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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To let my children go to school late so they can watch the eclipse tomorrow?

120 replies

DragonmotherKhaleesi · 09/06/2021 19:37

I have 3dc.
I home educate one of them and the others attend school. I have purchased some glasses and planned to do our work around the eclipse tomorrow.
My other children have asked if they can stay home to watch it, and take them school at lunch when it's over.

My 14 year old DS had a week off last month due to surgery so I'm a little worried about his attendance.

AIBU to let them have the morning off?

OP posts:
Original poster
DragonmotherKhaleesi · 09/06/2021 21:02

@Sarahandco

If it is a clear day then yes - these experiences are with missing a few hours of school for.
Looks like the cloud is going to spoil my plans!
OP posts:
Original poster
DragonmotherKhaleesi · 09/06/2021 21:03

@murbblurb

yes, only 20% or so. But the attitude to science on here is incredibly depressing.

next 'impressive' one looks to be 2026. No doubt there will be some fuckwit reality show on TV and no-one will be bothered.

I thought there might have been others considering the same thing, that's why I posted. I feel a bit silly for posting now. If it's a clear day I will be keeping them off.
OP posts:
BrandNewHeretic · 09/06/2021 21:26

Thank you for posting this, I'd no idea there was an eclipse due tomorrow!

WhenZoomWasJustAnIceLolly · 09/06/2021 21:26

I sent my dc in late for the 2015 eclipse. I did check with school first that they weren’t going to do anything or watch it in school. They were young primary then, not sure I’d o it in secondary but might do if they were very interested.

Flaunch · 09/06/2021 21:27

I kept mine off for the 2015 one and they were ten and 6. They loved it and still remember it. When I took them back in for the morning I had to write the reason why in the book and I was the only one who wrote ‘eclipse’ which made me sad. The school hadn’t even mentioned it to the kids.

No wonder we’ve got an entire generation of kids who aren’t interested in anything.

PixieLaLa · 09/06/2021 21:34

You can't just send you 14 year old in at lunch time because there's something you have an interest in happening in the morning how ridiculous! Also im sure the school will be taking them outside for the several minutes it takes place, does not justify an entire morning off school Hmm

Its90minutestonight · 09/06/2021 21:39

YABU.

Original poster
DragonmotherKhaleesi · 09/06/2021 22:01

@PixieLaLa

You can't just send you 14 year old in at lunch time because there's something you have an interest in happening in the morning how ridiculous! Also im sure the school will be taking them outside for the several minutes it takes place, does not justify an entire morning off school Hmm
Unless the school has 1400 pairs of glasses I doubt very much that they will be taking the children out for the 2hrs + that it takes place. ( ds has confirmed nothing is planned)

If it is a clear morning I will let DS miss Drama and RE to experience this, I don't think it will ruin his education.
He is interested and they aren't a regular occurrence.

Thankyou for your helpful open minded comment though. HmmWink

OP posts:
PixieLaLa · 09/06/2021 22:07

Just because YOU think it's important doesn't mean the school see it as a valid reason to have half the day off, of course DS is up for the idea 😂

I guess you just posted here for all the people to agree with you not for actual opinions Confused

Original poster
DragonmotherKhaleesi · 09/06/2021 22:16

@PixieLaLa

Just because YOU think it's important doesn't mean the school see it as a valid reason to have half the day off, of course DS is up for the idea 😂

I guess you just posted here for all the people to agree with you not for actual opinions Confused

Smile
OP posts:
ZZTopGuitarSolo · 09/06/2021 22:31

It's at 5am here - my big question is can I be bothered to get out of bed early enough to see it. Also it's going to be something like 80% here so possibly worth seeing. I might get up at 4.30am, check the cloud cover, then decide.

Original poster
DragonmotherKhaleesi · 09/06/2021 22:36

@ZZTopGuitarSolo

It's at 5am here - my big question is can I be bothered to get out of bed early enough to see it. Also it's going to be something like 80% here so possibly worth seeing. I might get up at 4.30am, check the cloud cover, then decide.
Ooh where are you?
OP posts:
mineofuselessinformation · 09/06/2021 22:42

Personally, I would be very reluctant to use 'special glasses' no matter what the hype.
Some years ago I was on holiday with my niece and nephew (my own dc were too young to be interested) when an eclipse was due, during the day.
I showed them the eclipse (full) using a pinhole camera that I made. It's much safer.
I don't think you'd get much support from the school for keeping your dcs off for a relatively minor event such as this, though.

loginfail · 09/06/2021 22:45

@mmmmysharona

Depending on where you are- isn't it very early though, around 4-5am? So maybe no need to miss school?
Location is everything.

