Thank you for sharing, it makes sense. In the event that if needed to, at one time due to emergency, I requested the lessons and tests needed to be worked on for the duration while my boys were out, I spent at least an hour to 2 to play catch up so by the time my boys were back to school, they really did not miss much or anything at all. Just in the same track as with the class. The teachers have lesson plans and with that, it helped a lot. I borrowed all the books for all the subjects. We did have some down time, and I utilize that to continue enforcing the lessons and it worked out. The boys were up to date as if they did not miss a class at all. It boils down to how you prioritize it and it really worked out for me.

Here's a recent article, referring to a study that shows learning suffers when class time is missed: www.dailygazette.com/news/2008/dec/28/1223_update/

A series of winter storms in 2003 closed schools in Maryland for several days. University researcher — and a parent — Dave E. Marcotte started wondering if all those days of lost learning would affect students’ test performance. The results of his investigation might surprise you — or maybe not.

Marcotte, with fellow U. of Maryland researcher Steven W. Hermelt, reviewed 20 years of state reading and mathematics test data to determine if missed school days due to snow days, teacher strikes or other unscheduled interruptions affected students’ scores. They did.

They found, according to an article in Education Week, that “in a year with five lost school days, the number of third-graders who met state proficiency targets was 3 percent lower than in years with no school closings.” In brief, student time on task is important to learning.

Every day your child is out of school, for whatever reason, his or her learning achievement suffers.

Just being in school, however, is only the starting point for determining time on task. “Since the 1970s, researchers have pointed out a difference between the amount of time that schools allocate for learning, the amount of time during which students are engaged in learning, and actual learning time,” the Education Week article reveals.
Academic year

The amount of time schools allocate for learning is the academic year, the time designated for students to be in school. This is the typical school calendar amounting to 186 days, give or take a day or two depending on the state in which you live. With few exceptions, all schools in the state must meet the state-mandated number of days.

The amount of time students are engaged in learning is more variable.

The variable factor is the teacher. The teacher in some classrooms spends a majority of the time explaining, demonstrating, or doing — while students watch. In other classrooms, students are more involved for more of the period.

The final time-on-task element, the amount of time during which students are engaged in learning, occurs during such activities as lab experiences, band practice, supervised study, or homework. This, as you might imagine, is some of the more valuable learning time for students.

So how can missing three or four days of school be that important to their learning?

For one thing, missed instruction due to unscheduled school closings affects all students. To make up for the lost time, teachers may hurry instruction or simply skip some lessons.

When students miss school due to illness or other reasons, some will fill in the missed instruction on their own, some will stumble but recover and, some, unfortunately, will stumble, falter and be confused for the remainder of that unit. Regardless, learning suffers.

Learning by doing is a staple of those who disdain “book learning” from practical, hands-on experience. But learning from experience takes time.

So, regardless of how you approach the topic, time is important to learning.
KIPP example

The Knowledge is Power Program, or KIPP, schools provide us with one example. The Education Week article summarized this program by telling us that students in KIPP schools “spend 62 percent more time in school than peers in regular school.”

Further, “Students also attend half-day classes on Saturdays twice a month and then go to school two to three weeks longer in the summer.”

KIPP schools are generally charter schools in low-income neighborhoods, so they are free to change some things that might not be tolerated in other public schools.

Nevertheless, they apparently feel that “the amount of time that schools allocate for learning, the amount of time during which students are engaged in learning, and actual learning time” are important enough to be changed.

If we are serious about changing testing outcomes and student learning, we may need to think about changing the amount of time students spend in learning activities.

We can start by eliminating as many classroom disruptions as possible.

You can read the entire Education Week article at www.edweek.org/ew/collections/nation-at-risk-25-years/index.html.

WE would take 1 day in the spring call out of work as well as keep the children with us, Have a fun day just the family. We would talk to the teachers of the children to make sure no test or important was going on at school.

I think it really depends on the grade level of the child, how the child is doing in school and what is going on at school at the time the vacation is happening. If it is the day before a holiday and you are leaving early, chances are the school is on a lower key schedule that day anticipating that people may not be there. On a few occasions in elementary years I have taken my son out a day early due to holiday travel plans however as he enters high school I would be more reluctant to do so as it is harder to catch up on a missed class at that level. I would never take him out if there was a test involved or for more than one day.

