School as child care

[Differentforgirls]

From another thread.

A poster said that state schools are there for helping parents to work. Therefore teachers are childminders. Teachers!

I think schools are there to educate our children and, though the staff go above and beyond these days, that is their primary function.

AIBU?

Yes, though perhaps she had a back up plan so she never had to consider the childcare aspect of school. Lucky her. Luckily for me I've never felt guilty for using appropriate childcare and my kids aren't noticeably scarred for having gone to tennis camp or forest school or even school wrap-around.

I've lost the post here that said if it wasn't for childcare, why does it mirror the working week. For historical reasons. So they're not working or at school on the sabbath? Because the teachers and other staff are working so they'll work Monday-Friday? Because daylight?! Possibly not harvest time as compulsory education coincides with the industrial revolution and less manual labour on farms.

School became compulsory in 1880 for ages 5-10, but was only free about a decade later. The act was put in place to ensure all children had a right to an education rather than having to work, and in recognition that the country would thrive if more children were educated. The wealthy were already getting their children educated, this move was about more children having that chance. It wasn't for childcare.

Yes as a working parent in the 21st century, school has meant not sorting childcare for the hours they're there but that's not WHY school exists.

Yes agreed but the kids weren't being educated at home because their parents were working, or dealing with domestic life. So it was only possible if done collectively.

Apols if I wasn't clear but I know that, the children who weren't in school before the act or the poorer families who could access school until it was free wouldn't be educated at all, apart from possibly Sunday School through church.

Yes, I suppose what I mean was if it was all about what's best for education it might have evolved more along home school lines. But school has always had to recognise the needs of parents to earn a crust/keep the home fires burning, or it would only suit the very wealthy.

He’s 63. Retired three years ago. Do you not get 32 days plus 10 public holidays?

I never worked from home! There are full time staff - 52 weeks in all secondaries. I was based in two throughout the years. Based. I didn’t work for the school itself, my work was authority wide. I had offices in both schools.

So was you a SAHM OP until your DC started preschool or did you leave them with babysitters?

Teachers, teach and the best ones provide care for the children too.

For young children the system provides child care. A 5 year old is too young to be left unattended... Providing basic care needs does likely come before teaching for obvious reasons...

I never knew that seeing school as childcare, meant I didn't want to parent / value education and many other bat shit things I have read on here. I am self employed and when my youngest starts school i will have more time to work and won't have to squeeze in extra hours on an evening etc.

I job shared and my dad had them two days (he offered) and my MIL a half day (she offered too).

My Dh is Local Authority - no he does not get 32 days plus BH, he gets as standard 28 days plus BH and the can buy 5 days to get 33 if he wishes.

I get 25 + BH.

Kids get 13 weeks off per year. Between us DH and I can cover 11, however - we're both off over xmas, so that is now reduced to 10 extra weeks. and a family holiday reduces that to 9/8.5. so 20 working days to cover, It's your inability to open your mind to see these differing life experiences that people are becoming annoyed with.

Do you not think that you may be projecting then when you make statements about other people using babysitters and childcare?

I was posting to someone who lives in the same country as me.

That’s very generous annual leave. And it’s 8 public holidays in England.

It’s 12 in Scotland.

How nice for you. Does that mean you consider your parents as childcare and outsourced their upbringing?

We don’t all live in Scotland. Do you struggle seeing things from different perspectives?
Many of your posts have been about what you did and assuming it’s the same for everyone else.

Annual leave varies between organisations
Bank holidays vary between countries
Not everyone can/wants to job share
Not everyone has family support

So basically you have a bugbear about childcare, didn't use any pre school age. So are trying to differentiate that from you choosing to send them to school, because you say that's not childcare. Righteo 😂.

I didn’t assume a thing.

Glad to have brightened up your dull day.

I have no bloody idea what point you're trying to make. Yes teachers educate but when I was training to be a teacher we were reminded daily that we were in loco parentis.

I don't have a nanny on standby while my DC is at school.

I do however encounter wildly entitled parents. One told me I was extremely selfish interrupting her child's 'academic flow' - I was on sick leave with advanced blood cancer and she knew this.

Another group were ranting on a local Facebook page that once the weekend comes or school holidays we forget all about them... Eh yes we have our own families and you're the actual parents.

So if that's the sort of behaviour you're referring to then yanbu but I am struggling to follow your argument.

The argument has been lost anyway. It’s been turned into a thread about me.

But no, my argument in my OP is that some parents think school is primarily for child care and I think it’s primarily for education.

I don't think I have ever encountered anyone that thinks that way though. Surely everyone knows DC go to school to learn? That is why I asked what the comment was the thread is referring to?

I don’t think people do think that. If they do, they’re a minority.

You’ve been quite rude and judgemental so people have called you out on that. I guess that’s why it feels like it’s been about you.