That parents who take their kids to festivals....

[englishteacher78]

In term time, would soon complain if their child's teacher took 5+ days out of school to go and listen to music?

Meh. 1 or 2 days missed by a pupil doesn't bother me tbh (been a secondary school teacher, now in primary). Their education will rarely be negatively affected medium/long term ime.

And tbh they may well be gaining a wealth of education from time at a festival.

I think it is unrealistic to compare to teachers taking time off. The teacher chooses to work in a school and abides by terms and conditions set down in a contract.

BTW - one of our teachers, now retired, did used to have a couple of days off most years to go to Glastonbury. She was a job share teacher and just rearranged her work days with her job share. HT was agreeable to it. Similarly another teacher has a dh in band (pretty well known one) and she has also been allowed to rearrange her job share days to accompany him to festivals, gigs abroad, TV stuff. No parents complained to school.

I don't give a toss if my children's teachers take time off.

I think they all should, as it might put an end to the jealousy and bitterness that is forcing schools to refuse absences.

While we are at it I'm sick to death of schools getting all huffy because their children's school plays/performances/award ceremonies aren't attended by the parents and yet are the most inflexible time-off refusing employers themselves.

StarlightMcKenzie - you do know that whether absence is authorised or not has nothing to do with class teachers don't you??? Nothing to do with jealousy at all, but to do with policies set higher up the chain, and the latest policies by central Government.

YABU.

Some of my best childhood memories involve festivals. A festival at least helps kids experience music/dance/drama.

I saw some fanatstic artists as a child at glastonbury, I have fond memories of watching the cure, I think that experience has been a much greater influence in my life than the missed 2 days of school would have.

The child taking time off affects only him/ herself

Erm, no actually. The child who's been off will have missed a few days of lessons. If things are being taught as a group, the fact they are a few days behind probably means the pace of the whole class will be slowed down whilst they catch up.

If not, teacher will possibly have to spend more time 1-2-1 with that child to catch them up, so again the rest of the class suffers.

If my DC was being affected in any way because someone else thought their DC should go to a feckin festival instead of being in school I'd be well pissed off.

I think there's more than enough holidays through the year to "do" festivals or whatever so I think parents should be more responsible and more respectful towards the other children they will be affecting with their selfishness.

Hula, it is up to HTs, not the government. They are monitored for the absence stats but individuals should not be penalised if they are well above the qualifying rate/

Does mean that I can't take pfb to glyndebourne?

Lots of schools here close for the Norfolk show

A teacher taking time off during term disrupts 30 or so pupils
One child taking time of disrupts... Oh one child

And if a teacher can't adapt to one child being off for a few days then how do they manage with illness?

Take the time off and stop carping about it.
Oh, and I did take my children out during term time, all three have AS and one is a wheelchair user, it's easier to go when it's quieter. They will all get A* for their A levels and GCSEs which thankfully, they have just finished.

Starlight - targets are at by the LA, not HTs here. And they are whole school targets. Hence why some heads take a stronger view. Many, mine inc, do look at individual pupils when making decisions, but if they have ofsted looming or LA checks looming I can see why some HTs feel more strongly about it.

But your general class teacher has no say at all, so nothing to do with jealousy at all.

Class teachers plan all lessons to be differentiated so planning for a child who missed a lesson or two would be no worse than that on the whole. Rare for a whole class to be working at exact same levels ime, ESP primary.

And if a teacher can't adapt to one child being off for a few days then how do they manage with illness?

Illness can't be helped or foreseen. Skiving off to a music festival can.

Merryonmerlot do you hold that opinion about people who choose to formula feed? Breast fed babies find learning easier so the formula fed babies are making the class learning go slower. What about those who choose to bring their child up with English as a second language, those children may need more input.

Lots of things that are lifestyle choices negatively or positively effect learning, I don't think it is fair to feel angry at those who miss a couple of days of school to go to a festival.

Someone up thread suggested that festivals shouldn't sell tickets to under 18s in term time, term times are different all over the country. Many private schools have considerably longer holiday than lots of state schools.

When I worked at a school there were some children taking time off 'ill' maybe once or twice a week. Children would come in with notes saying that they had temparatures, headaches etc. Maybe they were genuinely ill but twice a week, every week, for only one day at a time and then fine the next day? Hmm!

These children were the ones that meant the class and teacher suffered due to having to catch the child up, not the ones that took a couple of day off a year for a festival.

I did indeed make the decision knowing no Glastonbury for me now (if you ask me Glasto's too big anyway). I just find it interesting that SOME parents take their children out at the drop of a hat but are unhappy if a teacher is off.
For example at a previous school, the head (due to pressure from parents and governors) rarely gave permission for leave. Had a very stressful day as a result when trying to get to a family funeral 200 miles away.

Parents taking their children out of school, for any reason, is hardly the same as a teacher being off for "5+ days", is it?

And how do you know that the SAME parents taking their kids to festivals, are the SAME ones who are unhappy if a teacher is off??

Set them homework on it. If they're all going, make it work for you. If you are an English teacher, should be easy.

I'd love it if my pupils were taken to cultural events with their families. DH is working Glastonbury this year but our family can't go because I'm teaching. Not taking holidays in term time just is part of the deal with being a teacher.

Although I can understand your frustration, I don't think the comparison holds, sorry.

Merryonmerlot do you hold that opinion about people who choose to formula feed?

Eh?

So skiving school is an acceptable lifestyle choice? At a rough count (although I dare say I'll be corrected) there are approximately 10-11 weeks per year where our kids are not at school. Surely that's enough to cram in as much family time/festivals/lifestyle choices without deliberately disrupting their schooling?

Because sometimes they are. It seems none of those parents are on here.

Another good reason to home educate.

As a teacher and DM, I fantasise endlessly about home education.

Ok. Clearly IABU. Expressed myself poorly earlier as well.
Personally, I think teachers AND students should be in school (unless unforeseen circumstances - illness, bereavement etc). I don't think holidays should be authorised.
And yes, I would love to take a class to the theatre field at local festival - but I doubt the risk assessment would make it past the governors!

Nah, gwan, don't be a wuss. Take them for a day or two.

I saw the risk assessment file for the DT department this week. It was a giant ring binder full of potential death hazards. Now that's a risk assessment!