The New York Times reveals the teacher’s view of family vacations and missed classes.
Wendy Knight writes (excerpt):
“Personally, I understand it, because they want to visit family,” Mrs. Amaya said. “But as a teacher, it’s a pain. I have to go back and teach them everything they’ve missed.”
Teresa Plowright, editor of a family travel Web site, travelwithkids.about.com, agrees, saying, “It places a real burden on teachers.”
Mrs. Plowright, who has three children and sometimes travels with them when school is in session, obtains assignments from the teachers before a trip. (Another site with articles about family travel issues, including taking children out of school, is www.familytravelforum.com; a yearly subscription costs $38.)
Some principals discourage teachers from providing work in advance, however, since it appears to condone the taking of kids out of school for vacation. Absenteeism, even for a week, disrupts the learning process, educators say. While some work can be completed during or after a trip, lectures and classroom discussions are impossible to replicate.
“Long absences from school sends a dismissive message to the child about the importance of school,” said Marlene Maron, director of psychology at Fletcher Allen Health Care and the Vermont Children’s Hospital, both in Burlington, Vt. She noted that parents initiated such time off when it met their own needs, not necessarily those of the child.
Additionally, she said, “It can breed resentment in peers left in the classroom, particularly if there are group projects going on.”
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Missing even a few days of school is often difficult for a child.
“They miss quite a bit of information, even for one day, and when they return, their responsibilities have doubled,” said Nancy Reaven, a health care consultant in La Caņada Flintridge, Calif., who has two daughters, 15 and 12. “Frankly, the hassle associated with being behind is not worth it.”