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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To not want schools to give up summer holidays

963 replies

littleblackdress04 · 12/04/2020 09:32

Just read in papers that it’s been proposed that kids go back to school in July/ August

I think this is a rubbish idea - if it’s going to be that long then just let them have a ‘normal’ summer and go back in September.

Kids have been cooped up because of this- I’d want to take mine to the hills, go camping & let them have some freedom. Then start school in September. This isn’t a holiday for them - it’s a horrible stressful period of being cooped up & not being able to live their normal lives.

While school gives a structure and is important, so are proper periods of holiday.

I’m really against the idea but aibu? Be interested to hear other thoughts. I’ve not been particularly worried about the kids education- they will catch up in time and it will be fine

OP posts:
Longwhiskers14 · 12/04/2020 15:43

Teaching is (and needs to be, because of the way education is vastly underfunded and over-tested) one of the most unionised professions in the UK. There is no way the unions will let their members be forced to work from June/July to October half term without a break or any extra money (because, as other PP have pointed out, teachers don't get paid for holiday time!), when the vast majority of them are still working now. My OH is currently writing reports for his class because he's still got to deliver them to parents after Easter. Then he's got to online lesson plan for home learning. They are flat out still and yet people expect them to keep going until October??? Hmm

Appuskidu · 12/04/2020 15:50

There are too many ifs and buts for this to work.

Would it be compulsory? For every parent who wants their child in school for the summer holidays, you’ll find one who doesn’t. Would the government force parents to send children in when they didn’t have to be there? Would they be fined if they didn’t? I would imagine many parents would be up in arms about that which would cause all sorts of problems-the fines probably wouldn’t be enforceable. If children started getting ill or dying during forced attendance during the holidays-parents would probably sue. Forcing children to be in school during long hot August days during the holidays against their and their parents’ will, could lead to huge behaviour issues with children who, for the most part, will have worked hard all term and want a holiday.

If it’s not compulsory and parents can choose whether to send the children, schools won’t be able to teach as they’ll have to do it all again in September so it’ll just be childcare.

If it’s just childcare-then you might as well let summer childcare providers and holiday clubs open and earn money.

Appuskidu · 12/04/2020 15:55

People who want dcs back in school in July and August clearly have no idea how hard the summer term can be. As pp have said, warm weather is a nightmare. The classrooms are often stifling while we have to nag children to stay in the shade at break times

And this is pretty much the reason why the school holidays are when they are-a belief by those in charge, when schooling for everyone was introduced-that during the hot summer months, children needed to be out of sweaty germy classrooms and out in the fresh air for a break. Not for harvesting which is a myth popularly bandied about.

AprilFloundering · 12/04/2020 15:56

So, have caught up with the thread.
I have realised after teaching 20 years all I am good for is babysitting

That is definitely the message from a lot of posters. Really shitty, frankly. Having to deal with their own children's learning at home for just a few weeks and they appreciate fuck all about teachers.

I won't be killing myself and going back over the summer holidays. My own children deserve to spend down time with me.

CaroleFuckinBaskin · 12/04/2020 16:09

I think the long summer holidays are a thing of the past. I don’t think they will exist in the post-Covid19 world.

What? Why? What an utterly baseless statement.

jamimmi · 12/04/2020 16:13

@04HainaultViaNewburyPark
**
Im not actually sure the ruling rolling forward al applies to teachers as they have a very different employment contract to everyone else.

It is the law - you really think that it doesn’t apply to teachers?! hockconfused

Sorry your so confused by this. Appalling isn't it that teachers pay and conditions are controlled by the burgundy book exempting them from large parts of employment law. It also stops attendances at weddings, funerals children's concerts infact anything else you normally use your leave for. No chance then of rolling over a few extra days. Next years holiday patterns have been set too and those for the following academic year too at my childs school cant see them changing...

Everyexitisanentrance · 12/04/2020 16:15

The autumn term is the longest - kids are exhausted by the end and behaviour starts to dip. Suggesting that kids have a term running from July to December is tantamount to child cruelty.

Macaroni46 · 12/04/2020 16:23

@teaandajammydodger love it, great idea 👍🏻

Macaroni46 · 12/04/2020 16:25

@Appuskidu excellent post

MissEliza · 12/04/2020 16:25

@Everyexitisanentrance it's unimaginable isn't it?

