marimoose
Pearl Clutcher
Posts: 3,282
Jul 22, 2014 2:10:14 GMT
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Post by marimoose on Dec 16, 2014 19:07:50 GMT
Sometimes people and family and relationships and time together are far more valuable than any individual day spent in a classroom. And life is so fleeting. So unless it is actually irresponsible parenting and a regular problem then I don't see the need to worry about what other people do about days off from school. Like, like, like. You are very wise:)
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Post by pretzels on Dec 16, 2014 19:08:39 GMT
There are policies and then there is common sense. When I decide to take a vacation day just to chill or whatever, I look at our work schedule and take it when we're not busy and there aren't events. I have a co-worker who decides he is going to take a day on Tuesday, no matter if there are a ton of events or not. By God, it's his day to take and that's that. I get that, and yes, it's his right, but it's also the rest of our rights to openly despise him for putting the team through super-stress just because. It's just a difference in priorities. For you, the team/work comes first. For others (me), my personal plans would probably come first. I wouldn't take time off for the purpose of being an ass, but if there was something I really wanted to do or if we had family plans I wouldn't feel a bit of guilt about taking time off when I have time off available. I will clarify: These aren't days when he has family things or kid things or anything to do. It's just a mental health day. It's gotten to where none of us will mention, "Hey, in two weeks, we have a really busy day," because every time someone does that, he inevitably wants to take a personal day. (Sometimes he does it when no one mentions it, but it just seemed that every time someone commented, he took a day.)
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uksue
Pearl Clutcher
Posts: 2,505
Location: London
Jun 25, 2014 22:33:20 GMT
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Post by uksue on Dec 16, 2014 19:09:47 GMT
My mum did this once a year at Christmas. My mum sister and me would go into the nearest large town and have shop, see Father Christmas and have lunch. We weren't well off so this was a massive treat. She couldn't take school holidays off so it was our on,y opportunity. One year we missed the Christmas treat due to illness, and instead we did it just before the Easter break.
I wouldn't habitually take my children out of school and never book holidays in school term but the occasional day does no harm in my opinion .
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Deleted
Posts: 0
Jun 2, 2024 8:41:43 GMT
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Post by Deleted on Dec 16, 2014 19:11:13 GMT
Whenever I start to wonder about how other people make decisions like this I remember the time my mom took us out of school for the entire day to go for a drive in my grandpas big RV. It was his last day visiting us and we desperately wanted to be in it when it was moving. He picked us up from school and we just drove around in it. It was a great time. I never saw my grandfather again. He died at the young age of 59 from a brain aneurysm. Sometimes people and family and relationships and time together are far more valuable than any individual day spent in a classroom. And life is so fleeting. So unless it is actually irresponsible parenting and a regular problem then I don't see the need to worry about what other people do about days off from school. Darn it. I was having a perfectly fine day and you had to go and choke me up. That's so awesome. I'm glad you have that very special memory.
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raindancer
Pearl Clutcher
Posts: 3,095
Jun 26, 2014 20:10:29 GMT
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Post by raindancer on Dec 16, 2014 19:13:36 GMT
Whenever I start to wonder about how other people make decisions like this I remember the time my mom took us out of school for the entire day to go for a drive in my grandpas big RV. It was his last day visiting us and we desperately wanted to be in it when it was moving. He picked us up from school and we just drove around in it. It was a great time. I never saw my grandfather again. He died at the young age of 59 from a brain aneurysm. Sometimes people and family and relationships and time together are far more valuable than any individual day spent in a classroom. And life is so fleeting. So unless it is actually irresponsible parenting and a regular problem then I don't see the need to worry about what other people do about days off from school. Darn it. I was having a perfectly fine day and you had to go and choke me up. That's so awesome. I'm glad you have that very special memory. Me too. I was only 7 years old and so I have very few memories of him. But he made sure they were really special and good. And my mom helped make sure that we had a chance to make those memories. I don't know what I missed that day in second grade, but I think it was not nearly as important as what we did do.
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Post by kimmie75 on Dec 16, 2014 19:21:42 GMT
I think as a once in a while treat, it's a special idea. I wish my mom had done that. There's plenty of days for school. Making a memory that lasts forever with your child is significant. They will never forget it.
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Deleted
Posts: 0
Jun 2, 2024 8:41:43 GMT
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Post by Deleted on Dec 16, 2014 19:59:03 GMT
I let my kids miss school several times a year for horse shows. They are both straight A students, so I see no problem with it at all.
