Am I the only one in the world who thinks it's not "okay" to

I agree. I think people don't realize the importance of education and how hard it is to teach our children today about the time involved in something so important.

A movie can be seen anytime!

I cherish the memories I have of my Mom letting me take a day off school so we could go to the movies and shopping and out to lunch. That's a priceless memory and made me feel so special. I got to talk to her one on one without my Dad or brother around. I'm sure I didn't miss anything spectacular from the stellar public school education system. We probably did that once a school year from when I was about 10 or so on up.

I don't think anyone should judge someone else's parenting. No one wins.

And I did just fine in life, went to a highly accredited university, had a full time job before I graduated, 32 and already own my 2nd home. Happy, successful and healthy fully-functioning adult! lol

If they are doing it often, like every month, then no. But I think a break is good every now and again. 

Sometimes making memories that you will always have is more important than sitting in a classroom all day. As long as it's not a regular thing I see nothing wrong with it.

I also will never forget the day that my mom, grandma, aunt and cousin came to school shortly before lunch time and pulled me out for the day. We went to lunch, we went shopping, and had an overall amazing day. I still have a picture of that day framed and on my desk. It reminds me to stop and cherish moments. Shortly after that day my aunt was diagnosed with lung cancer and she didn't last long after that.

I agree with you.

It raises adults who think it is okay to take off from work for every little whim.

I work with these a$$holes, and have to cover their shifts when, "OMG! Like, totally, Black Friday shopping! Can't work that day."

Yeah, you're probably right.

Mine was an knee-jerk, emotional response due to my own recent experiences.

I am so hoping for a peatlejuice. I am a bad person and drama llama, I know. But it's rainy and I'm sitting around...

My kids don't even go to school, they are home schooled. Somehow this low stress, few deadlines environment has not produced shiftless entitled losers. My oldest is doing great in community college classes and other put side classes, my youngest is a very driven ballet dancer who manages her time very well. I see nothing wrong with missing a day for a special treat.

Meh. Sometimes family memories are more important than school.

It's nobody else's business. It's the parent's choice and no one else should get a say.

I know someone whose son was allowed do this with his grandparents (clearing it with mom and dad first). Will he remember what he learned in school that day ten years from now, or even a year from now? But he will always remember doing this special thing with his grandparents.

Speaking as a mom and as someone who has taught, if it's not something done on a regular basis, I think outside activities sometimes trump school.

ETA: I think saying doing this occasionally has resulted in a generation of self-centered workmates is a sweeping generalization. Of what I have observed, the child mentioned above is very responsible in every other area of his life. I think those who grow up with a 'me me me' mindset had other things going on in their lives than being occasionally allowed to miss school for a fun event.

I doubt you are the "only one in the world" that feels this way, but honestly, without knowing the age of the child and a little about the family I really don't have any feelings about the situation.

I'm the parent who makes dentist and optometrist appointments on school breaks so they don't have to miss school. On the other hand, I didn't hesitate to pull them from school to go to a theme park with visiting cousins. 

I have lots of issues with things like this, but one of my biggest things is this scenario: Your kid is plugging away, making good grades and has good attendance. So you decide one day to take him or her out of school for a movie or a concert or other event -- after all, he or she is doing great in school and hasn't missed a day. A month or so later, the kid gets sick and misses several days. Then he or she is behind, plus they now have an "extra" absence that they wouldn't have had if you hadn't used school time to do things that can be done outside of school. Not to mention that it may affect whether or not he or she can exempt exams come finals time. My DS had food poisoning and was out for two days a few weeks ago, and then had another stomach issue so was out for another day. He now has to take two exams that he wouldn't have had to take otherwise if he hadn't missed those three days (these were legitimate absences, but that is still something to consider). His band director had everyone play their music and resat the band by chairs, and in situations where it was too close to call, he factored in attendance among other things. My BFF teaches dual credit in high school and attendance is a part of his students' grades.

Attendance DOES matter, whether you think it's important or not.

We go places and do things and have lots of fun. But my kids go to school unless they have a fever or have vomiting or diarrhea. My DS went to see Soundgarden and Alice in Chains in Houston on weekdays with DH on two separate occasions. He got up and went to school the next day, because that was the deal. It is possible to do both.

I have to disagree. I think you can do it. The rule when growing up was if your grades were kept up and you didn't get in trouble at school,we were allowed 1 day a semester to take off. Sometimes my mom would let us opt out of a field trip and instead stay home.
I think some of my favorite childhood memories and best days were when it was just my mom and I because it never happened otherwise. Some days we stayed home and watched game shows other days it was a special shopping trip or a movie.

I think if done responsibly it's not a bad thing.
Quite honestly, especially around the holidays I know there are too many days were it's an easy activity or movie day. I don't think a child missing one day of school is going to derail their education.

This is one of those topics that it just comes down to parenting decisions/choices. I am of the school of thought that says if I want to allow my child to miss a day of school for a random reason, I should be allowed to make that decision without being judged. I would like to think that I would be allowed the benefit of the doubt, that people would assume that I weighed the options, took grades, attitudes and school commitments into account and determined that it was okay to allow my child to miss a day.

Because that is what would have happened-and does. I just allowed my youngest to miss two days of school to go to the beach with his friend and their family. 

This particular kid has a 4.3 GPA in all Honors and AP classes, an A in a dual enrollment class. He takes his school work seriously, and had a plan to ensure that any missed work was done in a timely manner. We struck a deal for those two days and keeping his grades up and he has fulfilled that obligation.

I could have just as easily taken him out of school for a movie marathon, or to out to lunch or whatever. I have no issues with it.

*shrug* I don't think it is teaching him a wrong lesson (see the aforementioned grades) about working hard or following through with obligations.