taking children out of school for holidays in term time

Lifeisbutadream

I have just come back from a two week holiday having taken both my children out for 9 days.

I wrote to the head explaining that due to our business we are unable to take time out during any school holidays (part of our business is renovating and furnishing student properties so it has to be done during holiday times) - I gave the head teacher a plan of what we would do school-work wise whilst we were away and she authorised it.

The children did school work for an hour or two every morning whilst we were away, plus we went on day trips, which they then wrote 'projects' about - so I don't feel guilty at all.

I can understand from a schools point of view why they frown upon children being taken out of school, but from a personal point of view the only time we actually get to relax is when we are away from home (business phone rings constantly even on weekends whilst we are here)

SingleSue

My parents always took us out of school for our holidays, no restrictions back then....and I was a straight A student, never in trouble at school and a child of decent middle class parents. It was not for cost reasons, they just preferred it quieter.

I took my children out of school for holidays until last year, reason being is I have two autistic children and they really struggle with the noise levels, the amount of people around etc on the site during the school holiday plus it was thought best for my youngest son (by the head, his teachers and his outreach teacher) to not be at school for the last week or so when the whole classroom routine goes completely out the window and the familiar surroundings change due to posters etc being removed.

Last year was our first summer holiday taken in the school holidays and for the first week it was an absolute nightmare with my youngest son, he couldn't cope by the swimming pool, he couldn't cope in the clubhouse and he couldn't cope in the kids club, we had ministry of funny noises from morning until night, screaming ad dabs, you name it, we got it...I wanted to come home after 3 days it was so stressful.

That said, I am going to persevere with it although with last years experience, I am sorely tempted to go back to term time holidays but persevere I must as they are all now at high school.

The price of holidays in the school holidays though really needs to be looked at, they are far too expensive compared to just a week or two before..in my case, the price of the holiday doubles (if I paid full whack - I usually get a private hire van from my parents circle of friends for a small donation, it's all gone wrong this year!), with more reasonable costs, parents would not be forced into taking their children out of school just to be able to afford a holiday.

milliebear00001

As a teacher, I sympathise with parents wanting to take holidays at cheaper times - prices in holiday times ARE extortionate. You have to abide by your school's rules though - that's what you sign up for when you send your kid there. Take em out - but don't moan when they a. fall behand and/or b. you get fined/'visited'.

Currently giving up several of my lunch-breaks to accommodate children in my class who missed their reading/maths tests while on extended holidays after the half-term hols!

Lifeisbutadream

mspig wrote: »

I also don't get why people take their kids on holiday and make them do school work, a holiday is just that a holiday, a chance to have fun together as a family.

Well in my case it worked out well for us when the kids did work as they sat quietly by the pool whilst me and OH laid and read we also had the added benefit of looking like The Waltons and loads of old dears told us that we had two beautifully behaved children

Lifeisbutadream

mspig wrote: »

My kids wouldn't dream of sitting round the pool their the noisy ones who jump in and splash everyone lying round the pool.

They did that in the afternoons

Fly_Baby

kelloggs36 wrote: »

That way of teaching is enough to switch any child off of learning - how dull learning out of text books!!

A child will have to learn out of text books only if he/she misses school for whatever reason. All other time kids go to school like everywhere else and study in class with a teacher.

Fly_Baby

pollypenny wrote: »

I was never able to find one 'perfect' or even ideal text book.

IMO, a nearly perfect textbook is more preferable than no text book at all.

As a parent, I find the teachers' assumptions that a child will miss out on a lot if not taught at school unpleasant and unnecessary at the very least. It feels like I have no control as to what my son is learning at the moment and cannot help him do better because I don't know what he is taught and what he is behind in.

Indie_Kid

milliebear00001 wrote: »

Currently giving up several of my lunch-breaks to accommodate children in my class who missed their reading/maths tests while on extended holidays after the half-term hols!

I would refuse to do this:
In year 11, I was off ill for 3 weeks. I was given no work - my parents requested this. When I got back and asked what I'd missed, I got told not to worry and that I would get no help in catching up.

One teacher did blame me for being off (I had no choice - I was recovering from an operation) and said I should've come in. Yeah, I was in so much pain from dressing changes and did have problems with dressing changes and first aid weren't allowed to do anything. (because it was an existing wound - if I'd hurt myself at school, they would've done something)

Spendless

I've taken mine out before for various reasons including a holiday planned many years before we had children, work committments and to draw a line under an operation for a serious illness my husband had and to move on from it. I do so accepting my children may miss out and I may get fined. And as for teacher bashing this is what I gave my own teacher on a card yesterday (I'm a mature student).

On Teaching
Kahlil Gibran
No man can reveal to you aught but that which already lies half asleep in the dawning of your knowledge.

The teacher who walks in the shadow of the temple, among his followers, gives not of his wisdom but rather of his faith and his lovingness.

If he is indeed wise he does not bid you enter the house of his wisdom, but rather leads you to the threshold of your own mind.

The astronomer may speak to you of his understanding of space, but he cannot give you his understanding.

The musician may sing to you of the rhythm which is in all space, but he cannot give you the ear which arrests the rhythm nor the voice that echoes it.

And he who is versed in the science of numbers can tell of the regions of weight and measure, but he cannot conduct you thither.

For the vision of one man lends not its wings to another man.

And even as each one of you stands alone in God's knowledge, so must each one of you be alone in his knowledge of God and in his understanding of the earth.

Fluffi

peachyprice wrote: »

If they did that the travel industry would just hike up the prices for those 2 week half terms!

Totally agree ... but at least people would be able to book 2 week breaks without their children missing any school.

I find it crazy that children don't have textbooks any more though ... not even for Maths? How are parents meant to keep track of exactly what their children are learning and be able to support their kids learning? If I was a parent I'd definately want access to a detailed curriculum and learning objectives so that I could check on my child's progress and make sure the school didn't miss anything!