Thoughts on taking your DC out of school to enjoy the sunshine?

[Dorsetdelight211]

DD is 14, year 9. She's just had a message off her best friend to say she won't be in school today as her mum is taking her and her younger sister to the beach for the day. Que DD saying how cool the mum is and how unfair it is that I never let her miss school for fun stuff. I've got to work and even if I didn't I still wouldn't let her do it.

YABU-its a beautiful day, one day off school won't make a difference
YANBU-school is important and you can't skive off just because the weathers nice.

I’d potentially do it as a one off, no judgement here!

ForestFae no I just losing interest, I'm thinking of phoning up for a Chinese takeaway. Not sure what to have though. The logical answer of course is that children get 13 weeks holiday per year therefore don't require any annual leave entitlement cause that's how the education system works. Can you imagine if kids could book annual leave and the teachers had to accommodate them 🤣 right, off to get me some chow mein!

In which case, the comparisons to work and a work ethic are also silly as it’s completely different, right?

ForestFae nope, it's the same commitment whether its work or education and you're instilling good values in your DC for the future. The education system doesn't allow you to book annual leave because you have 13 weeks holiday per year. Just because you can't book annual leave doesnt then give you the green light to lie and skive off.

I'd do it.
I don't want my kids to think they live to work.
Seize happiness and live.
School is not the same as work and our days off don't match the kids. So there may be other hot days but either they'll be in school or we'll be in work.

And as for work ethic. You mean that wonderful UK work ethic of work yourself to death let every employer use and abuse you and never say boo.

I absolutly want my kids to know they matter more than some employer that would replace them the day they drop dead .

My sister and I did this today. I pay for my son’s education. All children in lower primary school and had “the best day ever”.
I think adults are capable of making decisions regarding pulling a sicky at work without reverting to 6 year old them having a day off school…

Not really because you have options with work - you choose your job, you have holidays you can choose, you can work full time or part time etc…no one asks kids whether they want to be in school and they have no say over it. Not remotely the same thing.

Yes allowing my dd to stay at home to avoid boys staring at her chest is of course making a rod for my own back.

Dd has been in school all week, with her jumper on. She wouldn’t remove it at school under any circumstances. If I’d sent her I would have been worried sick all day so I’m comfortable with my decision.

👏🏻👏🏻

The boys stare at her chest. I’ve spoken to school but unfortunately the damage is done and she won’t remove her school jumper at school.

Imthedamnfoolwhoshothim but why does skiving off school equate to that? I'm instilling all those values in my DC, I don't need to let them skive off to do it though.

See my opinion is the complete opposite.
I think it teaches them that some things are more important than "work" and that family and wellbeing matter more than anything.
FWIW, my DH is a teacher and I'm an NHS mental health professional. I've pulled stunts like this with all of our DC from time to time, for things like the Chelsea Flower show, Harry potter tour, and the London galleries without the weekend queues.

My dd age 16 had today off (as previously posted) to revise. She did however say to me, if people think today is going to make a difference in anyones education then they’re a fool. Yes there has been covid, yes schools have done their best but she’s had to self teach the extra and put in the extra hours and no matter how good you think your child’s school is - if they don’t do this then they’re already behind.

@Imthedamnfoolwhoshothim

You have articulated how I feel about it.
I wonder if it's fhis mindset that is the real difference between the classes?
The workers drone class drummed into them to do as they are told and the upper classes who just do as they wish within feasible reason.

Private education also buys Extra holiday time, they can go away when it's cheaper.
Many beautiful holidays, and the worker drones are fussing over one day in the hot sun.

If you let your DC’s take a sicky - will you be catching them up on their school work or do you expect their teachers to do this?
Perhaps the teachers could have the next sunny day off school and you cover their classes?

Point being…. One day of really only one day won’t make a difference

It’s one day…

It's not really about 'missing one day of school'. It's about making it clear to children as they grow up that if you are supposed to be working/doing something that you don't just skive out of it with a lie because you'd rather doss.

It's one day! How much do you think they'll miss in a day?

On a more serious note, if the education system can't cope with having the odd day off school (whether that's through "sickies" or genuine illness) then there's something seriously wrong.

Summerwhereareyou the mum is on UC, living in housing association, not sure what class that puts her in but I think it disproves your 'worker drone' theory, in this instance at least!

Parker, I've had to pretty much step in and educate at least one DC anyway and actually as many parents realised over COVID how powerful one on one learning is.
What might take a teacher a few hours to teach a parent can do in a short space of time because classes are too large and teacher have far too much to do.

Sounds more like you just look down on her for multiple reasons!

ForestFae Sounds more like you just look down on her for multiple reasons!

wtf? Someone else has decided this is about class, I make a point to disprove that and I'm now 'looking down on her for multiple reasons'. Seriously? You've made some really ridiculous comments on this thread.

I absolutly want to make clear to my children that work is not the be all and end all.

Also you can self cert for a week.
I'd like to think I'd raise adulysbintelligent enough not to do it to get sacked but instead to think long term and balance up availability and opportunity.

Imthedamnfoolwhoshothim if you dont mind me asking, how often do you phone in sick to get a day off to do something else? Do you enjoy the activity? I just couldn't relax, I'd be too worried that I'd get caught! It's genuinely never crossed my mind to do it, I'd rather just use my annual leave.