MOMVERSATION MONDAY (sort of): Life Experiences: Do They Count as Education?

Because it was President's Day in the US (happy President's Day by the way), there wasn't a new post on Momversation so today there is a new one and I'm doing it now.

This one I have to sigh about. Asha Dornfest of  Parent Hacks asks about taking your child out of school for life enrichment activities whether it be learning or "personal days".

The reason why I sigh is because I don't understand why other parent feel the need to make you feel like an irresponsible parent for taking your child out of school for whatever reason it would be. How does it affect your child's education for my child to be MIA for a day?

I'm definitely with Dana Loesch of Mamalogues on this one. We as a society have been conditioned to believe that there is only one way to educate a child and that would be in a classroom with a lesson plan and rigid ways.

I loved learning outside of the school and excelled in that more than studying from a book. My parents didn't pull me out of the school to do that, they were school trips. I'm sure if there were more of those my grades would have been better.

For myself, I wouldn't hesitate to take my children out of school for learning experiences or life experience. I do believe that school is important but it's not life. I have a great example of this. I wanted to take my children to see King Tut at the Art Gallery of Ontario, it's the last time this gallery was going to have the exhibition. Who wouldn't want to take the child out of school to witness for themselves history only steps away from them?

I do understand that taking my child out of school would be inconvenient for her teacher but this is how I see it. If my child was doing really well and did everything that he was being told to do and achieve a couple of days out of school wouldn't be a big issue.  With school becoming more and more competitive our children suffer with stress to be the best. Why not take them out of school to decompress and relax. Life doesn't have to be so strict! On the flip side of this I don't think I would take my child out of school if he was doing poorly, that would be a hindrance.

I'm a big beliver of taking every learning experience whether it be in school or out in life. No one should judge you for that.

What about you? How do you feel about taking your child out of school for life experiences?