Easilyanxious · 12/04/2020 16:30

I think a lot who are complaining at the six week holidays is more about having to pay for childcare , which I never get as before you have kids you know this some years my dh and I had different weeks off to juggle childcare in holidays if needed , just the way it has to be at times . If we aren't back to being able to go to beach and parks etc I can't see how school could open and if the former open I wish to go and enjoy these with kids our holiday abroad is unlikely to happen so would want to spend some time with the kids in our already booked holiday from work rather than be off ,but my kids sent to school . I'm sure teachers need this break as well as they certainly won't be off for the whole 6 weeks they never are and even less so at this time as they will have to plan how to catch up kids for next school year etc due to what has been missed .

NewModelArmyMayhem18 · 12/04/2020 16:36

What about bringing the summer hols forward to synch with the rest of Europe and Scotland? The autumn term would then be broken up so it's more manageable than it currently is - for children and the teachers?

MigginsMs · 12/04/2020 16:37

YANBU

Teachers have not been on holiday and I would imagine are probably working even harder than ever! Why should they forego their holiday?

Appuskidu · 12/04/2020 16:38

What about bringing the summer hols forward to synch with the rest of Europe and Scotland? The autumn term would then be broken up so it's more manageable than it currently is - for children and the teachers?

Scotland start holidays in June and go back in August, don’t they?

Wouldn’t that make the autumn term longer and much less manageable?

Apologies if I’ve misunderstood

nellythenarwhal · 12/04/2020 16:42

I think the Scottish routine would maximize the good weather. In my experience June and July are hottest and it cools down quite a bit by mid August. Classrooms can get stiflingly hot.

Really12345 · 12/04/2020 16:43

If it looks like we’re heading for an October-November second peak and so second lockdown I think there is an argument for shortening it he summer break to 2-4 weeks to allow some more schooling to take place before the second lockdown. The autumn term won’t be “too long” in this case as there will be a second lockdown.

This of course will be hard for the school staff who have it all planned out already for a September start but there is a need for all sectors to make the most of any non lock down periods to try and get us through this. Personally I would do 3 weeks over the summer staggered by county so that holiday destination etc are not overwhelmed causing outbreaks.

myself2020 · 12/04/2020 16:43

It would actually make most sense to have a 4 weeks on, 2 off all year rather than endless summer holidays... from both a infection control point of view, and from an education point of view. The long summer holidays are a leftover from the time kids were needed to help in the fields, they are outdated

LuluJakey1 · 12/04/2020 16:46

FWIW - at the minute there is no formal discussion (outside of media) about schools returning.
However, there is a feeling amongst local Secondary Heads up here in the NE that if some return before summer holidays was possible they would welcome that. In terms of transition and preparation for September it would make a big difference.
It might be that only some year groups return eg No point in 11 and 13 returning, which would mean secondary schools were less crowded.

This time out will have had the biggest impact on Years 10 and 12 who will sit exams next year. Surely that will be taken into account somehow- those children should not be disadvantaged in results because of this.

MamaBearLockdown · 12/04/2020 16:47

It would actually make most sense to have a 4 weeks on, 2 off all year rather than endless summer holidays..

how horrible, they are not robots. Kids need to have a life out of school! How unfair that their parents benefited from long-ish summer holiday and we remove that chance for our children.

And great if you are financially wealthy, and can afford to take the kids away on holiday every month! It will get really expensive for the rest of us.

It will also remove any chance of travelling, any chance for kids to catch up with families and so on. 2 weeks off are NOT enough.

Let's not even talk about teenagers you let have their first job, because they have time to recover before school start, especially when it means travelling abroad.

It's a horrific idea. If private schools have longer school days and longer holidays, there's a very good reason for it!

Appuskidu · 12/04/2020 16:47

The long summer holidays are a leftover from the time kids were needed to help in the fields, they are outdated

A common myth.

SachaStark · 12/04/2020 16:50

“The autumn term won’t be “too long” in this case as there will be a second lockdown.”

Fuck sake, yes it will be, BECAUSE WE ARE STILL TEACHING DURING LOCKDOWN.

How many times on this thread?!

Appuskidu · 12/04/2020 16:51

Fuck sake, yes it will be, BECAUSE WE ARE STILL TEACHING DURING LOCKDOWN.

Exactly!

CallmeAngelina · 12/04/2020 16:57

I think the long summer holidays are a thing of the past. I don’t think they will exist in the post-Covid19 world.

I think this is a prime example of someone making things up according to their own preference.

iloveicedtea · 12/04/2020 16:58

If anything, the summer holidays need to be LONGER once the pandemic is truly over - so probably next year

Hell no.

MigginsMs · 12/04/2020 17:02

The long summer holiday is also the only time a lot of people might actually get a chance to get holiday at the same time as their kids in decent weather. I don’t want a fortnight’s holiday in February or November but have to work in summer! And the relic about children helping in the fields is just stupid