Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. Only the apps you allow.

Meet the Other Phone.
Only the apps you allow.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

to be furious that my daughter's school thinks educating her includes...

158 replies

northernlurker · 16/09/2013 18:25

Taking YRs 7-11 off timetable for a day next month.....

sending them on a 10 mile walk..................

for which they will need to be sponsored by us..........

TO PAY FOR A NEW SCHOOL BUILDING!

So my two daughters lose a day's school which my Yr 11 daughter, already stressed to the max by all her A* targets (thanks school), can ill afford and I'm supposed to pay actual cash for this?

Is it me or is this absolutely unreasonable?

OP posts:
cansu · 16/09/2013 20:07

tbh you sound massively OTT. Why would you worry about this? I think you should look at the bigger picture. yes the state should pay for the new building but given that they will not, you should consider whether the new building will benefit the children and the community. if so then I dont think one day off doing a sponsored walk is a bad thing.

Original poster
northernlurker · 16/09/2013 20:09

I'm not worried, I'm furious Grin

OP posts:
judgejudithjudy · 16/09/2013 20:18

seriously, furious over one day?! just count us all lucky we live in the country & have access to "free education"! yabvu & rather precious. i suggest you demand a selection of teachers stay behind to educate your dc lol. or maybe keep dc home & home school for the day?! or i suggest you start a petition or even write to your mp as it really is a serious issue Biscuit

pixiepotter · 16/09/2013 20:19

It will do them good to get out in the fresh air and have some exercise.Just don't contribute if that is what is bothering you.

Goldmandra · 16/09/2013 20:21

I'm not worried, I'm furious

I'd be irritated by the double standards.

stillenacht · 16/09/2013 20:23

YABU

Trust me its not the school who make up A targets is the Family Fischer Trust (grrr). Her teachers are prob thinking "crap how am I going to get her an A". FFT, always good for over inflated nonsensical targets.

comeonpilgrim · 16/09/2013 20:35

Yanbu. I find this quite shocking.
If a school in a deprived area needs a new building then I guess it's just tough if parents don't have the cash. Education in England is being badly mismanaged.

Also this is a stupid time of year to do it.

curlew · 16/09/2013 20:39

If the objection is to the sponsored walk being for new school buildings, then I agree. However, I think the idea of a sponsored walk is excellent. It is profoundly depressing when schools do n't provide any non academic opportunities and experiences for kids.

LtEveDallas · 16/09/2013 20:40

Yep, it's the double standards that would piss me off too. I'd be asking the school if they considered this day off an 'exceptional circumstance'

(and then put a letter in to get DD another day off, for a vague 'charity event')

UniS · 16/09/2013 20:40

Lots of secondary’s school do a sponsored walk early in the school year. Its good chance for eth new students to see teachers ( and older pupils) in a different setting and role. The local school here do their walk in their tutor groups, so the kids are NOT in their normal subject / year/ friendship groups, but working with a set of youngsters from all years and their registering tutor.

My own school didn't manage who we walked with but as we used a circular route there was rivalry over number of laps and the sixth form manned ( faintly) themed check points . It was on the sponsored walk that I learnt the Greek alphabet, also how to count to ten in a variety of languages.

Turniptwirl · 16/09/2013 20:43

Yabvu

The school is being more unreasonable to make them do gcse exams in November than to have then do a nice days walk!

morethanpotatoprints · 16/09/2013 20:52

If you really don't agree with it then keep them off.
Otherwise as others have suggested find the positives.
They are learning about working for the better good of the community.
Have you checked whether there is a project to accompany the fund raising and if it covers certain objectives/ outcomes in PHSE e.g.

curlew · 16/09/2013 20:55

So. Are people saying that because the rules are getting stricter about taking term time holidays, schools should never do any non academic activities with the children? No trips, no plays, no visitors? No matches in school time? All day every day head down at lessons?

pianodoodle · 16/09/2013 20:58

Furious about one day off lessons?!

