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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

Schools closed for the Queen’s funeral

855 replies

Notme1980 · 10/09/2022 11:09

First off, Queen Elizabeth II was an amazing ruler and an inspiration, we are a forces family and my husband has served her for 30 plus years.

but - I do not want the schools to be closed for her funeral (or for any reason at all), I want us to do what I believe she would have done, press on.

OP posts:
darmaka · 10/09/2022 12:42

gs26 · 10/09/2022 12:35

@darmaka does that include elective c sections?

You should ask your midwife / consultant. I'd imagine they prioritise emergencies if they are under staffed and would depend on your own circumstances

darmaka · 10/09/2022 12:43

OneFrenchEgg · 10/09/2022 12:28

Outpatient appointments? If you're right and camhs is still running that's fantastic.

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There are no clinic OP appt on BH.

freckles20 · 10/09/2022 12:43

worriedatthistime · 10/09/2022 12:26

@freckles20 but when you are self employed thats the risk you take . My dh is self employed and like you say you don't have to actually take the day off
We live in a country with a monarch its always been pretty well known we would likely get a bank holiday when the queen dies
Im surprised its so much of a shock go people

I take your point. But I wasn't expecting an additional bank holiday with little notice, and I will loose something like £350 that I had budgeted to receive. Because of the way my work is I can't make it up, it doesn't work like that.

I'll roll with it of course, but I'd rather it wasn't happening and I dislike people suggesting I am disrespectful for having that view.

I also feel sure that many of the people implying that not wanting a bank holiday is somehow immoral actually just want a day off.

Respect to those admitting that is the case and openly planning a lovely day which may or may not include anything to do with respect for The Queen .

generalh · 10/09/2022 12:44

Abraxan · 10/09/2022 11:36

And those teachers would have had to do those hours, as directed time, elsewhere.

There is one inset a year we don't go in. However, that time is then done as 2-3 twilight sessions for a few hours after school at another time. This was done mainly due to training and cpd needs.

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Yes. We have one at the beginning of December and I will be making up those directed hours in the coming weeks during our time after school.
I will be taking the opportunity to go and see my son who is in the RAF and who lives a few hundred miles from us and who won't be home for Christmas.

Tigerstripes1 · 10/09/2022 12:44

Bank Holidays are fine, its the notice. A lot of us have our shifts set in stone and childcare is meticulously planned. I understand it couldn't be planned as it was 'unexpected' to a degree. I also wont get paid any extra to work the bank holiday plus I'll struggle with the childcare (luckily I believe I have found a solution for my childcare problem)

Supergirl1958 · 10/09/2022 12:44

Notme1980 · 10/09/2022 11:09

First off, Queen Elizabeth II was an amazing ruler and an inspiration, we are a forces family and my husband has served her for 30 plus years.

but - I do not want the schools to be closed for her funeral (or for any reason at all), I want us to do what I believe she would have done, press on.

It is a public bank holiday. I for one (as a teacher) am pleased it is and that schools will be closed...not because I want a day off...but because I want to sit and watch the coverage of a historic occasion...my colleagues and I all discussed and agreed on this yesterday. Being an early years teacher, it would be nigh on impossible to watch any of the event, and being mother to a 2 year old i doubt I'd be able to watch the events later on either.

I am by no means a staunch royalist, but i remember having to watch a video recording of the queen mother's funeral as a pupil at high school in the early 2000s and just over 12 months later we were allowed time out of lessons to watch a live England match (i think Brazil) it does not make sense....

I personally don't want to watch a recording of a historic occasion just because YOU don't want school's to close.

ThirstyMeeples · 10/09/2022 12:44

We're both doctors and it's likely that we'll be off as they'll probably cancel clinics/ routine theatre etc. Just keep emergency work going. I really feel for the patients that have waited months or years for these appointments.
I know it's a major event and needs to be marked. I also will enjoy the extra day and practically, if schools are closed one of us would have to cancel a list/ clinic. But it's still a great disappointment to some patients I'm sure and that can't be overlooked in the wider context of it.

inkworks273 · 10/09/2022 12:45

I just worry for the children who go to school to escape their home lives and to get fed.

cakeorwine · 10/09/2022 12:45

It could have been on the weekend.

OneFrenchEgg · 10/09/2022 12:45

There are no clinic OP appt on BH.

Brilliant. Months waiting and they will have loads to reschedule. I have zero interest in the RF and I'm sure they return the favour.

darmaka · 10/09/2022 12:45

freckles20 · 10/09/2022 12:43

I take your point. But I wasn't expecting an additional bank holiday with little notice, and I will loose something like £350 that I had budgeted to receive. Because of the way my work is I can't make it up, it doesn't work like that.

I'll roll with it of course, but I'd rather it wasn't happening and I dislike people suggesting I am disrespectful for having that view.