Those in the north east of the North American continent get to see it just after sunrise and depending exactly where they are they potentially can get a very high percentage of the sun's disks covered - FWIW from parts of Canada it'll be an annular eclipse - almost total.

UK it'll late AM....similar timings for Europe but the further south and east you go from the UK the less of the Sun's disk will be covered.

www.skyatnightmagazine.com/advice/solar-lunar-eclipse-guide-when-where/

Original poster
DragonmotherKhaleesi · 09/06/2021 22:52

@mineofuselessinformation

Personally, I would be very reluctant to use 'special glasses' no matter what the hype. Some years ago I was on holiday with my niece and nephew (my own dc were too young to be interested) when an eclipse was due, during the day. I showed them the eclipse (full) using a pinhole camera that I made. It's much safer. I don't think you'd get much support from the school for keeping your dcs off for a relatively minor event such as this, though.
Unfortunately I think the cloud will make it a no go anyway. My year 3s teacher has been in touch, I'm going to send the glasses and she's going to take him out to have a look. He also has a magazine to take from the science club we use so she's going to use it for discussion in class.

The glasses are approved ones with the relevant marking on them so are safe, although I'm sure there are many around that aren't.

OP posts:
MumofTeens2021 · 09/06/2021 22:57

Lockdown homeschooling took most school children out of school for months and months, a morning off isn't going to make any difference for children in schools at this point. I'd do it if children were engaged with it, fortunately our school/s seem fairly not bothered in asking for detailed reasons for absences and I'm not sure my children would be sufficiently engaged to do it ourselves.

Original poster
DragonmotherKhaleesi · 09/06/2021 22:57

@loginfail thanks for that link!

OP posts:
MumofTeens2021 · 09/06/2021 22:59

I say fortunately - not wishing to imply schools shouldn't be checking out absences - of course they should - I just mean in terms of not being interrogated at length for routine appointments etc when attendance is otherwise great etc.

MumofTeens2021 · 09/06/2021 23:00

Pinhole cameras are great definitely! Grab a shoebox! And can be a project in themselves as part of the thing.

Original poster
DragonmotherKhaleesi · 09/06/2021 23:01

@MumofTeens2021

Lockdown homeschooling took most school children out of school for months and months, a morning off isn't going to make any difference for children in schools at this point. I'd do it if children were engaged with it, fortunately our school/s seem fairly not bothered in asking for detailed reasons for absences and I'm not sure my children would be sufficiently engaged to do it ourselves.
He's genuinely interested and we are looking at doing astronomy as a GCSE.

He has no reason to try and get a morning off as some have suggested. He chooses to go to school.
The option for him to stay at home and be educated is always there for him.
I think missing a Drama and RE lesson will be fine. He's going to drop both at GCSE anyway!

OP posts:
Original poster
DragonmotherKhaleesi · 09/06/2021 23:02

@MumofTeens2021

Pinhole cameras are great definitely! Grab a shoebox! And can be a project in themselves as part of the thing.
I definitely think it's something they can make before hand!
OP posts:
MumofTeens2021 · 09/06/2021 23:03

Wow - with Astronomy at GCSE (no idea that was a thing! :) )I'd say it's a sensible thing to do. He can include it in future coursework.

Original poster
DragonmotherKhaleesi · 09/06/2021 23:05

@MumofTeens2021

Wow - with Astronomy at GCSE (no idea that was a thing! :) )I'd say it's a sensible thing to do. He can include it in future coursework.
It's not offered at school but it can be done as an external candidate.
OP posts:
Maireas · 09/06/2021 23:09

We offer GCSE Astronomy where I teach.
I have come across it in schools before.

AlmostSummer21 · 09/06/2021 23:10

@PixieLaLa

You can't just send you 14 year old in at lunch time because there's something you have an interest in happening in the morning how ridiculous! Also im sure the school will be taking them outside for the several minutes it takes place, does not justify an entire morning off school Hmm
Wee humph face all you like

Of course you can keep your child home for something you have an interest in. Whether you should or not us open for debate.

@DragonmotherKhaleesi. Sadly I do think the cloud might ruin it, which is typical after several clear days. I'd have no problem keeping them home fir something like this IF you were going to be able to see it. Some people don't understand that learning happens outside of stuffy classrooms too!