To tell DD's school that if they won't let her watch the solar eclipse, I'll keep her home until its over?

[listsandbudgets]

I asked today what they were doing about it and the head said they were just carrying on as normal.

I want DD to see it. DD is desperate to see it. Its 90% here so worth seeing. We can easily make a pin hole projector though I will try to get some eye protection.

AIBU?

"Can you no longer declare the child as being "educated off-site" for the morning? Because I hadn't thought to ask my son's teacher what they are doing about it but will now!"

The school can use that absence code on the register, but only once it has satisfied itself about the nature of education being provided off-site (by a provider, not a relative) and deal with a host of other bits of red tape abiut enrolment with the provider (and yes, it was always like that). It won't work for this.

It will probably be raining... not much to see in the rain...

I am a science teacher on supply and I'm really surprised about the lack of anything being done. I understand the logistics would be hard but it's a great opportunity. There doesn't seem to be any fuss in the media either. I remember 1999 and it was everywhere. Wonder why this time is different?

On another note does anyone know where to get the special glasses from?

Ah Somewhere, optimism! That's what I like to see

And OP you are nbu. I want my dds to see it too and if they were at school I would consider keeping them off for the morning if school weren't doing anything.

www.mumsnet.com/Talk/weather/2270739-Partial-solar-eclipse-for-the-UK-Friday-20th-March-2015?

This thread about the eclipse has some suggestions/links for the glasses, peaches, but I don't know how many places may be out of stock by now - I've ordered mine from Jodrell Bank, but they are now out of stock

In 1999 I was in Stuttgart, the 100% centre, with events all over the city and special glasses in every shop.

On the day it was heavily overcast and you could watch it without glasses, filtered by the cloud.

It went very dark eerily quickly, and the temperature dropped just as quickly. It was great.

DS's primary school is selling glasses for £1 and inviting the children in early to watch it (8.42 here). Wondering if Bea is known to me, or if it's a more widespread idea.

Oooooh, I want to see it! I remember the last one - cool.

Top tip - don't be tempted to look at a reflection of the eclipse in a mirror...

Our secondary school are all going out to watch it, with a pair of special glasses and a tutor activity about it!

I agree millionsofpeaches. I seem to remember the last one was only visible in the West Country and all the beds down there were booked months in advance. One of my colleagues paid a fortune to take his DS. There's hardly been any news about this one. I'm really excited. I've never seen one but I do need to do some research abut how to look at it safely. Any tips?

www.exploratorium.edu/eclipse/how.html

There's good advice here but I can't get safety glasses ANYWHERE as they are all sold out unless you want to pay £50 a pair

i remember the one in 1999, the birds stopped singing, it was eerie. and slightly dark. dh bought home his welding hood

Ooh good. I knew it was coming (and have suggested to school they do something for it), but I have just got out the glasses from the 1999 eclipse that we put by ready for the next one. Only one pair, but we can share them. Exactly where I thought they were too.

I've just called DCs secondary (1800) pupils. They're "hoping" to get 30 pairs of glasses but haven't been successful yet and then will run a competition where children who are interested have to write to explain why they should be picked to see it.

I think I might keep DS home and I never ever do that. Never taken even a day off in term time unless properly ill. Don't even make dentist appointments in school time.

I remember making pinhole viewing cameras for partial eclipses. Thanks for posting this thread, I must find out what's going on at dd's school and if it's bugger all, well, unless the weather is piss poor, she will be late in. For science!

I bought safety glasses from Amazon - 5 pairs for £12.

I will be keeping DD off school to watch it, luckily we have the day booked off work anyway.

I thought it started at 07.40 a.m.?

In SW England it starts round 8.20 and peaks 9.30ish finishing 10.40ish

(NE Scotland times are 12 min later)

YANBU!

I just had to Google as I didn't know about it either. Apparently we are due a total eclipse on 28th September so perhaps that's why there's not been much publicity about this one.

I remember the 1999 one too - I was working for a lovely computer company in an old house - we went out and watched it together in the front garden with champagne and doughnuts - happy days !

I asked at our primary school this morning, ta said they aren't doing anything at all and mentioned health and safety.

Could someone please explain to me why you need protective eyewear?

I'm sorry, I didn't pay attention in science and I was 10 in 1999 so I can't remember wearing special glasses but u do remember the hype around the Eclipse.

There's a total lunar eclipse on the 28th September, not really the same. And it's hopefully going to a good showing - up to 90% covered where we are. I'll have to do some wriggling with work but fuck it.

The eyewear is because it is still the sun and you can't look directly at the sun unprotected.