The Case for Skipping Class

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