The Case for Skipping Class

Posted by Intelligent Travel on May 10, 2011
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skippingclass

In the current issue of National Geographic Traveler, our Insider columnist Christopher Elliott asks a provoking question, “What do America’s schools have against travel?”

He argues that although educational travel has shown to benefit students’ overall academic performance, many schools are unforgiving when it comes to classroom absences.

…many U.S. school systems are taking an increasingly hard line against pulling children out of school for learning trips, even as they forgive absences with questionable educational value, such as sports competitions. Junior can’t be excused for traveling to the Grand Canyon to reinforce earth science lessons, but he can leave early with the rest of the football team for away games with the school’s blessing? Puh-leeze.

Read more from Christopher Elliott about “The Case for Skipping Class.”

Tell us what you think: Are schools standing in the way of children having enriching travel experiences?

Photo: Normunds Spakovskis/My Shot

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Comments

  1. HappyCampers
    May 10, 2011, 12:50 pm

    It all comes down to funding. If your his is absent, the school doesn’t get their head court and thus, funding. We homeschool and travel is one big reason why. Our kiddo can learn so much more by experiencing life!!

  2. Hibah
    Columbus, Ohio
    May 10, 2011, 1:17 pm

    I think schools are being ridiculous. When I was in 3rd grade I spent 3 weeks traveling with my family to my homeland, Pakistan, where my parents were born and raised. My teacher made me keep a journal on the new things I experienced and learned and take pictures. When I returned, I did a presentation and both my teacher and class loved it. It was a chance for me to share a part of the world with my class. Years later, I consider myself a world traveler and I have to say that I have learned tremendously about the world and myself by being immersed in different cultures.

  3. Nick Knight
    Amesbury, MA
    May 10, 2011, 1:20 pm

    Great point. I have never scene a child turn out bad after having saw the rest of the world.

  4. Sharon @PRF
    US
    May 10, 2011, 2:02 pm

    I think flexibility is important. Sometimes kids can learn so much more by taking a trip – and not just pure knowledge, but life skills, cultural awareness and all that good stuff. In school systems, where there’s a lot of set testing missing school might be disruptive, but most parents know if their kids can handle it and if the benefits outweigh the down sides.

  5. Merritt Seely
    Fort Worth, TX
    May 10, 2011, 4:22 pm

    I’m a world-traveling mom of four who believes travel can be the best education. This is what happened in Jan. at our local public elementary school. after my 9-year-old son had accumulated four “unexcused” absences from traveling (to Caddo Lake, a geographic wonder, for a family camp out; to Acapulco, for a Mexican Christmas complete with a visit to a local orphanage; and to German South Texas to watch his cousin’s pig win first prize at a competition): We received an openly threatening letter from the district expressing concern that we were not willing to comply with the attendance policy (only three unexcused absences a year). They requested our presence at a predetermined meeting with a reprensentative of the school district, THE D.A.’S OFFICE, AND SOCIAL SERVICES, so that a compliance plan could be imposed on us by them. I immediately called the school. They said that we were being lumped in with negligent parents who don’t send their kids to school for weeks, and that there is no way for the district to know the difference. I told them that I refused to meet with social services because of family trips! The principal got us out of the meeting, but the experience soured us. All my kids will be in private schools next year.

  6. April
    NC, USA
    May 10, 2011, 9:29 pm

    I agree-they should allow more absences for traveling, but it IS hard to regulate and people could take advantage. But then again, I guess it wouldn’t be too hard-make them show a photo or something!

    My sister homeschools (for educational reasons, not religious) and she takes her kids on trips all the time and counts them as educational experiences. And guess what=they are twice as smart as most kids their age! Though, many educators would scoff at this idea excusing parents of being alzy and not actually teaching their kids.

  7. Methew
    Abu Dhabi - UAE
    May 11, 2011, 4:48 am

    lolz, I must say, glasses protection is very important :)
    i agree with Sharon’s comment as well, “Sometimes kids can learn so much more by taking a trip”

  8. David
    NYC
    May 11, 2011, 9:26 pm

    The author States: “Educational travel may have other benefits, too. More than 88 percent of students who traveled before the age of 18 receive a college degree, according to a recent survey endorsed by the Student Youth & Travel Association. Slightly more than 8 in 10 had a GPA of 3.0 or higher, and more than 40 percent had GPAs of greater than 3.6. What’s more, half of the respondents reported a household income of more than $75,000 as adults. These correlations add up to some pretty intriguing math.”

    These statistics suggest correlation between ‘kids who travel’ and “strong academic and financial success” but not prove CAUSATION. No mention is made of an adjustment for parental educational accomplishments or parental wealth.

    More likely the financial and academic success of these children is a result of above-average education and wealth of the parents, (which translate to a greater emphasis on education for their children).