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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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Original poster

to take my children out of school for a day to go and see a show?

70 replies

Crevix · 05/05/2011 15:57

got a chance to get cheap-ish tickets but it means them missing a day of school. They will be yr 9 and 11.

I have never done this before - I don't really approve but, and this a very large BUT, both have missed out on school trips recently (more than once) due to school policy of pulling names out of a hat, which pisses me off a bit.

So should I through caution to the wind and book it? and if so do I then tell school we have a nasty case of D&V or the truth?

OP posts:

Knackeredmother · 05/05/2011 19:13

Go for it.
I went on holiday all through school, including a levels. I also missed lots of days being poorly/lazy.
Never did me any harm.
I'm a doctor now btw and got all A's in my exams ( this was a local comp btw)
They can easily catch up anything missed.

virginiasmonalogue · 05/05/2011 19:14

It's only 1 day. Going to a show isn't like bunking off or doing something useless with your time, it sounds like a constructive activity that I'm sure both will enjoy!

Nanny0gg · 05/05/2011 19:16

Knackeredmother - you might have been able to catch up easily.
Others aren't so fortunate/clever.
And with the curriculum as it is now, you miss it, that's generally it.

Knackeredmother · 05/05/2011 19:21

Surely it's possible to find out what is being covered that day and look over it at the weekend/on the train?
I would always do this and make up the work. Can usually be done more quickly than sitting in a classroom
I still stay go for it

celticlassie · 05/05/2011 20:03

I am a teacher and I think you should do it. What can they possibly miss in one day that they can't catch up on. Just make sure they get notes from classmates.

Dozer · 05/05/2011 20:10

I'd do it, is only one day fgs! School can be very very dull for much of the time. Day out with family much nicer.

Many of the highlights of my education involved some kind of bunking off!

flyingspaghettimonster · 05/05/2011 20:20

I don't think YABU. But then, I am taking my two out of pre-k and 1st grade for a month to go to UK to visit family. So probably I have crappy attitude to education, loose morals etc :-) Be that as it may, year 11 and year 9 are exam years, so a bit bad timing, but 1 day is just 1 day and I probably skived a month of days in year 11 and still coped with exams etc. Better that your kids know they are getting a privilege they have to work to get than blagging a day off with a 'migraine' to avoid double science and a touchy feely art teacher...

Original poster

Crevix · 05/05/2011 20:51

hmmmm maybe i will, maybe i won't. i might test the waters with school and see what they think.

OP posts:

elphabadefiesgravity · 05/05/2011 20:58

I would take them, it is educational. But then I would say that as I run a theatre school!

And Lion King is very educational (and fantastic) whoever said YABU if it was something like that. You can even get education packs. It ties in with lots of the curriculum, art and design for example - I have a great book about how the show was designed, it is very unique in style, also music the stage version uses lots of ethnic music. All sorts of themes can be explored.

elphabadefiesgravity · 05/05/2011 20:59

My Dad took me out of school in my 5th year (Year 11) becasue he got free tickets on a trip to Royal Ascot and my mum didn't want to go. My teacher was very excited for me and wanted to know if I was going to wear a hat!

I still remember that day now 12 years later.

onceamai · 05/05/2011 21:07

I would tell the truth, make sure the work is made up and do it. My only worry, especially as it's in December, is that it's a long way off and this could coincide with special events at school - possible things they could be chosen for and you say they have missed out on special things already. My DC are in yr 8 and yr 11 and AFAIK the last week of every term has been a bit of a write off from reception onwards and I have so often been tempted to say, esp at primary "don't complain if children aren't here, when you aren't actually educating them but just mucking about". Have only taken them out twice in total though. One day on both occasions.

takethisonehereforastart · 05/05/2011 21:13

I'd take them. Have fun. It's not like you do it all the time and I'm sure you can get some extra work to help them catch up if they are missing anything important.

Maryz · 05/05/2011 21:48

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

celticlassie · 05/05/2011 22:20

Still want to know what show it is!

elphabadefiesgravity · 05/05/2011 22:26

And Op, ballet exams are accredited by OFQUAL or whatever they are called now and aquire UCAS points in the same way as GCSE'ss and A levels.

I wouldn;t hesitate.

penguin73 · 05/05/2011 22:31

Yes YABU - you can't draw comparisons with a school organised trip which teacher's planning will allow for and an unauthorised trip to the theatre when your children (Y11 in particular) should be learning/preparing for exams/doing coursework. However 'educational' you try to dress the visit up as the truth is they will be missing valuable time to help with their GCSEs and a trip to the museum wont make up for that! Your kids will not be severely disadvataged in life because they have missed out on seeing a show!

TheBolter · 05/05/2011 22:36

God I'd do it - I'm taking the dds out for a day this month, admittedly they are primary age and I'm tying it in with an educational visit while we're there. I fully expect the school to turn down my application for absence but one sodding day in the school year is not going to make a difference.

My mum took me out for TWO WEEKS during lower sixth once, must've been after end of year exams... having said that I did really badly in my A levels! (Although I think that was more down to my upper sixth performance than that rogue two weeks in July when we buggered off down to the Med!)

TheBolter · 05/05/2011 22:37

Good god it's one day in the school year!

juuule · 05/05/2011 22:52

Penguin73 - I really don't think ops children will be disadvantaged severely or otherwise by missing a day of school. It might be advantageous to experience London and a show - or it might just be fun.

meadowlarks · 06/05/2011 00:02

I can't believe some of the reactions on here. It's a long way off, and I assume that in the time between then and now your DDs (especially the one in year 11) will be working hard? All the more reason to have a day off, then. Enjoy yourselves, for goodness's sake. But DO NOT ask the school, that's the worst thing you could do.

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