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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

100% attendance certificates at DS's school, aibu?

362 replies

BoobleBeep · 02/12/2011 10:57

DS's school has just announced they will be giving out certificates to children with 100% attendance in an assembly at the end of term..... This basically excludes any child who has been ill at any point throught the year, needed dental treatment or has parents who can't afford to take them away during expensive term time. Aibu to be a bit pissed off about this?

OP posts:
GypsyMoth · 02/12/2011 11:01

Not the holiday in term time bit, but the rest yanbu about

GypsyMoth · 02/12/2011 11:02

Does that include the teachers? Ask them to include 100% attendance for them too..... See how many pick up a certificate!

valiumredhead · 02/12/2011 11:02

YANBU about being the being ill bit - the holiday is a choice.

Bislev · 02/12/2011 11:04

I think it's a daft idea. Dd's school does them, but she's never had one because she's always had a day or two off sick at some point in the year. It's pointless IMO.

Kayano · 02/12/2011 11:05

I would say YABU

Why get 100% attendance certificates if you haven't had 100% attendance?
Far too much 'everyone's a winner' in schools ATM

Sirzy · 02/12/2011 11:06

I was with you until you mentioned the holidays!!

That said I really don't have a big issue with the 100% certificates - although I think 95% would be better to allow for a few days of illness.

WowOoo · 02/12/2011 11:06

What a waste of time. Yanbu.

DaisySteiner · 02/12/2011 11:07

DD was in tears when she got home after 100% attendance certificates were awarded last year. She has severe problems with her eyesight and has needed regular hospital appointments since she was a baby. Of course these are rarely available out of school hours and so she is guaranteed never to get a certificate through no fault of her own. Other than that she has only ever had 2 days off school I think since reception. Pisses me right off.

whatstheetiquette · 02/12/2011 11:07

Awful idea. My DD is off with a chest infection at the moment and she would be rather upset to see her friends receive a certificate and not her, just because she got some germs from school.

GypsyMoth · 02/12/2011 11:07

What happens with attendance/strike days?

Original poster
BoobleBeep · 02/12/2011 11:08

Kayano - I know what you mean but being ill is something out of a child's control. You could work really hard at everything, always be punctual and then get a nasty bug.

OP posts:
ElaineReese · 02/12/2011 11:08

YABU. It's just a nice thing to do to commend those few children who've been there every day. I doubt anyone's going to get too upset if they don't get a certificate, but it'll be nice for the ones who do.

valiumredhead · 02/12/2011 11:08

Why should kids be rewarded for something they have absolutely no control over?

whatstheetiquette · 02/12/2011 11:09

100% attendance is not actually an achievement though Kayano.

By all means reward for 100% in something the child has any control over!

eurochick · 02/12/2011 11:09

You have a point about illnesses. I think these schemes could encourage infectious people to struggle into school, which is not a good thing.

But dental treatment can be done out of school hours (save for emergencies). I certainly never had time off school to go to the dentist.

And you are being completely unreasonable about holidays.

glasscompletelybroken · 02/12/2011 11:09

It's not pointless - it demonstrates to children and parents that attendance is important and is to be taken seriously. Of course it's unfortunate if kids are sick and miss out but they're not being punished for it - just not getting a certificate.

Lots of firms have a system of offering an extra days holiday for employees if they go a whole year without having a day off sick. It's the same principle - you don't lose anything if you are off sick but you don't gain anything either which you will do if you have a clean sheet.

GypsyMoth · 02/12/2011 11:11

Dental treatment..... Orthodontist in our case..... Absolutely cannot be done out of school hours

Sirzy · 02/12/2011 11:12

I think it also has to be remembered schools are under a lot of pressure to meet attendance targets, and actively encourage good attendance from pupils so it is surely right to thank those pupils who help meet targets?

DaisySteiner · 02/12/2011 11:13

DD very much feels as though she is being punished. She is bewildered as to why she can't get one when she has been at school every day, just missing a few hours to go to the hospital! And she has been really upset about not getting one - seems a silly thing to get upset about for an adult but when you're in primary school things like this become a big deal sometimes. And if they don't feel a bit bad about not getting one then surely it's a pointless exercise because they won't care either way?!

valiumredhead · 02/12/2011 11:13

I have to take ds out of school to go to the dentist - I simply can't get an appt during holidays even booked way in advance. He has a broken tooth atm and I have to wait 3 weeks so I can take him and unfortunately it's on school time but it needs to be done.

It's not like when I was a kid and there were loads of dentists and you could get an appt any time you liked.

imogengladheart · 02/12/2011 11:14

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

ElaineReese · 02/12/2011 11:14

Mine wouldn't get one either - orthodontist for one child, few sickness bugs for the other. I doubt they'd mind. But I don't see that that's any reason why a child who has 100% attendance shouldn't get given a piece of paper saying so which they can put on their fridge at home!

Bislev · 02/12/2011 11:14

I don't need my child to be given a certificate to teach me that attending school is important - it's a given. And she learns that from me. What a waste of paper.

Kayano · 02/12/2011 11:15

They are just certificates at the end of the day. I don't see all the fuss at all about them or why people get all 'it's so unfair!'

It's not like they are taking something away from your child or 'punishing them' If they were giving detentions for not 100% attendance I would understand but honestly I think ppl need to get a grip

valiumredhead · 02/12/2011 11:15

Good point Bislev