Do you disagree with the Longer school hours proposed?

[aproudmum]

If like me for many reasons do not - can you please sign and share this petition -
you.38degrees.org.uk/petitions/change-of-hours-for-schooling

[TamerB]

At don't care who has started the petition, at least they are doing something and giving us the chance to make our views known so good for them!

[jellybeans]

I signed. Hideous idea. School hours too long already. More jobs should be flexible/school hours/pt. In addition it won't help shift workers. Childcare should be optional NOT enforced. Most parents don't want to both work f/t but want more time with kids.

[littlebluedog12]

I've been thinking about this, I think it would only work if it were both optional and free. Which doesn't sound very likely.

There are many children who would benefit massively from free access to more creative subjects- art, music, languages etc. The children who don't have access to after school activities because their parents can't afford it.

Also, many children are already in school til 6- in after school clubs where (from my experience) all they do is eat jam sandwiches and play on the computer!

And how many threads are there on here about women who regret giving up their career, who can't find work after being a SAHM, who can't go back to work because they can't afford the wraparound care? This would make it much easier for parents to carry on with their careers, and maybe our daughters won't have to make the sacrifices that many of us have made.

[rollonthesummer]

There are many children who would benefit massively from free access to more creative subjects- art, music, languages etc. The children who don't have access to after school activities because their parents can't afford it.

I completely agree. However, I don't think that

A. These plans are anything about what will benefit children and

B. There will be any money to offer these opportunities to those whose parents can't afford it.

I still want someone to tell us exactly what the government are proposing?!

[aproudmum]

you.38degrees.org.uk/p/Schoolhours

[aproudmum]

The thing is if gove and the party get in they want to make this compulsary.

www.theyworkforyou.com/search/?s=speaker%3A11858+section:debate&o=d

debate from parilment yesterday - mentioning 9 or 10 hr day!

gove 'am sure that the teaching unions will recognise that this is in their interests, and I hope they will embrace and support these changes.'

10 pages of speak from the session - not one thing I can see mentioned Child Welfare, childhood -

Please if some one knows how to write this petition better please let me know - it was written from the heart to be honest and it angered me so much that I gave birth to 3 wonderful children and hes trying to take them away :(

[aproudmum]

www.unicef.org/crc/files/Rights_overview.pdf

FACT SHEET: A summary of the rights under the Convention on the Rights of the Child

[rollonthesummer]

Would Gove, or any sane person, expect anyone to welcome those sort of crippling changes to their working conditions? Really?

[Goldmandra]

I still want someone to tell us exactly what the government are proposing?!

Michael Gove on This Morning

[aproudmum]

FACT SHEET: A summary of the rights under the Convention on the Rights of the Child

Article 31 (Leisure, play and culture): Children have the right to relax and play, and to join in a wide range of cultural, artistic and other recreational activities.

[rollonthesummer]

Thank you for the link but I can't see that on my phone-what's the general idea?

[sunbathe]

Won't be signing as they retain your details.

Will home ed though, if this comes off.

[aproudmum]

rollonthesummer:

1)he wants children as young as 2 to attend school
2)according to yesterdays parliment session he want school hours 9-10 a day
3)reduce hoildays



Well as far as I know some children can still be in nappies at 2 - so how is a teacher meant to change them when needed? Hes trying to get rid of teaching assistants too!

6 week holiday to 4 has been mentioned but I can seem to find the part to quote so not 100% its been mentioned in that term but reducing hols have

So far I cant seem to understand or find how is all this going to be paid for? Theres no funds as he's already said hence getting rid of teaching assistants! So is he wanting parents to pay in some way?

he thinks this will bridge a gap from those in private schools to those in state schools. The thing is no child can concentrate for the length of time.

he wants to fill up some of these hours with music (they do now) sport (they do now) other activities - but what happens to those who attend sance schools. judo etc - there will be no need for private child carers.

I can see to a degree that in some cases for families this being good as it would save them money.

But at the end of the day - child welfare - teacher welfare - how many teachers are off with stress I wonder? would this increase? child illness would this increase?

[aproudmum]

sunbathe -

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[rollonthesummer]

Would it be optional though?


Surely, you couldn't have compulsory education 8-6 from state school children with 4 weeks' holiday but 9-3.30 (with optional wraparound) but months of holiday for private school children; it would create a (n even more!) horribly two-tiered system?!

[rollonthesummer]

Soooo, there is no extra money, it will run by specialist sports coaches and he wants more people to volunteer. It will involve supervised homework prep and children will still have half their week with their parents (except for much of that time, they'll be asleep). I think that's the general idea.

Still no mention of compulsory or optional though and no mention of holidays unless I have missed that?

He doesn't seem to be suggesting that teachers do it though, so if there's no money-how can it possibly work? Hands up all those people who will volunteer their services to look after children from 3.3-6 for no payment, so that other mums can go to work and earn money?

[rollonthesummer]

He also suggests that the reason private schools have better results is because of their long days! The girl next door to us, who is privately educated, leaves the house at exactly the same time as us (trudging off to our lowly state school) and is home at the same time! The only difference is, she gets several weeks more holiday-their half terms are a fortnight-and they break up a week or two into July for a 9 week summer holidays!

I wonder if Michael Gove will decide next that private schools have better results than state schools, because they all wear hats. Let's make hat-wearing compulsory for the under 18s; that's sure to raise standards.

[Mishmashfamily]

Oh dear god. I've just watched the link.

How very fucking depressing this dickhead is in charge of our kids welfare

[rollonthesummer]

Scary, isn't it? :(

[Goldmandra]

Still no mention of compulsory or optional though

If you listen to the This Morning interview, he is introduced as "the man who is proposing to make your children stay at school for ten hours a day". He doesn't take issue with it and I'm damned sure he would if it weren't true.

[rollonthesummer]

Fair enough, Goldmadra. I'm just surprised that, if it's definitely planned to be compulsory, more people aren't aware of it. There's been loads of people posting on here saying it's a good thing to be able to do this if you need to, but not if it's compulsory?

What hasn't been made clear, is

--Who will pay for the specialist sports/music/drama teachers to run the extended sessions?
--Where will they be held? Most schools have one field/playground/hall-and a lot more than 3 classes!
--Who will volunteer to help out with childcare (on the minutes from the House of Commons debate, Gove mentions enlisting volunteers) if parents are all back at work? Would people really desire to give their time up, to enable other people to earn money?
--What will happen if children already have football/piano/cubs after school?
--Will parents be fined if they collect their children at 3.30?

Still too many who/what/where/whys for my liking!

[BoneyBackJefferson]

MoreBeta
"I think I know rigour when I see it. It means not accepting mediocre and second best."

Then define it in quantifiable terms. that relate to all areas and all abilities in schools.

[Goldmandra]

Still too many who/what/where/whys for my liking!

My guess is that they won't be answered because the real agenda isn't about improving education and there will be no additional funding. This is purely an exercise in pushing parents of school aged children into full time working.