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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

Does it really do any harm??

386 replies

fruitandbarley · 08/02/2017 00:50

Holidays in school time. I'm 40, my parents took me out of school for a week once a year to go on holiday.
I've done ok for myself, don't believe it's affected me in any way.
So AIBU to ask if it's really such a big deal. ( So long as it's not a silly amount of time).
Disclaimer:- I've had wine, any spelling mistakes are due to that and not a week camping in Cornwall when I was 8).

OP posts:
Rockingaround · 08/02/2017 00:56

😂 at camping when you were 8! No I don't think a fortnight here or there is of any major detriment to a child's education. It's just another bizarre-government-nannying "thing" that we have to put up with. It's like we're all still at school Grin

Fackorf · 08/02/2017 00:59

I think once you get past age 14, it's problematic because of missing controlled assessments etc.

Before that, not really a problem. Other things - parental educational attainment, parental attitudes towards education, income level, teacher quality, personality, IQ - make a far bigger difference than missing 1 week a year.

LellyMcKelly · 08/02/2017 01:03

If it's a week before school breaks up for the summer, then fine. If it's the week they're teaching long division and you can't catch up on your own, then not so much. I actually asked my kids if they'd like to go on holiday during term time and they hated the idea - hardly any other kids to play with, missing clubs, having to catch up on all the work they'd missed. If you want a cheap holiday, then have a cheap holiday. Just make sure you don't make the teacher's life harder because of it.

Original poster
fruitandbarley · 08/02/2017 01:06

Thank you. Was just watching a few days old recorded programme where the increased costs were mentioned. I personally think it should be outlawed! ( by the local sheriff, wine probably kicking in now!). But, they more than double the costs. How do we make this illegal??? There must be some fair regulations law? Is that a thing?

OP posts:
Original poster
fruitandbarley · 08/02/2017 01:10

Lelly, my sisters a teacher, I would dream of doing that.
But I don't ever recall all the things you've just mentioned, and can still do all the things that were taught.
You surely don't learn something in one week then that's it!!! It's never mentioned again.

OP posts:
brasty · 08/02/2017 01:14

I went on holiday a couple of times as a kid during term time. Only in primary though. I don't remember missing much at all. But it was only a week, and I had very high attendance the rest of the time.

puckingfixies · 08/02/2017 01:16

fruit, the price for holidays during school holidays is the normal price, off peak weeks are discounted. Any sort of regulation re pricing wouldn't reduce the price of peak weeks but would make term time breaks dearer I'm afraid.

user1471446433 · 08/02/2017 01:17

I think it makes sod all diffence to the kids (no one panics about kids missing a week because they're off sick) but is a very little bit extra work for the (beloved by MN) teachers.

OneWithTheForce · 08/02/2017 01:32

I think it depends on the time of year (what is being covered in class/exams) and the individual child. I struggled to keep up in school even with excellent attendance. I regularly sat completely baffled by the homework I had been set wondering when the hell we had covered that as it seemed totally new. If I had missed a week of school when we had been learning something particularly tricky, particularly in maths, I'd have had real problems catching up. Possibly dropping a GCSE grade by the end as a result. Some kids have parents who can make up for that and fill in the missing info. I didn't so there was no chance of me ever getting it outside of asking all my teachers to spare some time and explain stuff they already taught a week ago. Hardly fair on them.

Original poster
fruitandbarley · 08/02/2017 01:35

Puckingfixies- seriously,?? Or are you being sarcastic?

Can you explain further please? As the way I see it ( and I believe most other parents) is that the holiday companies increase the prices to get more out of families as they can't take kids out of school in term time.

OP posts:
OneWithTheForce · 08/02/2017 01:35

You surely don't learn something in one week then that's it!!! It's never mentioned again.

We certainly did! There were some topics I remember doing for my maths coursework that we spent one 35 minute class on and that was it! And then I had to reproduce it all for coursework 12 weeks later!

puckingfixies · 08/02/2017 01:43

I work in tourism. The holiday companies/operators work out costs for the year and no of weeks likely to sell (occupancy rates) and price accordingly. So the peak week prices are the price, off peak weeks are a bonus for the operators and are sold cheaply, in spite of the fact that the costs can be higher for these weeks (heating, pool heating, etc). Honestly, prices would rise for off peak weeks if regulations were brought in, they can't guarantee occupancy during these weeks - costs for the year have to be covered during the busy times.

anklebitersmum · 08/02/2017 01:43

Personally I think the powers that be have a blooming cheek fining parents per day for taking their nipper on holiday whilst simultaneously supporting the right to days off for striking educators which apparently aren't as detrimental as holiday days

Meanwhile the more feckless parents among the herd have what often adds up to multiple weeks off over the school year for not getting up on time spurious doctor & dentist appointments without anyone batting an eyelid.

