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Original poster

Taking kids out of school early to have Christmas with Grandparents

215 replies

Backyard72 · 11/11/2020 09:27

Last day of school is December 18th, but we're thinking of taking our son out a week earlier so we can keep ourselves to ourselves for a bit and then feel safe having Christmas with my parents who are in their 70s.

I presume there're quite a lot of other people in this situation?

OP posts:
OnNaturesCourse · 12/11/2020 00:52

@SquashedFlyBiscuits

What an excellent plan! I will email the parents of my class tomorrow and say I'm closing the class for the last week as I want to see my parents at Christmas...

BTW I'm a primary teacher and we'll be teaching properly in the last week so your children will miss important learning if you take them out.

When it comes down to missing a week of primary education or spending what could potentially be the last Xmas with grandparents I don't think there is even a question.

Unfortunately I understand your point about teachers not having the option of having the extra week to isolate.

MercyBooth · 12/11/2020 00:52

I don't get the obsession with Christmas Day being so much more important than any other day

The fucking ski trips and Cheltenham were though wernt they. Out and about what im hearing is that its a bit much to expect people to give up Christmas when Bojo and co. didnt want to upset the rich by locking down earlier and cancelling Cheltenham . Then there is the fact that they gave T and T to their rich mates. People are fed up with making sacrifices and then being shat on , emotionally blackmailed and gaslighted (Cummings) People have had enough.

HallieKnight · 12/11/2020 00:53

I feel like I should remind people that school is not important whatsoever but family is

Original poster
Backyard72 · 12/11/2020 01:03

@HallieKnight

I feel like I should remind people that school is not important whatsoever but family is
Pointless comment. School, family, and mental health are all important. In this instance it's a balancing act, with the criteria weighing differently for different families.
OP posts:
HallieKnight · 12/11/2020 01:07

No school is completely unnecessary. I think a lot of people forget that

Isthatitnow · 12/11/2020 04:27

When it comes down to missing a week of primary education or spending what could potentially be the last Xmas with grandparents I don't think there is even a question

There were literally hundreds of threads baying for teacher’s blood when schools were closed because of how important education is. School staff are now risking their health and that of their families to provide that education yet spending time with family is now more important?

WhoopsSomethingWentWrong · 12/11/2020 06:40

@HallieKnight

I feel like I should remind people that school is not important whatsoever but family is
Who on earth you to tell us what is important to us? My children love school. They love seeing their friends, learning, they love the routine and structure, the assemblies, the crafts. School is important to them. Family is also important. But to say ‘school isn’t important’ is bollocks. It is, to many people.
WhoopsSomethingWentWrong · 12/11/2020 06:41

There were literally hundreds of threads baying for teacher’s blood when schools were closed because of how important education is. School staff are now risking their health and that of their families to provide that education yet spending time with family is now more important?

100% this!

imamearcat · 12/11/2020 06:44

I wouldn't. I just think they have been off school enough and they might not be able to go in the future, so better for them to go while they can!

MrsHamlet · 12/11/2020 06:59

Schools are NOT obliged by law to provide remote learning for anyone off school - only for those self isolating.

MummytoCSJH · 12/11/2020 07:17

@Neverwrestlewithapig did mean only required by law if covid related, which is why they were happy OP was going to be honest about why they are taking time off and not lie about isolating.

Ferrero12345 · 12/11/2020 07:20

@HallieKnight

I feel like I should remind people that school is not important whatsoever but family is
School is important
Letsgetgoing888 · 12/11/2020 09:25

@HallieKnight

I feel like I should remind people that school is not important whatsoever but family is
People who think like this are just the type of people to complain when their children don’t get as high marks as others, or their children are falling behind. Then they blame the teachers.
Original poster
Backyard72 · 12/11/2020 09:30

@HallieKnight

No school is completely unnecessary. I think a lot of people forget that
I assume this is just a wind up. If it's for real please make up your own thread about it and leave this one alone.
OP posts:
RedskyAtnight · 12/11/2020 09:35

@HallieKnight

No school is completely unnecessary. I think a lot of people forget that
School does teach punctuation which can be a real aid to written communication. For example, as your message is actually written it means something rather different to what I think you meant.
palacegirl77 · 12/11/2020 09:39

@WhoopsSomethingWentWrong

There were literally hundreds of threads baying for teacher’s blood when schools were closed because of how important education is. School staff are now risking their health and that of their families to provide that education yet spending time with family is now more important?

