Moms&Dads: Opinions/Experiences on taking the kids out of school to go to Europe
Apr 13th, 2005, 04:44 PM
#41
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BTilke, the statement that we no longer live in an agricultural society is not true. You may live in an area where there aren't any farms, but I can assure you that there are plenty of families and people working very hard in some areas of this country providing
food for all.
My husband is a dairy farmer and we are surrounded in PA with much beautiful farmland. I can tell you with certainty that a year round school year
would hurt our county.
I realize that my reply is off the subject a little, but I feel that it is important to recognize the families that work so hard to feed us all.
It amazes me soemtimes that people do not realize where there food comes from. When I lived in NYC I was in a grocery store and I overheard a woman talking to her friend about "farmers going on strike" she mentioned that it would not bother her because she buys her vegetables from a can. HUH? I just could not believe what I was hearing. Scary.
food for all.
My husband is a dairy farmer and we are surrounded in PA with much beautiful farmland. I can tell you with certainty that a year round school year
would hurt our county.
I realize that my reply is off the subject a little, but I feel that it is important to recognize the families that work so hard to feed us all.
It amazes me soemtimes that people do not realize where there food comes from. When I lived in NYC I was in a grocery store and I overheard a woman talking to her friend about "farmers going on strike" she mentioned that it would not bother her because she buys her vegetables from a can. HUH? I just could not believe what I was hearing. Scary.
Apr 13th, 2005, 05:09 PM
#42
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I haven't had a chance to read the other full link but as a teach (high school) I would like to put my two cents (one day's pay) in.
Most teachers don't mind if students are taken out for family vacations. What I resent is (and I guess it's the parents' right) to just tell us they are doing it. We can put down approve or disapprove but that wouldn't stop anyone. It would be nice if the parents contacted us and asked about make-up work. They don't. They just tell us they are doing it.
By the way, I don't know of any school that loses money when kids are not there. We have to do a count by a certain day in November but if a student is out for a week or so (excused) there are no problems with $$.
Most teachers don't mind if students are taken out for family vacations. What I resent is (and I guess it's the parents' right) to just tell us they are doing it. We can put down approve or disapprove but that wouldn't stop anyone. It would be nice if the parents contacted us and asked about make-up work. They don't. They just tell us they are doing it.
By the way, I don't know of any school that loses money when kids are not there. We have to do a count by a certain day in November but if a student is out for a week or so (excused) there are no problems with $$.
Apr 13th, 2005, 05:14 PM
#44
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joelleninitaly, I would never want to piss you off and you certainly can take your kids where and when you want. Just don't ask their teacher, administrator to give your kids extra work, special attention or whatever to make sure they still have their 4.0 or blame the teacher when they don't. In addition, I won't go chasing after students to get their make-up work done. You took the responsibility to go away, you take the responsibility to make up the work.
Apr 13th, 2005, 07:02 PM
#45
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I'm somewhat surprised how few people mention the difference between taking the kids for a week in Andalucia and experiencing another culture as opposed to taking them out of school for a week for say -- a trip to the beach in Florida, or a skiing trip in Aspen.
I agree about the idea of doing trip reports and journals, and it is the responsiblility of the parents to make sure it is a "learning" trip as well as for fun.
Some of the brightest kids I know are totally home schooled, but their good education, of course, depends on what their parents are doing with them.
I agree about the idea of doing trip reports and journals, and it is the responsiblility of the parents to make sure it is a "learning" trip as well as for fun.
Some of the brightest kids I know are totally home schooled, but their good education, of course, depends on what their parents are doing with them.
Apr 13th, 2005, 07:39 PM
#46
In KY school funding is based on daily attendance so it does matter whether they are there or not. Most school districts in the state have very strict absentee policies as a result. Usually parent excuses/notes are only allowed for a couple of days per semester. More than 2 days in some districts and you must have a doctor's excuse. If you are tardy 3 times it equals an unexcused absence. Nine tardies and the parent is called in and 15 you are in court before a judge. All unexcused absences equal zeros for grades and no makeup work is allowed.
Private schools in my area are more flexible for travel purposes.
Private schools in my area are more flexible for travel purposes.
Apr 13th, 2005, 09:32 PM
#47
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My son's school is extremely strict re taking children out of school in term time.In spite of my fear of the headmaster...I took my son to Europe last July. He missed 10 days of school.
His teacher's and house master all said they could not get over how much my son got out of our trip. His history and Art improved dramatically...
His teacher's and house master all said they could not get over how much my son got out of our trip. His history and Art improved dramatically...
