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It's not bloody half term!

369 replies

Dotdashdottinghell · 25/03/2024 08:13

Why / when did every school holiday become half term?

The half term holidays are February, Whitsun and October, not Easter, Christmas and thr summer.

People keep saying "Happy half term" or "Enjoy the half term" etc. Why is this an accepted thing?

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LightSwerve · 25/03/2024 10:24

MornChorus · 25/03/2024 10:19

@LightSwerve it was perceived by the RE staff and others as a reflection of the denial of Christianity, a denial that this is a largely Christian country.

Yes, my point is they have a skewed perception.

I don't think we are in any danger of denying Christianity Hmm what with us having the King as head of state church, CofE Bishops in the HofL, RE on the curriculum, collective worship in schools, a church in almost every neighbourhood, Easter and Christmas still celebrated etc etc.

CranfordScones · 25/03/2024 10:23

I'm sure it's a PC thing by misguided liberals who aren't offended, but someone else might be.

Just tell your kids that if they call it half-term, then it's not Easter, so they don't get any Easter eggs.

snoopyfanaccountant · 25/03/2024 10:23

Where I am in Scotland the Easter holidays are now referred to as spring break because the schools are off the first two weeks in April regardless of when Easter falls. The years when Easter has been very late, the schools have been off for two weeks and then back in for four days, before being off Good Friday and Easter Monday.

DinnaeFashYersel · 25/03/2024 10:21

nokidshere · 25/03/2024 10:00

Seriously, who even cares about stuff like this 🙄 well obviously you all do, but why?

Usually only cared about by snooty tightly-wound types who fail to understand that language evolves, there are words used in different parts of the country and even different pronunciations.

MornChorus · 25/03/2024 10:20

Posters are telling you that Christian labels are not used as much @LightSwerve

honeylulu · 25/03/2024 10:20

I've noticed this becoming more common too. I was in town the other day and the shopping center was advertising "half term activities for Easter ". Arrrgggh!

Half term.is the break half way through the term. It makes no sense to say it at the end of term. It's like saying 50% complete and then another 50% complete rather than 100% complete.

My daughter's school doesn't do it (though some of the parents do!) But school does now call the Easter holidays "Spring Break" which seems a bit American. I can see the point if it's making things more secular but they still say "Christmas holidays"!

RaraRachael · 25/03/2024 10:19

Never heard this for Easter, summer or Christmas holidays. However our LA has started called the Easter break "Spring holiday" which annoys me.

MornChorus · 25/03/2024 10:19

@LightSwerve it was perceived by the RE staff and others as a reflection of the denial of Christianity, a denial that this is a largely Christian country.

LightSwerve · 25/03/2024 10:18

Bbq1 · 25/03/2024 10:15

Why should a largely Christian society have to stop using Christian labels? I am not against the celebrations of other religions nor Muslim families saying Spring break if they don't celebrate Easter. That's fine but the fact remains that the UK is largely Christian with many people who do view Easter etc in a religious way.

No one 'has to' stop using any Christian labels.

Honestly, it is like an episode of GB News on here today.

MornChorus · 25/03/2024 10:16

My thoughts exactly @Bbq1

donkey86 · 25/03/2024 10:16

YANBU. I know it’s not important in the scheme of things but I find it really irritating. It’s easy enough to understand - it’s not halfway through the term so it’s not half term!

LightSwerve · 25/03/2024 10:16

MornChorus · 25/03/2024 10:13

Apart from Christians, there were the three Muslims in the school - no other faiths.
The evidence was his deliberate avoidance.

Edited
Hmm Honestly, let it go. A headteacher made a choice. It is nothing to do with the Muslims.
Bbq1 · 25/03/2024 10:15

Schoolrunmumbun · 25/03/2024 08:48

I've noticed this too. I think maybe it's because there's a feeling of wanting to get away for Christianity based labels for holidays with "Christmas" and "Easter". Where I live there are a lot of Muslim families and I noticed some schools says Winter break, Spring break. I kind of get that but calling everything half term is inaccurate, confusing and yes annoying.

