Keeping child off school because it's their birthday!

Solsol

One of the few advantages of my son's birthday being on Christmas Eve :-)

Solsol

happyinflorida wrote: »

My birthday's on 26th Dec' - so I was always away from school but I can tell you that I hated it. I wasn't with friends, my parents didn't do anything special for me and I was usually alone because all my friends were busy with family, so a horrible day! I once tried to organise a trip to the disco - what would now be a club I think (showing my age here!!) and only one of my friends showed up and she was from abroad so had no family!! That was very upsetting for me but now I don't bother - I've had to learn it's a crap day to have a birthday!

My son's birthday is Chriatmas Eve and I couldn't believe the amount of my own family who felt I was being "difficult" by having his party on his actual birthday.

None of them were going away for Christmas or have ever even celebrated Christmas Eve as a day in it's own right but for some reason travelling all of 20 miles for a little party for a couple of hours at my house was a huge inconvenience to them!

Luckily the people who matter showed up

fruitypuds

Actually, this is something we've always done. We have a family day out somewhere really cool. We go somewhere that's hellishly busy on a weekend - like Alton Towers, Legoland etc - and have a great time because we don't have to queue and they can go on rides as many times as they like! We once had an adventure park (Crocky Trail near Chester) all to ourselves, and THAT felt really special. We don't have big expensive parties, but we do have special family time - which feels all the more so when it's on their actual birthday. And yes, they do have a choice of whether to go to school or not. We don't, however, take them out for multiple days to get cheaper holidays. And my kids miss far fewer days to illness than many children do.

Carmina-Piranha_2

fruitypuds wrote: »

Actually, this is something we've always done. We have a family day out somewhere really cool. We go somewhere that's hellishly busy on a weekend - like Alton Towers, Legoland etc - and have a great time because we don't have to queue and they can go on rides as many times as they like! We once had an adventure park (Crocky Trail near Chester) all to ourselves, and THAT felt really special. We don't have big expensive parties, but we do have special family time - which feels all the more so when it's on their actual birthday. And yes, they do have a choice of whether to go to school or not. We don't, however, take them out for multiple days to get cheaper holidays. And my kids miss far fewer days to illness than many children do.

So your kids have each other's birthdays off too? What about you and your OH, do the kids get the day off on your birthdays too? Just curious.

FBaby

Your birthday is the most important day of your life, because if you weren't born, then nothing else would of ever happened for you. Thus- it should be the most celebrated day for every individual.

Funny because the person I think of as the special on my birthday is not me but my mum who gave birth to me which as we all know is not the best experience of the world. It's her I want to treat, me? What did I do nothing! Pity my kids don't see it that way though

maman

Hails1309 wrote: »

Personally I wouldn't keep my child off school for his birthday. I always liked being with my school friends on my birthday.


However, at this time of year, is it such a big deal? They're winding down for the hols and the teachers start their prep for Sept anyway. My work friend this morning received a text from her 15 year-old's school saying that they will be having movies and popcorn for the remainder of the week - is this a problem?! (IMO - yes it blimming well is - you're paid to teach, so teach them till the end of term!)


I would try to avoid hols in term time, but if I couldn't afford to go in school holidays, then I'm sorry - my child is not missing out on a holiday.


There are double standards I've noticed - they can fine you for taking your kid out of school, but it's perfectly acceptable for teachers to go on strike, meaning that not only does the child miss out on school, parents have the inconvenience and expense of making childcare arrangements.

This post is so full of sweeping generalisation, misunderstanding and ignorance that I just haven't the time, energy or inclination to unravel it all and explain.


Perhaps someone else has the will.

Spendless

I thought of this thread, this week when my teenager informed me they have assessments this week. He breaks up on Friday and the teachers have complained about being made to do them this week. It really does depend on the school and the day as to what's happening. One day last week he participated in 'enrichment' day, apart from there was a problem with the equipment he'd selected to do coming into school and they had to find an alternative.

I do get bemused that lying about a day off equates to not following rules and regulations in the workplace. I've never stolen anything from work, always adhered to the dress code, never forged a timesheet, but have I ever thrown a sickie- yep, sure I have. The last time was around 4 years ago when I fudged; the details of a funeral time so I could go and attend an interview without having to confess to my workplace I had applied for another job. Am pretty sure I haven't stepped out of line since.

There are plenty of things schools have taught my kids that I'd rather they hadn't. Eg how you are ability wise at English, Maths and Science are more important than anything else you might be good at, such as sports, music, art, drama because we don't measure those things. It is acceptable to put on booster classes to boost results and spend practically all yr6 concentrating on sats because nothing else matters. If you retaliate against another child you will either be the only one punished or you'll be punished more severley than the child who started it.

mountainofdebt

for years I've hated my birthday because many of the companies I worked for had their year end on my birthday.

However I'm now in a new job and their year end is a completely different month so next year I might take my birthday off for the sheer hell of it!

PenguinOfDeath

Surely though as a working adult you earn holidays to take as and when you wish. (mostly) If you choose to take one of these days for your birthday you are within your rights to do that.

As a school child, your holidays are pre - determined by the school you attend by law, why is it ok for you to decide to have an extra day off to add to this? (teachers strikes aside...)

It's one of the benefits of getting older!

jaylee3

PenguinOfDeath wrote: »

Surely though as a working adult you earn holidays to take as and when you wish. (mostly) If you choose to take one of these days for your birthday you are within your rights to do that.

As a school child, your holidays are pre - determined by the school you attend by law, why is it ok for you to decide to have an extra day off to add to this? (teachers strikes aside...)

Because the teachers have PD days whenever it suits.

Because mum and dad don't have 13-14 weeks holiday a year like the children do, and in the school holidays, it can be notoriously hard to get time off in the workplace.

Because most things are cheaper in term time. (holidays, hotels, flights etc...) and people are not made of money.

Because everything is more quiet and less crowded in term time.

Because up to a couple of years ago, it was absolutely fine to keep your kids out of school for up to 10 days in term time.

Because this is a democratic country.

Because there have been cases recently of teachers and head teachers going on holiday with their kids in term time!

Because taking your kids out of school for one or two weeks a year is not going make a JOT of difference to their education.

And yes, because the teachers strike whenever it suits and don't give a rats a$$ about the childrens education then; only 'their rights.'

Those are just a few reasons why it's OK to keep them off school to take them away in term time.