No, I am actually a student, and I think I would know more about these things than parents. So, no you shouldnt take your kid out of school, I never in my school years so far have been pulled out for vacation. Kids need to learn as much as possible to get ready to take finals, or tests.

Interesting reasons behind each of our priorities and I am sure it worked out, being able to look back and tell yourself, you must be doing something right in your own little way. It's wonderful and great to be able to step out of the picture and see the view in a better perspective way. One thing for sure, we all do what is best for our children. With that, we can all rest assured kick back relax and enjoy the holiday season. Great job everyone. Thanks for sharing all your ideas. Merry Christmas and wishing you all a prosperous new year.

my kids go to school for 61/2 hours a day. We only have a few assemblies a year and in the high school most of the kids are not scheduled for a study halls. If they are scheduled it is for a sports study hall in high school level so they can leave with the team. It is okay for a high school kid to leave but an elementary kid people have an issue. I do not have an issue with letting kids get out of school for extra sport practices, vacations, or an occasional mental health day. My children work very hard at the sports, they put in alot of time and practice. They also put in their time at school. When you put in 6 1/2 hours a day at school then put in 3-4 hours a night of homework (we are at the elementary level) you need a break sometimes. My children's greatest smiles on on the ice rink or in a hockey game and on the week end when I do not have to push the homework load. The smile leaves at 6:00pm on Sunday when they have to start the weekend homework for Monday morning. Sorry, but if my kids need break from school then I am going to give it to them. My brothers and I were given these same breaks by our parents and we grow up to hold 4 year college degrees (we got in 4 years no summer classes!)and we each have professional well paying jobs. I think the sports activities gave us a better discipline. Giving us mental health days when needed and letting us out of school for a vacation during the school year strengthen us as a family. Is my kids education important to me ----YES but there are other things that are also as equally as important. I know that my daughter appreciates when I allow the mental health days( and Ask NO questions). The answer to the question is YES you can pull your child out of school.

"Mental Health Days"? American children attend 180, 6 hour days a year. That's 36 weeks out of 52 weeks in the year. "Mental Health" should be taking place during the 16 other weeks out of the year. Within those 180 school days are field trip, holiday programs, sporting events, and other extra curricular activities. It should be noted that countries such as Germany and Japan require 240 instructional days in addition to longer hours per day. Also, high school students in these countries and others receive nearly twice as many core academic hours while our young people spend their time in study halls, pep rallies, driver education, and assemblies. We, as a nation, are falling behind the rest of the world. Our attitudes towards education-- from the federal level, to the state, county, school district, school, parent, all the way down to the child--needs to change. So, allowing your child to miss a day of school for a sports activity,early vacation or "mental health"...what message does that send to your child about education? In a list of your child's priorities, where does education stand?

I take my kids out of school when I feel it is appropriate. If my kids need a mental health day to re-group form the stress that is placed on them in school then so be it. My parents gave each of us kids(3) a mental health day every grading period for 12 years of school and we all went to college and have 4 year degrees and have well paying jobs. We missed school for sporting activities also. I have to disagree with you. If a parent feels it is okay to have their child miss school for a vacation or a sporting practice or even for a mental health day then so be it. My kids grades are fine and there are no behavioral problems.

Skatingmom, I'm afraid I have to disagree with you again. A 'mental health' day for a child? Do you really think that's it's better to sit home and goof off and watch tv when you feel like it rather than go to school? What does this tell your kids? That's it's ok to skip school, or later on, work whenever you feel like it? What do they tell their friends "I didn't feel like coming yesterday, so my mom let me stay home?" When I was working, I never took a mental health day, and don't really know too many people who did either, because that meant someone else would have to pick up the slack. I also didn't call in sick once in nine years, so I guess you can see where I stand on this issue. Obviously, a situation like your nephew's (baseball in Japan) is a once in a lifetime thing, but please don't kid yourself that they 'learn more from these experiences than they ever would in school'. Japan, yes.Watching tv when they should be in school, no. We shouldn't have to worry about the schools losing money if we keep our kids out, but in these times, with budget cuts and lower funding, it should make a parent think about the impact of their actions on the school. If every class had a child absent every day for a 'mental health' day, the result would be a loss of funding for art, music and sports that would impact your child and every other child in the school. My children will miss one day of school this year, to travel for a family event . They missed one day last year, for the same reason. I think we should aim for as few absences as possible, and not look for reasons to pull our kids out of school.

