Family Ski Question

[severine]

I guess it just depends on how you view learning. I look at the whole world, every day, as a learning experience. I also originally intended to homeschool my kids (and bring them skiing in the winter for their PE ). I've since decided that it is not the right plan for us, but I still view everything as a learning experience. Not all learning is done within the confines of 4 walls at a desk. In fact, much more is learned outside of school, especially if a child is interested in the topic.

Let's see... at a ski area, you could cover all the way from the basics (reading, colors, addition/subtraction) all the way to the more complicated stuff (geometry, physics, business) all in the REAL world. And it's fun!

 

[ckofer]

I didn't even consider skipping on Senior skip day till my mom asked me what i would be doing, and told me if I wanted to skip I could no problem.

That's like being given permission to duck a rope. Pretty cool but the thrill factor is reduced.

 

[Paul]

I guess it just depends on how you view learning. I look at the whole world, every day, as a learning experience. I also originally intended to homeschool my kids (and bring them skiing in the winter for their PE ). I've since decided that it is not the right plan for us, but I still view everything as a learning experience. Not all learning is done within the confines of 4 walls at a desk. In fact, much more is learned outside of school, especially if a child is interested in the topic.

Let's see... at a ski area, you could cover all the way from the basics (reading, colors, addition/subtraction) all the way to the more complicated stuff (geometry, physics, business) all in the REAL world. And it's fun!

THIS!

We were never going to go the home-school route, as I believe social interaction is probably one of the more important aspects of public (or private) schools. However, the more I see what is going on with our educational system, the more jaded I am towards it. I used to say that I would never take Alex out of school for anything other than "Once in a lifetime" opportunities. Now, not so much. I do like her teacher, and I'm generally okay with our school system in town, but like all other public schools they are bending to the pressure of NCLB. Now, I can't go much farther in this discussion as it can't w/o introducing the dirty "P" word, but suffice it to say, when the school is doing nothing more than teaching to a standardized test, I agree completely with Sev. Every day can be a learning experience far more enriching than what they will learn in school. And it isn't too hard to get her caught-up. We won't take her out to the point where it risks violating the absenteeism policy, but taking her out for a day before the holiday breaks when they aren't doing anything anyway sure won't hurt.
We took Alex out on the 21st of Dec. to hit Cranmore for the 70th Anniversary ($3.30 lift tix, not missing that) and we'll be taking her out April 11th to head to Mexico. Both are opportunities that I wouldn't let her miss.

 

[jack97]

THIS!

We were never going to go the home-school route, as I believe social interaction is probably one of the more important aspects of public (or private) schools. However, the more I see what is going on with our educational system, the more jaded I am towards it.

We are jaded toward the public schools in our town. When we consider privates schools, our financial income did not meets their standards. Consider charter schools.


Back to topic, NO... it's not on the agenda with the boss.

 

[billski]

I guess it just depends on how you view learning. I look at the whole world, every day, as a learning experience. I also originally intended to homeschool my kids (and bring them skiing in the winter for their PE ). I've since decided that it is not the right plan for us, but I still view everything as a learning experience. Not all learning is done within the confines of 4 walls at a desk. In fact, much more is learned outside of school, especially if a child is interested in the topic.

Let's see... at a ski area, you could cover all the way from the basics (reading, colors, addition/subtraction) all the way to the more complicated stuff (geometry, physics, business) all in the REAL world. And it's fun!

Well, being more than halfway through this education process (kids are 18, 16 and 11) I would agree with you philosophically, but not in practice. Learning of all forms take practice and study. Practice and study takes, focus, discipline and hard work. Pulling kids away from the learning environment when they are in the middle of a particular topic, subject, lab or whatever the focus is counter-productive. They can take your money, your car, your house, your clothes, but they can't take away your education. It gives you options in life, don't compromise it.

I see where you're coming from, you've got little ones, and that's OK to skip out now and then. We did it. But after 1st grade things need to get a lot more serious. The foundations they are building are important. I would never want my children's education to be random.

