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What societal norms do you think are outdated?

Absolutely agree with this!! When your children are studying the same content you did over 30 years ago, you know things are broken in the education system! The world is a vastly different place and school isn’t keeping up with all those changes. Our kids are woefully underprepared for real life based on what they learn in most schools - the tests and exams process is shit! Test them regularly, AS they learn a topic - not up to 2 years later in exam conditions. So much unnecessary stuff and not enough of the things they actually need to know to survive and thrive in real life’s

add in financial info, emotional resilience, communication and soft skills and so much more

Also a lot of the school curriculum is still based around what monks taught in the first schools in medieval times. I'd shake it all up and rewrite it entirely.

We live in a world of liars but we bring up our children to assume people are telling the truth.

You have a sen child but you'd be OK with your child's TA to be off for a couple of weeks and then for your child's teacher to be off a different couple of weeks?

That will do wonders for their education!

Was in a meeting at a school yesterday talking about 'colourful semantics'. What does that mean to anyone ( I know what it means before anyone explains it), please can education get more accessible rather than less.

I assume people are doing this because they enjoy it, and find it relieves stress. People are allowed to like different things from you.

This wouldn’t work.

Not a societal norm as such but I think the NHS and Education should be devolved from government.
The chopping and changing of direction, even from ministers within the same party is damaging both.
Either industry experts or cross party members should oversee both.

Error

I was a huge defender of the NHS but not now sadly. I listened on the radio yesterday to the woman who has reviewed /investigated practice around Sepsis. Number one of the action plan is to ask patients every day how they feel. How depressing , what has happened.

You want three week holidays??? YABU

I agree with this. Secondary staff will usually be in for both GCSE and A level results days, which means they can’t go away for those weeks anyway. It’s only the first 2 which are totally clear. Heads of Dept and SLT have to identify papers for ‘remark’ etc and have results reviews ready to go for the start of September. Breaking up earlier and going back when results are out would be best but that wouldn’t fit in with exam boards. The whole system needs a shake up.

That childcare and caring for the elderly has such low status and pay.

While i really sympathise with your childcare struggles (nightmare!), i think YABU. Kids really need the breaks. I can see with my daughter that she starts to burn out towards the end of term. Ideally, employers should facilitate school holidays but realistically i can see how it's not practical for them.

I’m sorry but I disagree op.
Support staff are not paid for the full school holidays. This means to pay them to work all those extra hours it would require a vast increase in tax. Do you seriously think this government would implement that ? No chance.
The majority of teachers and staff have their own dcs, that’s how the powers that be get away with paying them so little.
Again think if the cost of coving teacher’s pay. Many staff would leave.
You are basically getting free care for your child. You knew the deal when you decided to have children.
The problem is not school holidays. The problem is the cost of living. We have tolerated a society where it’s virtually impossible for parents to look after their own children,
I’d much prefer a society where it’s the norm for both parents to look after their child and so both work reduced hours.
I’d like it to be the norm for women to be valued as much as men. For everyone to stop being sexist. For women and men to stop putting males above females.
A society where victims are not blamed for the evil acts they endure.

100% agree with the archaic school system. Should be continuous assessment i.e. actually preparing you for life and work.

Mine is Miss and Mrs. When men just get Mr. WTF can't we just have Ms? It's the 21st centry, FFS, my marital status is nothing to do with anything. I'm 47 years old and my bank card still says Miss!!!!

@Autiebibliophile - I read it that school staff who were parents would be able to take 2 weeks off at any time to facilitate family life.

I'd switch the notion of home ownership being the norm. A mass council housing scheme matching the 50s. including criteria such as regular employment, so it's not just 'underclass' who qualify. Only one wage to be accepted for mortgages. House prices would decrease. In turn, families would have a choice to put children in childcare or not. It doesn't necessarily mean sprawling estates like the much maligned 60s estates but lots of smaller well planned estates appealing to societal mix of professional, non skilled, skilled, singles, families and older people.

Reducing summer holidays is a terrible idea when we already struggle to recruit school staff. None of which is to say the way we've structured our school year doesn't lead to some problems in itself, but that doesn't mean we are going to be able to slash one of the few perks available to those in the sector and still be able to staff it.

People smothering perfectly nice food with gravy, thus making everything soggy and tasting of gravy. Make it stop.

Of course they are.
I think the point is that sometimes it helps just to take a step back and assess if it's definitely worth the stress. My child is older now but when he talks of his childhood it's really the simple stuff he seems to remember a lot of the time. I do think sometimes people can end up doing things because they feel they have to.

Ms seems to be very common these days tbh. Use what you like. I have another title entirely so use that.

But school isn't childcare.

The UK already has quite short summer holidays compared to the rest of Europe/the US.

I think longer half terms would just be more expensive for parents because October and February the weather is worse so you would probably have to think of more 'activities' to do with DC rather than just go to the playgound/beach like in summer.

I'd like it if it were more usual men to go part time when they have DC, I think that would help to make the mental load fairer, and also make employers less likely to think women were always the default parent for days off etc.