Does it really do any harm??

[fruitandbarley]

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).

*issue. Not idea

What suggests to you I am anything but calm ?

maybeafool I think post Year 8 it is very disruptive to take DCs out - even though I might well do some term time holidays/long weekends through primary (and not more than 5 days a year if that) once year 9 kicks in I don't think I would.

Capitalising "can" and "does" comes across a certain way on text.
Plus your previous responses suggest a level of overinvestment even when others have given perfectly reasonable counter-opinions.
Apologies if you are perfectly calm.

I'm serene. It's merely for emphasis, but thank you, I will review my usage with that in mind.

I agree Mrscog, that taking a child out of secondary school is massively disruptive. I don't teach in a primary so I don't know first-hand how impactful missed learning is there.
In terms of disruption in secondary, I only teach 2 subjects - those kids who went/are going on holiday are going to disrupt other lessons I'm sure.
😉 Narky ☺

MaybeAFool it is interesting that your first two examples are people who have chosen to do extra classes and then not been able to.

I would be interested to know how much of the doing extra was down to the students, or their parents' desire. I also wonder about the holidays and long weekends, I expect the children got very little say in these things.

Clearly when the students are working together collaboratively then one student having time off will affect the group.

As far as I am aware neither of my kids do any drama at all, so these examples don't apply to my family.

MaybeAFool I think it is very unfair you are made to work extra time. Did you have any choice in the matter?

MaybeAFool "I would argue there is always a level of disruption. Even if slight."

Disruption to whom?

Your examples are very clear, students working in groups together, yes clear disruption. I think for other children the disruption will be potentially for them alone. It is a delicate subject and one where heads discretion would be welcomed rather than blanket policy, IMHO.

Although I do still feel parents should have their kids best interests at heart!

Italian: I've no doubt the children had little say in when their parents went on holiday. In terms of the "optional" classes - they were optional before they were contracted. The year 7 girls were desperate to do the enrichment and the year 9 boy doing the GCSE a year early was a choice that he and his parents made together. That class is during school time. He would still have been doing drama, just not getting the qualification.

I just used drama as an example as it is the subject I know the best. I know that other subject areas often do collaborative and group work, so in those terms then the disruption will be to the absent student, the remainder of the class and me.
In examples where there may be no group work, then the disruption will be to the individual and the teacher - and potentially other students IF the teacher has to go over previously covered ground or if lessons have to be delayed in terms of planning to accommodate students who have missed work.
As I say, it could be very slight or quite major. But all I was trying to do is demonstrate impact, to counteract the posters who think that their decisions have none. It's just about acknowledgement and understanding of the impact.
And in terms of me doing extra work - I did have little choice in those examples. If we hadn't done extra music sessions after school (to accommodate the girls who missed two) we would not have been ready for a concert which was the product of that term's learning. And with my year 13s, their moderated exam piece is now 3 weeks earlier than we originally planned
I don't have to go in over half term, but I feel I should in order to enable them to get their best grades.

And finally (sorry for the epic post) in light of the discussion that other posters have had regarding education being more than classroom learning - well that also applies to the "optional" and extra curricular examples I mention
I don't mind giving up my lunch time or my after school time to put on a show or a concert - but it does get tedious when I give up my time and kids aren't able to attend because they're on holiday

I am a teacher and I am old enough to remember that each local authority ,the schools weren't academies then , had a couple of 'wakes' weeks which were different to the other areas e.g. Bolton was last two in June Wigan was first two in July this made us able to get a cheaper holiday without missing school. The worst thing was when all the holidays were brought in line nationwide. I think we should all protest for at least one week that varies for each area.