AIBU to say that summer hols are a driver of inequality

[Teaandcrisps]

Myself and OH have had mixed personal fortune over the last 10 years - so from personal experience know the difference.

Summer holidays with no money is shit - especially when the weather is crap. If you can afford it however, it's great fun.

It's not just the obvious things - summer hols, trips, activities, camps, increase in food costs; it's also if you have the kind of job that can give you time off.

Given that food bank have launched the holiday hunger campaign, AIBU to say that summer holidays is an unequal construct and the 6-weeks off needs to go.

Can I ask those advocating cutting the holidays where they think the money is going to come from?

Oh, I would imagine they all think teachers, site staff, support staff, midday assistants, caretakers, technicians and kitchen staff will all be working all those extra weeks free!!

YANBU. Not read the full thread but chipping in as this frustrates me too. Partner and I both self-employed (not by choice) with no family support (also not by choice). 6 (and a half if you include early closing and inset days) weeks are a nightmare for us. Could half terms be extended? Would help with the premium for going anywhere in the summer too.
I’m sure this has all been argued down upthread somewhere though.

Having a large break of 4/5 weeks is great for families and kids imo (although August seems to be a bit of a washout most years). I have had 5 kids and have gone from working and using childcare for the holidays to currently being on limited disability benefit income so have also seen both sides. However I still feel that the freedom kids experience in the summer holidays isn’t really replicated in other holidays as too short to really relax and yes, to get bored and figure out how to amuse themselves. We’re too organised for kids these days so want to fill their every moment. Plus it’s important to organise holiday time off just simply to Be with our kids. Little money doesn’t mean no fun and there’s lots of things to do if you look around.
As for having an extra week from the 6 week holidays, I’d vote not to have it in October when it’s often miserable weather but to completely rethink the school year so we have more time off earlier in the late spring or early summer when you can actually go on holiday, without going abroad (if you can afford that). Camping is cheap but pretty miserable in wet weather!

As a teacher I can honestly say I'd prefer to have 3 terms in a school year, with a longer break between the 3rd and 1st (tho maybe like a month?). We barely have time to plan and correct everything, having more breaks during the school year would give us time to finish all the grading we need to do (which for obvious reasons can't be done in the summer), plus it would make the whole "back to school" period somewhat easier as the kids haven't quite gotten out of the routine fully. That's just my opinion tho, I don't have kids so I can't say from that standpoint how it would be. It just seems like having 8 weeks off all in one go makes life harder, especially for people who want to take their work holiday then, at the same time as every other parent in their workplace

This thread has made me laugh.

OP says:- I think school holidays should be reduced as I think that will stop inequality (it won’t).

Most of the replies have ignored this completely and have either said

1. Childcare is really expensive so having the kids in school more would help me.

Or

1. Yes, I agree with you, OP. Let’s have fewer weeks off in the summer but more at May/October.

Neither replies have much to do with the OP’s AIBU!

Struggling to make ends meet? Poor mothers who stay on benefits also moan about long holidays whilst they have all the time on their hands to read,do play dates,go to parks,do home video exercise with children,etc. Many do not do it at all,they prefer to watch TV,gossip or just do nothing. All holidays. And claim to be tired. I have seen mothers who managed to help their children to develop skills without doing expensive things. There are libraries,bus trips to seaside, parents get together and exchange skills (art,music,etc). But you must be willing to do so. As for the working parents on low income,the question is mostly re childcare,not long holidays. This should be addressed. Not curtailing the time which children need off. Because contrary to what some might think,schooling must not be all year around. It is not pupil minding! Private schools have longer holidays,almost twice as long as the state schools,but give better results .And no,it is not because children go on holidays,but because tuition and discipline are good and children have breaks to catch up or just rest. As for funding- 15 kids in private school vs 30 in state school. Let me think....15k per year, 225000per 15pupils. State school 6k per year,30kids- 180000per year. Private pay teachers more,have more teachers and better facilities. State pay teachers less,but have longer school year .Still,not so much difference in expense if we consider it, especially when classes are upped to 35-40pupils. Plus private schools make profit! So the spending on a class in a state school and in a private one is almost the same! It is the quality of teaching which makes the difference. And yes,private school parents help their children more. They do not look at school as a nanny to mind their offspring whist they are at work. With no holidays ideally at all. This is why the children who prosper at the state schools are the children whose parents help them,read to them,discuss things,not talking all the time about Kardashian or love island . And not looking at the children as miniature adults who must slave at school all year around .if somebody won't their dog play outside- it would be considered abusive. To make kidsstuck in schools all summer is abusive and such parents should not really have kids,imho, especially if they are greedy and envious. As for solution- summer camps and centers must be opened for the kids of working parents at affordable prices,where creative arts,sports and English literature should be taught in a flexible settings.

