Would you pull your kid from school for vacation?

ceetee

we are. leaving weds for disney...the school is off thurs/fri and they will both miss m-w.. my parents ( school superintendent and teacher) did it with us and I don't ever remember my complaining about her grade schoolers leaving for vacation, so it has always been ok by me... i do think as they get upper elementary/middle/high school its probably not a good idea. I don't think we did it much past 3d grade/

natalie042205

I wouldn't do it every year but once in a while sure. I will most likely pull G to go to Italy next year because as you know, its hot and expensive in the summer and ever more expensive to go over easter!!!

jenfromnj

We're planning a trip to South Aftica to visit friends next year. Ben will miss two weeks of Kindergaten. It may get delayed to the foloowing fall when he will be in first grade, I won't go during Sept or Oct so he can settle in, but after that is open for us. I have NO problem with this. It is a once in alifetime experience and he will learn far more exploring another culture for a few weeks than he will in school. For educational trips, when the kid can bring their work etc, I see no issue with an extended absence. With Disney or a beach trip or something, I would try to limit it to a few days.

penguingrrl

I don't plan to. Growing up my school sent a note home at the beginning of every school year stating that taking a child out of school for vacation was considered truancy and work was not allowed to be made up. That set my mindset that you don't miss school for vacation, so I don't plan to pull my kids out for vacation generally speaking.

That said, GMIL will be turning 100 next January, so we may take Julia out of school for a day or two surrounding that. Having a relative turn 100 is a once-in-a-lifetime event that can't be timed with vacation, so it's different in my mind. We might just fly Friday after school and Sunday night instead, though, because I don't like the idea of her missing school.

CLord

Our school system is very strict about this, so no I wouldn't.  We have many first generation families that take their kids back to their country(ies) for several weeks, so they've seriously cracked down.  I remember my parents doing it once when I was young.  I think school was less intense back then.  

Shoegal23

I would in a flash. I hate overcrowded vacat times. My parents always pulled me out. We are taking E out in May to go to Boca for a few days. We will also be taking them out in Oct/nov for our rescheduled Disney trip. Oopsy!

MoniqueLS

Yes, we have and will. In fact we are taking them out for a week at the end of March. I don't see it as a big deal if the kids are doing well in school. 

irish1114

Like others said, if my kids are good students then I might.  I was out for a week in 6th! grade to go to Disney (the only time I went with my parents) and I was fine, but I was also a good student.

JenG-SLP

Since I work in the public schools, this is sort of a non-issue for us, since I would not be able to be out of school for an extended period of time to take a vacation during the school year.  But that aside, I would be fine with taking Allison out for a day or 2, but nothing beyond that.  Also, you need to be careful because I know you live in the same town as I do, Patrizia, and our school district is very strict about absences from school due to vacations are considered unexcused and the administration will contact families and ask for a meeting to discuss it (I only know this because Allison has twins in her class who went away for a week to Disney and the mom told a few of us at a party that when they returned, she received a letter from the principal and was asked to come in to discuss the absences).  Although it is not ideal to have to now limit vacations to school vacations and summer, it's something you can adapt to....I guess for me it's no big deal because I have had to limit my vacations to those time frames and I'm used to it.  We went to Disney in mid-August 2 years ago....and yes, it was brutally hot but we got good deals and the parks were not overly crowded, and we had an awesome time.  

Kristen81603

I think it depends- We took Kieran out for a week in December, we planned ahead, spoke to the teacher in September about it- and he completed every last piece of work he had, plus he wrote about his days in a notebook. Would I do it all the time, no, but we tend to do big vacations every other year or every 2 years and in that case I don't see it as a huge problem, baring he is struggling, something big is happening etc...

Kieran is also in Kindergarten- in 6th grade, I may think differently. 

Allison711

Yes.  My parents did it and I've got a great work ethic, did amazing in school and have no long lasting problems   I plan on doing it because I'm not vacationing in the crazy summer crowds and heat at Disney.

vedahanks

We are - out of preschool. My niece will be pulled out of 1st grade. Doing a big Disney trip in September..cousins, aunts, uncles, grandma, pop-pop.....