Holidays abroad - or lack of them, impact on child

Andypandyboy

Mojisola wrote: »

During every holiday we've taken at the seaside.:)

Our kids are some of those deprived beings who have never been abroad on a family holiday but there are so many amazing places to visit in Britain, they haven't been disadvantaged in their education or their understanding of the world.

I would say that wherever you go if there is an educational aspect that is pointed out to you and it is one that interests you then you will learn.

That doesn't mean to say that those exposed to broader travel with those same caveats don't learn more, they do. I have never been to Egypt so I can learn about the Pyramids from books but I would almost certainly benefit more/know more by having been there.

Mojisola

Andypandyboy wrote: »

I would say that wherever you go if there is an educational aspect that is pointed out to you and it is one that interests you then you will learn.

That doesn't mean to say that those exposed to broader travel with those same caveats don't learn more, they do. I have never been to Egypt so I can learn about the Pyramids from books but I would almost certainly benefit more/know more by having been there.

I think we know more about the pyramids from watching documentaries on them than we ever could from being there. The experience of standing in front of such monuments would be amazing but I don't think it affects how much you can learn about them.

bylromarha

Sorry, not read whole thread, but...

I work in a school in a very affluent village. Moved there from a school which served a lot of less well off kids.

My new school *may* have had a teacher who would respond in this way due to the fact that all they have ever known is 25+ years teaching in this school with monied parents and a PTA that raises £1000s. It frustrates me talking to this teacher as they are so stuck in how the school was they can't see how it is now, nor makes moves to best teach the kids they currently have. Lovely person - but not a parent, so can't see how times have changed.

In old school, I asked a kid who'd missed 2 weeks of school to go to Malaga how his holiday in Spain was. "I didn't go to any Spain Miss, I went to Malaga. The pool was awesome and I spent all day every day in it. Look at my tan"

It's the conversations around the holiday and what you do together which matter, not the location.

Andypandyboy

Mojisola wrote: »

I think we know more about the pyramids from watching documentaries on them than we ever could from being there. The experience of standing in front of such monuments would be amazing but I don't think it affects how much you can learn about them.

It does in the way it makes the history come alive and be seen to be real. Educational impact is not just about "facts" or even "learning" but also about feeling and experiences that impel someone to take a subject further.

Real life experience does do that far more than passive learning for those who are made that way. My kids had seen pictures and films of the Grand Canyon, but nothing prepares you for the reality of it, or the depth of knowledge a local guide can imbue into their tour. As a result of going there and being exposed to the whole experience one of them took up Geology as a hobby. I doubt that would ever have happened just from reading a book.

The point of the thread is that the teacher was completely out of order for berating a parent who has limited means and family issues for not providing travel opportunities. That does not mean that worldwide travel is not beneficial or a different learning experience. Travel is something all children would gain from if they were able to do it.

Jagraf

Mojisola wrote: »

I think we know more about the pyramids from watching documentaries on them than we ever could from being there. The experience of standing in front of such monuments would be amazing but I don't think it affects how much you can learn about them.

I believe the pyramids are now so touristy that you completely miss the ambience anyway. I'm regularly disappointed by sightseeing as everything is now so commercialised to cater for the masses.
Niagara Falls being another one.

Mojisola

Andypandyboy wrote: »

It does in the way it makes the history come alive and be seen to be real. Educational impact is not just about "facts" or even "learning" but also about feeling and experiences that impel someone to take a subject further.

Real life experience does do that far more than passive learning for those who are made that way.

The point of the thread is that the teacher was completely out of order for berating a parent who has limited means and family issues for not providing travel opportunities. That does not mean that worldwide travel is not beneficial or a different learning experience. Travel is something all children would gain from if they were able to do it.

I'm sure visiting somewhere like the Grand Canyon would be a great experience but ours developed an interest in geology from us pointing out the results of glaciation in the Welsh mountains and from looking for fossils on the Dorset coast.

Education and learning and having a very enjoyable time isn't dependent on being able to have expensive holidays.

Andypandyboy

Mojisola wrote: »

I'm sure visiting somewhere like the Grand Canyon would be a great experience but ours developed an interest in geology from us pointing out the results of glaciation in the Welsh mountains and from looking for fossils on the Dorset coast.

Education and learning and having a very enjoyable time isn't dependent on being able to have expensive holidays.

I don't think anyone has said it is. By the nature of travel though, if you go to culturally different places abroad you will have a different learning experience than you will have here.

Mojisola

bigmomma051204 wrote: »

When I spoke briefly with his teacher, she simply said "Well, perhaps you need to think about starting to offer him these kind of opportunities as he is going to be left even further behind his peers if you continue to hold him back."

Andypandyboy wrote: »

I don't think anyone has said it is.

That's exactly what the teacher said.

By the nature of travel though, if you go to culturally different places abroad you will have a different learning experience than you will have here.

You will have a different experience but that experience isn't necessary in order to become an educated and well-informed person.

Andypandyboy

Mojisola wrote: »

You will have a different experience but that experience isn't necessary in order to become an educated and well-informed person.

I meant anyone on here;) I think the teacher was crass and insensitive.

As for it being necessary, I am not sure. I think if you never go beyond your own cultural norms then you may become insular. I would say travel does broaden the mind.

notanewuser

Andypandyboy wrote: »

I meant anyone on here;) I think the teacher was crass and insensitive.

As for it being necessary, I am not sure. I think if you never go beyond your own cultural norms then you may become insular. I would say travel does broaden the mind.

I'd say that depends entirely on the nature of the travel.