To email the Head about last-day-of-term-itis?

[SDTGisAnEvilWolefGenius]

Every term, ds3 tries to persuade us to let him skive the last day - especially the last day of the summer term - and we had the joy of that discussion again last night apparently he is not bright enough to realise that the answer is going to be the same, each flaming term.

Apparently no-one, literally no-one goes in on the last day. On closer questioning it turns out that none of his friends will be there, and only about 40% of the pupils will bother to turn out. This horrifies me - I am the child of two teachers, and I had to go to school unless I was at death's door, and even then I got the Beady Eye from mum.

According to ds3, the school don't really care about this - the teachers were saying things yesterday like, 'Those of you who come in tomorrow will see X video', and no-one will bother with the register or chasing up the truants - so why should we get our knickers in such a twist about it??

I am tempted to email the Headmaster, and ask him a few questions - like how many pupils do actually attend school on the last day - is it as low as 40%, as ds3 reports. Is the register taken, and what is done to chase up the truants? Do the teachers tacitly condone the last day skive, by the sort of remark ds3 reported to me?

I am pretty sure ds3 will be furious if I do this - and I can see that it might drop him in it both with the school and with his friends - but should I let that stop me? Or is it a non-issue, given that they did bugger-all yesterday and will be doing a similar amount of bugger-all today?

I do realise that it is possible that ds3 is exaggerating wildly about the level of skiving and the level of acceptance, in order to persuade me to let him join the skive.

WWYD?

[ChippingInWiredOnCoffee]

Let him skive

Sorry, I don't know really. I've never had this problem... and when I was at school it was a great day as we got to take in games from home to play with our friends and have a huge 'all school' picnic - nothing not to love really!

I'd probably do the old, boring, tried and tested - 'I don't care what 'everyone else' is doing, it is a school day and you are going. End of'.

[attheendoftheday]

I would make my kids go in too, school is not optional! A quiet word with the teacher to establish the facts might be wise and more politic than going straight to the head.

[SoupDragon]

So, if the last day is generally bunked off, that means the day before is technically the last day. Should they be allowed to skive then too?

Mine go in every day the school is open (illness excepting!). No discussion.

[peggyundercrackers]

I would send my kids in to school on the last day. If i wanted to do something that everyone else was doing but my parents wanted me to do something else my dad would always say "if so-and-so jumped off the bridge would you jump off after them? just because they do it doesnt mean you have to?"

I wouldnt email the headmaster though as its a bit of a non-issue - its last day of school - who cares - everyone is demob happy!

[Jinsei]

I'd probably do the old, boring, tried and tested - 'I don't care what 'everyone else' is doing, it is a school day and you are going. End of'.

Yep, I'd do this too.

[HeySoulSister]

They will do the register surely!?!? Legal requirement

Also, where do you draw the line? Last day off, last week off, last month?? Interesting if you got a response op

Here we have already started the new school year. early June ds finished yr 10 and after half term he started in year 11.... Come sept they already know new timetable/teachers/lockers etc, so it's straight into it. So no 'last day itis' exists here

[lottieandmia]

The head is not going to be able to do much because all of the parents could just claim they were ill. But if it was my child I would send them in.

[SDTGisAnEvilWolefGenius]

We are the same, HeySoulSister - we are in Scotland, and ds3 has just finished his Standard Grades and has started his Highers courses. When we moved up here, and encountered this for the first time, with ds1, I thought it was an excellent idea, and would banish the whole easing off towards the end of term, doing bugger-all on the last few days, but if I believe ds3, that isn't the case - which is why I am wondering about contacting the school to find out what the truth actually is.

I do generally go for the 'I don't care what everyone else is doing, it is a school day and you are going, end of' approach. And I honestly don't know why he thinks this time is going to be any different. It's not like I am known for being easily persuaded, either.

[HeySoulSister]

I tell mine straight..... I'm being dumped with the lot of you for 6 weeks straight, so you are going in as its my last day free of you all!

[Dackyduddles]

You really believe your son? I mean really???

Seriously. Everyone is having same discussion. Everyone knows its bs. Last day is last day and YOU GO IN.

He's just trying to start hols day early.

[Alibabaandthe40nappies]

I think you should send him, but I would be asking the HT what the situation is.

[EccentricElastic]

When applying for first jobs after just leaving school, a 'school CV' is often useful in showing the prospective employer how enthusiastic they are in terms of attendance , as well as attitude to work, and doing any voluntary stuff etc.
So, the less absences there are, then obviously the better (illness excepted of course).

[notso]

Don't believe him.
Send him in with the old faithful "I'm not everyone elses Mum" ringing merrily in his ears!

[HandMini]

I am fun-free and think that schools should bloody well be doing lessons on the last day of term. Or at least something fun from the curriculum, like a relevant film or sport.

[DeWe]

It wouldn't be a discussion in our house. They'd be going if they told me they were the only dc there.

I don't believe it's only 40% anyway. I would call his bluff and email the head.

[xylem8]

Our school gives out reports on the last day of term

[Picturepuncture]

I'd send him in.

There is value of him being in school (doing the right thing) and a bit bored.

Rather than getting into trouble hanging about having marginally more fun but being in the wrong by bunking school.

Good life lesson innit.

[pianodoodle]

My mum rarely offered an explanation mostly when she knew we were trying our luck.

"Because I said so"
"Because I'm the mum"
"...and that's the end of it"
"I SAID that's the end of it!"

[Ilovegeorgeclooney]

At our school the last two weeks are spent doing a project in each subject that will go with them to their teacher next year. The last day is when they get feedback, next year's timetable (so they know who they have and which sets they are in) and, most importantly of all, we as staff are expected to make complete idiots of ourselves in the 'Staff Non-Talent Show'. Usually 100% turn up!

[sameoldIggi]

If not much is done on last day, it's because so many children aren't in and the teachers would just have to repeat it in August.
I think at Higher level he should show more commitment. What about the chance to speak to his new teachers in a smaller group?

[tiredaftertwo]

I would tell him you quite understand that he doesn't want to go in if only 40% do, because that implies it is optional, but you can't risk breaking the law without knowing the facts first hand. So would he like to help you write an email to the Head to establish them? I think he will back down quite quickly.

Nice try though.

[SDTGisAnEvilWolefGenius]

Ah well - he went in and he is home now. He does not have a very happy look on his face.

[SDTGisAnEvilWolefGenius]

And apparently I am still in the doghouse, for my unreasonable and unmaternal behaviour in making him go to school when practically no-one else went. You will be glad to hear that I am holding my head high, and coping with the shame.

[threesypeesy]

I would let him stay off dds never go on the last day of terms as their school is empty only 115 pupils at the best of times so on the last day your talking maybe 30 chdren go in. For half a day seems pointless they don't do anything important anyway.

[StuntGirl]

Oh for goodness sake. School isn't optional, even if it's the last day. Let him have a face on.

At my last place of work there was precious little I was allowed or able to do during my last week or so of work, I still went and I still did my job. I laid the bloody groundwork for some other bugger to come after me and get the commission, but whatever, I had to do it so I did. Sure, I could have just skived off all week and had a weeks jolly, but I didn't.

I'm sure he'll live