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?

Of course it's reasonable to let them miss an hour or so of school for something as big as this and I would definitely take the dc in late if I wasn't working myself. I feel really sad that kids will miss it due to being in school - our school hasn't got any plans for it at all.

I really want the dd's to see it now but I can't see school being very helpful about it. I've just looked at pinhole cameras and the colander ones look like they would give a good effect. That would be surely easier for them to do rather than getting them all eye protection.
I think I might ask school if we can come in and watch with them, if they are willing to disrupt morning prayer for a once or twice a lifetime experience

My DDs' school has scheduled a fire alarm test for 9.10 so all the pupils will be on the field for 9.30am. They are doing a safety briefing session during registration and handing out classes.

ooh we have a local science centre and observatory - they are doing a big projection and free glasses, and a big breakfast thrown in too!

I'm not sure that viewing it while walking to school is such a great idea. It's not safe to walk in an area where there are likely to be any hazards while wearing eclipse glasses. With the glasses, you won't be able to see much of anything other than the Sun. You won't be able to see light poles, cars, curbs, etc. If you don't have eclipse glasses, it might be tempting to look directly at the Sun while walking, which is not safe.

I suppose there must be people stupid enough to try to watch the sky while they walk in the dark. We plan on leaving early in order to be in a good position to use our pinhole viewers in the park along the way as it begins, then carry on. We might even leave early enough to meet up in the park behind the school.

Besides, it is an eclipse, not an eclipse and power outage. The streetlights which come on at dusk will be triggered, shops and houses will have lights on, most drivers will turn on their headlamps. It will be no darker at street level than it was that time of morning in January.

As a teacher I can obviously appreciate what an utterly fantastic opportunity this is for the children (and us too!) however I would feel VERY uncomfortable about taking children out to observe it, in fact I think I would refuse.

It does depend on the age of the children of course, but EY and KS1, definitely not.

Unless we could take them out one at time.
And their goggles were welded on.

Another (unprofessional) vote here for strategically timed docs appt.
I'd do it.

Some people, especially children, might think they can treat eclipse glasses like regular sunglasses. They're not much like sunglasses when you're wearing them, since they're so much darker. You couldn't see car headlights or street lights through them. It won't be that dark if you're not wearing eclipse glasses, but it's quite a different matter if you are. Or, if someone (especially a child) is walking and not wearing eclipse glasses, they might decide to look at the Sun anyway. Kids don't always use good judgment on what's safe to do.

Some places in Europe get a significant amount of their electricity from solar power, and they are actually concerned about the effect of the eclipse on solar power generation. The idea of a blackout during the eclipse isn't impossible in those places.

I'm not sure if a pinhole projector would work while walking. One made of two index cards probably wouldn't- it would be too difficult to keep them lined up while walking. A more elaborate one might. I'm getting a little seasick thinking of watching an image of an eclipse while walking, but maybe if you're not prone to motion sickness it would be OK.

Of course, any eclipse viewing while walking is a distraction, and possibly dangerous just because of that. I'd be very careful if you have to cross any streets with heavy traffic or walk on any rough sidewalks or streets. Our streets and sidewalks are terrible here, since we had an awful winter for potholes in the northeast US. Looking up while you walk here is just asking to step in a pothole and twist an ankle.

happy2behomely this is what I sent my school. They have since sent a letter home to say that they will be allowing DCs to come in a bit later. I like to think this might be due to my message

"I just wanted to ask if any provision will be made for the children to experience the eclipse on 20th March.

I have bought some eclipse viewing glasses to keep their eyes safe, but if there will not be an opportunity to use them at school I wanted to ask if it is possible to view it at home and bring the children into school a bit later.

As a rare opportunity to see something unusual it would be disappointing if the children are kept inside, although I understand that taking responsibility for them all wearing appropriate eye protection might make this the best option for the school.

I don't know how dark it is likely to get as we will only be able to view a partial eclipse, but if it's likely to spook them out it might be worth making some provision, especially as it should all be done and dusted by 10am."

I just asked dd's teacher who has no problem with her coming in an hour late.

Have explained to the DC's school today that we'd like to keep them home to view the eclipse. She's a real old school head so expecting fall out.

