Taking Children Out of School for Thanksgiving

[bagofsnakes]

Any other US parents take their children out of school for thanksgiving?
We took our son out last year but as he was under 5 the school really didn’t care. This year we put in a formal request but it has been denied. It’ll go down as unauthorised. Are we the only ones that do this? I know that there are other American families in school and I know that at least one of them just tells the school that her kids are sick every Thanksgiving, although I’m not keen to go this route.
Background - I’m a UK citizen but DH and DC are US (DC born in US) but now live in UK. For those who aren’t familiar, Thanksgiving in the US is a super big deal, more so
Than Christmas for many families.

The thing is though, you're not in the US. Can you not do the traditional turkey etc etc after school on Thursday?

Also slightly sideways off topic, Thanksgiving I know is a public holiday in the US. Does everyone go back to work on the Friday afterwards though? Or is there a culture of taking the Friday off to make the journey home to see family worthwhile?

I'm American in the UK.. We're just eating dinner after school. It has literally never occurred to me to take them out of school. I wouldn't be travelling to the States on Thanksgiving weekend anyway (shudder).

I know quite a number of Americans who take their DC out of school for thanksgiving. We're in scotland though so don't have the same rules about attendance (fines etc don't happen here). It's up to the discretion of the head teacher as to whether it is authorised or unauthorised, but either way it doesn't really matter!

I should say that they are all primary age kids - I don't have any US friends living here with secondary age DC so I'm not sure whether it's as common in high schools

We don't take our DC out of school either. This year DH's birthday also falls on Thanksgiving, so we have a double celebration - but not until after school.

None of the American families I’ve known have taken their Children out of school for Thanksgiving. None of the Americans take they day off work either.

Yes to eating the meal after dinner, and even discussing why you are “thankful”, but it’s not even as if there is NFL on TV for the rest of the day.

OP if you can afford it, does it really matter.

Keep them off and risk the fine.

He's what five? Six?

They won't bother at all.

It’s like everything else, if you choose to be here you play by the rules here. It’s not a religious festival. It’s a great family time but the school is correct and you just have to pay up or celebrate after school. Shame he cannot tell everyone at school was a great day it is as he won’t be there.

DM is American and we were never kept off school, just had a big family meal in the evening.

It’s a bit of where does it end though , do you plan to take the child out of school for all the other US holidays ie Independence Day , Labour day .

Canadian here, not American and our thanksgiving is always a Monday. I just do it the day before. Wouldn’t consider taking them out of school at all?

Oh gee - what can we do for a new colleague who's Canadian for thanksgiving?

Does everyone go back to work on the Friday afterwards though?

It varies. My workplace, like many others, give us the day after Thanksgiving as a holiday. Many other people take the day off.

When I was a student in the UK, we would have Thanksgiving dinner in the evening, usually inviting other international students as well as American and British students. Some of my best memories.

I think YWNBU to take them out of school for the day. Thanksgiving is a massive part of their US cultural heritage.

Wrt the absence being marked as "unauthorised", is there an actual sanction you'll have to deal with, or will it make no material difference to you whatsoever?

I worked in a school near an American airbase and all the American families kept their children home over Thanksgiving. The Headteacher was fully supportive of this.

Our old school had a load of American expat families and they didn't take the day off. The school would have a special lunch though.

None of my American friends take their DC out of school or have the day off work.

Fekko, Canadians celebrated Thanksgiving in early October this year.
I wouldn’t support taking them out of school just celebrate from Friday eve till Sunday eve. Good food good movies and whatever else.

Darn, missed it!

Fekko that’s such a lovely thought! Canadian thanksgiving is always the second Monday in October...no need to do anything really other than wish her a happy one or ask how she celebrated etc.** Typically it’s celebrated just by spending time with Family/friends and lots of food!

Most authorities won't fine you for ONE day. In Sheffield the fine doesn't kick in til day 5 of a continuous absence. Yes, it would go down as unauthorised most likely, but that won't affect you or your child at school.

People say, when in Rome...
I think you should do what you want to do. But don't expect school to authorise.

We are an American family and have Thanksgiving on Saturday.

We just do Thanksgiving dinner in the evening. It has never occurred to me to take them out of school (possibly that would change if I were able to watch the Macy’s parade anywhere over here ). Mine have no interest in the dinner anyway and just want to get to the pumpkin pie.