Gove says lengthen school days and shorten long summer holiday

[juneau]

Here: www.bbc.co.uk/news/education-22202694

I think it's a great idea and I'm sure working parents will welcome it. I also think it's bollocks that teachers need the six week summer break to recharge their batteries. Do they work harder or longer hours than other workers who only get four or five weeks a year then?

Having just endured a bored DS1 over the Easter holidays I think any break of more than two weeks is actually pretty dull for kids and I'm sure poorer kids really suffer from lack of stimulation and/or money to do stuff.

[thecatfromjapan]

"Stop talking about working parents and their lives all the time! This is about CHILDREN! Think back to your childhoods and remember those school holidays - imagine a childhood without them. Our children are going to be working until they are 70, and Gove wants them to be in school ten hours a day and not have the summer holidays we had!"

I just thought I'd repeat that from Hester Shaw.

[Squarepebbles]

I totally agree with Turnip's last sentence too.

It's totally obvious- they want to do this for cheap childcare to boost the economy.Private schools have even longer hols and get good results.

Utterly despair at how little importance is given to children's needs these days and under this gov.Didn't think they could sink even lower.

I for one don't want my kids in school that long or taught by teachers teaching my kids who will utterly knackered.Kids even when they're beautifully behaved are exhausting.

Schools are also not the sort of places I want my dc in for even longer.Most (unless you're in the private sector like Tory parents) have an abundance of concrete,crap building,crap lighting etc,etc.Also thanks to the gov selling off school fields many schools have little or any green spaces which kids need.

When are kids going to have time to play,create,dream?

I'll seriously consider home educating if they do this.

[InLoveWithDavidTennant]

its a stupid idea!

though my dm isnt a teacher, she is a learning support assistant. she works from 7:45am till the end of school... she then works as the cleaner at the school. so she works from when school has finished and doesnt stop until 6/6:30 as she is the only cleaner there.

also... its bull that teachers dont work during holidays! my mum seems to be forever doing stuff for the school (not that the head appreciates it ), the only time she seems to relax is when she comes to visit dh and i... and thats only 4 weeks throughout the year!

[DunderMifflin]

What everyone else said - rubbish idea.

[IsabelleRinging]

The majority of workers may have shorter holidays than teachers but they can choose when and how long to take off at any one time. To limit holidays to blocks of only two weeks would provide no opportunity for further travel, both for families and teachers. Although parents would be be able to take their children out of school, staff could not. Silly and very rigid for people working in schools, who, without the long summer break will be very unflexible.

[nailak]

He argued that a longer school day would also be more family-friendly and "consistent with the pressures of a modern society".

How the hell does that work? you see your kids less yet is more family friendly?

what about kids bonding with siblings, extended families etc? making friends outside of school environment?

"I remember half term in October when I was at school in Aberdeen was called the tattie holiday, the period when kids would go to the fields to pick potatoes.

"It was also at a time when the majority of mums stayed home. That world no longer exists, and we can't afford to have an education system that was essentially, set in the 19th Century."

I thought we were supposed to be fighting for choice for women? not saying those who choose to SAHM are in the 19th C.

[GeorgianMumto5]

My 9 year old just said, 'What?! Then he is an idiot! A stupid great idiot!'

My children don't get bored in the holidays. They get tired and cranky in term time, though. If children spend longer in school, when are the going to find the time to climb and fall out of trees?

[Sparklingbrook]

I do think the summer holidays are too long. Don't like the thought of the kids coming home from school later in the dark in winter.

[littleducks]

It would be nice if schools did more sports and outdoor activities. I would welcome a longer school day if swimming and other sports were taught to a good standard.

Doubt that would happen though.

[SoupDragon]

Thing is, we live in a global society now

And have you looked at what other countries in this global society do wrt education?

[AuntieStella]

"Again, and I say this daily often, thank fuck Michael Gove has no power or influence in Scotland"

Careful what you wish for. The Scottish Government has been studying KIPP since about 2005, and my guess it they'd find it much easier to implement in Scorland than in England/Wales.

[wearingpurple]

Does Michael Gove just feed school-related phrases into a random sentence generator and see what comes out or what?

This is nonsense.

[MrsCampbellBlack]

The school my children attends gets long holidays - 2 weeks in October half-term, just over 3 weeks at easter and 2 months in the summer - it is a long time.

I'd rather have a slightly shorter summer holiday but then have 2 week half terms especially the end of May/June one.

I do think children need a break though every 6 weeks as they get so tired - or mine do at least. Our school reckons that having 2 weeks in October as holiday cuts the sickness down considerably for pupils and staff as they get a chance to properly rest.

[TantrumsAndBalloons]

Can I just say that I have been a full time WOHP for 15 years and I think it's a horrible idea. Working parents will love the idea? Well actually, no.

We don't all think that schools are there to provide childcare whilst we are at work.
I cannot see any benefit to children staying at school any longer, the school day is plenty for them.
As for the holiday, they need to relax and recharge. If your child is bored, maybe you should ask yourself what else you can do, rather than cutting the school holidays.

And IMHO teachers well and truly deserve the holidays they get. Lets not forget, if you are struggling to entertain 1 child for 2 weeks, imagine a class of 30 for 8 weeks.

[Squarepebbles]

Mine were on their knees by the time they broke up for Easter(all in bed at 7). Would be pointless them being there at that point if they do 10 hour days and longer terms,they'd be zombies.

How do things like swimming,cubs,tap,music lessons fit into his plan?Unlike private schools they take place off school grounds and are often between 3.30 and 5.30.

[CreatureRetorts]

We should have 4 day weeks for kids and teachers use the fifth day for admin.

The working week for everyone should be 4 days (obviously not absolutely everyone). We work the longest hours in Europe and are not the most productive.

I'm just making this up just like Gove.

[OrangeFootedScrubfowl]

I would like the holidays rejigged so we have an extra week at Easter and October and two less in the summer. But I don't suppose schools should change for my personal preference!!

[Squarepebbles]

It is also quality not quantity that matters.

I'd rather my dc had fewer but better quality lessons.

[HumphreyCobbler]

To be fair, Gove is not just making it up. Labour considered this idea. There is data that disadvantaged children's education really suffers during the long summer break.

I still hate the idea though. I want my children to have fun in the summer and to forget about school.