School children arriving late on Monday due to Footie

[Muncher75]

This was doing the rounds on my social media today, I am a teacher, so Is it just me or is this a bad idea? Children have hardly been in school this year anyway. More importantly, I feel that it’s teaching our children the wrong life lesson. Surely, if you choose to stay up late then suck it up on Monday! You can’t be swanning in late on a Monday to work after a weekend of partying.... interested to know if it’s just me. For the record, I enjoy watching football!

@ResIpsaLoquiturInterAlia

I gathered that previous England and other home nations football games were also played in the evening and on a school night so did people miss the next morning or day’s school too?

The schools allowing or preemptively promoting this special entitlement exceptionalism is essentially setting a precedent for families to not take schooling seriously despite a pandemic missing much education already. Perhaps the staff will be missing in action too as Monday will be a national record sick day as everyone claims to be pinged by that hopeless App that does everything but being fit for purpose too. As it’s could be a potential victory or otherwise what happens if England lose? Will it be traumatic? Or if England wins does it mean a public national holiday day off? It could be coming Rome as much as coming home but it looks likely a new variant Covid variant is more likely coming home as yes whatever the result - Covid will be coming home! Come on England!

I imagine lots of parents who are letting g their kids go in late also think education is important and take it seriously.

Our kids aren't in at all (bubble burst) on Monday, so it doesn't impact us. But I very much doubt having 1.5 hours, off is going to make huge difference.

If you are a parent who takes schooling seriously the rest of the time. Your kids aren't going believe it's not because of one morning.

I'm Scottish, but we live in England. I like football but English DH doesn't. The Scotland-England match was 10 year old DD's first match: she didn't make it to the end but quite enjoyed what she saw. I don't know if we'll
watch it tomorrow - a bit, maybe - but DD's school are doing this and I like it. It's been a hard, hard year for them all and a bit of space to come together and celebrate/commiserate and just be a bit collective feels... ok with me.

@Pedalpushers

When I was 7 years old I was taken out of school around 2 events - my uncle's wedding, and the euros semi final. Don't remember a damn thing about the wedding but remember Southgate missing that penalty crystal clear. Being part of these historical cultural events means a lot even if you don't care about football (which back then I didn't)

I went to my Aunt's wedding in 1998 (I was 7) and have great memories from that. I also watched the France '98 World Cup and couldn't tell you a single thing about it except that my brother had a football with "France 98" written on it.

Your argument is irrelevant.

@ResIpsaLoquiturInterAlia

Yes this is not about half a morning off school but should now set a precedent for all kinds of excuses and in equality fairness no fines should be imposed unless it is officially school supported lateness or skipping school. The same slipping off principle should be fairly dished out. Schooling is evidently not that important despite missing many pandemic learning hours.

Are people's principles, opinions and attitudes so shallow,superficial and easily swayed?

If yes, then there's a bigger societal,cultural and educational issue than a morning off for the football.

If not, then it's irrelevant and it won't matter.

Well, as a very sporty person and a football fan, I agree with them. They aren’t missing any lessons and this is a huge competition - players are literally in tears about not getting to the next stages because it’s so massive - and football is one of the most popular sports in the country. To go to bed early and not see the whole final is unthinkable to any football fan! Remember that this helps all of the parents watching who really won’t want to be up early to do the usual school run. Anyway, it’s optional so the choice of the parents. The school sound like they’ve accepted that many children will go to bed late - simply because that’s a fact - and are trying to find the best way to not have tired pupils in first thing. Can’t see a problem personally. Send your child to bed early and get them in on time - doesn’t affect you in the slightest.

@wincarwoo
“Sure that will help our comparatively poor productivity levels”
I know you’re being sarcastic but honestly, yes it will. Studies have shown over and over the current rigid 40 hour work week reduces productivity compared to a shorter, more flexible work week which allows time off to enjoy the football. Offices workers are only doing productive work 3 hours a day under the current system, whereas workplaces with reduced hours have higher productivity due to less burn out

For the school thatsays ‘children’ won’t miss lessons -what are they planning to do? Watch Shrek again?

@TeddingtonTrashbag

For the school thatsays ‘children’ won’t miss lessons -what are they planning to do? Watch Shrek again?

Does it matter its an hour and a half, I went to school in the 80,s during the teachers strike can't tell you how many times I had to watch the cartoon version of Lord of the rings,.

