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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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Original poster

New School Day Proposed

123 replies

saturnsarah · 14/05/2015 20:49

DD13 came home from school today (it's an academy) with a letter saying they want to change the school day.

They want to change it so they start at 08.30 and then do not have a break until 11.30. I think this is far too long for children to go without a drink or a proper rest break. They then will have a break until 11.55 and work until 13.15 when they have lunch until 13.55 and then they work from 13.55 until 15.15.

AIBU to think the three hours is too long or am I being PFB?

OP posts:

InSpaceNooneCanHearYouScream · 15/05/2015 09:20

damnautocorrect don't your employees get a tea break then?

timelyreminder · 15/05/2015 09:30

YANBU.

What was supposedly wrong with the previous timetable?

DazzleU · 15/05/2015 09:45

I think this was the structure of my secondary school day - ordinary state secondary.

The bus came at 8.00 so had to leave house 7.45 at latest. Do remember late dinner took some time to get used to in first term - then adapted.

I don't remember drinks being an issue as such. It was more them insisting we had to ware blazers even in really hot weather and not lockers meaning a lot of stuff to cart round.

We were moving between lessons and classrooms in the longer blocks - as it could be different builds suppose it was possible to nip to loos and on the quiet drink water - though only remember doing that after PE lessons.

Though like other's I'm aware of research showing that teenager brains have different body clocks and later starts are much better for learning as a result. So in that regard YANBU.

SomewhereIBelong · 15/05/2015 09:54

our school runs to that timetable already - it works really well.

When the morning is used for double lessons, they still "break" in between for 5 min, stand up, have a wander round, get a drink, go to loo etc.

applesareredandgreen · 15/05/2015 10:14

The timetable sounds fine but lack of toilet breaks and no water in class no I don't think that is reasonable. At DS' s primary school a few yesrs ago there was a big thing about water helping concentration and the kids were actively encouraged to drink water during lessons.

In my own work I have to sit in meetings which are 3 hours or longer and I do have to concentrate for all that time. I take in water but only take smallest sips as I dread having to stop the meeting whilst I go to the toilet! ! So I suppose that's the situation in adult life they are preparing for but I wouldn't be really happy if it was my DC.

Damnautocorrect · 15/05/2015 14:44

inspace no, I've never worked anywhere you have tea breaks. You can have a cup whilst your working but no break. Just half hour lunch.

whippy33 · 15/05/2015 16:06

If the teachers can go that long, why can't the children....the teachers will not be able to drink during that time either and they are able to cope.

CremeEggThief · 15/05/2015 16:27

YANBU.
Somewhere between 10.30 and 11 is better for a break, if they start at 8.30. I also think 40 minutes isn't long enough for lunch, especially if there are long queues or clubs available.

lambsie · 15/05/2015 17:12

Whippy33, when I was teaching, there was no way I would have agreed to go 3 hours without a drink of water. When you are teaching 6th formers you can do an hour of talking. Not drinking during that time isn't reasonable.

thatsn0tmyname · 15/05/2015 17:15

We do that at our school. No problems.

bigTillyMint · 15/05/2015 17:23

The DC's school do 8.40 - 11.40, one hours break and then 12.40 - various different times - 3.10/3.45/4.10 depending on day/age.

I think schools would do better with teens if they started and finished at least an hour later.

InSpaceNooneCanHearYouScream · 15/05/2015 21:45

damn I couldn't manage without me 15 minute tea breaks morning and afternoon.

CMP69 · 15/05/2015 22:40

I didn't know anyone got actual tea breaks any more

Littlefluffyclouds81 · 15/05/2015 23:38

My school day was from 8.40am until 5.20pm every day (in lessons, that's not after school activities). Then 2 hours of homework. And Saturday school. We coped.

Can't remember the break times but I don't think they were wildly generous.

whippy33 · 16/05/2015 00:41

lambsie....I do 3 hours every day teaching without a drink. We are not allowed drinks on the 'shop floor'. I usually have a brew at 6.30am and then not have chance for another drink til about 12.30. Its easily done.

HelenaDove · 16/05/2015 02:35

This happened with our year in 1988-89 My final school year. Had to be in school by 8.40am. Changed from 9am. For the whole of my school life we wernt allowed water or drinks for long periods in school. I used to pee before i left the house in the morning and not have to pee again till i got in from school.

By the time i was 21 i had developed an overactive bladder and have been living with this condition for 21 years. Whatever i drink seems to go straight through me. And im teetotal . Cant help wondering if those early years didnt help the situation.

lambsie · 16/05/2015 05:32

I meant any drink at all such as water. At one school they tried to ban bottles of water in the classroom for staff and students but there were so many complaints about this, it got dropped.

Charis1 · 16/05/2015 06:27

I think hydration is really important especially when studying, but the school thinks differently it seems.

I meant any drink at all such as water. At one school they tried to ban bottles of water in the classroom for staff and students but there were so many complaints about this, it got dropped.

this is all just modern faddy nonsense instigated by the bottled water industry!

Water doesn't do much to hydrate you anyway, it just makes you need the loo. If your dehydrated, tea or squash is better.

But how would someone get dehydrated in three hours in a classroom?

No one needs a drink that often, it is just manipulation by the advertising companies that make you think you do,

of course hydration is really important, but trying to say that equates to a drink every three hours is actually very silly. If you were hiking in high temperatures, maybe.

Charis1 · 16/05/2015 06:29

As for working for three hours without a break, well, if she takes a job at 16, in 3 years time, it will be 4.5 hours until she is legally entitled to a break.

lambsie · 16/05/2015 07:32

If you are talking constantly for a hour which you can be with older secondary age students (either to the class or individually) it becomes unpleasant if you cannot take a sip of water in that time.

Charis1 · 16/05/2015 07:37

If you are talking constantly for a hour which you can be with older secondary age students (either to the class or individually) it becomes unpleasant if you cannot take a sip of water in that time.

Never been an issue, except where advertisers make it an issue. Entirely fabricated problem.

SoupDragon · 16/05/2015 07:40

The OPs school day sounds like DSs although they finish at 345. They trialled a different timetable with earlier break and lunch but the majority preferred the old style so they went back to it.

Bunbaker · 16/05/2015 07:42

Charis You seem to have a bee in your bonnet about this. Why?

If I don't have a drink for 3 hours I get a headache.

lambsie · 16/05/2015 07:47

Do you have a job where you regularly talk continually for long periods of time? It is not about dehydration but about the effect on your throat and voice.

ScotsWhaHae · 16/05/2015 07:50

Who knew? The need for water is a myth, the brainchild of the advertising industry. Well I never.

DS is 10 (P6 Scottish primary) and the school actually issue water bottles, personalised, to each child for use during the school day. They can refill wherever necessary.

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