MMD: Should you take the kids out of school for a holiday?

furrypig

I have 2 children age 7 and 10 and I will be taking them out of school to go on holiday in Feb. They will beout of school for 9 days in total tagged onto half term.

In fact I have taken my daughter out of school every year since she started at school. However next year when she starts secondary school I don't think I'll do it any more and our style/type of main holiday will have to change.

My children are both quite able at school and have done really well in their sats/tests/reports and I don't think these holidays have a bad affect quite the opposite as we always learn lots and spend great time together!

sluggy1967

Lilyfae wrote: »

As a teacher I find this highly hilarious.

At 8 and 10 a week away from school will have negative consequences as the primary curriculum particularly in maths and english are tightly packed and primary schools sadly operate a teaching culture of once the page in the book is done, its done. (regardless of whose precious children are in majorca or dubai or wherever)

OMG!!!! we'd better make sure our kids go to school even when they're ill then, lest they miss a precious page in the book!!!

sluggy1967

Lilyfae wrote: »

As a teacher I find this highly hilarious.

At 8 and 10 a week away from school will have negative consequences as the primary curriculum particularly in maths and english are tightly packed and primary schools sadly operate a teaching culture of once the page in the book is done, its done. (regardless of whose precious children are in majorca or dubai or wherever)

As a secondary teacher, I see kids lolling in three weeks into september/january/may burnt to a crisp as parents have taken them on cheap vacations at the start of new terms, these kids usually can't catch up, often they don't want to catch up, and nine times out of ten don't want to pay attention because they want to show off their tan/braids/henna tattoo/cheap jewellery they shouldn't be wearing in the first place.

From what I have seen, these kids cannot concentrate and get back into the swing of things for a further week or so, usually due to the jet-lag/lazyitis.
This is serious detriment to a child's education which isn't about listing off the countries of Europe or their times table, its getting into patterns and learning the skills to interpret the world around them.

I'm not saying every parent that takes their child away in school time is incapable of teaching their children these skills and about the local culture, however I think that people are very naive and condescending towards what schools do for their children.

Oh and btw I would love to take holidays! I can't afford to go in the summer but I'm not allowed to take time out of school because a week away would damage your children's education.

OMG!!!! we'd better send our kids to school even if they should be in hospital having their appendix out, lest they miss one precious page of the book they are being taught out of.......

WardysGirl

As a child i was regularly taken out of school by my parents for holidays sometimes 2 or 3 times in the school year.

By the age of 15 i had travelled halfway round the world and back seeing and experiencing many different cultures and lifestyles, learning phrases in other languages, had been taught how to run a hotel booking system, pull a pint and modelled for the pictures to go in a holiday companies brochure for one particular hotel!

It most certainly didn't do my education any harm, in the later years i did take work away with me and have very vivid memories of being sat around by a pool studying GCSE German with a family of Germans helping me!!

Experience means a whole lot more than anything you could be taught in a classroom.

Would i take my children out of school for a holiday, if i thought it would be beneficial to them , yes i would.

cannyscot_2

Lilyfae wrote: »

As a teacher I find this highly hilarious.

At 8 and 10 a week away from school will have negative consequences as the primary curriculum particularly in maths and english are tightly packed and primary schools sadly operate a teaching culture of once the page in the book is done, its done. (regardless of whose precious children are in majorca or dubai or wherever)

As a secondary teacher, I see kids lolling in three weeks into september/january/may burnt to a crisp as parents have taken them on cheap vacations at the start of new terms, these kids usually can't catch up, often they don't want to catch up, and nine times out of ten don't want to pay attention because they want to show off their tan/braids/henna tattoo/cheap jewellery they shouldn't be wearing in the first place.

From what I have seen, these kids cannot concentrate and get back into the swing of things for a further week or so, usually due to the jet-lag/lazyitis.
This is serious detriment to a child's education which isn't about listing off the countries of Europe or their times table, its getting into patterns and learning the skills to interpret the world around them.

I'm not saying every parent that takes their child away in school time is incapable of teaching their children these skills and about the local culture, however I think that people are very naive and condescending towards what schools do for their children.

Oh and btw I would love to take holidays! I can't afford to go in the summer but I'm not allowed to take time out of school because a week away would damage your children's education.

Actually the reason you are not allowed totake time out of school is because you have a contract like most jobs.

I think these days teachers have become brainwashed into thinking that they are educated in some high level mythical subject. I personally send my children to school for the social benefits. I could quite happily teach my children most school subjects or have someone help out within my family. My children are at the top of their class most of the time and I make sure they get lots of trips to interesting places abroad and in this country. My children are capable of learning much faster than most teachers are able to teach them.


I find it hilarious when teachers patronise parents and tell them that subjects in primary maths /french etc are so hard. But then often for primary teachers they do seem to be.

mickado

I would deafinately take my children on holiday in term time, this is what i'm doing at the moment, we save our money all year round for our holiday and due to the costs of the summer rip off prices we couldn't afford to holiday in the summer months, so if it means that we spend some quality time together as a family who should stop us!!!! where possible we try and contact the school for any important course work that they need to study. As we feel a stronge family bond is fall more important than ten days of schooling.

sealady

cannyscot wrote: »

Actually the reason you are not allowed totake time out of school is because you have a contract like most jobs.

I think these days teachers have become brainwashed into thinking that they are educated in some high level mythical subject. I personally send my children to school for the social benefits. I could quite happily teach my children most school subjects or have someone help out within my family. My children are at the top of their class most of the time and I make sure they get lots of trips to interesting places abroad and in this country. My children are capable of learning much faster than most teachers are able to teach them.


I find it hilarious when teachers patronise parents and tell them that subjects in primary maths /french etc are so hard. But then often for primary teachers they do seem to be.

When was the last time you taught a class of 30 brats for an entire year. Your kids must be wonderful but not all children are like yours and teachers have to put up with the good and the bad.

I'm so fed up with parents having a go at teachers and they don't know the half of what teachers actually have to do apart from teaching their little darlings :mad:

Xenos

cannyscot wrote: »

I could quite happily teach my children most school subjects or have someone help out within my family. My children are at the top of their class most of the time and I make sure they get lots of trips to interesting places abroad and in this country. My children are capable of learning much faster than most teachers are able to teach them.

Aren't you fortunate to be such a well-rounded, well-educated individual with a happy brood of genius children? And evidently you also have a solid knowledge of pedagogy. Clearly you know more about educational practice than someone who's spent time and energy studying it.

Not everyone is in your lucky position.

Xenos

sealady wrote: »

I'm so fed up with parents having a go at teachers and they don't know the half of what teachers actually have to do apart from teaching their little darlings :mad:

Me too, but I have found that when people start making cheap shots about our easy job with it's long holidays the easiest way to shut them up is:

"Well, you could always train to be a teacher you know, then you could have the long holidays too."

And you know what, suddenly they're not so keen. It's amazing.

SWDON

enor wrote: »

They're my children not the schools or the governments so as long as they're cared for I can't see why it should matter.

The Truth