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Original poster

school aged kids around durign a normal school day

42 replies

MrsCoddyClooney · 04/10/2004 12:43

whats your first thought that they are:

  1. skiving 2 home edders 3 Ill 4 privately educated with weird holidays?
OP posts:
jodee · 04/10/2004 16:23

DS is at home ill today, the second time since he started Reception, and on another Monday (they must think we have long weekends away or something!).

On the knitted swimsuit front, DH has never forgotten (and won't let his mother forget ) having to wear knitted shorts to school in the 60s and having to hold them up with one hand when they got sodden in the rain!

tallulah · 04/10/2004 17:25

My DD & friend were once stopped in the town just before Xmas by a truant officer/policeman, who asked why they weren't at school. In a panic they said "we broke up on Saturday" & realising they must be from a private school (who else goes to school on Saturday?!) he let them off. Gave them a shock, even though they weren't actually doing anything wrong. (They really had already broken up).

MUMINAMILLION · 04/10/2004 17:33

wizzysmum - I've been HEing for over 3 yrs and havent knitted 1 swimsuit yet! Such a failure ...

Anyway, my older dds are often out and about in the village without me - they go to the park to do a bit of sketching/birdwatching/leaves finding etc. or cycle round the village drawing 'maps' of the area etc. So, they do not always need me to be around in order for them to be doing 'educational' things. (And they don't look too alternative either - except DD2 who tries her best to never ever brush her hair). So there are sometimes valid reasons for children to be out and about on their own during school hours.

misdee · 04/10/2004 17:33

well my dd1 was off nursery today and friday. i knew if i sent her in today, as she is still having coughing fits they'd phone me up to collect her thinking it was asthma. but she has spent the day indoors, and i've spent the afternoon in bed as i have caught her cold.

If i see kids with their parents during school hours then dont think much about it. its when there are 2 or 3kids and no adults with them that u think they are skiving.

Original poster
MrsCoddyClooney · 04/10/2004 17:51

I cant beleiev that, as a he er the kids going off buy htemselves means that you are educating htem!

that sounds like an opt out to me!

OP posts:
coppertop · 04/10/2004 18:09

I've been avoiding the truancy patrol since ds1 was about 2. He's always looked older than he actually is so people assume he should be at school. The first time we were stopped ds1 wasn't even old enough to go to playgroup.

Now that ds1 has actually started school it's a bit more complicated. He's gradually building up the number of hours he attends but still isn't yet full-time. I get odd looks when we're out and about but ds1 does go to school at his allocated times.

MUMINAMILLION · 04/10/2004 20:06

Are you serious coddy??

MUMINAMILLION · 04/10/2004 20:13

Cos if you're not, I'm a bit peeved that you think I'm 'opting out' of educating them just because there is the general misconception that children are utterly reliant on adults to learn anything atall. Children learn much more by discovery and experimenting than being sat at a table with someone force feeding them information. I spend a good deal of my time with them (every day of the year - is that enough?) and if they choose to have a little time without me, using their own initiative and enjoying what they are learning, who am I to suppress them?

If I have got the wrong end of the stick, Im sorry. But if not, please remember that there are very many ways to educate children, and child-led education is one of the most effective ways to ensure a child develops a love of learning.

sis · 04/10/2004 20:15

But coddy, children are often sent off in pairs to do questionnaires and stuff - especially on school trips. With teacher:pupil ratio in schools, each child hardly ever gets one-to-one time with the teacher in the classroom either so if a home educated child is old enough, I don't see a big problem if they are out on their own doing educational work.

sis · 04/10/2004 20:16

MUMINAMILLION, sorry, you posted whilst I was typing and explained it much better!

MUMINAMILLION · 04/10/2004 20:17

sis

MUMINAMILLION · 04/10/2004 20:53

Right, got to go now and round up my 4 alternatively dressed, knitted swimsuit wearing, uneducated louts of children from wandering the streets aimlessly whilst I was watching the telly that I dont have and drinking the cases of beer that I dont have hic hic

stupidgirl · 04/10/2004 22:16

Good post Miam

Tinker · 04/10/2004 23:36

Small article in today's Indie about Truancy Patrols (which I didn't know existed!) bugging home educators. Apparently, they are not allowed to ask your name and address. Would have to go downstairs to get the paper now but interesting

KristinaM · 04/10/2004 23:50

Was checking 4yo into Ikea creche last week. Mum in front of me was trying to check in a 6yo who she said was off school sick!!! Member of creche staff wouldn't accept the child - good for her.

KristinaM · 04/10/2004 23:53

Sorry that wasn't aimed at home educators. But it seems to me that if a child is too ill to go to school they are too ill to be in the Ikea creche...

MUMINAMILLION · 05/10/2004 09:11

stupidgirl. Have let the steam out of my ears now.....

Tinker - would like to hear about that? Kristina - it's ok - I dont usually blow my top about things. You made a totally valid point. Children who are too ill to go to school, would normally be in bed surely! Unbelievable!

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