I would say depending upon the grade, you don't want them making up too much work while they are away! That makes it hard on them to catch up.

Why are we worried if the school is missing out on money. Is this the only reason to send kids to school so the school doesn't lose money? I believe it is perfectly acceptable to take children out of school if it is for vacation or for their sporting activities or any other family reason. I believe if a child just needs to take a day off then they should be allowed. Some kids just need breaks from school. My daughter and son I believe gain more the next day from school after they have been permitted to leave for private sports practice or just to hang out at home and watch TV and play games. As adults we call off work for a "mental health day", so why can a child not do the same thing. I believe pulling a child out of school for a vacation or sporting practice is acceptable. My nephew missed the first day of school this year because he was in Japan playing baseball. He got more out of that experience then he would of ever gotten out of the first day of school. If my daughter had a competition or my son had a hockey game or tournament that required them to miss school even the first day I would not be worried about it they would miss the 1st day of school. I would not be concerned that the school was losing money.

No. At the beginning of the school, we are provided with the list of holidays and vacations. Unless it is an emergency, I set up the dental or doctor appointments on either after school or Saturdays. My children don't even want to be late much more than miss out in class. I plan the vacation in summer.

I know it is not good for the school and sometimes does not set a good example for our children. Unfortunately, sometimes because of conflicts for parents and scheduling it is needed. I think it is acceptable.

I do not think you should take your children out of school early for vacation. At the beginning of the school year in the packets they send home they give you a list with all the school holidays and days off, so you should be able to plan your vacations around those days. My daughter only takes days out of school if she is sick. There are no special days off for fun. I know a few parents that keep their kids home if they want to go to a premiere of a movie or for their birthdays but that is what WEEKENDS are for. I do feel the kids miss something if they miss a day of school. They miss valuable learning time with a qualified educator. Plus with the economy the way it is right now schools cannot afford for kids to be absent except for when they are sick.

It's a really tough decision.

I, like others, believe school is their job and kids should be in school to learn. However, in a real job, I can take vacation and get time off on my schedule. And sadly, as other parents have posted, school districts don't exactly check with me when vacations would be convenient or cost effective.

Usually, though, it's not on the holidays I take my kids, but occasionally on a Tuesday (already a shortened day) or I'll have them attend and leave a little early missing PE or art or music.

The big issue is funding. When my son was little, an excused absence meant the school still got paid whether he was there or not. Now however, excused absences aren't enough--if a student didn't attend the school doesn't get paid. You can see how in a fairly small, fairly affluent public school how a bunch of people deciding to take those deals over Thanksgiving to visit Grandma would cost the school quite a bit. On the other hand, I know teachers who admit to calling in sick to go to Disneyland with their kids, so not only is the child out of school that day, the teacher requires a sub.

I think in my case, it's a worst-case scenario, where I really try not to, but on very rare occasions, it's going to happen.

It is unacceptable by the educators because it sets a negative example to young children.

If you really NEED to do it and your are comfortable with a few days, that fine. I haven't done it before and my children will not miss school for anything. Also, my eight years old will ask me WHY and follow up with many questions.


Happy holidays!

As a teacher and a parent of now adults, I am opposed to a child being pulled out early for a vacation. As a teacher, I provide learning experiences to my students everyday...experiences that cannot be "made up" with an assignment. Each day is built upon what was taught the day before. As a parent, I would never have pulled my children out for a "vacation." I wanted my children to know the importance of each day of their education. They, on their own, took that value system to college, and now into their working lives. Education should not be trivialized by getting a good deal on a flight, or going to the river, or to grannies house.
For a "once-in-a-lifetime event," however, (eg: Presidential Inauguration) or any other legitimate educational experience, of course, the child should attend....

my kids practice are on the weekends and during the week. Some of the competitions are on the weekends but there are a couple that are during the week. They don't miss school on a weekly bases, but before a competition or a big game extra private practice are needed. If your kids skate then you know that ice time is limited. Ice skating is basically science on ice if you think about it. Hockey is the same way it takes alot of brain work and quick thinking to play hoickey, you must learn to transition quickly and isn't that what the schools want kids to do transition fast. I get all my kids sports absents approved by the district.

