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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

to want some of the last week of term to be used for .. oh I don't know ... education?

120 replies

HedTwigg · 21/07/2007 10:31

fun day all day
trip all day
in-class movies
party all half day of last day

what happened to partying on the last day only

OP posts:
GhostofHedTwig · 21/07/2007 19:45

ya boo to me indeed

kittywits · 21/07/2007 20:29

You old misery!!

newlifenewname · 21/07/2007 20:31

But if they aren't going to be doing anything other than having fun, whhhhhhhhhhyyyyy do I have to take them into school. We can do fun at home, in our PJs until mid morning and without sitting in traffic for the first hour of the day.

southeastastra · 21/07/2007 20:34

i do get fed up with the endless videos they seem to be shown now. some disney rubbish or whatever.

although went to a great secondary awards thing which was great. children in that school seem to really rally each other on. it's nice to see

cornsilk · 21/07/2007 20:53

Yes many schools do this. Please bear in mind that many teachers are changing classrooms which is as stressful as moving house - need to prepare for this. Also walls etc need to be stripped and changed, records reading books collated and passed onto next teacher etc. There's loads of extra work that has to be done before the end of term and this gives teachers a bit of a break when they need it most.

katelyle · 21/07/2007 21:17

I was all in favour of a lovely happy playful last week until someone said about watching dvds gives teachers a break. Now, I am a huge defender of teachers. I think they do a wonderful, very hard, demanding job, and I only stuck it for two terms. BUT BUT BUT they do have the longest holidays of any profession - and I really see no reason why they can't take down the displays and move classrooms about on Thursday and Friday of this week. I really don't think the children should watch dvds except ans a treat, when they are very tired, or if there's a genuine staffing emergency.

cba · 21/07/2007 21:21

agree with posters who say that the schools dont agree with term time holidays. My ds1 has just completed year 1, his last week consisted of watching dvds, and he was not lying. I turned up to his classroom on his last day of term to take him to a performance than ds2 was doing. There was the whole class sat in silence watching a dvd while teacher sat doing paperwork. Asked if I would be bringing him back after the performance I asked if there was any need and she said no.

Will definately not hesitate in using last week of term for family visits abroad next year if I need it.

cba · 21/07/2007 21:22

yep, kateye that is it, dvds!!! I was amazed, shocked and pissed off, everyday for gods sake. Should be ashamed. If it happens next year will have something to say.

WendyWeber · 21/07/2007 21:23

If they're not doing anything educational, why can't their parents take them on holiday a week early and save a few hundred quid??

Whizzz · 21/07/2007 21:29

At our secondary school, it was very much a wind down as the kids had all done their end of term exams & gone through all the results - so not much else to do with regards to learning (& probably fighting a loosing battle if the teachers tried to teach ) - so we had loads of DVDs !!

pointydog · 21/07/2007 21:30

what is theproblem here?

skiving teachers
or
children missing out on some important learning
or
being advised not to take kids out during term time

katelyle · 21/07/2007 21:37

I really don't care if they don't do any work, but I do care if they are being dumped in front of a dvd so that teachers can do their admin.

pointydog · 21/07/2007 21:39

so skiving teachers is the issue

katelyle · 21/07/2007 21:42

No, I didn't say they were skiving - they are working, not nipping out for a fag. I just don't think it's appropriate for children to be watching dvds while the teachers do their admin. If the teacher wants to give them extra playtime and she sits in the sun and fills up the reading record books or whatever it is while they play outside I'd be happy with that.

pointydog · 21/07/2007 21:48

oh. AN objection to dvds then?

katelyle · 21/07/2007 21:49

Yes. I don't send them to school so that they can watch mindless Disney cr*p. They can do that at home!

GhostofHedTwig · 21/07/2007 21:51

I don't mind one day or even a couple but a whole week is mindless

also they rope in parents to deal with the kids on 2 of those days and also you have to provide stuff for 2 of the other days

I would prefer to take them on holiday
I don't want them loaded with sweets and cakes daily because its a 'fun day'

hatrickjacqueline · 21/07/2007 21:51

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn

WendyWeber · 21/07/2007 21:52

Yes but why can't their parents take them on holiday for R&R instead?

hatrickjacqueline · 21/07/2007 21:56

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn

pointydog · 21/07/2007 21:56

Take them on holiday. It's govt policy to crack down on term time leave. I'd just take them on hol if you want.

GhostofHedTwig · 21/07/2007 22:01

can't pointy, I don't agree with taking kids out of school term-time and I'm a governor anyway so wouldn't be right

WendyWeber · 21/07/2007 22:02

But if they're not missing any teaching, twig, WTF not? On principle?

That sucks. Sorry.

GhostofHedTwig · 21/07/2007 22:03

Yup on principle Wendy

GhostofHedTwig · 21/07/2007 22:04

it reflects badly on the school to have unauthorised absences .. its one of the figures that ofsted uses as judgement ... I can't do it

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