To wonder why it's deemed acceptable to take children out of school for cheap holidays?

[shrunkenhead]

Am I the only one who thinks it's not on to make your child miss school for the sake of a cheap holiday???

[whynowblowwind]

Because I think my children learn more outside of school than in it, so I can't pretend to be remotely fussed about their "education".

They need to read and do basic maths. DS can do that. Anything else he can look up.

[gorionine]

They have 13 weeks holiday a year from school confused
Presumably their parents don't (unless both teachers). Do you suggest the

[vitaminz]

I think in the scheme of things my kids would benefit far more from a fun, memorable holiday than from another day of school which they will have over 15 years of. I understand if a child is being taken out for months at a time but one two week holiday once a year isn't going to turn the child from an A* student into an antisocial thicko. Also, what about children that are homeschooled? Are they allowed to take holidays or does it work differently for them?

[Catsize]

Sorry if I am being a bit dim, but what does the price of the holiday have to do with it?

[gorionine]

Sorry , do not know how this happened.
Do you suggest parents go on holiday at different time than their Dcs when they cannot get time off during school holiday time?

[clam]

Anyone see that shambolic piece on Good Morning Britain today, where the representative for the Campaign for Real Education, who agreed that children's education was being harmed by strike/INSET days? Inset days?!! SURELY, in her position, she should know that they were taken out of teachers' holidays, and that children have exactly the same number of days in school as before they were introduced.

[Tinkerball]

Suburbanrhonda no idea what job you are talking about that gives you 13 weeks holiday a year but point me in the right direction!

[gorionine]

Ditto Clam!

[Sparklingbrook]

In the thread I linked to from 2 days ago it's all covered.

The ages of the DC are a massive factor in what is being missed.

[MrsItsNoworNotatAll]

Yes, kids have 13 weeks off school but their parents don't, unless they work in a school or not at all.

[SuburbanRhonda]

Do you suggest parents go on holiday at different time than their Dcs when they cannot get time off during school holiday time?

My post was in response to MrsItsNoworNotatAll who said people need a break from the grindstone that is school. I was wondering why they need a break since school is only 39 weeks a year.

[corduroybear]

I agree OP - people should value education a lot more than they do. Irrespective of what work is actually missed, people should consider the attitude they are displaying to their children over priorities: lying by the pool is more important than education, apparently.

It's also offensive to the teachers. How would you feel if you'd worked hard on a presentation for your boss and s/he just didn't show up to see it since there was a deal on a trip to Disney World..??

And the argument that education isn't just in the classroom is fine if you're taking your children backpacking across Asia staying with local families. If you're just going to sit by the pool in Lanzarote, I think that argument is slightly less valid...

In some countries children walk for hours across mountains to get to school. Or risk getting shot. We should be grateful for our education system and respect it (and its teachers) a bit more.

[HappyAgainOneDay]

If parents can't afford a holiday during school holidays, they should not have a holiday at all. Why does a holiday have to be something that painfully stretches a family's finances? What's the matter with a day out here and there during school holidays?

It's not up to teachers to give the absent children catch-up work. It's up to the parents to ensure that their children are at school during term-time.

[SuburbanRhonda]

tinkerball, my job gives me 13 weeks holiday a year, but sadly, a pro-rata salary to match

[MrsItsNoworNotatAll]

And a lot of Teachers I know don't get 13 weeks off either.

[ICanSeeTheSun]

I think taking kids out of school gives then the message it's ok to rest and recharge your batteries.

Holidays are important.

School hoilday most children if working parents do not get a break, as they are with childminders or holiday clubs where it has to be educational.

A few days of relaxing and having fun with parents may even improve thier education.

[SqutterNutBaush]

My DS and both of my Dsis's will have a day out of school for my wedding, shoot me if you wish :o

[intheenddotcom]

Tinkerball - Agreed but the majority of students who I've seen going off on holiday during term time are, as described by them, going to sit on a beach, swim and relax; usually in a resort that could be described as Britain in the sun.

[Alisvolatpropiis]

I went on holiday in term time years ago (obviously as I'm 25), well before it was seen as an issue to legislate on.

I don't think it made me value my education less.

For primary school age and younger I really don't get the big issue, unless the child is already struggling.

High school is different because of exams, revision classes etc.

My dp is a teacher so term time holidays aren't something we'd be doing in the future.

[whynowblowwind]

When I was a teacher I was always rather pleased when somebody was on holiday, especially if they were a pain in the arse.

Less marking ...

[chesterberry]

It's also offensive to the teachers.

Some teachers perhaps. Personally I don't get at all offended if any of the children in my class are taken out of school for a holiday, which happens fairly frequently as my head still seems to be approving all holiday requests.

[SuburbanRhonda]

I think taking kids out of school gives then the message it's ok to rest and recharge your batteries.

No it doesn't because you can relax at the weekend and during school holidays.

It gives them the message that although there are rules, they don't apply to you.

[gorionine]

What I have bee wondering recently is how we went from Parents can ask for up to 10 days holiday each school yea not so long ago to being treated almost like criminals when they ask for a couple of days off.

[SuburbanRhonda]

You can still ask.

But the government has decided now that you don't get.

That's the difference.