School and camping

Crowe wrote:
They should be in school when school is in session. Teaching them that it is ok to skip school for a fun adventure is a bad idea in my way of thinking.

Life is about flexibility, choices and repercussions.

I sure agree. it is about choices and more. rigid is not good most times. I love alot of sway in my life :) One of the reasons I rv is to get away from a rigid schedule. break the rules, have some fun, relax and change my pace in life.

Never have. Simply because son would throw a hissy FIT if he was forced to miss school for any reason. He hates make-up work & the older he gets the worse it is. He's only been absent 6 days of school since Kinder & he'll be a Junior in HS this year. Last absence was in 7th grade for a sinus infection. He's incredibly healthy!! And did I say--hates to miss school?

They should be in school when school is in session. Teaching them that it is ok to skip school for a fun adventure is a bad idea in my way of thinking.

I supposed you think eating ice cream for dinner is a bad idea too?? Once in a while won't hurt-you just don't make a habit of it. Skipping school for a fun adventure when it's authorized by your parents is NOT the same as skipping school because you don't want to go. This is how you teach kids boundaries and decision making. And that there are consequences to your actions. In my son's case there were two consequences-one was a VERY enjoyable, stress-relieving vacation. The second was some extra work. Rigid items break. Flexible ones bend. Life is about flexibility, choices and repercussions.

We can't in our household due to the fact that the wife and I are both teachers. Were bound to the same schedule as the kiddo. Wasn't always the case though. There are times that I wish we could travel at non-peak times; definitely cheaper and less crowds. Other than that I would never complain about our work/vacation schedule:B

We take our kids out all the time for 3-day weekend trips, etc. Beautiful fall colors, fewer crowds out there, not as hot ... some of our best camping trips are in Sept. and Oct.

We usually let the teachers know in advance, get their work, etc. -- it helps that my wife is very active at the school, volunteers in their classes at least twice a month for each of our school-age kids' classes, and all of that. They get top grades and it hasn't been an issue for anyone.

I have and will continue to pull my children out of school. One year ago my dad wanted to take them on a cruise for spring break unfortunately he picked the correct date, but the wrong month. I spoke to the teachers and sent my kids with their homework. It was a trip of a lifetime for them. This year shortly after spring break we buried my father. Since his passing my kids, especially my youngest, routinely speaks of this trip and how much fun he had with his grandpa. Priceless memories for my kids.

This year my cousin is getting married in Colombia, South America and we are going. They'll miss 7 days of school and I'll deal with any school administrator. In addition to losing my father my mother in law passed away 5 weeks before him. Life is too short and I want to make memories with my family and minimize the regrets.

I've noticed the last 3 days of school my kids don't learn much, if any. I was there volunteering for 1/2 day two of those days this year. They had 1/2 day field day and then a school assembly on Monday, cleaned the classroom for part of the day on Tuesday, and an end-of-school party on Wed (last day of school) which is only a half-day. There was also time for year book signing. My kids had fun, and I want them to help clean-up. However, I would consider taking them out of school for a vacation if they didn't want to go to school those 3 days. Can't imagine them wanting to miss the last 3 days, but it wouldn't have hindered their acedmic learning.

Jean

The last two years I've taken my kids out of school the Tuesday after Memorial Day to extend our vacation and to miss the traffic jam going home Monday afternoon/evening. That's the only day I do it. The kids are in elementary school. I won't take them out once they reach middle school.

A couple of families in my daughter's class take their kids out of school the three days prior to Thanksgiving for vacation. We have early dismissal (go to school 3 hrs instead of 6.5)due to parent/teacher conferences. Those parents feel there isn't much teaching and learning being done anyway. I think the kids do learn during those days.

Last year, a parent in my son's class was taken out the 2nd and 3rd week of school for a family vacation. It was a lot of work for the teacher and parent volunteers (I'm one of the volunteers) to try and get the student caught up. There were some things we couldn't help him make-up.

Jean

Things have changed a lot. In 1974 (I was 13) my parents sold everything, bought a Vista Cruiser and a 30ft. Aalite and traveled for a year around the U.S. and Canada. I left after 7th grade, and came back in time for 9th grade. They were both registered teachers in Michigan and I guess Pop was able to get me approved for high school.

Best year of my life.

While we take the kids' education VERY seriously, I have no problem pulling them for a couple days, or even a week, should the occasion arise if it is a special trip.
Kids can gt their assignments and do them while they are away.
Never cought any flack from the schoold either. Not even sure what the policy is, howver my kids don't typically EVER miss school. Theya re not sickly thank god and are taught how important attendanc is, just like work when they grow up.

Pulled the kids about 4 weeks early from the end of the year this year due to moving to AK. School was out already when we arrived up here. No issue with their previous school doing this.
Both are good students though, so tht may factor in to the school's "enforcement", I dunno.
I look at it this way. Lots of kids (and adults) miss tons of school (or work) becasue they are sick. Either legitmately or they are partially being lazy. If my kids make it to school every day I say they have to save for the odd sick day here and there (like 1-2 per year maybe) then they have attended enough to afford a little time off.
Family time is very important and also very hard to generate with busy schedules, 60+hr work weeks EVERY week, and out of town work. It needs to be taken when the opportunity areises,IMO.