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

missmuckypup

:rolleyes: I have a dilema where this is concerned! My parents live in Spain, my mother-in-law lives in Cyprus. I am seperated from my sons father and his parents live in Spain!

This year we have taken the kids to Spain at Easter but cannot afford to take them during school time so took them out just before May hols.

My son's father has now booked to take him on holiday to see his parents in September for 2 weeks, again because he could not afford to go during school holidays.

I believe if travel firms did not charge such ridiculous prices when the kids were off school then there would not be such a problem. Why do they do it?
Therefore I have, and will be taking mine out of school so we can have a holiday.
As I only have one child at school even if i was fined £50, it is still cheaper than paying for flights during the school holiday!
Sad but true.
:cool:

babyharry5

redglass wrote: »

babyharry5 wrote: »

I do not expect my sons teacher to help them catch up after - I plan that myself - whilst his teacher is busy photocopying yet another worksheet for my son!!!

I'm not sure what you have against photocopying or why it's seen as so wicked? Given that the child has missed the class for a holiday it seems an obvious thing to do and is used all the time for worksheets. How else are teachers supposed to make multiple copies - with a quill? Give them a break!

The point I was making is not that the photocopying is wicked!! but that the majority of work that my son is given to do (& this is all year & NOT work given to him to catch up for the 5 days that I took him out of school) is just copied from a book. He is then left to his own devices for an hour or so to complete this. ( what does the teacher do then??) plan which other page she/he will copy?
anyway this is getting of the initial discussion!!.

I do not feel that taking MY child out of the current educational system for a week during term time will do any damage whatsoever - provided not during exams/very important projects/ beginning of school terms
In fact i could probably take him out for a month with no effect!:rotfl:

Caterina

Without a doubt! In fact I have done this regularly - during primary school it never was a problem, but I had to battle it out in secondary school.

One year I asked for permission for the twins to have holidays in term time and this was guaranteed. The following year I only needed to keep them out of school for ONE DAY of term time, as the return booked was just after the school started. I asked permission and GOT REFUSED!!! On account that I had already taken them out in the previous year. I got a quite nasty and patronising little letter signed by the headteacher.

So I just took them out for that day and replied to her letter INFORMING her that my kids would be out of school on that day.

Nothing happened, no officials on my doorstep, no nasty letters, nothing.

I think it is important to ensure that the kids are not regular truants or regularly absent for trivial reasons, then just play the system (ask permission), then if this does not work, just do it!

Caterina

Caterina

Jambala wrote: »

You ABSOLUTELY SHOULD NOT take your children out of school for a holiday. That's what the school holidays are for - all 13 weeks of them! I appreciate that some people can't afford to pay for a peak-time holiday abroad in July/August, but if that's the case then DON'T! Take a cheap holiday in the UK for a year, stick the rest of the cash in a high-interest account, then use that to pay for a holiday in the sun the next year.

My experience is that most people do not appreciate how much today's children have to learn in such a short space of time. The curriculum is absolutely PACKED, and time off causes problems because children miss the earlier 'building blocks' that subsequent lessons/skills rely on. This is unfair on the child and unfair on the teacher, who has maybe 35 other children in the classroom, and cannot afford the time to sit with a child who's been sunning it up for a fortnight, and has missed key lessons.

Awwwww lighten up and come back to earth! Especially as a teacher, you should KNOW that what goes on in school is just NEVER AS IMPORTANT or AS ENGAGING or AS EDUCATIONAL as in real life. In fact school is the anthitesis of real life.

As long as it is done responsibly, with avoidance of truancy, 2 weeks out of school do not make an iota of difference to a kid's education, in fact for the most part they are GOOD for the kids, who get away from the oppressive "peer group" that they are thrown with for all their school life (so different from real life!) and also stand the chance of doing and seeing things in a different perspective (yes even in a package holiday to Butlins!), unlike in school, where people are actively DISCOURAGED from thinking for themselves!

Caterina

burt16

Having recently been in this situation myself, I would definately take my children out of school for a holiday in term-time, although I would be reluctant to go for two weeks, maybe just a week at a time.

We searched the internet and high street in March for holidays in July and August and in some cases would have paid £350 less for the same holiday if we took it in June. So that's what we did!

My children haven't got behind with their school work, and had a wonderful time on hioliday with lots of other children from like-minded families. I wish I could afford to holiday in school hols, but until they are priced more fairly, then I shall continue to book in term time.

maman

My answer is most DEFINITELY NOT!

I know this won't make me popular BUT I think most posters know it's not the best thing to do and have then attempted to justify their decision by rubbishing schools, bringing up culture etc etc

Surely you can have an educational/cultural/family experience in the 13 weeks of school holidays? I agree September is the worst possible time (excluding exam time) to take children out but children hate missing the socialising bits of school too like plays, sports, fetes, picnics etc Children want to belong to the school community.

I believe children get all the wrong messages about school/learning/life if they see their parents condone taking time out for a holiday when they should be 'working'. As for posters who have advocated calling in sick!!!

Sunnylady_2

You would have to get permission from the head of the school but I would still be concerned about the 10 year old (year 6) who would be in the last year of primary school.

It's a very important year when decisions are made about secondary education which affects more than just 2 weeks on holiday. Nothing can make up for the time spent in the classroom with teacher and peers when doing project work - not even being able to say a couple of Spanish phrases and having a suntan!

Personally, education comes first every time. The school holidays are long enough and frequent enough to plan something within them.

We all see bargain holidays we are unable to take advantage of but it's just tough!

Jambala

Caterina wrote: »

in fact for the most part they are GOOD for the kids, who get away from the oppressive "peer group" that they are thrown with for all their school life (so different from real life!) and also stand the chance of doing and seeing things in a different perspective (yes even in a package holiday to Butlins!), unlike in school, where people are actively DISCOURAGED from thinking for themselves!

Caterina

Discouraged from thinking for themselves? Surely 'thinking for themselves' underpins everything taught in a modern primary school?

As for your "oppressive peer group" assertion, you obviously have your own opinions about the value of primary education compared to 'the real world' as you put it - and you are well entitled to these opinions. But I ask you: where would a child gain the most SOCIAL and PERSONAL education? Would it be at Butlins/Majorca/etc. where they are there largely as part of an adult contingent, and are (quite rightly) encouraged to let loose, run around etc. OR would they gain more from being with their peers, where they learn how to interact, fall out and make up with their mates, co-operate, team-build, etc.

Please understand that I really agree with family holidays - I loved them as a kid and I love them now - but plenty of time has been set aside for these. School term time should be spent in school.

Caterina

We all appear to disagree with one or another opinion it seems (that's life!).

Just wanted to qualify one thing, I would stand my ground about taking the kids off school (it is NOT work! Work is NOT compulsory!) but I would discourage them to pretend being sick, in fact I would rather take the school on than lie. I think that lying gives the kids a bad message, NOT a couple of weeks LEARNING LIFE in Majorca (or elsewhere).

I get a bit sad (for tomorrow's children) when I read all the opinions about "education" being important (in school) The mis-informed idea that education ONLY happens in school is very widespread. Talk to home schooling parents and you will find that there are as many educational experiences as there are experiences.

Caterina

daveball

Definately yes. I don't believe a couple of weeks will forever affect child's progress. Those two weeks in school will first and foremost improve school's overall attendance record percentage and that of pupil. Those 2 weeks away will give the child 2 weeks new learning experience in a :j different culture that you can afford.

dave