Keeping child off school because it's their birthday!

catkins · 9 July 2014 at 8:53AM

What do people think about this?

Someone I know kept their child off school yesterday because it was their birthday (15). Although I didn't actually make any negative comment I did express surprise which didn't go down well!

I think birthdays are special days at any age but you can't just not have to go to school on that day. Why could they not do something at the weekend to celebrate it? Also what is it teaching the child? They start work and ask for their birthday as holiday and if refused they go sick?

Irresponsible parenting in my opinion

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growler834 · 9 July 2014 at 9:06AM

It's not something we would advocate in our family although I suppose at this time of year kids aren't usually doing proper lessons as they are on a run down to the school hols. As you say, it doesn't teach the child how to behave in future life - they will think that their birthday is more important than their education and work. 15 isn't even a 'special' birthday either. Did the parent decide to keep the child off school or were they badgered into it by the child & they just wanted an easy life? If the child's friends were at school he would have been sat at home like Billy No Mates on his computer for the day anyway! Not good parenting skills in my book I'm afraid.

pollypenny · 9 July 2014 at 9:15AM

More fun being with friends on a birthday.

FBaby · 9 July 2014 at 9:27AM

No way what is that teaching them? Most people who work do so on their birthday. You still have the evening to celebrate. Totally unacceptable from my perspective.

PenguinOfDeath · 9 July 2014 at 9:35AM

Ridiculous. Another example of how some parents make the world revolve around their precious offspring.

catkins · 9 July 2014 at 9:55AM

growler834 wrote: »

It's not something we would advocate in our family although I suppose at this time of year kids aren't usually doing proper lessons as they are on a run down to the school hols. As you say, it doesn't teach the child how to behave in future life - they will think that their birthday is more important than their education and work. 15 isn't even a 'special' birthday either. Did the parent decide to keep the child off school or were they badgered into it by the child & they just wanted an easy life? If the child's friends were at school he would have been sat at home like Billy No Mates on his computer for the day anyway! Not good parenting skills in my book I'm afraid.

I'm not sure if it was the parent's idea or, as you say, the child badgered them into it. Either way, in my view, it was wrong.

I know the parent took them out for the day so they weren't sittt home on the computer. I also think, although not totally sure, that the parent's girlfriend may have kept her child off school as well and they all went out together!

lika_86 · 9 July 2014 at 9:57AM

Who really cares? It's one day. Much worse to take your child out of school for a week to sit on a beach in Spain.

lulu_92 · 9 July 2014 at 10:00AM

I've always been lucky that my birthday fell at the start of the school holidays or it was a school trip day.

I didn't go in twice. Once because I was being bullied and knew the kids would be waiting with eggs and flour. Second time was because my sister was rushed into hospital the night before with suspected DVT so I was there until 3am.

I book it off nearly every year because I'm entitled to do so, although I don't think I'd lose sleep if I couldn't book it off.

purpleshoes_2 · 9 July 2014 at 10:02AM

Some parents take their kids out of school for two weeks as holidays are cheaper in term time. Its not ideal, but far worse goes on, I know families where I live whose kids 11 and up hardly go to school at all, I have a next door neighbour who I rarely see as Im assuming shes living with her partner in another block of flats, I saw her daughter a few weeks ago with a friend, shes 15. They were on the same bus as me and someone was asking me if they were at school, the response was no, if they were off on exam leave, the response was no (Im in Scotland and schools broke up 2 weeks ago but it was before the end of term).

I know someone who has had kids of footballers in her class and when the club was playing in a european match the child was suddenly off sick for the game (an away one) of course he was going to watch it.

Its not ideal, but in the scheme of things, a 15 year old being allowed to stay at home for their birthday if they go every other day isnt the worst thing in the world.

peachyprice · 9 July 2014 at 10:13AM

Firstly it's nobody else's business but the family concerned.

Secondly, this time of year they are doing nothing at school. Monday our school was closed for the Tour de France, yesterday my daughter spent the day spectating a teachers tug of war (yes the entire day, it was a knock out competition). Tomorrow the school is closed for a teachers strike. Next week she's out on school trips from Monday to Wednesday, Thursday is sports day, Friday is half day end of term clearing out classrooms and EOT assembly.

Would I take her out for something special that fell over these two weeks? Yes, I probably would.

Buzzybee90 · 9 July 2014 at 10:19AM

Most children want to be with their friends and family, thus go to school. None or my friends were ever kept off.

I'm guessing it was a boy?

Keeping child off school because it's their birthday!

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