Thread: Taking kids out of school, actual positive reation from the school

We so often on the boards have thread from people who have horror stories about their school's reaction when they try to take their kids out of school for a week or two for a cruise. I've heard of one school that was going to send out a truancy letter the a parent because the child was going to miss three days of school for a 5 day cruise to Mexico, because the trip was out of the country. I wanted to give the other side of the coin.

I can count my blessings that we are in a really good but small school district.

I talked to the Principal today about the kids missing the two weeks of school for our November Trans Atlantic cruise. I had talked with her and several of the teachers in generalities before we booked the trip. So I knew there were no big objections to us doing this. But to day I met with the principal/superintendent. She was so excited for the kids and felt that the kids will learn more in those two weeks, with all they get to see and do, than they would learn in the class room.

That has always been my philosophy, travel can be such a great part of a child's education. I was so glad to hear that she shared this philosphy. She was very supportive, will help me make sure that the kids get their assignments a few weeks before we leave and will give them time to get caught up after our return.

I have read so many post over on the family board on the DS about people who absolutely can't take their kids out of school. that I was thrilled to have such a great principal and school. I knew our district and principal were good, but her response was even better than I was expecting.


I just wanted people to know that in some cases taking the kids out of school can be a positive experience.

You are so lucky. In California, it's all about the money. Each school gets money for each student per day. So if a child misses a day of school, the school doesn't get the allotment for that child. Also there's such a huge emphasis on the state tests (which are going on this and next week), that it's felt that each a child misses out a day of school, the child might not score as highly as possible. I know that's ridiculous (that's certainly how I feel and actually how many teachers feel), but that's the school districts' take on things. And a lot is riding on those stupid API scores.

Personally I feel if more students had a chance to travel with their families, this is a more positive experience for these kids.

Great reaction, and the correct one, too!

Reactions we received for our 14 year old son were something of a mixed bag. Most of his teachers were very positive. His Spanish teacher was ECSTATIC, as we were cruising an eastern Caribbean itinerary. His math teacher actually complained to us and then to the principal. Fortunately, the principal is an educator first and an administrator second...and agreed with the majority of our son's teachers.

We do take our Grandkids out of school and I think it is awesome fot them to see places and people, as well as culture, they would otherwise not have that experience. When they return they write a report for school about everything they saw and did!!

I agree, but I also think it has to do with the age of the child. Other than a few days, I wouldn't let my son miss school... he goes to a private high school, and would miss way too much work, even with internet and doing work onboard.

But on the other hand, my youngest is in a private school and they don't have the same restrictions as public... while she is young enough, it appears she will be missing school for cruises, as least for the foreseeable future.

When I was teaching, I used to encourage parents to plan trips before major holidays: Christmas, spring break or summer. Those few days before were often not as productive in the classroom as were the opening weeks of each term when there was a quick settling to the solid business of learning. Missing the first week(s) of a new school year are not a good idea as friendships and academic groupings are formed.

We took our own children out os school several times and made sure it was a learning experience. They still tease us about the bar graphs we made them create ranking the chateau in the Loire Valley. The youngest simply did order of general preference while the girls, age 7 and 9 did more sophisticated graphing. And since they were in French Immersion anyway speaking 'real life' French was an added bonus.

It's easier to make up related projects for elementary children than for High Schoolers.

We kind of figure out days of taking the kids out of school for a cruise are numbered because DS will be in high school in two years. Next year he will miss part of 7th grade and the next year, if we take another cruise, some of 8th, but we feel they will probably miss to much to miss high school, so we probably will not miss school for a cruise for the next 6 years after that. Unfortunately that doesn't give us many options for cruising beyond Europe and Alaska during the summer if we want to avoid the Christmas and Spring Break crowds. Maybe a cruise for just me and DH then.

Be glad that your shcool recognizes that travel can also educate a child.
Unfortunately our school district didn't realize this - even if the travel involved a shcool sponsored function. Our band was limited on the amount of days they could miss for their band trips - thereby limiting the competions and performances they were asked to.
My middle daughter took part in a school sponsored competion for vocational ed (she had enough credits to graduate and decided her senior year to take part in the program where you go to school for most of the day and then work for the last couple of hours) and she took third place in the state in the banking and finance competion and was eligible to compete on the national level. The state contingent was leaving on a school day and would miss two days of school and when we requested the time off for her, we were told that they would only authorize one day off as she could fly the next day and still make it in time for the competion. That would mean that she would have to fly alone - unchaperoned. If we wanted her to leave with the chaperoned group, she would be given an unexcused absence for the day. It actually took getting a document prepared by my lawyer for the principal to sign stating that the shcool would be totally responsible for my daughter's safety if she had to fly alone before they would finally give her an excused absence for that day.
And this was my daughter who was totally responsible - a peer leader, gym leader, teacher aide, office aide, and good student - the one that would have her homework done as soon as it was given.
I am a firm believer in travel being educational. When our kids were little, we did a lot of sightseeing as my husband was in the Jaycees and we went to the national convention each year with a week or more of sightseeing before. For example, when the convention was in CT, we drove and saw Amish country, PA, Philadelphia, Boston, Concord, Salem, New York, and other sights. When they kids learned about the revolutionary war, they had already seen those sights and history became a little more alive to them.