Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. A phone that grows with your child.

Meet the Other Phone.
A phone that grows with your child.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To be pleased DS said what he did.......

183 replies

mumbar · 08/03/2011 20:35

even though I told him it wasn't his place.

Basically DS school do awards for 100% attendance. (I personally do not agree with these)

Been out at hospital appointment so late and when signing DS in he saw the list from last term (sept-Dec).

He asked where he name was and I said he'd had 1 1/2 days off so wouldn't be there.

DS reply (in front of HT Blush)

' but Mummy, one for hospital appointment and 1 was when I had allergic reaction at night, its not my fault I have allergies'.

This is totally my opinion (well any child with chronic medical needs who can't help missing school).

I have never expressed this in front of him but abviously children do notice these things. Sad

OP posts:
Original poster
mumbar · 08/03/2011 21:22

I think whats been a shock to me is DS coming out with exactly what I've thought (long before he started school as I work in education).

I guess the hope your DC's will be blissfully ignorant has to end one day. Grin

OP posts:
worraliberty · 08/03/2011 21:24

Believe it or not most of the teachers I know feel the same (sorry for the kids who can't achieve it)

But then they all feel too that the children who do achieve it shouldn't be ignored.

Catch 22 really I suppose Sad

ambivalentaboutmarmite · 08/03/2011 21:27

I just don't understand why schools reward children for not getting sick? Isn't not being sick reward in itself. DS1 has just had two days off for tonsilitis. Was I supposed to drag him into school shivering and vomiting with a fever of 39 and a grey face? This attendance reward thing I do not get. It's not as if infant-age kids make the decisions about whether they come to school or not.

winnybella · 08/03/2011 21:27

I think the 100% attendance thing is ridiculous.

Children are human Shock and therefore subject to illness- ergo it's not really a great achievement if a child somehow didn't get ill/parents sent him to school despite him being ill.

Just silly.

And YANBU.

Original poster
mumbar · 08/03/2011 21:28

Actually worra I should be grateful its just a certifcate.

Apparently there are schools where attendance is below the NA where pupils are offered phones (secondary), vouchers for ice skating, swimming etc for 100% attendance.

I think perhaps a compromise would be children sent home with certificates - I think the whole assembly thing is hard for children who know its unacheivable - many of whom may desperatly want to acheive it iyswim.

I know you can never win.

Rewards will always exclude someone/ people.

OP posts:
winnybella · 08/03/2011 21:29

worralibery- but it's not the children who achieve it- it's the parents who send them to school.

Some kids will be lucky to not have been ill- what kind of achievement is this?

worraliberty · 08/03/2011 21:29

True Mumbar

worraliberty · 08/03/2011 21:32

Winny I agree to a point which is why the parents get the boquet of flowers if the child gets a whole year at 100%..but the certificate is for the child and when they want them that badly, you'd be surprised how much keener they are to go.

Sidge · 08/03/2011 21:35

My DD2 is in Year 2 and has loads of hospital appointments as she has SN and is disabled. I try and schedule most of them for out of school hours, or the half terms and holidays but I can't choose times for all of them, some are allocated.

I nearly fell off my chair when she came home with a certificate and a reward for 100% attendance for the first half of term. Her reward was a free voucher for ice skating, which is a lovely idea but she can't use it being disabled Hmm Grin

Goofymum · 08/03/2011 21:36

He'll have to go for some of the other awards on offer then, just like my DD1 (who also has allergies).

Must admit when I read the OP my first thought was "good for him sticking up for himself speaking out!" I would be pleased if my daughter said this so I think YANBU!

nzshar · 08/03/2011 21:37

I HATE HATE HATE 100% attendance certificates. Bully for you and your child they haven't been caught by the flu, d&v, chicken pox or the take your pick of numerous other illness's that go around schools every year. My child has had 4 days off this year with illness, which luckily was a Friday or it would have been 2 days with the added 24 hours policy. Once he vomited everywhere and missed a fun themed day, the other 3 were all at one with d&v on a Monday and Tuesday then keep him home for the extra 24 hours like they state in the policies.

They bang on about not sending children in when they are sick yet encourage parents (through peer pressure at the children) to send in their children to obtain these stupid 100% things. MADNESS!!!

Can ya tell its one of my bugbears :)

Maryz · 08/03/2011 21:38

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

SpringchickenGoldBrass · 08/03/2011 21:40

These are a stupid idea on public health grounds! Kids get flu, D&V, vile snotty colds and all the rest of it, if they are pressured to come to school every day then they will come in and spread all these bugs liberally round their classes. As well as suffering themselves (it's not nice to be anywhere but your own bed/bathroom when you are ill).

tomhardyismydh · 08/03/2011 21:45

sidge im not making assumptions here, but does your dd use or have access to a wheelchair? if so she could use voucher, i used to take a disabled man ice skating, he loved it...i would zoom around skate pushing him on the ice. my colegue was less confident and they would allow her to keep her shoes on and push im around on the ice.

cornsilkee · 08/03/2011 21:49

er sourdoughface

'that school refusal crap, or the oppositional defiance whatnot'

I really hope that you aren't a teacher

summer1984 · 08/03/2011 21:51

Yes , they annoy me too. Younger dc had bug in half term so achieved 100% attendance. Older dc caught same bug but in term time. Even though well next day had to have 2 days off so no chance of even a bronze.

altinkum · 08/03/2011 21:51

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

Sidge · 08/03/2011 21:52

tomhardy she just has a Maclaren Major buggy at the moment, but if we could borrow a wheelchair would they let her on the ice on a chair?

I think I need to go and talk to the staff at the rink, as DD2 would love to go 'skating'. And if I could push her around then I wouldn't fall over either! Win win Grin

BunnyWunny · 08/03/2011 21:55

Not all awards are equally attainable by all. Get over it!

Isn't this why schools offer a range of achievement awards so that most children will succeed at something? There may be some children for who this is the only thing they have received recognition for.

cornsilkee · 08/03/2011 21:58

Bunnywunny - really hope that you're not a teacher either

MCos · 08/03/2011 22:00

I think the 100% attendance certificates are a good idea, even if my DDs 9 and 7 have yet to get one! DD1 is unlikly to get one, but we live in hope. DD2 was looking good for this year until she got bug on Sunday and I kept her home Monday to make sure she was recovered. 100% attendance cert would be nice celebration of any year where they don't need to take any time off sick!

littlebylittle · 08/03/2011 22:00

My dd has had 100% attendance this year and I still hate the awards (which we don't have thank goodness). There are enough parents sending their children in too ill for school as it is. And so many parents who ignore the 48 hour rule.

thefirstMrsDeVere · 08/03/2011 22:02

They are shit and should be banned.

Bollocky crap.

I would say that though wouldnt I? Had a sick child. Belive me she knew life was fucking unfair, she didnt need some stupid school award to tell her that.

My DS now goes to a special needs school. They dont have those stupid things. They recognise that children have lots of appointments and are often unwell.

The school hasnt fallen down.

Good for your boy OP.

thefirstMrsDeVere · 08/03/2011 22:05

altinkum your neice is a bloody star!

worraliberty · 08/03/2011 22:08

So, worral, is it ok that a child who is ill or has a disability and has to attend loads of hospital appointment doesn't get any recognition of their achievement of getting to school on as many days as they can

No it isn't.

But I do still think it's a nice idea for children who have managed 100% attendance to be recognised for it.