We had 7.5 weeks this year, and already have two weeks at Easter, Christmas and October. 3 days off (a mix of holiday and inset) in February. The terms are quite equal in length. We also have an additional 2 inset days in the coming year on top of the usual ones

But holidays don't need to be filled with activities. We live in a semi rural town with very little in the way of organised activities in the holidays. But the kids play out or are at friends/friends over to us etc. Occasional pj days etc. I work so get the childcare argument, but plan as far in advance as we can. In the last few years oh's job has taken him away from home for almost all the holidays so it's just been me.

Kids and teachers need the time off. They are knackered by the end of term. And as they get older, exam time is stressful, having the time to decompress is important.

Personally, I can't understand why holidays should be moved to winter time - it's dark early, and more likely to be poor weather. Being off in the summer, and avoiding classrooms in any heatwave makes much more sense.

Must admit, I love the holidays as they are.

@LittleGift the premium applies for every half term or holiday,not just summer.

I think we need to have 4 weeks off, I've worked 2 of them in a holiday club for extra cash, I left an after school club job that I didn't get paid in the holidays so we have done trips to town and clothes shopping and they have been out with their friends they are 12 and 15. We are hoping to go away in October.

private school parents help their children more

As someone who went to private school and now has children in state education, I can tell you, that's bullshit.

They do not look at school as a nanny to mind their offspring whist they are at work. With no holidays ideally at all. This is why the children who prosper at the state schools are the children whose parents help them,read to them,discuss things,not talking all the time about Kardashian or love island

The biggest inequality seems to be that private school children get more holiday time than the state school children. I’d love a couple more weeks holiday with them.

And yes,private school parents help their children more. They do not look at school as a nanny to mind their offspring whist they are at work.

Based on what exactly?

Because having worked in both private and state schools I can say that statement is a massive generalisation.

Your opening sentence said it all really about your attitude

Struggling to make ends meet? Poor mothers who stay on benefits also moan about long holidays whilst they have all the time on their hands

Some people will really turn any thread into a benefits bashing one.

Which is somewhat ironic given that the people who struggle the most with covering holidays are low income workers, not people at home with their kids.

And yes,private school parents help their children more. They do not look at school as a nanny to mind their offspring whist they are at work.

Sweeping generalisation right there.

It's not the 6 weeks - it's the structure of society. A six week break is a wonderful opportunity for children to de-institutionalise and have unstructured freedom for once. However the economic and social conditions often prevent this actually happening. Don't change holidays, change the world.

Struggling to make ends meet? Poor mothers who stay on benefits also moan about long holidays

have you not noticed that this is much more an issue for working parents on low wage? if course you are not hugely financially disadvantaged in the school hols if you don't work cause you do not need to pay for childcare.

I think we could actually all play our small parts by thinking about what we put on social media and actually keep some of our lives quietly to ourselves. We could just ease off the amount of Instagram happy trips out, check ins on Facebook, etc that we post. It would go a long way in decreasing the pressure that we all feel to be out and about spending money everyday of the holidays. And that is without even mentioning the holiday photos online.

I think people should consider things like school holidays and finances before they have kids. It surely can't have come as a surprise as 6 weeks of holidays has been a thing for decades.

here here

Well perhaps “working parents on low wages” should take that into account when having children. Yes only have children if you can afford it or don’t expect other people to parent your child.

I don't know about it being inequality. It's not like school holidays are a new thing and I guess ultimately factored into the analysis of if you can afford to have children. However, my 6yo going into yr2 has missed the structure of school terribly. I think 6 weeks (it's actually nearly 7 here) is a very long time for a young child to be out of a school setting in one go.

Yes however shit does happen and things change. Shit like relationship breakdown,redundancies, being fired, being evicted, illness,disabilities(parents or children),accidents etc.

And yet none of that makes it the teachers responsibility.

Some of the nastiness on this thread explains so much about the world we live in now.

To answer the inequality question... I do think it’s tough for kids from low-income families. Hearing about other children’s holidays / trips to Lego land etc. Spreading the holidays more evenly could take some of the pressure off the peak holiday season and allow more families the chance to go away. Teachers could also benefit from this.

It’s not really a childcare issue as I’d have to sort that whenever the holidays are, but I do feel guilty when my son is doing back-to-back weeks in summer camp when his friends just dip in and out.

I also wonder whether the children (and teachers) might be less burnt out by the end of the year if the holidays were more evenly spread.

Not suggesting in any way that schools should be open more than they are now. Just that the holidays be redistributed slightly.

I’m sorry but I’m sick of the constant teach bashing on MN.

We are not responsible for all society’s problems. If it’s such a cushy number please become teachers

I never said it did.

I actually argued school can't and shouldn't be everything for everyone. However I'm not that shortsighted or lacking in empathy not to understand why people are struggling and are disgruntled.

I completely get where they're coming from, however the issue is they're looking at schools instead of the government,their lack of funding and care,lack of affordable childcare and basic services etc.