, even at Disney.

I'm a Homeschool Mom (just 1 of my 3) and we use the "unschooling" methods where real life experience is worth much more than reading through a text book. Disney can give an awful lot of real life experience. While on vacation my kids manage their own money (math), read maps and schedules (math, geography, critical thinking), learn about animals and the environment (several sciences), interact with other cultures (history, social studies), they practice teamwork in by having to stick together and get along, independence because I give them more leeway on vacation than at home, and they get s lots of physical exercise. Every day brings something new, remember to talk about it with your kids!

In addition, my two kids in public school have taken photo essays back to school for "extra credit", kept journals, and written papers on Disney themed subjects as well. The teachers are never very happy when the kids are pulled out. Frankly, I don't care, I *know* how much Disney has to offer.

[Eeyorelover22]

Most people here are talking elementary concepts. WDW will not improve a student's ability to find the roots of a polynomial equation. That's what we are doing right now in class. With state standards local schools do not decide what to teach and what not to teach so determining whether one feels this is valid to teach doesn't enter into the vacation equation either.

The Secretary of Education is also talking about national standards and comparing students internationallly rather than just with the US.

I have a question...would you miss a week of work if you had no vacation?

[KVanHilton]

Originally Posted by Eeyorelover22

With state standards local schools do not decide what to teach and what not to teach

And that's why I Home School.

State standards (at least how they've effected the school district that my kids are in, which is NOT a very good school district) have completely taken away any concern for the person being taught and reduce the children to mere numbers. My oldest daughter failed miserably under this system, she came home crying every day, she struggled for HOURS with her homework through even more tears. The teachers were pigeon-holed and forced into what to teach, when to teach it, how to teach it, how many minutes they could spend on it, where the kids could be in the classroom, and all that the focus became was knowing how to get through the test. Test, test, test. Life, is not about getting through a test, and everyone isn't able to learn the same way.

I do realize that it's not like that everywhere (because we've lived in better districts before) but it is here. I also realize that every kid doesn't have these issues. I've got two kids still in public school, and while I don't approve of the way they're being taught, they haven't been "left behind" like my oldest daughter was. I do not in any way blame the teachers, they're just doing a job. Where I am, the way they have to work sucks.

I have taken time off from work when I wasn't going on "vacation" and I've let my kids take it too. It is *MY* responsibility to make sure that they grow up well, can function politely in society, give back to their communities, have learned what they need to know to be able to hold down a job that interests them, that they can balance their budget, pay their bills on time, and be a benefit to the country in general. It's not the state's responsibility, and the state doesn't teach any of it. Well rounded human beings need to know a lot more than what the state standards are, like how to function in society.

[carolina_yankee]

Originally Posted by Eeyorelover22

Most people here are talking elementary concepts. WDW will not improve a student's ability to find the roots of a polynomial equation. That's what we are doing right now in class. With state standards local schools do not decide what to teach and what not to teach so determining whether one feels this is valid to teach doesn't enter into the vacation equation either.

The Secretary of Education is also talking about national standards and comparing students internationallly rather than just with the US.

I have a question...would you miss a week of work if you had no vacation?

A friend of mine did just that for a Disney trip. Of course, worked it out with her supervisor and didn't get paid, but everyone was on the same page and no repercussions.

This is a question that has no right answer. Context is everything - kids, parents, school system. My mother routinely pulled me out of school at various grade levels for this or that trip reason. I still graduated in the top ten . . .

Dirk

[KVanHilton]

Originally Posted by carolina_yankee

This is a question that has no right answer. Context is everything - kids, parents, school system.
Dirk

You are 100% right Dirk. Every kid, every parent, every school, every vacation is different. There's no right or wrong answer, just parents doing what they believe is best for their families.

[Eeyorelover22]

Since we live in the USA, parents have free choice tooSo, I'm sure vacations will always be the choice.

It is frustrating only because then schools take a hit when schools are not up to the other countries. Our demographics are changing in the US as well and standardized tests are normed for the middle class which does not give a true reading of what all diverse populations in our country now include. I'm no fan of NCLB either....and the hundreds of tests it promotes.

DH and I are very fortunate. Our teenagers attend an excellent school. They have recently increased their ap offerings (not that I am a huge fan of ap classes...mostly because of gpa inflation) and I feel they are getting a great education which I could not provide for them at home. It's a safe environment as well which I know is another major issue with some schools. I know if I took them out of school they would miss a great deal. Students from Iowa always perform very well on tests as well and we are the last state in the nation to go to a "state curriculum" which I think has a great deal to do with our success.