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Original poster

Do you send your kids to school on their birthdays?

523 replies

charliecat · 12/11/2005 10:24

My dds have the same birthday and this year I am planning on keeping them off so they can enjoy their birthday.
The alternative is sending them, them not having 5 mins to open their pressies let alone play with them and then with a heavy heart sending them off crying. Not for me.
If they got up at 5am and had chance to play I wouldnt mind but we barely have time for anything in the morning as it is so it would be chaotic...anyway...how much trouble am I going to get in for this? Do I lie and say they both had tummy bugs or what? What do you do?

OP posts:
ks · 13/11/2005 18:46

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn

swings · 13/11/2005 19:01

aloha, you sound so like me and dd! We spend so long messing around when it's time to go out that at some point one or other of us says 'shall we just stay home this morning?' the other gratefully replies 'yes.'

paolosgirl · 13/11/2005 19:03

I'm that you wouldn't send them to school just because it's their birthday. You've got a legal requirement to send your children to school FGS. You're the adult here - you've got to set them a good example.

RTKangaMummy · 13/11/2005 19:13

I haven't read the whole thread

BUT would deffo send DS to school on his birthday

The children get to wear a badge and take in sweets I know some people don't like it BUT all his class take sweets in so ALL consenting adults/parents from his class

philippat · 13/11/2005 19:16

charliecat, what did you do last year? (and the other ones since your 8 yr old started school?)

spidermama · 13/11/2005 19:16

I definitely won't make them go to school on their birthdays if they don't want to and what's more I tell the truth on the absence note.

It can go down as an unexplained absence as far as I'm concerned. I couldn't care less. I know full well I can give them a better birthday than their school can and I doubt they'll miss anything at all.

Gobbledigook · 13/11/2005 19:36

This is a wind up right?!

Tbh, it's attitudes like this that have left some schools and their kids in the state they are in - what chance do the teachers have if parents couldn't give a shit. Sheesh.

LadySherlockofLGJ · 13/11/2005 19:39

GDG

I think my friend summed it up perfectly, apologies if you have read it.

Just spoken to my friend who is a teacher, she said and I quote............."Ahhhh yes, the enemy within" when pressed for clarification, she said, these sort of people undermine and fail to support the school when it suits them, and then complain loudly and persistently when they perceive the school to be failing their little darlings.

Nicely put I would have said.

spidermama · 13/11/2005 19:39

What chance do parents have if schools don't even respect a families right to celebrate such important occasions at home?

It's one day a year ffs.

Clayhead · 13/11/2005 19:40

Celbration doesn't need to be done within school hours though, does it?

Family life and school life can co exist.

Blandmum · 13/11/2005 19:41

Let's think, opening presents all day, getting an education, presents, education....tough one!

Gobbledigook · 13/11/2005 19:43

Agree LGJ. I feel similarly about people who can't be arsed helping the school in any way at all - with reading, fairs etc - 'pull your finger out and back the school or shut the hell up!'

Spidermama - imo it's not about it only being one day, it's the principle. It's the message you are sending out not only to the children but to the school - one of lack of respect for rules for a start.

Gobbledigook · 13/11/2005 19:44

There's plenty of time after school to take the kids out for a special tea if you want to do something and parties are usually on the weekend aren't they?

spidermama · 13/11/2005 19:46

Wise up MB. Who on earth said they'd be opening presents all day. How ridiculous. Mine would be ice skating or at the zoo. Perhaps the Science museum or horse riding. A birthday treat which is going to be far more educational than just another day with the other 29 kids and 1 teacher.

No contest in this household.

spidermama · 13/11/2005 19:47

I think making them go to school on their birthday sends out the message that their birthday isn't such a big deal and school is the be all and end all. School is flawed. You'd have to be crazy not to see it.

Gobbledigook · 13/11/2005 19:48

SPLUTTER!

hunkermunker · 13/11/2005 19:49

I think it justs give rise to people expecting their birthdays to always be a hugely fun event with lots of scrummy things to do on them.

Sometimes they're shit though. Especially if they've been built up as being wonderful days full of treats and surprises. And you'll have to keep topping last year. God, the pressure!

spidermama · 13/11/2005 19:49

Heimlich manouver.

spidermama · 13/11/2005 19:50

I didn't start having shit birthdays until I was well into my 30s. My kids won't tolerate shit birthdays at their age.

lapsedrunner · 13/11/2005 19:51

to schoool, to school, to school.....

SenoraPostrophe · 13/11/2005 19:51

those who say it's OK to keep a child off school for a flimsy reason like a birthday (and also, imo, a holiday unless there is some very specific reason why it can't be in the holidays) - can you imagine your parents having done the same thing?

I think that openly questioning authority is one of the major distinctions between our generation(s) and previous ones actually. In some ways it's a good thing - authority is not always right. but in other ways is probably the main reason why we have the discipline problems in schools we do.

keeping your child off school for a birthday is a very small part of it, but a part nonetheless because you are saying to your children "having presents / a nice time (or whatever) is more important than school". Really not a good idea, I don't think.

kid · 13/11/2005 19:52

I always send my kids to school on their birthday. DS's birthday has always been during the Easter holidays so far so he hasn't had to go. DD doesn't mind going on her birthday. She has a cake at school and we always do something for her on the day and on the weekend after.

I always have to go to work on my birthday.

Blandmum · 13/11/2005 19:52

In the children that I teach there is a direct correlation between attendence and results and attainment. Across the board, at all levels of ability.

So wise up yourself and don't be offensive.

spidermama · 13/11/2005 19:52

I think they should reinstate school on Christmas day too and Easter. In fact why not ditch all these inconvenient holidays and send them every day. They're getting such a fab education there it just isn't worth risking taking any days off at all.

roisin · 13/11/2005 19:54

From a practical point of view "odd days off" creates major headaches for class teachers - even in primary schools. Yes, often kids are off through sickness or whatever, but avoidable absence should be avoided.

If 27 children have made their robot and are ready to start painting it; what are you supposed to do with the 28th who was at the zoo when the models were made?!