Keeping child off school because it's their birthday!

rachiibell · 10 July 2014 at 1:02AM

maman wrote: »

I'd definitely say no it's wrong for so many reasons.

For those who are convinced absolutely nothing is happening in schools at the moment: There's more to school than just lessons and exams there's the whole social and community side too. Most children actually enjoy the events and visits running up to the end of term. I've felt really sorry for children who wanted, for example, to compete in the school sports but couldn't because parents had planned term time holidays. And most children are mortified when parents lie on their behalf and say they're sick when they're not. It goes against everything the school is trying to teach them.

Agreed but I'd say that at 15 it was probably the child's decision to skip school.

FBaby · 10 July 2014 at 6:28AM

My view is that birthdays are totally over-rated. It'a another reason to turn things around to make it me, me, me and taking a day off for it only emphasises this attitude.

I do make a point of making it a special day for my kids because they would be disappointed otherwise, but I certainly don't want to teach them that it is such a special day that it justifies not going to school. Fair enough if I'd planned something exceptional, like an event that is taking place only that afternoon, but taking the day off to go and spend the day in a shopping centre spending money (as the mum of my DD's friend did for her DD's birthday) I find just gives the wrong message.

It's been mentioned already, but my experience is also that those parents more likely to take their kids off on their birthdayare more likely to be the kids who are also off for a tummy upset, a bit of a cough, off because they are upset that their cat is having surgery etc... I think that once you learn that all these are acceptable as a kid, you are much likely to find it acceptable as an adult and that's not what I want to teach my kids.

geerex · 10 July 2014 at 7:25AM

I can see both sides of this. If it's a "non" birthday, like 8 or something, the i don't see the point. If it's 16, and the "child" isn't missing much, then fair enough. Particularly if it's a Friday and you have a weekend away planned or similar.
I think people in general place too much emphasis on the school part of school/life balance. There's really no harm in taking the odd sickie, as long as the child isn't falling behind. Life is for living, and these little snippets of stolen time affect very little in the long term.

geerex · 10 July 2014 at 7:38AM

JIL wrote: »

If a teacher chose to take the day off that fell on a school day on their own birthday there would be uproar. Especially from the parents.

I've often wondered if teachers are allowed to take days off during term time, particularly considering the amount of leave that they already get.
Does anyone know?

mrcow · 10 July 2014 at 7:44AM

geerex wrote: »

I've often wondered if teachers are allowed to take days off during term time, particularly considering the amount of leave that they already get.
Does anyone know?

No they are not.

Unless they are ill or it's some sort of compassionate leave.

geerex · 10 July 2014 at 7:49AM

mrcow wrote: »

No they are not.

Unless they are ill or it's some sort of compassionate leave.

That's pretty poor. Sometimes life dictates a need for a midweek day off, I wonder how many "sick" days are taken in just those circumstances.

I'd be very much in favour of chopping a week off the summer holidays and converting it into 3/4 "lieu" days for teachers/children alike. There would be less "sick" days, and the children/parents would benefit from a little extra special time without worrying about the attendance police. .

ecgirl07 · 10 July 2014 at 8:01AM

geerex wrote: »

That's pretty poor. Sometimes life dictates a need for a midweek day off, I wonder how many "sick" days are taken in just those circumstances.

I'd be very much in favour of chopping a week off the summer holidays and converting it into 3/4 "lieu" days for teachers/children alike. There would be less "sick" days, and the children/parents would benefit from a little extra special time without worrying about the attendance police. .

Teachers dont take sick days unless they are collapsed in bed - otherwise they drag themselves in to work. Teacher just dont get mid-week days off but can arrange for an appointment at 4pm so can still do mid-weeky stuff.

duchy · 10 July 2014 at 8:01AM

American schools do this.
Teachers have a certain number of days they can use as they please either as sick paid days or as planned days off. Their choice
I assume it reduces the number of "sick" days taken as teachers can plan ahead for absence and leave lesson plans, brief the staff covering for them etc rather than the pretence that they are sick when it's actually something they need a day off for in term time.
I presume these days can't be taken at certain times like begining of term , exam time etc for a chosen day

I think it could work well here most schools employ some kind of cover and it'd be a lot easier to have proper cover if "sick" days were reduced (I've worked in education most teachers have felt forced to pull a sick day for something unavoidable at one time or another)