Apr 13th, 2005, 10:39 PM
#48
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I vote "YES!" I hope your school is OK with it, because I think it would be a marvelous experience.
My father was able to take a teaching sabbatical when I was young and our whole family had a wonderful trip to Europe that we still talk about constantly. I came back enthused to learn more about history, languages and different cultures. It was also helpful to me to realize that I didn't have to fit into the American teen "mold" of the time. We were fortunate to have a supportive school but did do lots of homework and projects.
Good luck!
My father was able to take a teaching sabbatical when I was young and our whole family had a wonderful trip to Europe that we still talk about constantly. I came back enthused to learn more about history, languages and different cultures. It was also helpful to me to realize that I didn't have to fit into the American teen "mold" of the time. We were fortunate to have a supportive school but did do lots of homework and projects.
Good luck!
Apr 14th, 2005, 05:35 AM
#49
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"It would be nice if the parents contacted us and asked about make-up work. They don't. They just tell us they are doing it."
Okay, but then someone else says "don't expect me to give them make up work"
Of course I told the teachers about the trip to Europe and they all decided my kids were doing well enough they didn't even have to do make up work--they simply said have a nice trip. I thought it would have been nice if my kids had to do a journal or project or something but God forbid I should give the teahers extra work by having to read them.
My daughter has been in the same school district since 4th grade, they know her and she misses about 5 or 6 days a year just for figure skating. I simply call the day before.
I guess we just have better relations with our teachers around here. Nobody gets put out by it.
If anyone threatened to haul me into court for my kids missing too much school, I'd homeschool them in a minute. Guess then they'd lose some money.
JOelle
Okay, but then someone else says "don't expect me to give them make up work"
Of course I told the teachers about the trip to Europe and they all decided my kids were doing well enough they didn't even have to do make up work--they simply said have a nice trip. I thought it would have been nice if my kids had to do a journal or project or something but God forbid I should give the teahers extra work by having to read them.
My daughter has been in the same school district since 4th grade, they know her and she misses about 5 or 6 days a year just for figure skating. I simply call the day before.
I guess we just have better relations with our teachers around here. Nobody gets put out by it.
If anyone threatened to haul me into court for my kids missing too much school, I'd homeschool them in a minute. Guess then they'd lose some money.
JOelle
Apr 14th, 2005, 07:22 AM
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This is well worth doing. The relationship between teacher or teachers and parent/parents is essential when going about this agenda.
In my experience, except for some very special testing times, most schools will work with you if given some good dialog. One professor I know took two grandkids for A MONTH all over Europe and webcam'ed daily reports back to the school video system in La Grange IL. Talk about getting everyone on the same page! Everybody won, big time. Hats off to her, because it was actually difficult, and with the journals and work that they had to submit with the video- it was better than any class would have been in that same time period. There are lessons in diplomacy that can be learned as a parent, as well, planning and soliciting teacher help in doing this.
And dsm22, do I hear you!
Coming from a big city (mid-city too) Chicago and living true urban for the first half of my life, I am still floored by essentially intelligent USA adults who just take their food for granted. Period! As a GIVEN! And have known nothing but affordable, plentiful, nutritous, year-round, and abundant choices for their entire lives, and in almost infinite variety.
In the recent gas/oil price "discussions" I can not comment at all, avoid the whole subject. It's because they think it is all about commuting/cars etc. They have no idea of what energy resources it takes to grow food, harvest it, package or process it in a health safe way, and lastly to transport it to where they live. And FAST, so it is a fresh as the proverbial daisy. Every week I see the trucks in line bumper to bumper for almost 100 miles going around the Great Lakes, and there is no end to the line that I can ever see. Thank you and all of your associates, be they family farms or huge corporate run district farms. It still takes people, physical work, long hours, and being in sync with mother nature. You are and always will be the real backbone of North America. And I don't get summer off, school is "on" entire year for me- so I have no ax to grind because I want to keep summer "free time". Probably some districts could use the year around plan, especially on the coasts or cities with huge immigrant populations. It frees up resources and space for better student/teacher ratios.
In my experience, except for some very special testing times, most schools will work with you if given some good dialog. One professor I know took two grandkids for A MONTH all over Europe and webcam'ed daily reports back to the school video system in La Grange IL. Talk about getting everyone on the same page! Everybody won, big time. Hats off to her, because it was actually difficult, and with the journals and work that they had to submit with the video- it was better than any class would have been in that same time period. There are lessons in diplomacy that can be learned as a parent, as well, planning and soliciting teacher help in doing this.
And dsm22, do I hear you!