It's ridiculous and I'm disappointed that my DC's school has bowed to pressure over it. If you choose to stay up boozing on a school night then it's on you to get up and get your kids ready the next day. Because that's what this is really about. Schools know a lot of people will just absent their kids while they nurse their hangover and this avoids a load of unauthorised absences on their books. Completely unfair on those who play by the rules. Schools have lost the high ground on attendance after this and I've decided to book tickets to a Sunday concert out of town later in the year now. Originally I was trying to find an alternative venue/date even if it meant travelling further but not now. We will travel back Monday morning and the kids will be late. It's a cultural, enriching family experience and something they will always remember after all

Some work places are allowing it - presumably because they know workers will be drinking and celebrating late and wake up with an almighty hangover. Not sure what everyone thinks these primary age children are going to be doing late into the night - presumably not the same thing The match isn’t actually that late.

t is not the two hours, it is the precedent.

Now any kid who says they had a late night (theatre, concert, sports match finishing late) has a gold plated excuse for coming in late.

There is already a precedent for schools being flexible if a large number of students are going to be affected by an event and adjusting their records accordingly.

Idk if it was just my school but as a child, if you were part of either a school event such as a sports or music competition or an educational trip where the team/group had to travel to the competition venue/theatre/residential site etc and the travel arrangements meant that the students would be returning "late" at night (relative to an average bedtime for that age group) then it was a standing agreement that those children could come in at any time before 3rd period (which would be 10.45am) and they would not be marked as late.

Also if a child was part of a professional theatre/music production and was performing in an event during school term then, as long as the school was aware and had given permission, for the duration of the production there would be flexibility regarding start/finish times for those children. I think they had the same for county/professional sports so for example my friend was called up to the national U16s swim team and occasionally finished early on Friday/came in late on Monday when she had a national weekend competition where she had to travel.

As a teacher, how will you answer the question of why it was ok for the Euros but not for a kid’s away fixture which finished late?

Because school and parents have no control over when the Euro finals are played and therefore have no control over how late their children go to bed (and before anyone starts that you as a parent can send your child to bed regardless of the game, if your child really wants to stay up for the first major men's final appearance by their country in their lifetime, why would you actively punish them by refusing? Thag just sets you up for fsr more issues than an overtired child on Monday).

If you choose to let your child take part in a fixture/competition etc that you know finishes late at night then you either need to liase with the school before the event or accept that your failure of communication is the reason for your child being overtired and not ready to learn. Most schools will be flexible with a late start as long as you communicate beforehand.

One day in 55 years

I think it’s good idea. I took ds out of school to go to the Olympics which he then did a show and tell on. Obviously he was young but would of if he was older too

These experiences stay with us missing a day here abs there or starting late one morning does no harm

@Rosesareyellow

Some work places are allowing it - presumably because they know workers will be drinking and celebrating late and wake up with an almighty hangover. Not sure what everyone thinks these primary age children are going to be doing late into the night - presumably not the same thing The match isn’t actually that late.

I am going to my uncle's to watch the game as he has a large house and has set up a huge projector in the garden so we can have a party (it is also my cousins birthday on Monday so we're combining it with a family bbq beforehand) so we will not be going home straight after the final whistle.

I know of other families where they are going to watch at a big outdoor venue that has been advertised as family friendly with big screens and everyone will have a specific area to set up a picnic blanket/chairs etc as well as others who are just going to friends for watch parties as well as those going to local clubs/restaurants/local football club etc.

My DD will not be out drinking but I will not be going home immediately at the final whistle. I'm lucky in that since I will be at a family party DD will have the option to go to bed in my uncles guest room (along with all of her similar age and younger cousins) if she gets tired/after the game but kids whose parents are our at a venue won't have that option and therefore may be out late even if their parents aren't getting blind drunk.

@Memsnutter

LOL at them using it as an opportunity to learn about resilience and disappointment

Thinking the same really. Some adults don't understand how to cope with that, I wouldn't expect much from a child really, especially a child of said adult.

The kids surely finish for the holidays soon anyway? Scotland have been off 2 weeks now, must be England's time to start the holidays soon. Doubt they will learn much anyway in the final few days of school, missing a few hours or a day isn't going to matter.

