The old chestnet about holidays in term time because they are cheaper.

[troisgarcons]

School Y4/5/6 meeting this evening about changes in Ofsted and the way information will be reported to parents (and parental responsibility in supporting educational standards and methods).

To summarise, every child will have an individual "flightpath" according to ability but some things are governemnt measures and therefore immovable.

One of which was attendance. So once we'd got past the hysterical parent ranting about her particular case of chicken pox which dipped her child below the target threshold of 95% and illness not being a childs fault and the heckler spouting disability discrimination sigh we had She-who-wants-holiday-in-term-time spouting at every opportunity.

It got to the point where I was having fantsies about ripping her tongue out and after and hour of this - the Head made it clear there are 365 days in a year, of which 190 are school days , therefore there are a rather large amount of days not at school to have "family time". And still the parent kept on and on and on and on .....after an hour of her chirping in at every opportunity I pointed out that if she wished to remove her child for one or two weeks that was her prerogative but her selfishness impinged on my child learning as when her child returned lessons would have to be summarised.

I asked how she would feel if her childs teachers were feckless enough to book holiday in term time and leave her child without continuity of education.

She said "well, you just sound like a teacher and thats your career choice so I expect you to be in school when I want you there!!!"

So I played devils advocat and said "are you saying my right to family life is lesser then yours?"

To whit she said "you signed up for it"

So for all of you (including me) who do look @ school statistics - just remember - that with the best will in the world, there are mardy parents who just do not co-opt into the educations system and will probably have monumental hissy fits when little Jaydeen-Beckham and Beyonce-Chardonay'ah dont achieve anything much at the end of their school career and leave with a monumental sense of entitlement that the entire world owes them a living.

and breath

AIBU to get that off my chest?

[Juule]

Nothing wrong with building sandcastles. Building sandcastles can be educational :o

[higgle]

Just cant understand all they hysteria about children having time off school for family holidays. As a child we always hd to go in May or September so that my father's employees ( he was a bit of a softy as a boss) could go during the prime weeks. It had absooutely no effect on my education, the schools in those days were more understanding and would set you a few things to do while you were away and be sure a friend would help you catch up when you came back. I took both my sons out when they were at a fee paying school and I would say most of the parents did the same, no problems. I have taken them out for the last week of term from the state Gramar they have both attended, it works better if you inform rather than ask.

[NinkyNonker]

Oh hell no, no Disneyworld for us! However the month long cruises round the Ionian might wait a few years...

[mummymeister]

I cannot take my holidays in school holiday time due to occupation - its not a choice its a requirement of my job. so we are left with either sending the children on their own to PGL in school hols, or we divide and rule dh takes them during school hols and i have weekends away during term time when i can go. inset days are used to the full! its great if they don't have to miss school but unfortunately the real world is not all neat and tidy with everyone being the same. i did take my kids out for 6 days this year so we could all be together. it was before Christmas and the eldest missed 2 pieces of work as it was all carol concerts, christmas quizzes and videos. I don't remember the teachers writing to me asking if it was OK for them to close the school for a day and go on strike. Perhaps i missed that letter. It would be so much better if each education auth area chose when to have holidays instead of the 6 weeks summer sweepstakes but that would require planning and joined up thinking so i doubt that will happen then!

[edam]

From the Beeb story: 'In order to raise the loss of control defence, there has to be a "qualifying trigger" and, in spite of the Act stating sexual infidelity is to be disregarded, the Appeal Court has now ruled it can be taken into account.'

So the appeal court judges are determined to ignore what the law actually says, and find a get-out clause for men who kill their wives? I thought the judiciary was supposed to interpret Acts of Parliament, not circumvent them and impose their own personal - misogynistic - views.

[edam]

oops, completely wrong thread!