A question about keeping children off school in term time: to take them on holiday.

Guest101

ViolaLass wrote: »

Some people believe vaccinations aren't necessary.

.... some people believe in God....

Jagraf

FBaby wrote: »

I think it comes to just one thing: you believe missing a week of school is going to have a detrimental impact on every child's education whereas many parents don't believe that is the case.

If I was given evidence that my children - not the average child- was to see their education irreversibly affected then if course I would insure they never missed a day. I expert that is the case for most caring parents.

There is evidence, but you don't want to accept it because you don't believe in averages (I'm still unsure as to why you don't).

Guest101

Jagraf wrote: »

There is evidence, but you don't want to accept it because you don't believe in averages (I'm still unsure as to why you don't).

Perhaps becuase their child(ren) do not fit into the 'average' category.

- I suspect FBaby belives averages exist, being of at least reasonable inteligence.

mumps

Jagraf wrote: »

I still can't understand why some parents think our education system should be run around when some parents want their holidays. Are able to have them.

Parents priorities seem to be all over the place. Family time comes below everything EXCEPT education, when family time all of a sudden becomes of utmost importance. I thought I explained that I think family time comes above running in the olympics.

I also don't see why to acceptable to break this particular law, based on all kinds of excuses, yet if it were something else .....

As I said before I personally think the rules will become more strict, only time will tell. I'm pleased that our laws protect our children's education and their right to it.

I don't think my children ever needed to be protected from a two week holiday but then again I kept mine at home for 4 years so they only did 3 years primary. No one ever bothered protecting them from that.

Jagraf

Guest101 wrote: »

Perhaps becuase their child(ren) do not fit into the 'average' category.

- I suspect FBaby belives averages exist, being of at least reasonable inteligence.

Of course FBaby believes they exist. And of course very few children fall into an average category. Just like any other average based statistics.

Guest101

Jagraf wrote: »

Of course FBaby believes they exist. And of course very few children fall into an average category. Just like any other average based statistics.

Right.

Which is why FBaby doesnt like to use averages.

For example the average family spends £800 on christmas. It's a common marketing tool. (there are multiple forms of 'average', we presume they mean the 'mean') therefore it is socially acceptable to spend that much, and exceeding that amount equals success.

Not a particularly accurate statistic though, since there are millions of families that cant afford to spend £800.

Jagraf

Guest101 wrote: »

Right.

Which is why FBaby doesnt like to use averages.

For example the average family spends £800 on christmas. It's a common marketing tool. (there are multiple forms of 'average', we presume they mean the 'mean') therefore it is socially acceptable to spend that much, and exceeding that amount equals success.

Not a particularly accurate statistic though, since there are millions of families that cant afford to spend £800.

Yet if a school's results fall below 'average' assuming we are using the same form of average then there is outcry from the parents, as they want them to go to above average schools.

Maybe it would work better if we just removed all statistical data like back in the day, when schools and teachers weren't answerable to anyone.

Lunar_Eclipse

onlyroz wrote: »

Having a day or two off due to illness is not in the same league as taking a whole week or two off. As for your last sentence - kids who don't catch up will achieve poorer grades which will affect the school's OFSTED rating and league-table position.

I agree the length of an absence makes a difference.

Kids who don't catch up *may* achieve poorer grades. If they are an A* student, chances are missing the odd lesson will not affect their grades. But that actually wasn't the point I was making...

Firstly, by secondary school age at the latest, the onus of learning in general, or catching up missed work is with the child and not the teacher/school: you can lead a horse to water and all that. There are thousands of children across the country who attend school every day but achieve mediocre results, which could be attributed to a whole spectrum of reasons, one of which will be not paying full attention all of the time (which probably isn't any different to not actually being there.)

Similarly, there are thousands of children who are extremely bright, have a mature work ethic, give their all to school everyday who could miss two weeks or more of school every year of their student days, and it have no negative effect whatsoever. Apparently you can pass a GCSE with 30 hours of work (I'm not convinced) so let's not over estimate the value of every single lesson delivered by all schools, every day.

It all starts and ends with the individual. And our role as parents is not to be concerned with Ofsted's ratings or league table positions (despite the fact that I have supported that system well with two 'academically gifted' children who have been interviewed by Ofsted several times and achieved the highest grades possibles that the system allows, to help these ratings.)

I have a tremendous amount of respect for teachers, believe education is incredibly important and agree that children shouldn't miss lots of their schooling unnecessarily, but sometimes I think people are incredibly narrow minded when these types of discussions come up.

Guest101

Jagraf wrote: »

Yet if a school's results fall below 'average' assuming we are using the same form of average then there is outcry from the parents, as they want them to go to above average schools.

Maybe it would work better if we just removed all statistical data like back in the day, when schools and teachers weren't answerable to anyone.

Again though it's generalising.

...outcry from parents... - all parents, some parents, 2 parents?

Reasonably sized school would have 600+ parents. How many does an 'outcry' make?

FBaby

Jagraf wrote: »

There is evidence, but you don't want to accept it because you don't believe in averages (I'm still unsure as to why you don't).

Because I understand that average is not the sum of a same value divided by total but can be made of different values.

Ironically, I've just received my DD school report, and she is already at a GCSE A or A* level in all her subject (Year 10). You will not convince me that having not attended the 3 sessions she missed when we went on an early holiday, bringing her attendance to 99% since she hasn't had one sick day in the whole year, is going to ruin her future. Sorry.