To not want schools to give up summer holidays

[littleblackdress04]

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

www.theguardian.com/world/2020/apr/11/call-for-schools-to-open-in-the-summer-after-lockdown

Here’s the article - it’s come from the Children’s commissioner

@peoplepleaser1

So you expect TAs and office staff to work for free?

Please tell me why these children need to be in school in the boiling Summer instead of outside again with their friends and family?

Or even, better. Tell me what teachers with small children are going to do if school is back on for the Summer but their childcare isn’t.

Can people not see how privileged they are to be in a position to even take a holiday? I find it appallingly callous to even be giving the need for a holiday a second thought given what some people are living and working through at the moment!

I don't think the government could afford this on top of everything else. They would have to fork out overtime to any teacher they could persuade to come in and cover it -why would the government pay for this just to "give stressed out parents a break?"

A lot of parents just wouldn't send their DC in anyway I suspect.

No, my children need to go back ASAP. If that means the summer then so be it. My daughter was already way behind. She’s struggling and terrified she won’t get any GCSE’s.

My eldest is severely autistic. He usually boards at a specialist residential college. It’s hell on Earth with him at home.

If I had children in primary school with no special needs then I’d probably feel the same as you but in my situation no I want them back.

It won't happen. Teachers have been on call since Feb half term. The unions woild never agree.

I’m in Ireland but I’ll be raging if my kids go back in the summer holidays!

If our lockdown is over by then I want to take them to beaches, and forests, and castles, and playgrounds. And bloody McDonald’s!

They need freedom after all of this.

And so do the teachers!

Kids forgoing their school holidays is a stupid idea!

Haven't we alll been cooped up for long enough? Not allowed to the beach, the park, the countryside. Not allowed out for day trips, Easter holidays cancelled, get-togethers and visits to friends and families in other parts of the country banned. And then to go have to keep going to school all summer so have to cancel trips away and days out again!

Bollocks to that! As soon as restrictions are lifted we want freedom and fun!

For you who think children don't need a break, not sure what people think children are doing in the next weeks to come?

My DD (Y8) did her normal 6 period each day, accoding to her timetable. they didn't get a lot of new work, mostly finishing off work they would do anyway and continue practising languages, maths and working on their arts and English project. This will increase now that new topics will be send out, she will sit at her desk from 9 - 3 most days.

When Summer comes she will need a break. Not only to have fun but also to recover mentally. She is not good with disruption in her routine, but jumping back into a full school day won't help her at all.

How would you shorten the holiday? You have people with time booked off all over the six weeks? And what's the point in proposing longer half terms when parents aren't able to change their holidays, no clubs, no way to take children away?

@peoplepleaser1 why is it in the national interest for kids to go back to school?

It’s also in the national interest for people to have a bloody holiday with their families. My DH is a keyworker & is exhausted & hasnt seen his family much in the last month.

So yes I am selfish wanting time with my family that isn’t locked down & stressful. I have just had the virus and was in bed for 9 days really really ill too- it’s been awful & I want some lightness & joy again. And people are traumatised & need time to grieve & get past this

bluebeck its not to give stressed out parents a break! Think of the much bigger picture for goodness sake!

Agree with Poetry

It won’t happen. Not fair on teachers. Not fair on families who have booked time off together (whether they go away or not). School staff (non teaching) will have to be overtime.

We've got a UK holiday booked in August and would still go on it if we were allowed. I doubt they'd fine us as we booked it in good faith when we thought it would be school summer holidays

Can people not see how privileged they are to be in a position to even take a holiday? I find it appallingly callous to even be giving the need for a holiday a second thought given what some people are living and working through at the moment!

What about the people who need a holiday because of what they are living and working through atm?

My SIL for example - she's like many ICU working her arse off all hours. She now hasn't seen her kids for 3 weeks because the only way for her to make it work once school and childcare closed was for them to come to stay with us (the other option was she stop working and she didn't want to do that as her specialism is needed). She and her colleagues who get through this safely will want and need quality time with their families.

@BelleSausage millions of people are currently unable to work, being made redundant and loosing their livelihoods.

Everyone is making sacrifices.

I am sure ways of paying these staff could be found. Maybe those who are currently being paid a full salary (including my BIL who is a TA, neighbour who is a school dinner lady, and friend an admin assistant and school librarian) but are now sitting at home doing zero work could have their holiday bought forward to now and then work the usual summer holidays.

Teaching is an incredibly difficult and valuable job. But the entitlement to being paid come what May in the current climate is entitled and completely out of step with what most people are currently facing. Hiding behind the unions doesn't make it any less selfish.

I'm all right Jack springs to mind!!

I’m a teacher and I am teaching live lessons to a normal school timetable - obviously not at the moment as it is the Easter holidays (which I think some posters have forgotten when berating teachers).

I am not paid for all my ‘holidays’. My salary is divided over 12 months. If I am required to work in August, I expect to be paid extra. For the 2 weeks prior to Easter I have been teaching, and when term resumes next Monday I will continue to do so. I haven’t been having an ‘extended holiday’.

I have a holiday booked in August - like many school staff as we are limited when we can take holidays. Again, I will give this up is required to do so but I would want my 4K reimbursed as doubt my holiday insurance will cover that.

Exactly @lyralalala

My DD has autism and was only managing a 50% timetable.
She should be starting an enhanced transition to High School.
How does that work if they get tipped back in the summer hols?

More broadly, no I think it cannot work.
I can see them possibly sending in Y6 and 10/11 for a few weeks at end of summer term before hols IF the death rate has reduced by then?

For people still in work, most of us as jey workers have had annual leave cancelled so there wont be any "time off together" for lots of families! And even if you can still take time off or you are furloughed, kids are STILL going to be stuck at home. If many of us are working through without any leave, I don't see why teachers should be any different. It's a national effort to keep the nation running after all.

The problem with no summer holiday is that the term between September and Christmas is long, busy, and exhusting for staff and students. It would be awful to make that even longer.

I would like some time to do something outside, something with my friends before three and half cold, dark months of only seeing daylight out my classroom windows.

This has not been a holiday for teachers, or the majority of students.

They won't be. Teachers are working right now. Schools are open.
Schools hopefully will be open in September and not before

I’d happily see mine in school over the summer. Give us a longer Oct half term instead. Anyone who thinks their going to be going on ‘holiday’ in July or August is dreaming as far as I’m concerned.

I can’t imagine 4 & 5 year olds coping with that. I’m a secondary school teacher and can’t imagine my Y10s coping!!! They get exhausted in that Christmas term... it is notoriously difficult! I can cope because I’m an adult, they are just kids.

I think we need to reasses our priorities... schools have become exam factories. Instead of changing the pattern of the terms why don’t we change how we assess progress? Or move to a fairer system instead of judging 2-3 years work in a 3 hour exam?

I’ve long believed that exams are not the most important thing a school does, and I hate the way I’m forced to teach to the test. I’ve been setting work for my students that really allows them to explore my subject and the response has been wonderful. I told them we’ll sort the exam stuff out later.

@SkeletonSkins we aren’t paid for holidays at all. Our salary is just split into 12 for logistics and so that we don’t have to budget for gaps, unlike in Canada where I believe teachers aren’t paid over the long holiday.