Teacher criticizes parents who take their kids out of school to go to Disneyland 4 weeks into the school year: 'Your children have 2.5 months off a year!'

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Emmy Pratt • Senior Editor
Sep 30, 2026 7:45 AM EDT

Why would you take your family on a vacation right after summer break ends? 

Many parents care more about their own freedom than their child's right to an education. They hate schools because they represent the government telling them what to do with their kids, and they feel like there is something inherently wrong with that. After all, their kids belong to them and them alone! What does some lady with a bachelor's degree in Early Childhood Education know about what's best for their little Jonny? If they want to take their kid out of school for whatever reason, they should be able to do so without getting sent to truancy court! Or should they? 

Every family has different values. Some families are totally willing to miss out on a lot of formal education if it means that they'll get to go on a vacation together. Others won't let their kids skip a day of school unless they are sick as a dog: they don't believe in "mental health days" or child PTO. If you're going to structure your family in these ways, that's your right, but you need to live with the consequences of those choices. Your kids might fall behind if you take them out of school for a two-week vacation, and it's not their teacher's job to privately tutor them on everything they missed. She showed up and did her job, but your kids did not, and they might suffer for it. If you never let your kids skip school, even when they're sick, it might give them a complex about hard work as they grow up. They might feel like they can never call in sick from work, because that's not allowed. 

The teacher in this story is understandably frustrated that her student's parents are taking them out of school for vacations right after the school year has started. She hates that the parents are treating school as if it's optional, and I'm inclined to agree with her. Regularly showing up to school teaches kids how to regularly show up for work, which will serve them well in life. 

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Young woman in eyeglasses working as a teacher at school and teaching the school children
via Getty Images (Unsplash+)

A teacher is lecturing her class.

Photo is a representation of scenes.

I am so tired of parents thinking school is optional

I am beyond over having to constantly make alternative assignments, give endless extensions, and work around mommy and daddy taking their kid out of school for a week or longer in the middle of the school year. Your children have 2.5 months off a year but yeah, let’s schedule your trip to Disneyland four weeks into the school year.

Disneyland
via Bastien Nvs

Disneyland during the Halloween season, when school is in session. 

Stock photo unrelated.

Now I have to figure out how your student does a group project solo and prepare work for them to do while they’re away even though we all know they aren’t going to do a single thing. I teach AP and college classes. Your kid CANNOT MISS A DAY OF SCHOOL. Inevitably, I look like the bad guy when they come back to a mountain of work.

A woman sitting at a desk writing on a piece of paper
via Kateryna Hliznitsova (Unsplash+)

A student doing homework after coming back from a family vacation.

Photo is a representation of scenes.

School is not optional. Stop making teachers do extra work because you’re bad at planning vacations. I am so tired of this job right now and it's unfortunate because I generally love nearly everything about it.

YOUR CHILD WILL NOT BE SUCCESSFUL IF THEY THINK EVERYTHING IS OPTIONAL IN LIFE.

Small boy on the couch watching TV and eating popcorn at night in the living room
via Getty Images (Unsplash+)

A child is watching TV instead of doing his homework.

Individual pictured is a model used for illustrative purposes.

I’m not talking about parents and students who keep their kids on track, keep teachers in the loop, and prepare and plan in advance. The vast majority don’t which is my gripe. I get told about vacations the day before during a lecture and now have to work off contract to prepare your student for a trip you booked months ago.

I am also NOT talking about sick days. That’s a medical issue.

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teacher parenting Travel disneyland vacation
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