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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

AIBU to say that summer hols are a driver of inequality

685 replies

Teaandcrisps · 01/09/2019 08:56

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.

OP posts:
CorBlimeyGovenor · 02/09/2019 20:53

I think that it would be good to subsidize childcare in some areas of deprivation over the holidays and also allow greater flexibility re parental leave. However, for me the holidays have whizzed by and I would prefer 8 weeks. It's a break for me as much as them not having to run around ferrying them to and from clubs. I also rather enjoy coming up with ideas of how to entertain them. I rather like the challenge. We've made mosaics from pebbles, been crabbing, played hide and seek in the woods, built dens, swapped books on local forums, had squabbles and sibling bickering, played card games, had water fights, been bored and spent a lot of time playing in cardboard boxes. Yes, learning declines for a bit. Kids forget things. But childhood is short. I gave up my job and set up my own business though so that I can be with the kids in the holidays, rather than go to my old job and then pay for 12 weeks of childcare a year.

Sb74 · 02/09/2019 20:57

Totally disagree with you op. Summer holidays are a magical childhood memory. I would never take that away from a child. Yes there is s big problem in this country with poverty and cost of living but you are putting sticky plaster over the issue rather than dealing with underline causes. Why should those that can have time off and go away not be able to enjoy a long holiday period because others find it hard? I’m completely sensitive to poverty issues but why should we live in a country that bases everything on those in poverty? The government needs to sort out the growing crisis in this country to improve lifestyle for all not try to balance it out to be equally shit for everyone.

Original poster
Teaandcrisps · 02/09/2019 21:01

I'm not interested in teacher bashing at all - and actually there have been some interesting reflections from teachers with differing views some.saying 6 weeks is fine and some saying 4.

I think it's time to rethink the summer hols as I cant accept that there isnt a better solution to the curriculum calender. Just saying this is how it's always been is not good enough, not when some folks are really struggling. And unfortunately, I dont see the sitaution getting any better anytime soon. So what happens next year or the year after? We wait for food bank to step in? Again? We let this all carry on?

To clarify, some Local Authorities are funding lunch clubs, and some schools are being opened up by thier headteachers (unpaid) to do similar. The situation is really dire for some.

OP posts:
shithappens123 · 02/09/2019 21:07

Keep dreaming...

Pamplemousecat · 02/09/2019 21:07

Also I do understand that teachers are tired. I worked abroad as a teacher, taking large classes of around 40 children for two so I have some idea of the pressures to perform, the regulations and paperwork, preparation, meetings, discipline, pastoral care etc etc. I still don’t think the holidays were created with the adult teacher in mind but more the children. After all doctors don’t get those kind of holidays and no one could deny that working as a junior house doctor on shift doesn’t deserve a break too.

Pamplemousecat · 02/09/2019 21:08

No shit- I am posting it as a discussion point. It’s interesting as it seems v similar to OP. I didn’t write the article

Sb74 · 02/09/2019 21:10

Oh well op, if you think we had better change the holidays then I guess we should, you are in charge after all. Oh, sorry my mistake, you’re not.

There is an issue with poverty and hardship but I don’t think it should dictate how those that are not in poverty live too. Leave our long summer holidays alone op. The government needs to resolve the issues for those in need not ruin it for everyone.

lyralalala · 02/09/2019 21:11

So what happens next year or the year after? We wait for food bank to step in? Again? We let this all carry on?

How about any of the multitude of suggestions that people have come up with?

Further funding of the lunch clubs. Proper funding of summer activities. Changes to benefits like UC to give parents a bit extra in the summer.

You keep saying this is urgent and needs to be done next year or the year after, but can you not see that your suggestion would take years to implement? You'd need new contracts for all school staff, the budgets for education would have to be revamped, individual school budgets would have to be revamped, schoo curriculums and exam time tables would have to be revamped, the knock on effect to nurseries and universities would have to be organised...

Your suggest would take many years to come into force. So if this problem needs solved now then your suggestion simply doesn't work on the timescales alone - before you even get into the pros and cons of if it would actually help or not.

Jellicoe · 02/09/2019 21:16

You dont need to fill your DC days. Let them get bored!! That's the problem with modern day parenting.

fedup21 · 02/09/2019 21:32

Your OP says school holidays are a driver of inequality. They aren’t. Wealth is.

If rich (private) kids get to continue their long holidays but poor (state) kids only have really short holidays because Dictator Teaandcrisps decrees it-inequality will be worse.

