As a school teacher who takes his vacation days during the school year to hunt I would say yes, take the kid hunting with you. I agree that life is short and the moments that we have to spend afield with family and friends are too few. He will remember the experience for the rest of his life. I cherish every opportunity that I have to hunt with my father as a 31 year old adult! I also agree that not every lesson learned is in a classroom. There is a plethora of things to learn while out hunting or fishing. Finally, being a teacher, I value education. I would make a deal with him that if he were caught up on all of his work BEFORE you left that he could go along. I would have each teacher sign off on his assignments. If he holds up his end, then he has learned the responsibility that you are rightly concerned with and has earned the privilege of going on the hunting trip. Just my thoughts.