I think the parents should have the final say, as long as school work doesn't suffer and grades are maintained at a level agreed to by both parent and student. Number of days doesn't matter in most things, I think. So much is done online anyway. My 7th grader tells me most of her teachers just assign them stuff to read and then do online worksheets, very little actual teaching or interaction with the teacher on a day to day basis, unless the student has a question or needs help. Sometimes I wonder why we just don't go to an all online school.
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Post by alittleintrepid on Dec 16, 2014 20:03:54 GMT
I think it depends on the kid. My son would totally get the wrong idea and my daughter probably wouldn't want to miss her social time with her friends. My niece would live it and would naked sure she was caught up on any missed schoolwork.
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Post by JustCallMeMommy on Dec 16, 2014 20:18:40 GMT
I'll let you in on a secret - sometimes, I take a day off work to have fun. I do think school comes before almost anything. One of those things that sometimes comes ahead is family bonding time. We just all need a break from time to time. That said, it would have to be a really special movie marathon (perhaps a favorite shared book trilogy or heptology) and a one-time only opportunity not offered on the weekend.
There are also certain days when I think being out of school is as meaningful as being in school. For instance, those last few days before a break are often spent watching movies and cleaning classrooms, according to DD.
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Post by Yubon Peatlejuice on Dec 16, 2014 20:20:11 GMT
Depends on the movie marathon.
I assume you are talking about The Hobbit. Heck yeah. I would keep my kid out of school for that if he wanted to see it and was old enough.
But for a Rambo marathon? Nope.
My Mom let me stay home when Luke & Laura got married and I suffered no ill effects that I know of.
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Deleted
Posts: 0
Jun 2, 2024 8:41:43 GMT
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Post by Deleted on Dec 16, 2014 20:27:31 GMT
As a child and teen who worked really, really hard in school, my mother gave me the occasional "mental health" day from school. Usually once a year. As an adult who works really, really hard at work, I give myself the occasional mental health day from work. The responsibility part becomes really important when it's time to catch up on the day that was missed. If my child was able to take a day off and get back up to speed without compromising their education, then I have absolutely no problem with this. Yes, their education is their "job" and primary responsibility. On the other hand, life is so much more than learning to work hard. ITA. I remember reading somewhere that even kids need a "mental health" day. Adults need one occasionally, why shouldn't a kid? I gave my kids one a year. When my dd hit high school, she said she didn't want to miss school unless she was really sick because so much is missed in one day; so it wasn't worth it to her. My ds took his back on October, but I suspect when he goes to high school next year he might feel the same as dd.
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Deleted
Posts: 0
Jun 2, 2024 8:41:43 GMT
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Post by Deleted on Dec 16, 2014 20:45:18 GMT
I just don't understand why some people feel the need to judge other parents over stuff like this.
If a parent wants to take their kid out of school for a day, it's their prerogative.
And even with all the vacations built into the school year, sometimes it's better for that family, in their unique situation, to go on a planned outing during a school day or days.
I want to bring my son to Disneyworld. I have hyperhidrosis (excessive sweating) and hate huge crowds, so we're bringing him when it's the coolest and has the smallest crowds. We're going in February 2016. It's what's best for our family. There's no way I'm spending thousands of dollars and going at a time when it would be miserable for us (summer), or going on spring break when it's at capacity level crowds.
Judge all you want. But it's not going to change our decision to do what's best for our family next year.
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Post by Tamhugh on Dec 16, 2014 21:01:12 GMT
It raises adults who think it is okay to take off from work for every little whim. We took our kids out of school for family vacations, and occasionally allowed them to take a day off for special things. My oldest has been at his jobs since 2 weeks after he graduated college (2 1/2 years ago). Last month he lost 3 of his personal/vacation days because his work year turned over and he hadn't taken them. They would have been paid days and he felt bad taking off. I don't think that he learned a bad lesson from his days off in school.
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Post by sues on Dec 16, 2014 21:05:17 GMT
Generally speaking, school comes first, for us. But that doesn't mean I don't reserve the right to pull the kids out for vacation or something I deem important. Sometimes- you have to do what you have to do. As long as we're willing to accept the consequences and the make up work- no one should complain. I've never asked anyone to do extra work in order to help us take the kids out of school. When I was teaching, I used to have parents ask me for a full week of lesson plans and homework in advance so the kid could do it on the plane. Ummm- no. I did let my son take off one day to see Shrek with us, the week it came out (maybe Shrek 2?). BUT- it was the day DS's class was going on an 'ice skating field trip' which was a reward for doing some fundraising related thing. DS didn't know how to skate and he was worried he'd be made fun of- and he didn't want to go. I asked what the plan was, for the kids who didn't go ice skating, and was brusquely told they would do busy work all day in the library. Whaaat? That didn't even make sense. So ice skating day- we called him in and took him to the movies and out to lunch. It was a really nice day. Would other parents agree with me, on either count? I don't know. But then- I don't care.