CorBlimeyGovenor · 02/09/2019 21:50

Probably off topic, but I've always wondered whether the increase in women working over the years actually causes housing prices and food prices etc to rise and contributes towards greater inequality between families. I.e whether two professionals in one family creates a bigger gap in wealth compatible to two lower paid workers. Would house and food prices not fall if the joint family income did? Of course, it's probably a bit of a chicken and egg scenario in terms of which came first, higher prices or increased women working. The same re arguments around introducing a four day week. Of course, I know that in a globalised world it probably wouldn't work, but I do wonder whether we are any better off having two full time earners and paying for childcare, than reverting to a simpler life ' a la 1940s housewife or house husband'. It's like we're on a treadmill. The more we earn, the more things cost and the more we spend, the more we buy, the greater the impact upon the environment and the less time we spend as a family. I don't know what the answer is, but do wonder whether quality of life was better in the forties etc.

Youngandfree · 02/09/2019 21:53

I think the massive elephant in the room is the fact that wages in this country just aren't high enough nor do they reflect the cost of living.

THIS!!!with bloody bells on!!!

For example;
I lived in the uk and worked as a teacher- I was paid 28k for 8-5 and took work home.
I’m in Ireland now and I am paid 43k for 9-3.30 and I think I take work home twice a year, AND we have more summer holidays! Go figure!🤷‍♀️

formerbabe · 02/09/2019 21:58

@CorBlimeyGovenor

I have often thought the same thing. So previously, one average wage could support a family and now it's expected that two wages will be needed.

Toomuchtrouble4me · 02/09/2019 22:15

YABU
If you do your homework there are heaps of fun free activities for kids - now that it’s so easy to research there is no excuse for bored kids - most councils, sports clubs, churches etc have really reasonable clubs and play centres for kids whose parents are working.
The summer holidays are the highlight of our year and I would be so upset to have them reduced.
I grew up very poor but the long summers were still a fantastic time for adventures with friends.

lyralalala · 02/09/2019 22:22

If you do your homework there are heaps of fun free activities for kids - now that it’s so easy to research there is no excuse for bored kids - most councils, sports clubs, churches etc have really reasonable clubs and play centres for kids whose parents are working.

Now I completely disagree with the OP, but your statement completely and utterly depends where you live.

ReanimatedSGB · 02/09/2019 22:40

Inequality will only be solved by redistributing money from the rich to the poor. The main reason we are in the current mess is decades of economic policy which effectively transferred money from the poor to the rich - and the past 9 years have involved intensifying this transfer. Don't forget that part of the driving force behind Brexit (and all the bullshit and fraud associated with the referendum) has been to allow the very wealthy to a) carry on dodging their taxes and b) strip away workers' rights in order to increase profits.
So we should fund free/heavily subsidised childcare (along with affordable housing and effective infrastructure) by increasing the top income tax rate, increasing corporation tax, and enforcing effective tax collection. Because the current situation is not sustainable.

(And if you think the problem is benefit 'scroungers' or immigrants rather than corrupt wealthy parasites, then you are either wilfully stupid or sociopathic.)

Original poster
Teaandcrisps · 02/09/2019 23:09

'If you do your homework there are heaps of fun free activities for kids - now that it’s so easy to research there is no excuse for bored kids - most councils, sports clubs, churches etc have really reasonable clubs and play centres for kids whose parents are working.'

Poster please give the examples and costs

OP posts:
Original poster
Teaandcrisps · 02/09/2019 23:10

Plus times

OP posts:
malificent7 · 02/09/2019 23:17

I took dd on holiday abroad which was expensive but tbh she was more happy pottering about at home and playing with local friends.
Next year i cant afford to go abroad so we will be pottering around for 6 weeks...cheap and enjoyable.

jessicawessica · 02/09/2019 23:40

Where are all these playschemes/holiday activities....London?
My kids have been bored stiff this summer and anything interesting has cost me a small fortune.
Six weeks is too long for parents and children unless you are earning enough to pay for holiday schemes to help keep them busy.

Rache49 · 03/09/2019 00:08

Yanbu. It is harder now for families than when i was younger. We had a hut on the beach in Scotland and endless cousins on Mum's side of the family to entertain us. We didn't need much when we were literally out of the Hut onto the Beach. !

Purpleartichoke · 03/09/2019 00:14

Just to give a different perspective. I’m American and our summer break is 11.5 weeks. For most of the summer, I enroll dd at a private school that runs a mix of educational and entertaining programming. It costs a small fortune. There are cheaper options, but most of them are outdoor based and that doesn’t work for a child with asthma.

june2007 · 03/09/2019 00:21

You don't have to spend loads for the summer. Thhis year I had a camping holiday for a wk in uk and a wkend round my parents. No trips abroad. Childcare is expensive though. I worked at a holiday lunch club it was surprising the lack of uptake and those that did go seemed to go as much as the fun activities as for the lunch.

IceCreamAndCandyfloss · 03/09/2019 07:21

So what happens next year or the year after? We wait for food bank to step in

Why are we not expecting the parents to step up? It’s not the states fault. Children are expensive, it’s a known before having them.

Summer hols are the same time every year, it’s a known fact and should be budgeted for.

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