100% this!

100% agree too.
palacegirl77 · 12/11/2020 09:43

@Isthatitnow

When it comes down to missing a week of primary education or spending what could potentially be the last Xmas with grandparents I don't think there is even a question

There were literally hundreds of threads baying for teacher’s blood when schools were closed because of how important education is. School staff are now risking their health and that of their families to provide that education yet spending time with family is now more important?

Completely agree. How many of those saying they'd take their child out were bleating on about how important education was (which it is). The teachers will have to be there - they might have families too. They most likely havent seen their parents because they have to mix with our kids! I wouldnt dream of taking mine out, theyve missed too much and it gives them such a mixed message too. We can isolate over Christmas and hopefully see relatives in the new year if it is permitted. Its not the end of the world (and I LIVE for Christmas!)
DumplingsAndStew · 12/11/2020 09:48

@HallieKnight

I feel like I should remind people that school is not important whatsoever but family is
Actually, that may apply to you and your family, but not to everyone.

The need for my children to be in school has been far greater than their need to see family this year.

PinkPiranha11 · 12/11/2020 09:58

Schools won’t shut. I think you’d be mad to do this TBH.

Original poster
Backyard72 · 12/11/2020 09:59

@SionnachRua

As a teacher I wouldn't mind parents doing that at all. The final week before Christmas always goes at a much gentler pace - kids are usually tired, it's not a week to cover tricky concepts. Perhaps the UK (which I presume you're in) is different re: work pace.
Thank you for sharing your opinion. Yes I'm in the UK and think in the majority of schools here things do wind down in the week before Christmas.
OP posts:
Original poster
Backyard72 · 12/11/2020 09:59

@PinkPiranha11

Schools won’t shut. I think you’d be mad to do this TBH.
Why mad?
OP posts:
Stellaris22 · 12/11/2020 10:23

100% agree with a pp that there were parents being awful to teachers when schools were closed and desperate for them to open.

Now schools are back to being viewed as free and convenient childcare, teachers and school staff are continuing to be viewed as unimportant. They can't just leave a week early to visit family or skip out when they feel like it.

The way parents view teachers and school staff as unimportant is disgusting. They will be lesson planning and spending time making sure children get a great education. 'I don't see the point in the last week' is a horrible attitude and I feel sorry for teachers where parents don't value them.

HallieKnight · 12/11/2020 11:31

Wow ok. I think (I hope) people are confusing school with education, or maybe don't understand the difference

palacegirl77 · 12/11/2020 11:31

@Stellaris22

100% agree with a pp that there were parents being awful to teachers when schools were closed and desperate for them to open.

Now schools are back to being viewed as free and convenient childcare, teachers and school staff are continuing to be viewed as unimportant. They can't just leave a week early to visit family or skip out when they feel like it.

The way parents view teachers and school staff as unimportant is disgusting. They will be lesson planning and spending time making sure children get a great education. 'I don't see the point in the last week' is a horrible attitude and I feel sorry for teachers where parents don't value them.

Spot on.
MrsMiaWallis · 12/11/2020 11:35

@HallieKnight

I feel like I should remind people that school is not important whatsoever but family is
Maybe if you are a floaty SAHM with primary kids. For anyone else it's pretty fucking important. Even my lovely old PILS understand we might have to have a Zoom xmas this year because my dcs are in full time education and it's important that they go to school while its open.