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Post by crimsoncat05 on Dec 16, 2014 21:07:07 GMT
If I knew a theater around here was doing a marathon of these movies, I would have totally gone, too! I don't have kids, but my two cents is on the side of 'personal experiences are more important than school, as long as school isn't suffering). My parents never did anything like that with me, that I recall, but it would have been a really special experience if they had, for sure.
ETA: and for the poster who said she has a co-worker who takes off work when it sounds like things will be busy, he just sounds like a slacker / jerk. There's plenty of them out there, whether their parents ever let them skip school or not.
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Post by Darcy Collins on Dec 16, 2014 21:30:07 GMT
Bad Mom checking in - - I picked my kids up early for the final Harry Potter movie release. At least when they're no good slackers, they'll know who to blame.
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Post by monklady123 on Dec 16, 2014 21:42:20 GMT
Well... I'm the one who let my high-school age dd have a friend sleep over on the night before Prince William got married, which was a school night. Then I let dd (and friend, whose mom agreed to it) miss several periods of school that morning. They got up very early (because of the time difference), drank tea and ate scones, and had a blast oohing and ahing over Kate's dress, the cute kids in the procession, and most of all the kiss on the balcony. Then they went to school where they were very tired for the rest of the day. lol Both are now college sophomores, both on the Dean's List, and loving college.
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Post by cadoodlebug on Dec 16, 2014 21:47:59 GMT
Never took my DS out of school and trust me when I say he has plenty of wonderful memories to last him a lifetime. But that's me ~ I'm not going to judge another parent. But I knew women who would take their high school daughters to breakfast quite frequently on a school day and they would saunter in mid first period. That was a big no-no and rude to me. ETA: Forgot to mention that DS missed one day of school in 17 years ~ K through college. He was proud of that record and probably wouldn't have let me take him out.
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Deleted
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Jun 2, 2024 8:41:43 GMT
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Post by Deleted on Dec 16, 2014 22:29:49 GMT
But I knew women who would take their high school daughters to breakfast quite frequently on a school day and they would saunter in mid first period. That was a big no-no and rude to me. OT--When I was in high school, we were allowed 17 absences. As long as we were in school before 2nd period, there was no call home, just a marked tardy. I remember my senior year having 15-16 absences in my first period because my friends and I would skip and go out to breakfast (and then a few "real" sick days throughout the year). I knew not to reach that max absent number. My mom never caught that on my report card. FWIW, I still graduated high in my class.
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Dani-Mani
Pearl Clutcher
Posts: 3,706
Jun 28, 2014 17:36:35 GMT
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Post by Dani-Mani on Dec 16, 2014 22:32:02 GMT
As an educator, this wouldn't bother me on bit. We all need a mental health day, kids included.
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Post by peano on Dec 16, 2014 22:53:43 GMT
Glancing quickly over this thread has made me vow to surprise DS by taking him out of school for a surprise outing after the holidays. I've only got 3 1/2 more years of him at home.
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Deleted
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Jun 2, 2024 8:41:43 GMT
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Post by Deleted on Dec 16, 2014 22:55:53 GMT
Depends on the kid. My daughter (now a junior in college?) was always on top of her studies, got really good grades and was basically an all around "good kid." If this was something that she wanted to do back in high school? I'd have allowed it.
My son? He has a terrible time in school, just in general. So this would not be something I'd ever consider for him. He too is a "good kid" but he needs to be in school every second possible.
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MizIndependent
Drama Llama
Quit your bullpoop.
Posts: 5,836
Jun 25, 2014 19:43:16 GMT
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Post by MizIndependent on Dec 16, 2014 23:01:48 GMT
You know, if our children were getting anything even resembling a "good education", I'd probably agree with you. As it is, they can complete the weekly packet and hand it in on Friday without missing a beat. I vote for the movie marathon/family lifetime memories.
