Schools no longer allowed to authorise holidays

Tiddlywinks

Why does anyone think it's OK to miss school for a holiday?

A holiday? That can easily be taken in the school... now this is revolutionary... eh, holidays!

Taking your kids out of school to save money is providing entirely the wrong education to your children.

Lying and calling in sick is telling your child that it's OK to be dishonest.

You can all try to justify this by saying that taking them overseas is broadening their horizons etc BUT, just admit it... It's all about YOU wanting a cheap break with your children's education and values coming a poor second.

FBaby

You can all try to justify this by saying that taking them overseas is broadening their horizons etc BUT, just admit it... It's all about YOU wanting a cheap break with your children's education and values coming a poor second.

Well I wouldn't admit to it myself because it is not true in my case in every way.

iammumtoone

Tiddlywinks wrote: »

Taking your kids out of school to save money is providing entirely the wrong education to your children.

But not every parent is taking their child out to save money there are many that are taking their child out as they literally cannot afford to so in the school holidays. I am not talking about cannot afford to go aboard in the schools holidays but cannot afford even the cheapest UK caravan break.

pigpen

Tiddlywinks wrote: »

Why does anyone think it's OK to miss school for a holiday?

A holiday? That can easily be taken in the school... now this is revolutionary... eh, holidays!

Taking your kids out of school to save money is providing entirely the wrong education to your children.

Lying and calling in sick is telling your child that it's OK to be dishonest.

You can all try to justify this by saying that taking them overseas is broadening their horizons etc BUT, just admit it... It's all about YOU wanting a cheap break with your children's education and values coming a poor second.

I think you'll find not everyone does think it is ok.. far from it for most people.. and deceit is what will happen.. it isn't *right* but is telling parents what they can and cannot do with their own children right? Removing their right as a parent to take a holiday or dictate when that can be.. is that ok?? Where does it end? They dictate what they can have for their lunch, when they can take holidays already... bedtimes? what games they can play, what tv they can watch? .. At some point it gets ridiculous.

Only 1 of mine has ever been abroad, I've never been either. I also think this country has masses to offer in terms of education going and sitting on a foreign beach does not appeal at all.

For my family.. education is the one thing I can and will give them the best I possibly can.. it gives a grounding for their future, whatever that may be... and missing days is not an option.. they miss enough time with hospital and therapist appointments without taking them on holiday.

Almo

Lunar_Eclipse wrote: »

Whilst I don't disagree with the sentiment and clearly someone's father dying is an extreme case of an event which could have a significant detrimental effect on upcoming exam success, it's important to acknowledge that both of these scenarios were outside the child's control.

It is parents that take children on holiday and lots of children of secondary school age would be devastated by the potential academic consequences of being absent during term time. So I'd like to think your husband might not have taken such a blanket 'black & white' approach.

At the risk of igniting another subject which inflames this board, teachers simply don't have time to support kids who've missed something because they were on a beach somewhere. As I've already said, in my own classes it could be a weekly event that someone was absent for something other than a 'good' reason. It might be every week in a term. By the time you've done all the usual work outside class, given help to those who missed the lesson because of sickness or family sickness etc, and helped those who were there but just didn't quite get it, it's not feasible nor fair to start helping those who deliberately missed it.

If I had handouts etc then of course the student could have them, I wouldn't wilfully deprive them of course materials.

It's not that I don't care about the one student. I accept that it may not have been their choice to go (although if we're talking secondary students, they should perhaps have spoken up) but I have to care more about the needs of the rest of the class. I'm afraid it's the one versus the many.

Tiddlywinks

iammumtoone wrote: »

But not every parent is taking their child out to save money there are many that are taking their child out as they literally cannot afford to so in the school holidays. I am not talking about cannot afford to go aboard in the schools holidays but cannot afford even the cheapest UK caravan break.

So, go on day trips... You don't NEED to go away.

Dunroamin

iammumtoone wrote: »

But not every parent is taking their child out to save money there are many that are taking their child out as they literally cannot afford to so in the school holidays.

Isn't that exactly the same thing?

If you can't afford a holiday - don't go.

Tiddlywinks

pigpen wrote: »

.... but is telling parents what they can and cannot do with their own children right? Removing their right as a parent to take a holiday or dictate when that can be.. is that ok??

There are speed limits, drug laws etc all there to protect members of society - why is this any different?

Society is about having organisation and rules... the sooner a child learns that the better or they'll grow up thinking that rules do not apply to them.... and start letting their kids miss school.

Mojisola

pigpen wrote: »

it isn't *right* but is telling parents what they can and cannot do with their own children right? Removing their right as a parent to take a holiday or dictate when that can be.. is that ok?? Where does it end? They dictate what they can have for their lunch, when they can take holidays already... bedtimes? what games they can play, what tv they can watch? .. At some point it gets ridiculous.

No-one forces parents to send children to school. If they do go to school, they should follow the rules - uniforms, behaviour, holidays.

Teachers can't take holidays in term time. Is that wrong? Most work places have rules about when employees can and can't take holidays - should these rules be ignored?

Schools might give advice about what happens out of school - bedtimes, hours of TV watched, etc, but parents can and do ignore it. What happens within the school hours is different.

pigpen

Tiddlywinks wrote: »

There are speed limits, drug laws etc all there to protect members of society - why is this any different?

Society is about having organisation and rules... the sooner a child learns that the better or they'll grow up thinking that rules do not apply to them.... and start letting their kids miss school.

Because they save lives.. taking a day off school isn't going to kill anyone..

Mojisola wrote: »

No-one forces parents to send children to school. If they do go to school, they should follow the rules - uniforms, behaviour, holidays.

Teachers can't take holidays in term time. Is that wrong? Most work places have rules about when employees can and can't take holidays - should these rules be ignored?

Schools might give advice about what happens out of school - bedtimes, hours of TV watched, etc, but parents can and do ignore it. What happens within the school hours is different.

2 of the teachers at our primary took holidays in term time last year.. one rule for them and another for the children?

And if the school tried telling me what my children could or could not do out of school hours they would get a very short shrift!!