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

FloFlo

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.

And we wonder why children in school have bad attitudes towards education nowadays!:rolleyes:

Try supporting your school.

Jambala

SWDON wrote: »

The Truth

Yeah, I can see where you're coming from, but the kids deserve the opportunity to do their best ACADEMICALLY in addition to being well cared for.

I appreciate that an all-round education doesn't start and end in a classroom, but parents who persistently take their children out of school actively compromise (a strong word, I know) their children's chances of gaining good qualifications, diminishing the likelihood of them realising their ideal job/career in later life. I'm not just spouting rhetoric here - I've seen it happen first-hand, and more than once!

There have been lots of people in this thread criticising schools/teachers and stating that they can offer an education equal to that provided by schools; I believe the idea is something along the lines of: "my child learns more in the outside world/in Majorca than in the classroom." I'm sorry but that is simply not the case. Schools teach as broad and balanced a curriculum as they possibly can, while also imparting the skills - and this is the key word here - SKILLS - not just KNOWLEDGE - needed to pass exams and to function in the world beyond school.

bennett2kuk

I routinely missed weeks off throughtout my school life to go abroad and left school with 10 GCSEs between As and Bs and 3 A Levels.
I wouldn't hesitate to take my children out of school as I know that children are quite capable of catching up.
This crap about having to get the school's premission is nonsense. Even without permission I would go ahead and taken them out of school.
Obviously if they were studying towards exams then I would think twice, but especially in Martin's case the children are primary school age and cosidering you learn nothing until Secondary school then what's the problem?

aplegjnf

sealady wrote: »

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:

I don't see any parents here having a go at any teachers, I think you are taking it too personally. What I see is parents having a go at the system, how about agreeing with what some of us are saying and teachers working with parents to change it?!

Perhaps we are actually between the lines 'singing from the same page' - you agree that you have to do too much as well as teach their little darlings; and let's remember, yes they are our precioius little darlings! most parents are supporting their children's education, and also find it frustrating when their little darling, who did not start off as a little brat, is dumped into a class of 30 with 5 little brats who make teaching and learning almost impossible for all, and peer pressure makes the little angel conform to being alittle brat as *that* is what gets the teachers attention (No fault of the teacher- that is not a dig) Let's not even get into the debate of corporal punishment! Even if you disagree you must acknowledge there need to be an effective deterrent for bad behaviour, and somthing inplace to give more attantion and supervision to those who aren't total brats when they start!

The system dictates no-one wins, unless a rigid timetable and paperwork mountains are followed.I have never been a 'professionaly qualified teacher',( I have home educated 4 children to GCSE standard who are all doing exceptionally well ) but I do remember teachers being able to construct a curriculum to suit their class needs, not what central government dictates!
As oyu can see this is a subject I feel passionate about.
P.

tissie

:j I don't think you can under-estimate the value of children spending good quality time with their parents, which is exactly what they get on holiday, plus lots of new experiences and time to relax - children get very little of that these days. If the holiday doesn't clash with exams and isn't at the start of a new school year (when all the important rules are established and friendships made) then I think it's a great idea to make the most of family holiday time (and save money). If you feel guilty strike a deal with the kids - they have to keep a holiday diary and a record of their own spending, plus write their own postcards, should cover most educational areas!!

aplegjnf

Xenos wrote: »

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.

This is extremely patronising. I can guarantee this person knows more about their child than ANY so called professional, and therefore the child's style of learning ( wether they know the definition of it technically or not!) and ithey know intuitively if their child is struggling with an issue, be it an educational subject or emotional one.
Every one is in that lucky position as a parent until some one, who believes a few years of studying a theory can dictate to parent what is right for their child, come s along and undermines their confidence. Parents teach their children everything they learn until they are handed over to professionals at compulsory school age; there is no reason parents need to delegate that to anyone else unless they WANT to. If you google 'home education' and search for UK pages oyu will find a wealth of information that contradicts your patronising views, if oyu are willing to be openminded enough to read it.
Yes, if parents are able to teach their children to talk, feed themselves, brush their teeth etc they are capable of facilitating their education for the whole of their lives. Each child does have the capacity to become a genius in some field that they have an aptitude for. Unfortunately the school system insists academics are the most important thing to concentrate on.
I'm not taking apersonal dig at you, but couldn't let your sarcasm affect how a parent may feel about themself. What I think you are implying is just not true.
P.

aplegjnf

Jambala wrote: »

Yeah, I can see where you're coming from, but the kids deserve the opportunity to do their best ACADEMICALLY in addition to being well cared for.

