Archaic societal norms that need to change

[Autiebibliophile]

For me it's the 6 week holidays. It worked well in a time where the majority of families were one income families. Where village communities were much more present. Grandparents typically lived close by and could help with childcare. When we had typical seasons before global warming kicked in.

I grew up in the eighties, summers were playing out all day. If my mum needed to go somewhere I went to my grandparents or a friends house. It was simple. Now it's just 6 weeks of childcare hell. Spending a fortune on childcare, expensive holidays, activities. It costs a fortune and I'm not convinced children get much out of the break anymore.

I think it needs cutting down to three weeks, And give parents two weeks they can use at their choosing (at certain time periods in the year)

What societal norms do you think are outdated?

I thought teachers were usually on a 52 week contract? TAs and school staff are usually on term time, 39 weeks plus 5 weeks holiday pay. I am fairly sure my contract was something like 44 weeks.

@Createausername1970 you get paid salary in 12 payments.
5.6 weeks of paid holiday time but the rest of the holidays are unpaid.
The core working hours are directed time, when teachers are directed by their head teacher to be available for work. This is a maximum of 1,265 hours per academic year, spread over 195 days. Teachers can be required to teach on 190 days as this is the number of days children are in school.

I don’t think the poster is saying this per se.

She is saying it’s sad and true that the current system leaves many children floundering due to the way it’s set up. It’s not the teachers’ fault. Teachers themselves have little say in what/how things are taught. To an extent teachers can differentiate what is being taught (I am an ex teacher btw) and tweak certain things but overall its the system that doesn’t work for many children.

A better solution would require a huge system overhaul.

Loving this idea. As a teacher of 25 years who has only ever had two term time holidays (one in each of my mat leaves), I’m looking forward to taking my children on a family holiday which doesn’t cost in the region of 7k (price of our mid range holiday in the sun this year)!

@picturethispatsy I think what that poster is getting at is the idea that parents could take kids out of school for 2 weeks when it suits them.

How is a teacher meant to teach a class when they are all off at different times and all miss different stuff.
She can't constsntly spend time going back over the last 2 weeks work. Nor can kids keep moving forward with 2 week gaps in their knowledge

I think you quoted the wrong person… I was talking about the curriculum not holidays.

That's why they'd end up with individual curriculums

Exactly everyone benefits 😊

@EspressoMacchiato I agree completely

I can't believe a teacher is agreeing with this!
How on earth would it work?

Why should childcare be free??

People ordering whatever they fancy in restaurants & then barely eating any of it. Huge food waste.

Urban areas design around cars, where cars are, how to get between places in the car, making it easy for cars to go fast (downgrading other travel needs or transport by any other means)

People running the tap for ages to get it hot or cold.

Sedentary lifestyles.

Good point. I don't actually object to school uniforms but they should be simple, cheap and easy to comply with. And no draconian nonsense like ties, blazers and having to ask permission to take off an item of clothing on a hot day.

I don't think childcare should be free but it should be tax deductible.

@enchantedsquirrelwood it is now, we’ve had tax free childcare since 2016.

5 day weeks and 9-5 working hours.

Agree - I think wasteful, polluting behaviour in general should be frowned upon and the reliance on cars (but we need a much better public transport network covering the whole country to make that feasible).

also agree on the 9-5, 5-day week. Remote working has shown us it just isn’t necessary (caveat that yes of course some jobs do have to be done in person between certain times and yes, they are very important jobs that keep society turning). But bums on seats presenteeism for the sake of it serves no purpose. Also the idea that you should sell your soul to your job to progress, work 18 hour days etc. That can absolutely die. There is absolutely nothing wrong with wanting an hour’s lunch break, flexible hours and to leave work at the time stated on your contract, but still wanting to progress, just at a pace that allows a balance and recognises work isn’t the be all and end all.

Obviously it would be impossible to implement 😆 But in my dream world, where there is an endless pool of teachers and a rigid curriculum so lots of flexibility, it could.

I agree 4 x 2 week breaks is plenty.

100% agree. This country is long overdue for major constitutional reform.
Just one example: it is apparently OK for the Prime Minister to be a liar but an MP is thrown out for calling him a liar in Parliament; despite there being documentary evidence in existence of his repeated lying.

And the absurdity of the Monarchy - and the archaic deference that goes with it - needs to end. Just one example: the ridiculous long red carpet for Charles & Camilla in Kenya, in its own way just as bad a look as the notorious 'Land Rover' display with William/Kate in the Caribbean. Some people may be happy with our country being presented by them as an archaic colonial throwback, but I'm not.

"Now it's just 6 weeks of childcare hell."

For you, maybe. Not for everyone.

1. Social pressure to marry/spend on expensive weddings over hosting or being a guest.
2. Tipping
3. Mass sending of cards for every occasion.

Buying stuff, so much stuff.
Fix it, buy second hand

I think kids need a break, although ratios could be mixed, but think min 4-5 weeks in the summer. However I agree it is currently 6 weeks of hell of parents. I think work should be more flexible be it work from home, flexible arrangements mixed with affordable and decent childcare with varied rooms with varied things on offer where staff are paid well. I do worry where we are going where kids.
That needs to change.