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Sarah*H
Pearl Clutcher
Posts: 3,983
Jun 25, 2014 20:07:06 GMT
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Post by Sarah*H on Dec 16, 2014 23:21:19 GMT
Our school district allows kids to miss 5 days for vacation and my attitude is that if the school allows it, it's no one else's business whether we choose to go to Disney in November or July. I tend to get my back up very quickly in response to judgmental busy body attitudes though. As a parent, I reserve the right to make the right decisions for MY kids whether that means missing a day of school for a Hobbit marathon or a trip to Valley Forge. I think most of us have enough of our own issues to deal with that there is no need to get up on a high horse about something like this.
ETA: I want to add that after missing 5 days for Disney in November, my daughter did get sick on the way home and missed an additional 2 days. She made up all 7 days of work, including tests, by her 2nd day back at school. I'm not saying it's all busy work but there is a whole lot of time spent on test prep these days, especially at the elementary school level.
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Post by cadoodlebug on Dec 16, 2014 23:30:29 GMT
But I knew women who would take their high school daughters to breakfast quite frequently on a school day and they would saunter in mid first period. That was a big no-no and rude to me. OT--When I was in high school, we were allowed 17 absences. As long as we were in school before 2nd period, there was no call home, just a marked tardy. I remember my senior year having 15-16 absences in my first period because my friends and I would skip and go out to breakfast (and then a few "real" sick days throughout the year). I knew not to reach that max absent number. My mom never caught that on my report card. FWIW, I still graduated high in my class. These days a call is made to the home if the parent has not called in. My point was more that these girls were constantly interrupting class by walking in in the middle of the class. And unlike the work place, I doubt that these days kids are *given* so many *allowed* absences. Maybe I'm wrong. With school funding based on a kid being at school, our district frowns on unexcused absences.
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Post by scrappingbuckeye on Dec 16, 2014 23:31:07 GMT
I'm a believer that sometimes spending time together is more important than school. Just like laundry school will still be there when you go back. That being said I would not let my child miss an important day at school, the week before break is usually pretty low key so yea I'd take my kid out for a movie marathon if it were important to them. I don't let them skip regularly, but every now and then I think is okay. I do plan on taking my son out of school early to go see The Avengers on May 1st
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Post by Pahina722 on Dec 16, 2014 23:41:00 GMT
As an educator (not high school any more, but DH is), I think what parents think is a great family bonding time is a huge pain in the ass for the classroom teacher. Every time a kid misses, the teacher has to gather and/or create makeup work, schedule makeup tests before or after school and deal with late assignments. Teachers are the ones who have to hound the kids about makeup work and deal with the drama when the kid doesn't make up missed assignments and then has a bad grade.
With an average of 25 kids per class and two or three absent every day . . . How does that impact the teacher, and, as a result, the remaining students in class? Days before major holidays are even worse, with sometime half the class missing. It's so bad that many teachers give up planning any serious work for those days since they know they'll have to teach it again for all those who parents took their kids out of school early.
Kids get plenty of mental health days during the year: field trips and half days, pep rallies and plays, musical performances and federal holidays.
Yes, I'm getting snarky, but I've just finished with my grading for the semester, much of which was trying to deal with all the makeup or missing work from college students who just had to miss class for their boyfriend's sister's mother's hernia surgery.
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Post by Aheartfeltcard on Dec 17, 2014 0:01:51 GMT
I agree with you.
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Post by myshelly on Dec 17, 2014 0:05:13 GMT
As an educator (not high school any more, but DH is), I think what parents think is a great family bonding time is a huge pain in the ass for the classroom teacher. Every time a kid misses, the teacher has to gather and/or create makeup work, schedule makeup tests before or after school and deal with late assignments. Teachers are the ones who have to hound the kids about makeup work and deal with the drama when the kid doesn't make up missed assignments and then has a bad grade. With an average of 25 kids per class and two or three absent every day . . . How does that impact the teacher, and, as a result, the remaining students in class? Days before major holidays are even worse, with sometime half the class missing. It's so bad that many teachers give up planning any serious work for those days since they know they'll have to teach it again for all those who parents took their kids out of school early. Kids get plenty of mental health days during the year: field trips and half days, pep rallies and plays, musical performances and federal holidays. Yes, I'm getting snarky, but I've just finished with my grading for the semester, much of which was trying to deal with all the makeup or missing work from college students who just had to miss class for their boyfriend's sister's mother's hernia surgery. Everyone has to deal with things that are a huge PITA at work. My DH is a teacher. He took off 7 days in September for our family DisneyWorld trip. It's the time that was best for our family to go.
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Post by pynke on Dec 17, 2014 0:09:12 GMT
I don't see a difference between taking off for a movie marathon or taking off for a vacation. Both fall into the entertainment/relaxation category.
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