I worked my butt off to be where I am right now. That included grade school, undergrad and grad work. I now have choices, I can go where I want, I can grab a powder day, I can take a vacation pretty much as I want, balanced against the other commitments I've made in life.

You can make a lot of mistakes in life, you can always get back up and start over of course. As I tell my kids, "it doesn't matter how many times you fall. It matters how many times you get back up." However, without your educational foundation you will have to work much harder to keep up with the pack (unless of course you get lucky). Nobody said life was fair, but use your assets -don't squander and an education. Not just yours, but your kids.

OK, I'm off my Dad soapbox.

 

[billski]

One day out won't hurt. The kid will remember that day forever, what's that worth?

Maybe, maybe not. Depends on the experience. Things I think are thrilling my kids roll their eyes at.

We went to MRG last Saturday, first time for my daughter. She came back with a MRG "ski it if you can" sweatshirt and has been "making hay" all week, really impressing all her peers, teachers and other adults. For her, that was a much bigger deal than missing a day of school.

 

[severine]

Well, being more than halfway through this education process (kids are 18, 16 and 11) I would agree with you philosophically, but not in practice. Learning of all forms take practice and study. Practice and study takes, focus, discipline and hard work. Pulling kids away from the learning environment when they are in the middle of a particular topic, subject, lab or whatever the focus is counter-productive. They can take your money, your car, your house, your clothes, but they can't take away your education. It gives you options in life, don't compromise it.

I see where you're coming from, you've got little ones, and that's OK to skip out now and then. We did it. But after 1st grade things need to get a lot more serious. The foundations they are building are important. I would never want my children's education to be random.

I worked my butt off to be where I am right now. That included grade school, undergrad and grad work. I now have choices, I can go where I want, I can grab a powder day, I can take a vacation pretty much as I want, balanced against the other commitments I've made in life.

You can make a lot of mistakes in life, you can always get back up and start over of course. As I tell my kids, "it doesn't matter how many times you fall. It matters how many times you get back up." However, without your educational foundation you will have to work much harder to keep up with the pack (unless of course you get lucky). Nobody said life was fair, but use your assets -don't squander and an education. Not just yours, but your kids.

OK, I'm off my Dad soapbox.

Who's to say that your children's teachers are their best educators? Especially with NCLB? I speak from experience - most of my husband's family are teachers (his sisters included) as are some of my friends. I also have surrounded myself with home-schoolers and unschoolers, in addition to a friend who taught Montessori method before becoming a SAHM. In addition, I was studying to pursue a secondary-level education career when I withdrew from UCONN to focus on building my family.

I'll take one of the above-mentioned people as an example - my SIL, who teaches 6th grade in Hamden, CT. She has been told by the administrators that every x # of weeks, she must spend a week focusing on topics from the standardized tests (I believe it was every 3 or 4 weeks). The education process is not what it used to be. Teaching to a test is not teaching at all. There is no learning there, only temporary memorization. (I speak of that from experience when comparing my primary and secondary education to college, which I paid for myself and attended at a later age, at which time I appreciated and devoured that education.) These days, schools will lose much-needed funds if their standardized test scores are too low (which is counter-productive). Which in turn, has forced administrators onto this path, but it's not the right way. Test scores cannot possibly determine the intelligence of a person. And putting that much emphasis on them is a disservice to this and future generations.

I repeat, who's to say you cannot educate your children? I'm not saying you should withdraw them from school and start a revolution a la the Millers (of Bode fame). But you can enhance their education on your own, and a day here and there will not completely derail their educational path.

I worked hard, too. I was 15th in a class of 223. I graduated high school with a 94 GPA, and in college I was working on a 3.8 when I left for my family. I add this so you know that I'm not some drop-out loser from the backwoods. I just think that we put too much faith in the system many times, and we should all periodically reconsider what it is we're supporting to be sure that our faith is well-placed.