YABU

soontobeburns · 16/09/2013 21:00

I think YANBU but only because if I was told I had to do a 10 mile walk in my GCSE year I would of told them to gp fuck themselves and not gone in.

Ffs I could barely walk a mile let alone 10 and im sure there are children in your DDs school who cant either. So humiliating for the children involved who arent as fit Sad

TheCraicDealer · 16/09/2013 21:03

Another one who had an annual sponsored walk at school, but ours was usually just before the GCSE/A level students went off on study leave. Thankfully this woman wasn't about during the walk or our parents would have actually had something to complain about.

I honestly don't think anyone in my school was worse off after missing a day of school even that close to exams- messing about with their mates, hitting each other with sticks, eating undercooked hotdogs and finding a way to skive off early. It's a bit of fun, a day off and a change of scenery. Give the minimum in sponsorship and wave her off in a pair of wellies and thick socks. It won't be that bad!

TheBuskersDog · 16/09/2013 21:07

When I hear parents talking about their children (usually girls) getting stressed about getting A/A*s I really see the positives of my son's laissez-faire attitude to his GCSEs.

Based on his excellent KS2 SATs he apparently should have been able to get A/A* in any subject, well luckily he didn't feel under pressure to live up to those expectations. Yes it drove me mad that he coasted along doing the bare minimum and left homework until the last minute, but he has never felt stressed or not good enough. He got a decent set of results, not all As but he got As in the subjects he is now doing for A level - the subjects he is naturally strongest at.

OP, it wouldn't even have crossed my mind to be bothered about them missing a day of lessons, and my son would rather do a 10 mile walk with his mates than schoolwork any day.

curlew · 16/09/2013 21:07

"I think YANBU but only because if I was told I had to do a 10 mile walk in my GCSE year I would of told them to gp fuck themselves and not gone in.

Ffs I could barely walk a mile let alone 10 and im sure there are children in your DDs school who cant either. So humiliating for the children involved who arent as fit "

Do you apply the same logic to PE? Art?

A healthy teenager should be able to walk 10 miles no problem. And there is no need for a non- healthy teen to be humiliated- they just don't do it!

ForTheLoveOfSocks · 16/09/2013 21:12

I used to have to do a sponsored walk every fucking year.

It wasn't educational, believe me. Those who are saying its good for them, and what a good learning experience are talking out of there arses. You've obviously never trekked up Tandle Hill every bleeding year for five years

I would have much rather given the money out of my own pocket and spend the day in school. The next day everyone was always knackered, including the teachers.

It's just more money grabbing IMO. If the true costs of education are not being met then the answer isn't tappin parents up at every opportunity. School uniforms are another way schools extort money from parents. When I left high school, the yr 7 intake parents had to buy pe shirts and shorts with the school logo on. I mean as if parents don't have enough to cough up Angry

GetStuffezd · 16/09/2013 21:15

RoonilWazlibWuvsHermyown
An irrelevant post but this is the best name on MN ever, in the history of best names on MN. Ever. On MN. The best.

soontobeburns · 16/09/2013 21:17

Curlew yes also PE. I did netball etc but running etc no way.

Trying to run around a 500m track 5 minutes after everyone else is done and passing out at the finish line, is something I wouldnt wish on anyone.

Sweetsweep · 16/09/2013 21:24

YANBU.I didnt send my kids to school to go on a walk. They get to do that, oh wait, when they are not in school.

Sweetsweep · 16/09/2013 21:26

You are not having much luck with schools this term are you op!?

RoonilWazlibWuvsHermyown · 16/09/2013 21:28

Getstuffezd, gawsh, I don't know how to respond to that. Blush I can't take all the praise. I must admit it only happened by chance when my spell checking quill's charm started wearing off... Grin

Viviennemary · 16/09/2013 21:34

If she doesn't want to walk let her be off school. I don't see why kids should be forced on these hikes if they don't want to go.