(Warning judgeypants well and truly applied) to think that missing school because of a pop concert is totally out of order

[Northernlurker]

Dd has just mentioned in passing that one of her friends wasn't at school today because she went to the Summertime Ball concert in London. Apparently she missed the train this morning and so didn't make it to school. I have a number of v judgey issues with this:

1. Attending a concert on a school night
2. Missing a train that is needed to get her to school - she is 13. She hasn't missed the train, the adults she was with have failed to ensure she caught it.
3. Missing a full day of school - there are lots of trains - why on earth didn't she get a later one and still make it to school.

If an employee did this I would be hugely pissed off with them. Where on earth have this girl's parents got the idea that missing the whole day because of this is at all ok?

Or am I being a miserable sourpuss judgeypants cow?

My parents would have gone ballistic at the thought of me missing a day of school for a concert and probably wouldn't have let me attend the concert.
So I don't think you are being completely unreasonable OP. I suppose it is teaching teens about the importance of regular school attendance.

That said I did take DS out of school for two days to see the filming of the latest Dr Who.

He goes on about that day constantly and has told me in no uncertain terms that it was the best day of his life. So I am more than confident that it was right for the visit to be more important than school (on this occasion).

AIBU...to leave colouring and word searches for my class so I can go the see Take That...I can't see the problem basically I really want to go and I'll teach them tomorrow so they won't miss anything...or their parents can pick them up after lunch as my class will be unsupervised?

Longsigh - I know teacher who was granted two days unpaid leave to go to Glastonbury, so it isn't unknown.

It's a great reason to miss school. I missed my first MONTH of high school aged 13, to back pack around SE Asia with my parents. Aged 43 I'm still so thankful for the experience. No detriment whatsoever.

I believe the concert was great, and I'm sure she will remember it always.

I remember having a half day off to go to Rugby World Cup game in 1991. My Mum wrote a note for both my brother and I, saying we had 'a family committment' that afternoon, and would be leaving at lunchtime. My brother got so much shit for it, whilst my teacher just said he wished he was going too! We were both exceptionally good students, and bright kids with good attendance - what do you miss in one day??

Pinot! Over here! NOW!

What the hell do you mean "Who's Robert Plant?"

Now go and sit in the corner and put that pointy hat on with the big D on the front. Then learn by heart and sing the full, 'The Song Remains The Same' version of 'Stairway' with accompanying question "Does anybody remember laughter?".

Oh and OP, YABU. The world won't end just because the kid had a day off school. Besides, some memories are worth more than a couple of hours of RE, geography and graphics.

You calllllllllllllllllllled

I have let you all down haven't I? I need to get a CD or some'at. I know not of the songs of which you speaketh Is Stairway the Stairway to Heaven?

Why do you care so much?

For all the Robery Plant fans can I just say that I went to the same school as him and see him regularly at football

Flame me now because I took the DDs out of school last year for their first ever festival and would do the same again this year except the inconsiderate school has arranged an important event on the day in question

Re concerts on a school night I think this is fine, especially as a one off. We used to go to classical music concerts on a school night when I was a child it didn't stop me going to school the next day.

However, there is no excuse for missing school the next day. She should have been on the normal train. If she wasn't she should have been on the next one.

If we strike on 30th I am seriously considering taking DD (15) with me to man the picket line.

She's studying democracy at the moment, thought it would be interesting, she really wants to go.

Should I fess up to school or send her back with a sickie letter?

I was called "young lady" YEAH!

My dc missed school for 2 days (day of and day after) for TT concert. Considering there are parents at the school who have major rolls at the concert, don't think school were surprised.

So what? Stop being such a pissy bitch and lighten up.