Keeping child off school because it's their birthday!

Indie_Kid

FBaby wrote: »

No way what is that teaching them? Most people who work do so on their birthday. You still have the evening to celebrate. Totally unacceptable from my perspective.

And you have the weekend too, which is what we do if my parents can't get the time off work.

I rarely had my birthday in school. I was born at the start of April; so it almost always fell in the Easter holidays. I don't ever remember my brother and sister staying off because it was their birthday.

krustylouise

no, just no! Not at 3, not at 17! DD's birthday is in school holidays but she still attends holiday club and we celebrate in the evening and party on weekends....

maman

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.

Alikay

A few of my family members are Jehovah's Witnesses, and some years ago it wasn't unusual for JW children to stay off school in the run-up to Christmas and on their birthday to get around the issue of not celebrating them, as teachers would often insist JW kids were treated the same as others and take part in nativity plays, having "Happy Birthday" sung to them. These days schools are generally more used to different faiths, but it's possible that was the reason.

maman

Alikay wrote: »

A few of my family members are Jehovah's Witnesses, and some years ago it wasn't unusual for JW children to stay off school in the run-up to Christmas and on their birthday to get around the issue of not celebrating them, as teachers would often insist JW kids were treated the same as others and take part in nativity plays, having "Happy Birthday" sung to them. These days schools are generally more used to different faiths, but it's possible that was the reason.

I'm amazed that schools didn't understand JW's beliefs even some years ago.


In my experience, JW's did acknowledge their own 'special' days (aka birthdays) but not celebrate them. Children didn't miss out though because they seemed to make a big thing of wedding anniversaries and the like so they had parties and presents then. We made provision (often with parents' help) for what to do during nativity plays or other religious things. JWs did take their children out of school though for the JW annual assemblies and for a cheap family holiday at Centre Parcs in the days running up to Christmas!

[Deleted User]

When said child grows up they could always get a job around my way as a lot of companies here give you your birthday as an extra day off as a perk! Thought it was a weird one off when I interviewed for one company but now my husband gets it working for a different company. Very odd thing to do for working adults if you ask me but then I am not the "birthday" type

Torry_Quine

My cousin always takes a day off work on his birthday and sometimes more as does his wife. He was very angry one year when told that he couldn't have it off, don't remember the reason. It seems a very self-centred thing to do.

This child will soon have to learn that the world doesn't revolve round him.

Buzzybee90

catkins wrote: »

I agree that it's worse to take them out of school for a week but I wondered what other people thought of this as I don't think it is setting the child a good example.




They may not be doing much at school but just deciding not to send them because it's their birthday doesn't seem right to me




No, it was a girl

Oh ok, fair enough! When I was at school the birthday girl walked around - head held high - with balloons (usually) or bags with cards presents/ badges on her blazer etc, it was a real occasion where everyone (including the teachers!) gave you a special day.

catkins

Fluzz wrote: »

When said child grows up they could always get a job around my way as a lot of companies here give you your birthday as an extra day off as a perk! Thought it was a weird one off when I interviewed for one company but now my husband gets it working for a different company. Very odd thing to do for working adults if you ask me but then I am not the "birthday" type

Torry_Quine wrote: »

My cousin always takes a day off work on his birthday and sometimes more as does his wife. He was very angry one year when told that he couldn't have it off, don't remember the reason. It seems a very self-centred thing to do.

This child will soon have to learn that the world doesn't revolve round him.

In over 40 years of working I think I only ever worked maybe 2 or 3 birthdays. I always took them as holiday. My OH is self employed and always takes his birthday off too.


We both think birthdays are special days and either go out for the day or even away for the day and night.

Torry_Quine

catkins wrote: »

In over 40 years of working I think I only ever worked maybe 2 or 3 birthdays. I always took them as holiday. My OH is self employed and always takes his birthday off too.


We both think birthdays are special days and either go out for the day or even away for the day and night.

Yes I agree that birthdays are special but especially if you are in a couple and working to arrange for both of you to be off seems rather extreme to me. It's different if self-employed as you are in control of when you work.