There should be more to primary education than children learning to pass the tests which were originally meant to check on the teachers and there are far, far more harmful influences in secondary school than a week 'off peak' in the Costa packet.

Rockingaround · 08/02/2017 01:45

That's shit One I'm vaguely remembering double award science, I'm sure we had only one session on some things too... Although it was many moons ago now for me, maybe they've got better at teaching what we needed to learn. I think it's easier/better in primary than in secondary - say from Y8 onwards.

HeartsTrumpDiamonds · 08/02/2017 01:47

Fruit honey this has been debated and explained endlessly on here.

Holiday companies charge those fees because people pay them. It is simple supply and demand. You can't just price-regulate one sector of a market economy - unless you think the government should be providing some sort of subsidy to the poor middle class parents who can't afford their ski holiday with little Tristram and little Jocasta this year.

Original poster
fruitandbarley · 08/02/2017 02:11

Sorry if been brought up before, but was more if it made any difference/had any affect, rather than if they should be charging it. I just never saw / or heard of all the awful things that resulted from me and my classmates being off.

OP posts:
Italiangreyhound · 08/02/2017 02:17

"Does it really do any harm?"

No, I do not think it does. My dd has spent time making props for a play, going into classes for much younger children, and being evacuated from a class because a boy was kicking off. All this happens when we are told every minute counts! My friend's dd spent time clearing out a cupboard.

I cannot see that a week in a brilliant location with many opportunities for relaxation and learning is going to do any harm for a child.

HeartsTrumpDiamonds · 08/02/2017 02:17

I actually agree with you. We just moved (back) to Canada, and the attitude here to missing school is so relaxed. It's just so refreshing. And I can't imagine my Grade 5 DD is going to miss out on some aspect of her learning just because she was away for 4 days.

At the same time, I used to work in a school but not as a teacher but I would see the extra work it put on the teachers' shoulders when some of their class was missing due to vacation. It's a tricky one because there are always going to be piss takers who abuse the system. I think a week is ok, but if they said this, you would have people taking 3 weeks!

Original poster
fruitandbarley · 08/02/2017 02:28

But don't you think the ones that would take the piss then, would do anyway, no matter what rules were in place.

OP posts:
KoalaDownUnder · 08/02/2017 02:46

My parents took us out of school for 3 months (yes, months) when I was 14, to go on a world trip.

I'm now a lawyer and my siblings are all degree-educated professionals.

So no, I don't think it makes a difference and I think the inflexibility in the UK system is bizarre.

RonaldMcDonald · 08/02/2017 03:03

Depends on the kids and parents
I take my kids out of school for roughly a ,onto per year
We travel and learn about new things and places
They are working about two yrs ahead of their year groups and the school doesn't care at all
They do projects, write diaries, learn about the culture and peculiarities of where they are v the difference of home. They know loads of weird cool stuff and have their eyes open far more widely than I did at that age

Recorder lessons suffered but that was.about all.

RonaldMcDonald · 08/02/2017 03:04

*month

Trifleorbust · 08/02/2017 04:12

I think it makes sod all diffence to the kids (no one panics about kids missing a week because they're off sick) but is a very little bit extra work for the (beloved by MN) teachers.

People cannot help being ill. I have no problem with a parent deciding to take their child out of school, but don't make the missed content my problem because of a choice you have made. It may be only a little extra work, but teachers are seriously overworked as it is and cannot take on 'a little extra work' every time a parent wants a cheaper trip to Disneyland. By all means, go, but accept responsibility.

user1484226561 · 08/02/2017 05:24

I think it makes sod all diffence to the kids (no one panics about kids missing a week because they're off sick) but is a very little bit extra work for the (beloved by MN) teachers.

It makes HOURS and HOURS of extra work for teachers, not "a very little bit extra" - I won't show your stupid ignorant post to my colleague who was close to tears yesterday, over this very issue, he is working 70+ hours a week already and some idiot parents have had their child away (y9) for 10 days, resulting in my colleague spending an hour a day helping him catch up. This is a father who hasn't made it home to see his son awake since this child returned from holiday.

user1484226561 · 08/02/2017 05:26

And I don't know why people find it so hard to understand, holiday prices DO NOT RISE in school holidays. THAT IS THE PRICE THEY ACTUALLY ARE.

There are often discounts during term time because it is off peak. if everyone went in term time, it would be normal price then,

If you can't afford a holiday, don't have one. it is not an automatic right, is it.

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