Just spoken to the Head at DCs school and he's fine with them rocking up at 10.45 on Friday, as long as they do their spelling tests at lunchtime!

Anybody in or around Durham still looking for eclipse glasses, Simon Berry Optician in Gilesgate has some in stock at £3.00 per pair.

Spoke to DD's teacher today to ask if they were watching the eclipse. They aren't, but she has no problem with DD going in late after seeing it. Think if we have to travel to find a break in the cloud, school's ditched.
So happy to be in Scotland for being closer to eclipse totallity and reasonable school attendance policy.

We had an email at school today saying we have a duty of care not to let them watch it,and to close blinds in south facing classrooms. Fairly unsurprising I suppose, given that we are an exam factory and that behaviour is too poor to ensure that safety glasses will be worn

Can I just ask those who think it's really really terrible for schools not to be allowing children out to watch it (and especially someone who was shocked the children wouldn't be allowed out at playtime)...

Imagine you are the head teacher of a primary school (although secondary would still have lots of the same issues). Can I ask what you'd HONESTLY do? What would you put on the risk assessment? The things you'd have to address /ask/ ensure are:

• what age groups would you allow to watch? If you have a cut off, what will you tell parents who still complain?
• you don't have the budget to buy glasses for all children
• you're in a deprived area; there's no way all parents could/ would pay for glasses
• how would you ENSURE children don't look at the sun
• even if all children did have glasses, how would you ENSURE they kept them on
• if a child does look at the sun, and it results in damage to their, then what? (you can't just say, "well we briefed them on safety, not our fault")
• you can not discriminate against children with any disability; how can you ensure that all children, including those with ASD, ADHD, ODD will be safe?
• how would you ensure children don't look at the sun at playtime.
• lots of classes have a 1:30 adult ratio

Would honestly be interested to the answers to these questions.
For the record, I see no problem with parents bringing their children in late if they want to watch it and I would also be very disappointed if the school were not at least watching a live stream.

I didn't even know this was happening until a few days ago. I remember the 1999 solar eclipse well and it was hyped to death for months beforehand, even though it was only really visible in Cornwall. I remember the BBC broadcasting live from a Cornish beach and it was pissing down and overcast.

I wonder why this hasn't been hyped as much? Its going to be visible in more places.

This is different to the full eclipse - a partial eclipse is far more dangerous, because the solar radiation from the parts of the sun you can see is far stronger. Anyone who tries to look at the sun directly during this time is risking severe damage to their retinas.

I don't see why there is such a strong objection to schools' 'Safety First' approach. I would be fucking furious if they got them all out in the playground for a good look. There is no guarantee young children will obey instructions. They need to be protected from their natural curiosity.

Please read advice from Astronomers and Opticians. Viewing goggles might be fine for you if you are supervising your children, but a lot of the advice says that there is no safe way to view the eclipse directly. Why take the risk?

Anyone know where glasses are still available. Also someone mentioned using welding glasses? TIA

You can use a pin hole on card.

Our school sent a letter out today saying the children would be learning about eclipses this week and would be watching the actual eclipse on live news feeds in their classrooms. I'm happy with that. For safety reasons I can see why they can't risk them looking at the sun or provide safety glasses for them all. There are over 300 children in the EYFS, KS1 and KS2. They will be able to notice it getting darker and will probably see more via a news feed. I remember using a pin hole thingy last time there was one but not being very impressed with the tiny spot of light that it showed.

I bought two copies of the Night Sky Magazine last week- just for the glasses.

Sorely tempted to sell them after seeing the price they are reaching on ebay today!!

Seems they are in short supply.

Daily Record is giving them free with Thursday's edition apparently.

If anyone thinks they can get them from 365astronomy, think again - still waiting on mine, called them and they are utterly clueless, so looks as if we won't get any .

I don't think it's terribly unreasonable for a school to not take kids outside to watch the eclipse, especially with large classes or young kids. There are legitimate safety and cost issues. What I do think is unreasonable is a school objecting if parents want to keep their kids home to watch the eclipse.

DD (yr6) told me that they aren't allowed outside to watch but will be watching live on the television. It's actually science week at her school so great timing. I can fully understand why they don't want children outside watching so am pleased that they aren't ignoring it either.