I appreciate that an all-round education doesn't start and end in a classroom, but parents who persistently take their children out of school actively compromise (a strong word, I know) their children's chances of gaining good qualifications, diminishing the likelihood of them realising their ideal job/career in later life. I'm not just spouting rhetoric here - I've seen it happen first-hand, and more than once!

There have been lots of people in this thread criticising schools/teachers and stating that they can offer an education equal to that provided by schools; I believe the idea is something along the lines of: "my child learns more in the outside world/in Majorca than in the classroom." I'm sorry but that is simply not the case. Schools teach as broad and balanced a curriculum as they possibly can, while also imparting the skills - and this is the key word here - SKILLS - not just KNOWLEDGE - needed to pass exams and to function in the world beyond school.

I disagree! The parents in this thread CAN offer an education equal to that provided by schools.... home educators are doing it day by day. Sometimes the education is even better than any school, most times it is better than their local school, and much more flexible. The very least it is equal to the worst schools! You can take holidays out of peak season!:D So really, you can't lose with home ed if you want to try it!

I think what people are saying about majorca is this: "two weeks in majorca gives my child a different educational experience than they would recieve in school, therefore it is worth what htey would miss in school to give them that experience on holiday"

ClareEmily

Haven't had time to read all the comments on here, but a personal view when I was a child and taken on holiday out of season because it was cheaper, it was rubbish.

No other kids to play with, loads of things shut, and normally colder (mainly UK hols I got).

Thrifty-saver

No, definately not. When my 2 children were at school, we never took them on holiday during term time. Yes, it was always more expensive but as a caring parent it was more important they didn't miss school unneccesarily, unless they were ill, of course.
As a grandparent of 4 now, & 2 not looking forward to going back in September as they both will have new teachers from last term, they will be so dis-advantaged to miss the new term for 2 weeks where on their return all the other kids have settled back in & learnt the new teacher's ways whilst they had yet to find out. If you care for your child's happiness & well-being then for a change put them first.
Do you not realise that any time lost at school is detrimental, whether it be at the beginning or end of term?
I am now having to pay extra for my holidays as although they are always taken when kids should be at school invariably if I choose a "Family Friendly" hotel then there are always some children there whose parents don't care how noisy or tired they are providing the adults are enjoying themselves & their kids are pestering other people. So our answer is to pay extra & book an "Adults" only hotel for some peace & quiet.

No, no, no I don't hate kids but I do hate inconsiderate parents who seem to think that they are the only ones who deserve a holiday.

Whatever happened to the Government's idea of fining parents who take their children out of school for holidays? Having read some of the replies it seems that some councils do adopt this rule whilst others don't. I do agree with the idea that if your child's teacher took time off during the school year & left a class without any learning for 2 weeks - then parents would find this most unacceptable. Consideration is the name of the game on all sides.

Jambala

aplegjnf wrote: »

I disagree! The parents in this thread CAN offer an education equal to that provided by schools.... home educators are doing it day by day. Sometimes the education is even better than any school, most times it is better than their local school, and much more flexible. The very least it is equal to the worst schools! You can take holidays out of peak season!:D So really, you can't lose with home ed if you want to try it!

Hmm, not really what I meant. I have no problem at all with people who choose to home-educate their children, and do it well, to GCSE standard. One real advantage is that home-educators can factor in what holidays they feel are appropriate, and at the times they feel are appropriate, for their children.

My point is against the posters that make claims to the tune of "my child's time is better spent on holiday with the family than in a classroom during term-time." This is patently FALSE. Children should be in school learning and practising SKILLS during term-time, not on holiday - even if they are somewhere cultural.

Let me try to clarify what I mean. A previous poster made the point that children learn things on holiday; I think the example was the name and age of a tower somewhere. This is fine and admirable, but it's FACTS; KNOWLEDGE. What has the child done with these facts? How have they used and applied them? Have they discussed them in a debate with their peers? Have they analysed how the facts affected the populous and linked that to what happens in modern times? Have they used ICT to research further? Etc., etc., etc. This development of research/debate/discussion/presentation skills is what happens in school AS A RESULT OF learning FACTS. And this is difficult to emulate while on a fortnight's holiday somewhere.

The last thing I want to do is to patronise previous posters, but unless you have been trained to develop these skills in your children, or you have read up/taken courses on it (as most home-schoolers have), you disadvantage your child's education by removing them from school during term-time. Do it in the school holidays!

- JB (Putting flamesuit on)