Skatingmom, why are your kids' extracurricular activities coming at the expense of their school day? Aren't practices held after school? Not every kid can be pulled out of class for practice, so surely some kids on the team manage to go to practice and still stay in school. Aren't competitions usually on the weekends? You may have to travel to them, so I do understand missing a day of school to get there. The question was about missing school for a vacation, but it seems like your kids are being pulled out of school on a weekly basis. What do their teachers think? My kids also skate (not at competitive levels), and I can't think that it's better to go to a practice than work on math or science. Kids are under stress not only from school, but from sports performance as well. In my state, the schools' funding is based on attendance, so I know that my school would have an issue with frequent absences and short days. Just wondering...

I believe it is fine to take your children out of school for a vacation. These kids need a break from school. I take my children out of school early for sports practices and competitions. I believe my daughter gets more out of an ice skating practice then she will ever get out of a classroom situation. My son has missed school for hockey practices, and once again gained more from that experience then sitting in circle time. My children get average grades and are not behavior problems in school. I know that the stress and the anxiety that is placed on these kids toaday in school is crazy, so if I want to take my kids out of school for them to experience some other type of learning I will do it and not feel guilty.

I was never one to take my kids out of school for anything but as I get older my family seems to be getting smaller. We do not live near any family so we have to travel to see them (not just for a weekender either). This past year I did take my children out so we could visit family we haven't seen for 2 years. I met with both schools vice-principles and sent in letters. The school was fine with it and the teachers supplied all the work they would need to complete by the time we got back or gave a time line to turn it in. If the school felt it would be a bad move to take them out I wouldn't have done it or I would've shortened the visit. I don't know if I would do it for high school level though.

I believe that there are events that can be more educational for your child to attend than some days at school, like the last day before winter break.

Working with there teachers, your child can have all work completed prior to the day missed, to prevent returning to make up work. I had a family member received a special honor from the Ambassador of France, my child had to miss a day of school. This being a once in a lifetime event, the degree of art and cultural understanding and learning that was gained in two days could not be accomplished at a classroom desk

I think it sets a bad example to the kids. Unless they are homeschooled or enrolled in a virtual school (i.e., where the learning can continue 'on vacation'), school is the most important part of their day. Just as I have to go to work every day, including those before a scheduled holiday or vacation (for those of us lucky enough to have them), kids should be in school when there are classes scheduled. My child is a well-above average student in all classes - maybe it's natural talent, but it's definitely also, even if partially, due to outstanding attendance.

I disagree with schools that make the last day/s before vacation 'fun' or 'make-up' days, in order to accommodate those who are habitually pulled out early for vacation (or at the end of the school year) - it's not fair to the students who make an effort to attend every day without fail, nor to the teachers.

It is important to spend quality family time together with the kids, and to have them visit family members or friends who live far away, as well as to expose them to the joy of travel (if possible), but that should be done during school breaks, except in extenuating circumstances. Again, this is what we do in our work lives, as responsible and dependable employees or employers.

The teacher that I am believes it's perfectly acceptable but the longer I taught, the less common was that opinion. When my own sons were in elementary school, their school not only allowed children to be withdrawn from school to accompany their parents on various trips - they encouraged it! Their reasoning was that family time was valuable time, time well spent and traveling to other places taught children about those places.
But times change and few of the teachers I taught with in recent years agreed with that philosophy. I haven't changed in mine, however - I still believe that time spent visiting other farther away family members is Very Important and just as important as school. Schools need to be less rigid in this matter - children benefit greatly from spending time with their grandparents, from visiting relatives, and from just spending time with their parents in a less rushed way than almost every day proves to be these days.

I think it's fine and during the plane ride or the car trip you can have them to educational activity books and bring books along for them to read.

I think it's fine as long as it's not too early where they would miss a lot. Traveling can be learning experience on it's own so the child/children could get a lot from that. You could always get the work from the school that they would have missed so they don't get behind.

How old are your children, and how many days are you planning to miss? If you're talking kids in elementary school, there generally aren't many problems, as the last few days before winter break are often filled with festivities...I'd be more hesitant to take high school students out more than a day early, or extend the vacation more than a day into the next semester, because their classes are generally more intense....

If their "grades are up to your standard,as a parent", and they inform their Teachers the will been leaving, I see no problem with it.