Why should a largely Christian society have to stop using Christian labels? I am not against the celebrations of other religions nor Muslim families saying Spring break if they don't celebrate Easter. That's fine but the fact remains that the UK is largely Christian with many people who do view Easter etc in a religious way.

whenwhenwhen · 25/03/2024 10:15

Oh thank GOD it isn't just me. This irritates me so much!

We are living in a world where words seem increasingly meaningless, and this is yet another example of it. "Half Term" is the break that comes half-way through a term. (Give or take).

What we are about to have is the Easter Holiday, or if you prefer the Spring Holiday, but it is not, NOT, NOT HALF-TERM!

If adults cannot be trusted to express the concept of "half" correctly... then is it any wonder that children cannot get a handle on the concept of basic fractions in maths...

Volvovolvo · 25/03/2024 10:14

Does it really matter that much. ?

MornChorus · 25/03/2024 10:13

Apart from Christians, there were the three Muslims in the school - no other faiths.
The evidence was his deliberate avoidance.

TheCountessofFitzdotterel · 25/03/2024 10:12

RoomOfRequirement · 25/03/2024 09:59

I mean, there are teachers here saying it's in their actual work calendars as half term, so yes. It doesn't really matter if some people don't like it. It is now widely accepted use.

And maths is the subject/lesson. In the context I used it, 'do that maths' doesn't make grammatical sense, 'do the math' sounds better.

How does ‘do the maths’ make less grammatical sense than ‘do the math’? They’re both just abbreviations for mathematics, one used in British English and one in American English. I don’t give a fig which one anyone uses as unlike the half term issue there’s no difference in meaning, but neither is more grammatically logical than the other.

PutOnYourRedShoesAndLetsDance · 25/03/2024 10:10

Is it schools that say this? I've no idea🤷‍♀️ we don't believe in schools.. l had my children to look after them .. teach them.. so my children do the same..

Wannabegreenfingers · 25/03/2024 10:09

Another one annoyed. Half term is February, May and October. The other holidays are Easter, Christmas the 6h3 6 week summer holidays. I am 45 and it has always been known as this. I've lived all over the country. Calling every holiday half term is definitely a weird new thing.

LightSwerve · 25/03/2024 10:08

MornChorus · 25/03/2024 10:02

@LightSwerve he slithered every which way round the name. It was very noticeable. To have mentioned Jesus once wouldn’t have been banging on about Him.

But that was his choice, you've interpreted it with no evidence.

You have chosen to make it about Muslims, which is why I was Hmm

LightSwerve · 25/03/2024 10:07

nokidshere · 25/03/2024 10:00

Seriously, who even cares about stuff like this 🙄 well obviously you all do, but why?

When people use imprecise words for things as it makes it harder to understand what they are talking about.

Obviously I don't correct people (pedantry is extremely rude, IMO) but it has been Summer hols, half term, Christmas hols, half term, Easter hols, half term for a long time and that makes it easier to understand WTF someone is talking about.

Lifeinlists · 25/03/2024 10:05

@RoomOfRequirement

'do the math' sounds American to me. Probably because it is. But if that sounds more grammatical, so be it.

TheCountessofFitzdotterel · 25/03/2024 10:04

nokidshere · 25/03/2024 10:00

Seriously, who even cares about stuff like this 🙄 well obviously you all do, but why?

It’s been explained several times. Because it’s ambiguous and leads to confusion.

MornChorus · 25/03/2024 10:04

Not sure what the issue is with saying Easter. We are quite happy to refer to other religions and festivities.
Exactly.

DappledThings · 25/03/2024 10:03

nokidshere · 25/03/2024 10:00

Seriously, who even cares about stuff like this 🙄 well obviously you all do, but why?

Because it's inaccurate and confusing. People plan ahead so when someone asked me in early March if we were free at half-term inassumed they mean the end of May given that that's actually half-term. Turns out they meant the Easter holidays.

Using the wrong name for something is just unhelpful.