To think we should do away entirely with school holidays?

[SkaPunkPrincess]

Just musing and wondering why we don't just do away with them entirely?

Run schools like a regular workplace in that they operate 52 weeks of the year, Teachers and students to get 4 weeks allocated holiday allowance per year and parents can use this at their discretion. Staff would be able to be more flexible and they would have more time in the year to teach children at a more realistic pace?

Am I missing why this isn't a genius idea?

*9am

school isn't a form of childcare

Because childcare isn’t its main purpose. The main purpose of schools is to educate children, not to enable parents to work.

Of course we care for the children while they are there, being educated.

Bring back art, music and home economics. Cooking and life skills, forest school and growing your own veg ect
We don't do forest school but do offer all the rest.

What the OP actually means is 'fill the extra time with enrichment and clubs etc and build it into the school day so that is another area of parenting that parents don't have to do'. It's seeing school as childcare and surrogate parents.

School provides formal education, pastoral input (ever growing as each new issue seems to be met with 'teach it in school') and some enrichment already. The rest is for home to do.

I liked school as a student. I also loved all the other things I did out of school.

You've basically said "school isn't a form of childcare" and then gone on to list ways in which it could be more like childcare so that you can leave your kids there for longer while you work. (AKA... childcare!)

Fab... I'll take a pay rise thanks. And I'll take working set hours like other jobs. Oh and I think I'll take most of May off when the weather is generally at its best. Oh... no I won't be setting work. It's exam time you say? I don't care I'm off on my holidays. 😎😎😎

FOANTFOSM.

Children aren't mini adults. They're children.

Schools are for education, not childcare.

If you didn't want to look after your own children, then you shouldn't have had them.

The only thing I would change is the summer holidays. They should be LONGER. They should have all of July and August off. Maybe then they'd actually get some decent summer weather rather than have half of their 'summer' holiday be 'autumn' weather.

Ah, but FowlisWester she/he suggests that the students take exams when they're ready, so am guessing the exam period is also 52 weeks, so you couldn't miss that!!

Yeah but education comes with other remits, teaching them facts in books/on the internet is not educations only purpose, you also have a pastoral remit so its not accurate to say education is only learning subjects.

Didn't they trial that idea somewhere? I'm thinking Leicester but I could be wrong.

I DO think the summer break is too long and they could add an extra few days throughout the year instead.

What a silly idea - parents to take 4 weeks off at their discretion . So their children miss four weeks off work- when would they catch up ?

I don't think children should have more weeks at school than they currently do, but do think that schools should not all have the same holidays. Attractions and holiday companies I am sure would be happier and some of the excess price hikes could be reduced.

As a home educator I'm all for this, less of an influx of people in our favourite quiet places as soon as the hols come along.

Otherwise, a big fat no. In smaller, more bespoke schools it could work. In massive state schools of 1500 plus kids with limited budgets and facilities...chaos.

I wish the summer holidays were 4 weeks instead of 6. But they shouldn't be done away with completely. Half terms and other holidays should still be there too. But the summer holidays are too long.

"So I've had this great idea. Why don't we make school an every week of the year thing and save ourselves loadsa money in childcare? We'll barely have to see the fuckers until they're 18, and by then they'll be ready to move out! GENIUS"

BlueSapp
I don't see why everyone is saying school isn't a form of childcare,

Because the primary function of school isn't childcare.

Would you say the same about paintballing or go karting establishments?

Those resorting to personal insults. Please grow up.

My OP clearly states I'm just musing.

Because I only just survived the 8 week term we've had and need a rest. I would be burnt out. And most of the kids didn't get anything out of he final week as they were too tired

Yeah. Let's scrap weekends too.....and cancel Christmas! 😃

For those saying that the summer holidays are to long, you are aware that England has the shortest holidays?

OohMavis you are very rude suggesting because people have to work they don't want top see their child(ren) what about a single parent! should they sit on benefits just so they can make sure to fit in around the school so the poor teachers don't have to give up their holidays(and teachers haven't a clue what poor actually means) Oh wait you'd get shot down for that too!

SkaPunkPrincess

It might help if you were actually participating in the discussion.

If this lunacy ever does happen, UK teachers, I happen to teach in a very nice international school in a hot country.

You could expect your pay to go up about 25%, free accommodation for you & your family, oh & we're looking forward to a 10 week summer .

So I suggest everyone has a look on TES International...

Well BoneyBackJefferson how may times have you left your kid at onlye of these places for the day while you go to work or arn't supervising them yourself. silly analogy!

@SkaPunkPrincess I think it was obvious you were just musing. This thread has thrown up a whole lot of stuff about schools, teachers and education which do indicate that there are already significant problems that extra pressures will not help alleviate!!

Oh do be quiet, I suggested no such thing.