I've read this thread with interest since I've been a teacher for 30 years. (How time flies!) I'm not in a classroom now, but I'm still in education. The only time our school turns out for the day is when the roads are impassable because of ice...we live in the southern U.S. so that doesn't happen very often. <BR>I think travel is very educational, and yes, probably a child will learn more on a Europe trip than sitting in a classroom for 3 weeks. Having said that, I must come to the defense of teachers across the nation. Parents insist on fairness, and hopefully, all teachers are fair. Therefore, when a student misses a test or homework, he must make it up in the same amount of time that all students are allotted. Otherwise, when little Johnny's parents come to see the teacher because their son made a bad grade due to not turning in homework or a test because he played hooky, those same parents would be the ones calling the school board when they find out that SOME children were allowed to miss three weeks of homework and tests and THEIR grades weren't lowered. <BR> It takes a lot of time to go over 15 days of class time with an individual student, and not many teachers or students have that much extra time. <BR> I'm not writing this to convince anybody not to take their child out of school for a vacation. Most teachers are bound by a school policy which they have no control over. If this is the case, it wouldn't be up to the individual teacher to decide whether or not to allow a student to make up work. OK, I'll quit rambling now - just had to add my two cents when I saw the message back on the screen. To the person who volunteers at her children's school: classroom teachers do NOT have an easy time, so let's not add to their burden by criticizing. <BR> <BR>Have a good time in Europe. <BR>

I truly hope you have a wonderful trip. I was also moved to read your reasons for going on the trip, and the sacrifices (extra work, stand-by etc) you are making. Please let us all know how it went. I am particularly interested in hearing your childrens' reactions to Normandy beaches and Paris as we are going there next summer.

Judy! Judy! Judy! (I really can do a pretty good Cary Grant) <BR> <BR> <BR>I had such good grades in Junior High and High School, that they made me a teachers aid for three years running. And believe me, I know! Some teachers 'pushed it all off' onto the aids and did VERY little, if anything! But, it IS a lot of work (being a teacher) with very little graditude, AND you have to put up with a whole lot of crap! I wanted to be a teacher. Then, after my eye-opening teachers aid experience, I wanted NO part of it! Classmates were constantly threatening, begging, and trying to bribe you into giving them a good grade (much like adults, huh?) A fifteen year old, VERY attractive female offered to let me see AND feel her out, if I would ONLY change her Final Test Score from an 'F' to an 'A' by filling in the correct answers. She pulled up her blouse and showed me her (bra-less) breasts and grabbed my hand and massaged herself, "...as a down payment," she said! She had 'F's all year, and she was suppossed to suddenly get an 'A"??? (O.K., so she ended up with one 'A' and I'm a tramp and now you all know it...Sorry Mr. Eignsen. WHAT? I was fourteen and only human!) I got so very sick of it all. It was disgusting how people behaved! And the amount of work!!! Sorting, correcting, grading, and recording. Then you had to do it all over again to get the next days worksheets, etc., ready for the students for tommorrow! It sucked, plain and simple!!! <BR> <BR> <BR>But, you want to know something Judy? It still beat the heck out of taking English again!!! <BR> <BR> <BR>Mr. "C" The Tramp

Ohhh, and by the way............now I am getting my 'just' reward (for my lack of scrupples and tramp-ish-ness), for I now have a fifteen year old daughter........that I worry about constantly (especially about her running into a boy like me/I was). AND Luckily, (for me) she does not read this forum! <BR> <BR>WHAT? <BR> <BR>I WAS FOURTEEN!

We have an 8th grader at middle school and a sophomore in high school. (A students, brag, brag) I think it is very difficult to have extended absences in high school if you are on a university prep track. I say take the kids now. <BR> <BR>Our schools frown on any absences because they receive funding based on per pupil attendance. However, we have travelled during the school year without too many problems. We are given packets of work for the child to complete during their absence. Guess what? There has been math homework and foreign language homework which looks like traditional schoolwork, but a lot of the other assignments are busy work. My feeling is it is more thought provoking and stimulating to keep a journal during a trip to Italy than it is to write an essay about your favorite pet or to be present on Bring Grandma to School Day. <BR> <BR>Perhaps there are books you could borrow from the school library on the places you will visit and your children could do projects or reports with the teachers approval? Most teachers welcome oral reports and if you steer your kids away from the usual gyp joint souveniers there are lots of interesting items to bring back and share. Think of the class discussion that could be generated by Itallian lira. I think there will be a lesson plan for art, history, math, economics, English (root words?),in even the most mundane objects. <BR> <BR>

Just happened across this thread while doing a search for something else... <BR>Reminded me of when I was in the 3rd grade (and my brother was in the 5th). My parents took us out of school for a month to live in Guatemala City, so that we could join my father who was doing research down there. Our teachers provided us both with a month's worth of homework and assignments and we set a period of time each day to study. <BR>We took the train from Michigan to New Orleans, then flew into Guatemala. I remember seeing smoking volcanoes as we entered the City... What a different world!!! It was an incredible experience for us! To experience something first hand, especially as a child, is priceless. I don't recall having any problems making up lessons upon my return, and I was able to tell my classmates all about my great adventure.