Coming from a big city (mid-city too) Chicago and living true urban for the first half of my life, I am still floored by essentially intelligent USA adults who just take their food for granted. Period! As a GIVEN! And have known nothing but affordable, plentiful, nutritous, year-round, and abundant choices for their entire lives, and in almost infinite variety.
In the recent gas/oil price "discussions" I can not comment at all, avoid the whole subject. It's because they think it is all about commuting/cars etc. They have no idea of what energy resources it takes to grow food, harvest it, package or process it in a health safe way, and lastly to transport it to where they live. And FAST, so it is a fresh as the proverbial daisy. Every week I see the trucks in line bumper to bumper for almost 100 miles going around the Great Lakes, and there is no end to the line that I can ever see. Thank you and all of your associates, be they family farms or huge corporate run district farms. It still takes people, physical work, long hours, and being in sync with mother nature. You are and always will be the real backbone of North America. And I don't get summer off, school is "on" entire year for me- so I have no ax to grind because I want to keep summer "free time". Probably some districts could use the year around plan, especially on the coasts or cities with huge immigrant populations. It frees up resources and space for better student/teacher ratios.
Apr 14th, 2005, 08:11 AM
#51
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As a teacher, I have to weigh in on this issue. I agree that a trip to another culture has great educational value for kids. It's always important to realize that education is about an entire life's worth of knowledge and experience, not the specific coursework from one subject area during one year.
I teach high school in an area with many immigrant families who often take extended yearly vacations of 2 or 3 weeks to visit their home countries. The airfare to, say, India is so expensive for the entire family that they want to stay longer to make it worthwhile. For so many of my kids, if they are good students, these trips are excellent learning experiences. Most of them end up writing about their trips and their experiences with their families' cultures for their college application essays. They are enriched as people and citizens of the world by travel in a way that 2 weeks in a classroom can never match.
I remember JoelleinItaly's descriptions of her trip with her kids, and it sounded like a wonderful experience for the kids (and they seemed to take full advantage of it.)
I will always support a trip for a student who maintains good grades, and I don't mind the extra work because it is usually more interesting to grade. I do resent the implication in some of these postings that teachers are too lazy to do the extra work for one student. I regularly have anywhere from 140 to 190 students per year. In the world of No Child Left Behind and high stakes testing, I have to make sure every student is ready for standardized tests, challenge those who are high-achieving, plan and facilitate accomodations for students with special needs, attend mandatory training for all of this, grade hundreds of papers, oh yes, and teach all day. I'm not complaining: I love my job and I want the best for my kids. But...if a teacher is slow to give specialized assignments, try to understand that every year seems to bring more pressures with all of the focus on test scores in times of limited resources. Sure, there are lousy, lazy teachers out there, but most of us are just people who love learning and kids, trying to do our best in situations that aren't always ideal. The good ones do want to work with you for the success of your child, even if they falter sometimes because of the pressure.
BTW- I love the idea of year-round school in areas that are not agricultural. By the end of the summer, I miss the classroom so much I start teaching strangers on the street
I teach high school in an area with many immigrant families who often take extended yearly vacations of 2 or 3 weeks to visit their home countries. The airfare to, say, India is so expensive for the entire family that they want to stay longer to make it worthwhile. For so many of my kids, if they are good students, these trips are excellent learning experiences. Most of them end up writing about their trips and their experiences with their families' cultures for their college application essays. They are enriched as people and citizens of the world by travel in a way that 2 weeks in a classroom can never match.
I remember JoelleinItaly's descriptions of her trip with her kids, and it sounded like a wonderful experience for the kids (and they seemed to take full advantage of it.)
I will always support a trip for a student who maintains good grades, and I don't mind the extra work because it is usually more interesting to grade. I do resent the implication in some of these postings that teachers are too lazy to do the extra work for one student. I regularly have anywhere from 140 to 190 students per year. In the world of No Child Left Behind and high stakes testing, I have to make sure every student is ready for standardized tests, challenge those who are high-achieving, plan and facilitate accomodations for students with special needs, attend mandatory training for all of this, grade hundreds of papers, oh yes, and teach all day. I'm not complaining: I love my job and I want the best for my kids. But...if a teacher is slow to give specialized assignments, try to understand that every year seems to bring more pressures with all of the focus on test scores in times of limited resources. Sure, there are lousy, lazy teachers out there, but most of us are just people who love learning and kids, trying to do our best in situations that aren't always ideal. The good ones do want to work with you for the success of your child, even if they falter sometimes because of the pressure.
BTW- I love the idea of year-round school in areas that are not agricultural. By the end of the summer, I miss the classroom so much I start teaching strangers on the street
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