I also feel sure that many of the people implying that not wanting a bank holiday is somehow immoral actually just want a day off.

Respect to those admitting that is the case and openly planning a lovely day which may or may not include anything to do with respect for The Queen .

Show quote history

This - Less income for me that week as well. People are already struggling. I think having a BH in future yes - this is too soon and too disruptive for many.

darmaka · 10/09/2022 12:47

ThirstyMeeples · 10/09/2022 12:44

We're both doctors and it's likely that we'll be off as they'll probably cancel clinics/ routine theatre etc. Just keep emergency work going. I really feel for the patients that have waited months or years for these appointments.
I know it's a major event and needs to be marked. I also will enjoy the extra day and practically, if schools are closed one of us would have to cancel a list/ clinic. But it's still a great disappointment to some patients I'm sure and that can't be overlooked in the wider context of it.

This!
Nobody thinks about the small people. The way things are run here - mainly benefit the Elite. People are too foolish to fight for their own rights!

EssentialGarage · 10/09/2022 12:47

worriedatthistime · 10/09/2022 12:39

@EssentialGarage how will it only benefit a few ?
It won't at all , its been well known we would have a bank holiday , even my 18 year old knew it was likely

Until it was confirmed by Charles there was nothing confirming it would be a BH.

Where is the money coming from to finance this BH, I know it is no longer convenient to mention but we are in the middle of a serious cost of living crisis. The reason the government haven't been keen to add another BH to our current entitlement is because it costs the economy, and a short notice one will cost more.

Those that are saying they are happy as 'they like their kids' fail to see that many will not be able to get childcare so that means no pay, many businesses will struggle to pay wages with no income, many will have important meetings/hospital appointments/weddings etc.

And still we can't make plans as we do not know when it is.

flumposie · 10/09/2022 12:48

@EssentialGarage best have a word with the King. These are not something schools can control.

HarleySq · 10/09/2022 12:48

Just another ‘stirring’ thread.

Be respectful, be less selfish. This is of national importance, history being made. If your children are old enough. Educate them through this living history.

noblegiraffe · 10/09/2022 12:49

inkworks273 · 10/09/2022 12:45

I just worry for the children who go to school to escape their home lives and to get fed.

But those children have to stay in those homes every weekend, go home to them every evening, and spend every school holiday in them.

Which is why schools should not be seen as the solution to children having terrible home-lives. If we are concerned about those children, we should be sorting their homes, not complaining about schools being closed for an extra day when they are only open 190 out of 365 for the kids in the first place.

Rosebel · 10/09/2022 12:50

toooldtodate · 10/09/2022 11:22

Having your kids home isn't likely going to make it easier to watch though is it? - i can understand the sentiment behind it but the schools could have put screens up in the hall to watch it and spent the day learning about the queen etc and her legacy - there are more fitting ways to spend the day than closing

What if people who don't work in a school want to watch the funeral? Better to have a Bank Holiday so anyone who wants to watch it can.

mids2019 · 10/09/2022 12:51

Good in theory but is everyone getting an extra paid holiday. Will there be enhanced payment for this that have to work? The NHS will obviously continue to function but bank holidays do cause debate about full service provision.

There is the assumption everyone will be wanting to watch the funeral which may not be the case.

Potato28 · 10/09/2022 12:55

It was ALWAYS going to be a Bank Holiday
This has been the plain for YEARS
I dont get the people who are surprised by it

Potato28 · 10/09/2022 12:55

*plan

Grapewrath · 10/09/2022 12:55

Yabu but only because I want the day off tbh

funtycucker · 10/09/2022 12:56

inkworks273 · 10/09/2022 12:45

I just worry for the children who go to school to escape their home lives and to get fed.

Should we just keep schools open 27/7 365 days a year then?

TheFoodtheFadandtheFugly · 10/09/2022 12:57

You said you did not want them closed for any reason at all?

So they should have stayed open during a national pandemic, endangering the lives and wellbeing of staff, students and families at home when other places closed? Because of your authority as some sort of specialist?

Common sense please.

blameitonthecaffeine · 10/09/2022 12:59

I just worry for the children who go to school to escape their home lives and to get fed

That's a non argument. Children are at school for a few hours a day for about 75% of the year. An additional day off makes no difference to the horrendous levels of deprivation and abuse that some sadly live through.

It's actually some of the richest children who can't be catered for with an unexpected Bank Holiday - or sometimes even expected ones. Many boarding schools do not ever observe bank holidays unless they fall within the school holidays. They don't need sympathy of course but it does mean that such schools need to stay open.

I do think it should be a weekend though. A Sunday to a) minimise disruption and b) because it's a holy day for Christians and the Queen was a strong Christian. But I don't think it will be.

Furrbabymama887 · 10/09/2022 12:59

It's a major historical event. Of course schools should be closed.People should be able to watch it if they want ( if they have a job where they are able to have the day off).