 

[Vortex]

Never did as a kid. Planed a few times this year. (Mom not pleased) Most of the time we have to make kids sporting events and they don't want to take the day off and miss them.

 

[tree_skier]

My kids generally miss at least a couple of days a year to ski. My JIV son has at least 1 race midweek a year plus we genearlly take at least one ski trip a year midweek.

 

[billski]

Who's to say that your children's teachers are their best educators? Especially with NCLB? I speak from experience - most of my husband's family are teachers (his sisters included) as are some of my friends. I also have surrounded myself with home-schoolers and unschoolers, in addition to a friend who taught Montessori method before becoming a SAHM. In addition, I was studying to pursue a secondary-level education career when I withdrew from UCONN to focus on building my family.

I'll take one of the above-mentioned people as an example - my SIL, who teaches 6th grade in Hamden, CT. She has been told by the administrators that every x # of weeks, she must spend a week focusing on topics from the standardized tests (I believe it was every 3 or 4 weeks). The education process is not what it used to be. Teaching to a test is not teaching at all. There is no learning there, only temporary memorization. (I speak of that from experience when comparing my primary and secondary education to college, which I paid for myself and attended at a later age, at which time I appreciated and devoured that education.) These days, schools will lose much-needed funds if their standardized test scores are too low (which is counter-productive). Which in turn, has forced administrators onto this path, but it's not the right way. Test scores cannot possibly determine the intelligence of a person. And putting that much emphasis on them is a disservice to this and future generations.

I repeat, who's to say you cannot educate your children? I'm not saying you should withdraw them from school and start a revolution a la the Millers (of Bode fame). But you can enhance their education on your own, and a day here and there will not completely derail their educational path.

I worked hard, too. I was 15th in a class of 223. I graduated high school with a 94 GPA, and in college I was working on a 3.8 when I left for my family. I add this so you know that I'm not some drop-out loser from the backwoods. I just think that we put too much faith in the system many times, and we should all periodically reconsider what it is we're supporting to be sure that our faith is well-placed.

My apologies if you thought was talking down to you. I certainly didn't intend it that way nor do I think you are a backwoods dropout.

We have experienced the best of schools and the worst of schools we are very involved and engaged in our kid's education. We are in their buildings at least twice a week and have incessant converations with teachers and administrators. As you know there are good and bad teachers, even in the best of environments. We have to play the cards we are dealt. If it means supplementing the kids education, we do it. Truth be told, we do it a lot. That doesn't mean we throw the baby out with the bathwater. We've got a good, solid curriculum, it's just sometimes we get a practicioner who fails to deliver. We haven't given up on the curriculum, so we intervene. Home schooling isn't necessary in our case, but our engagement in their education (and for us that doesn't just mean checking to see homework is done) is essential.

At least where our kids go to school, the classroom time is valuable enough that removing them would be short-changing them.

I'm going to leave it at that.

 

[ERJ-145CA]

My parents used to take my brother, sister and I to Bromley for a week every year when I was in elementary school, when school was in session. They would get all the school work for the week and we would have to do it at night in the house they rented. It made for tough nights but it was great skiing all day.

 

[severine]

My apologies if you thought was talking down to you. I certainly didn't intend it that way nor do I think you are a backwoods dropout.

I didn't think such. Just giving background info for my opinion.

 

[SKIQUATTRO]

my folks always took us out (if we were doing good) for 2-3 day ski trips throughout the season...my mom was a travel agent, so I'd come home from school on a Thursday afternoon to find my parents packing..

ME: "so, where are we going?? "
Mom: "start packing, we have a 6 am flight to Colorado tomorrow, I've already called your teachers and I have your homework..."
Me: "uhhhh Ok"

If it wasnt out west, it was up north....I just took my 5yr old out of Kindergard'n for 3 days for a Smuggs trip....I dont do crowds and why spend 3x as much on the same package during a holiday week?? Smuggs incorporates alot of educational lessons throughout the ski day (science shows, the ski to a tepee in the woods with "mother nature")