Holidays with kids in school time, have you done it?

Jinx

Nicki wrote: »

When my child does a topic like Egypt it is for an hour or so a week for about half a term. So even if he was studying Egypt at school I would not think by taking him out of school for a whole week during term time that I had given him a better education than he would have had at school. What about the other 34 hours of maths, literacy, science, music, art, history, ICT etc they would also have benefited from that week? Particularly maths and literacy, as these are subjects where a building block could easily be missed.

I'm firmly in the camp of holidays should be taken in the 13 weeks off school, and if you want to make the holiday educational that's great, but most people spend most of their one or two weeks holiday having fun, not trailing round historical sites and museums every day, whether they go in holiday or term time.

My suspicion is that those who do take their children out of school during term time don't themselves have an education to a particularly high level and this is why they don't value their children's education or the job that teachers do. Ducks and runs for cover!

I actually think its the opposite..... I think most parents who take their children out of school for hols are working to pay their bills and this includes a budget for holidays.

While my daughter was still at school I was in a team where we all took our kids out at some point and we were a team ranging from a 'standard' BA up to Masters and PHDs....

Its about fitting everything in... in my case a monthend timetable at work, others holidays, an ex-husband who wanted summer hols, budget and a whole host of things for other people.

Teachers are there to teach our children, its what they chose to do - it has nothing to do with a decision to take a child out for a holiday!

milliebear00001

bestpud wrote: »

And you feel the need to defend your profession - I understand that.

You are wrong to suggest a parent cannot educate their own child to the same level however.

I feel the need to defend my profession against the criticisms of people who know little about what actually happens within it. People who think they know how to do my job (and feel they can tell me how best to do it) in a way they never would with other professions.

I don't remember saying that a parent couldn't educate their own child to 'the same level' (whatever that is) - perhaps you can enlighten me?

Zoetoes

Nicki wrote: »

When my child does a topic like Egypt it it for an hour or so a week for about half a term. So even if he was studying Egypt at school I would not think by taking him out of school for a whole week during term time that I had given him a better education than he would have had at school. What about the other 34 hours of maths, literacy, science, music, art, history, ICT etc they would also have benefited from that week? Particularly maths and literacy, as these are subjects where a building block could easily be missed.

I'm firmly in the camp of holidays should be taken in the 13 weeks off school, and if you want to make the holiday educational that's great, but most people spend most of their one or two weeks holiday having fun, not trailing round historical sites and museums every day, whether they go in holiday or term time.

My suspicion is that those who do take their children out of school during term time don't themselves have an education to a particularly high level and this is why they don't value their children's education or the job that teacher's do. Ducks and runs for cover!

I won't take offence to this as my son is top of the class.

In fact, in year 1 I had to speak to the school regarding the work my son was being given, for example, the spellings were words like 'home' 'gone' etc, none more than 4 letters. I was told that all the children in the class had to have the same words and unfortunately some of the children weren't as bright, they couldn't give extra attention to one child that was brighter (although they do for a child that is less bright). So basically this was stopping my son from progressing at school, so luckily he was progressing at home.

I agree that a child is missing out on maths, ICT, Englsih etc also, but unless their attendance is poor and they're work is behind or they're not progressing as they should be then I don't think a week out of school is going to ruin their future.

It's likely that the kid with behaviour issues in the class is causing more disruption to the learning of the rest of the children than me taking my son out for a week.

And as for when we are on holiday we spend quality time together whether it is on the beach or 'trailing round' seeing one of the original wonders.

God, I hope one day in the future my son doesn't come to me and say 'mum, that week you took me out of school when I was 9 and took me to see the pyramids has ruined my life, I don't know things now that I should know.'

bestpud

milliebear00001 wrote: »

I feel the need to defend my profession against the criticisms of people who know little about what actually happens within it. People who think they know how to do my job (and feel they can tell me how best to do it) in a way they never would with other professions.

I don't remember saying that a parent couldn't educate their own child to 'the same level' (whatever that is) - perhaps you can enlighten me?

Post 127.

Unfortunately, many teachers feel they know better than parents, just because they are trained in their profession.

Sometimes they do but sometimes they don't, and perhaps some teachers expect respect from parent without giving any in return?

Nicki

bestpud wrote: »

You are wrong to suggest a parent cannot educate their own child to the same level however.

Most parents though can't even dream of offering their children the same level of education or opportunity that they get at school. I know that although I was lucky enough to have a good education, and so would in theory be able to teach my child anything on the national curriculum at least up to GCSE level, in practise I would not be able to do so well. This is in part because I would not have time to both deliver all the lessons in all the subjects and prepare lessons for the following day on a consistent basis, and also because I do not have the training and the flair to come up with ways to interest him in a range of subjects not all of which I might be all that interested in myself.

Some parents do a fantastic job of home educating but lets not kid ourselves. Taking your child out of school for a cheap holiday is not home education. Having your child out of school 52 weeks a year, and providing all of the resources and information for them is home educating, and obviously those parents can and should take advantage of cheap travel times.

Zoetoes

You are not required to send your child to school, you are required to ensure they receive an education.

I don't think the authorities would conclude that my child is not receiving an education because I took him out of school for a week.

bestpud

Nicki wrote: »

Most parents though can't even dream of offering their children the same level of education or opportunity that they get at school. I know that although I was lucky enough to have a good education, and so would in theory be able to teach my child anything on the national curriculum at least up to GCSE level, in practise I would not be able to do so well. This is in part because I would not have time to both deliver all the lessons in all the subjects and prepare lessons for the following day on a consistent basis, and also because I do not have the training and the flair to come up with ways to interest him in a range of subjects not all of which I might be all that interested in myself.

Some parents do a fantastic job of home educating but lets not kid ourselves. Taking your child out of school for a cheap holiday is not home education. Having your child out of school 52 weeks a year, and providing all of the resources and information for them is home educating, and obviously those parents can and should take advantage of cheap travel times.

No, exactly!! It is not home education and the work that is needed to ensure they catch up is actually minimal in most cases and entirely possible for the average parent. This is especially so at primary level.

You don't need to do anywhere near the level of preparation a teacher has to in order to teach one child. And if you did home educate, that would become part of your role so you'd find yourself just doing it.

But like you say, the point is, children can easily catch up from a week off school and a parent does not need a degree or anything like it to help them do so.

bestpud

zoeleigh wrote: »

You are not required to send your child to school, you are required to ensure they receive an education.

I don't think the authorities would conclude that my child is not receiving an education because I took him out of school for a week.

I agree and that is why I'd like to see someone challenge the LEA fines.

Zoetoes

In lieu of the royal wedding, the school's are now off on April 1st, this is a day's less education for my son and causes disruption for me having to take time off work, so the staff can have an extra day as holiday, should I protest about this?

Zoetoes

zoeleigh wrote: »

In lieu of the royal wedding, the school's are now off on April 1st, this is a day's less education for my son and causes disruption for me having to take time off work, so the staff can have an extra day as holiday, should I protest about this?

They also had 2 'inset days' last week after the week off school, this was another 2 days of my son's education, so there's 3 days already, there are also more inset days throughout the year, the school week is only 5 which is what he missed while we were on holiday.