Called for Jury Service -advice needed

Janepig

shirlgirl2004 wrote: »

Why? because their children will not be damaged by spending extra time in a setting in which they are already familiar whereas my children would have to spend time away from me for the first time and be in an alien environment. This has nothing to do with money it is the welfare of the children that is important to me.

As I said, why should they have to spend extra time there and lose precious time with their parents? And as I said in a previous post, I think it's worse for the parents than the children. It's just an argument that can go round in circles all day because there are for's and against's on all sides.

Jxx

gnats_chuff

It's easy to get excused - just write in to the clerk of the court giving your reasons and they will let you off. Technically you are self-employed which is a perfectly valid reason. I was called twice in four years - the first I could do and the second I could not because my new job took me travelling a lot. The Clerk was very understanding.

It is the most eye-opening experience and something you should do if you can. It won't be 'fun' but it gives you an insight into a world you (I hope) don't live in. Just make sure to leave all your prejudices at the door.....

shirlgirl2004

Janepig wrote: »

As I said, why should they have to spend extra time there and lose precious time with their parents? And as I said in a previous post, I think it's worse for the parents than the children. It's just an argument that can go round in circles all day because there are for's and against's on all sides.

Jxx

I didn't realise you have some sort of child psychology qualification. You try explaining to an 18 month old that mummy will be back in 9 or 10 hours when they are not used to leaving her. If you read the research you will realise that leaving children to cry can repress neurological development and lower the immune system (due to cortisol levels). I do not do it at home and I won't do it because someone else says I should. Personally if someone chooses to leave their child crying at a nursery that is their choice but it is not one that I would make.

Janepig

shirlgirl2004 wrote: »

I didn't realise you have some sort of child psychology qualification. You try explaining to an 18 month old that mummy will be back in 9 or 10 hours when they are not used to leaving her. If you read the research you will realise that leaving children to cry can repress neurological development and lower the immune system (due to cortisol levels). I do not do it at home and I won't do it because someone else says I should. Personally if someone chooses to leave their child crying at a nursery that is their choice but it is not one that I would make.

Have I professed to be an expert? No need to have a go, especially when you seem to be perfectly clued up on the subject :rolleyes:. I've also said that afaik if childcare is that much of a problem then you just defer. Everybody's happy.

Sheesh, remind me not to express and opinion or counter argument :rolleyes:. Or then again.....

Jxx

milliebear00001

Janepig wrote: »

Have I professed to be an expert? No need to have a go, especially when you seem to be perfectly clued up on the subject :rolleyes:. I've also said that afaik if childcare is that much of a problem then you just defer. Everybody's happy.

Sheesh, remind me not to express and opinion or counter argument :rolleyes:. Or then again.....

Jxx

I think the point being made was that no parent is going to be in the slightest bit interested in YOUR views (or the legal system's) on whether they should put their child into daycare, or whether the experience would be good or bad for them. It is a PARENT's choice to make - nobody else's - end of.

The 'legal system' does not know the individual children involved, and while that system may strive to promote juries that are as representative as possible, that should not be at the expense of the emotional well-being of individual children.

KeithP

It is every citizen's duty to do their stint of jury service if asked.

Of course there will always be good reasons why a particular time is unsuitable, and there is a mechanism in place to help resolve those issues.

But some people here seem to be saying...
"Its nothing to do with me. Its not my responsibility. Let someone else do my duty".

bestpud

milliebear00001 wrote: »

I think the point being made was that no parent is going to be in the slightest bit interested in YOUR views (or the legal system's) on whether they should put their child into daycare, or whether the experience would be good or bad for them. It is a PARENT's choice to make - nobody else's - end of.

The 'legal system' does not know the individual children involved, and while that system may strive to promote juries that are as representative as possible, that should not be at the expense of the emotional well-being of individual children.

I think that is a bit harsh tbh.

Everyone is entitled to an opinion and janepig just happens to have a different one to you (or I for that matter).

I think it is actually very helpful to know what other people think - if only because you could be appealing to someone with similar views if ever called for jury service.

And, it is right, they probably won't be scarred for life by spending two weeks with a good childcare provider, but then I also know how difficult it would be for a child (and parent!) who has only been cared for at home to suddenly be thrust into daycare without all the normal preparation working parents would make for the transition. My youngest would have been very upset by it - I spent a good 3/4 months getting her used to childcare.

But I think perhaps people need to step back a bit, as this is rapdily turning into a SAH vs working parent debate, and they are always heated!

We can all take things personally when it comes to our children but there is no need.

Just my thoughts again - welcome or not!

milliebear00001

bestpud wrote: »

I think that is a bit harsh tbh.

Everyone is entitled to an opinion and janepig just happens to have a different one to you (or I for that matter).

I think it is actually very helpful to know what other people think - if only because you could be appealing to someone with similar views if ever called for jury service.

And, it is right, they probably won't be scarred for life by spending two weeks with a good childcare provider, but then I also know how difficult it would be for a child (and parent!) who has only been cared for at home to suddenly be thrust into daycare without all the normal preparation working parents would make for the transition. My youngest would have been very upset by it - I spent a good 3/4 months getting her used to childcare.

But I think perhaps people need to step back a bit, as this is rapdily turning into a SAH vs working parent debate, and they are always heated!

We can all take things personally when it comes to our children but there is no need.

Just my thoughts again - welcome or not!

My intention was not to comment directly on Janepig's views. I was simply reiterating the point that it is nobody else's choice whether my (or anyone else's) child should be cared for outside the family, and that therefore, it's irrelevant what other people's views on this are.

I am not saying I would 'shirk' jury duty. I would be pleased to do it. BUT - not if it meant disrupting and upsetting my children, and not if I bankrupted myself in the process - these seem fair enough to me. If we want to maximise the representative nature of juries, perhaps we should be prepared to pay the drop in income people will suffer - until we do, juries will continue to be skewed due to lots of high earners, who play the system and manage to get out of it by pulling any string necessary.

shirlgirl2004

bestpud wrote: »

And, it is right, they probably won't be scarred for life by spending two weeks with a good childcare provider, but then I also know how difficult it would be for a child (and parent!) who has only been cared for at home to suddenly be thrust into daycare without all the normal preparation working parents would make for the transition. My youngest would have been very upset by it - I spent a good 3/4 months getting her used to childcare.

But we don't know if it would be 2 weeks or not. It could be months. Unlikely but not unheard of. I don't know why people assume that being taken away from a parent will not scar a child for life. How many adults do we know that have irrational fears about birds etc? Where have the fears come from? Childhood and normally one bad experience not prolonged experiences.

samgeordie

I recently got called up for jury service and eventually managed to get out of it, Im a registered childminder and only been self employed just under a year. I sent a letter explaining my circumstances eg self employed, just set up a business and can't afford to loose contracts, letting down parents and also having no-one to look after my own child. They were not too sympathetic, i took further advice and all the parents of my mindees wrote letters explaining the inconvenience and stress caused to them and their children if i was unable to work. This worked and i was taken off the list.

I think a letter from your employer stating you are required to work then, the inconvenience it would cause them and the effect on the children you teach. Also mention you have no childcare care, and having enquired around local childminders none are available to start at such short notice on a temporary adhoc basis. Also state that in normal circumstances you would be more than happy to attend but it has come at a time when it is making things extremely difficult for you. If I'd got called up a year previously I would have been more than happy to sit in court all day while still getting paid from my employer.

good luck