We won’t be watching.
My primary school child has asked to go in at the regular time because his teacher has planned lots of “super fun activities” that he doesn’t want to miss out on.
However it’s not the last time England were in a significant football final. The ladies team were in 1984 and 2009. So actually it’s not been that long. Just that people don’t seem to care about the women’s football!

It's ridiculous, it's a good life lesson, you stay up late you are tired the next day. I like most people will be at work at 9am Monday morning so I won't be drinking (much) because im an adult! Watching football doesn't mean you have to drink and children staying up to 10pm doesn't mean they can't get up at 8am!

It makes sense

1. School is still open for the non-footie fans
2. Tired kids= grumpy kids. Grumpy kids are more likely to behave poorly and not learn
3. Late night on Sunday will affect behaviour all week without the lie in

4 Maybe the non-footie fans will be doing a fun activity like DT rather than an important one like maths or literacy?

1. This hasn't happened in my lifetime and might not happen again. If it leads to an increase in kids playing footie this summer rather than playing footie on games consoles then great.

Ps it's not even a World Cup, do it's not once in 55 years m. Many of the good teams aren't in the euros! Enjoy the football but the country (England) isn't stopping

@motogogo

It's ridiculous, it's a good life lesson, you stay up late you are tired the next day. I like most people will be at work at 9am Monday morning so I won't be drinking (much) because im an adult! Watching football doesn't mean you have to drink and children staying up to 10pm doesn't mean they can't get up at 8am!

Some kids are a lot different than others. My 7 year old normally has 11 hours sleep a night. 10pm is the earliest it will finish so he will be knackered the next day. It could go on til past 11. If it doesn't effect you why do you care?

I think it's an interesting one, as the two things that seem to make the most difference to educational achievements are well embedded literacy, and frequent and varied opportunities with enriching activities.

Well, a football final is a huge cultural event. But not necessarily a "naice" one. Even a child who isn't interested might benefit from learning how important it is, or witnessing the emotional effect on other people (for reference - Boris Johnson looking like an absolute nob with a football shirt on over a shirt and tie).

My writing got used as an example for A level English because I used all the right kind of phrases. A lot were highlighted by the teacher as incorrect - by boys who were all using typical football commentary lingo - e.g. "Wordsworth kicks off with ..." . But their observations about the poetry were just as appropriate as mine.

So what's the answer? Judge kids on their observations and skill in dissecting literature, or get them using the "right" phrases to describe it? The former makes more sense to me, and will break down more social barriers - and if greater exposure for ALL sides helps that, then good.

Education isn't a mini-workplace, and work isn't the be all and end all either. The people who are po-facedly advocating education as important only seem to understand one kind of education.

(and to those pooh-poohing videos at the end of term - films are part of the cultural landscape too, as are documentaries etc. I learned huge amounts from TV, and I definitely wouldn't have had the chance to watch the same things at home)

At my primary school we won't be closing the register until 10:30 but school is open as normal, including breakfast club. All staff will be in at normal time as will plenty of the children.

We had a lot of incredibly tired children on Thursday last week. Hopefully a later start will help with that a little - let them lie in a bit and come in a bit more refreshed. We have two or three children going to the final. I suspect why won't be in all day though as I expect they must be staying over as it's a long way home.

@motogogo

Ps it's not even a World Cup, do it's not once in 55 years m. Many of the good teams aren't in the euros! Enjoy the football but the country (England) isn't stopping

There are certainly some good teams outside Europe in the men's game, but worth noting it's now 19 years since any non-European team won the world cup. In that period, the rest of the world has had one losing finalist. People are correct to highlight this as a major final, because it is. We are in a period of European dominance of the global game.

So many misreable people on here 🙄
My sons special school posted a video of some of the kids dressed in red and white and dancing to vindaloo and kicking the ball down the corridor really cheered me up⚽⚽⚽

Oh and it's not just schools.
Dh's work have sent out an email yesterday saying employees can have flexibility to come into work later on Monday (again to 10:30) though they will be expected to do the same work load so may end up working through lunch/later after their normal finish. Dh will be going in as normal.

@x2boys

So many misreable people on here 🙄 My sons special school posted a video of some of the kids dressed in red and white and dancing to vindaloo and kicking the ball down the corridor really cheered me up⚽⚽⚽

Lots of them are looking for excuses. Watching the scrape of the barrel is pretty hilarious though. I thought the competitive misery guts and resentment on here was funny in 2018, but this is even better.