If your 17 year old wanted to take a day off school to attend the student funding march on Wed would you condone it

[mrswoodentop]

What it says really,ds1 ,17 ,very politically aware wants to attend.Its a school day,independent school so I need to write to say we are authorising him to have a day off.

Dh violently against ,very angry with me for even thinking about it ,treats ds like a naughty little boy.I am more ambivelent,I am proud of him for feeling strongly (dh thinks that because he wouldn't go on his own that he just wants a day off school with his friends),I think that this issue is going to have a profound effect on his life and in a way I am quite proud of him for wanting to have a voice, also proud because he has thought carefully about the issues and wants to hear both sides and yes he wants to experience something big ,something new,to be there if you like.But and and its a big but he has to have day off school,he's not a definate oxbridge candidate ,his grades aren't perfect he can ill afford to miss a lot of school,but one day? I don't know,dh has said no and he's agreed so I suppose its over but perhaps we are doing him a diservice (sorry not sure of spelling)

I would encourage him t go.

I'd certainly be proud of him for going. I'm encouraging my students to go.

(But then I come from a family who were proud when I got the secondary school out on strike for a day against compulsory unpaid workschemes for teenagers in the 80s...)

Oh dear - I can relate to all sides of these posts!
My son has just left the private system to go to
college and what an experience it has been for me!
He has gone from boy to man in a few weeks and no
longer feels that permission needs to be sought from his parents! He is planning on going tomorrow - college has given permission for students to attend as long as they can show some evidence of being there. I hope that it will be a safe environment for him and that he enjoys the experience.

I think its important for him to go too, because these changes will directly affect him (but they wont affect your DP).

The government is imposing a mortgage size loan on all teenagers who are intelligent and show an interest in higher education. These teenagers aren't even old enough to vote, wont be earning, yet they are being saddled with funding the HE sector.

both mine are going and I'm very very proud of them. They've had to lay on extra coaches from Cambridge because so many people are going. DS2 had a supervision scheduled, but he emailed his tutor and she's rearranged the day and wished him luck. I hope your son does go

ds is going and he has explained to college why himself no note required from me.At almost 17 he is a young man .I will guide him as far as I can but He makes his own choices now there fore has to learn to acceot any consequences

Can I just flag up that all under 18s are supposed to ask permission from parents to attend the demo, which is a condition laid down by the orgnisers. Special arrangements are being made for this group and it would not be a good idea for under 18s just to turn up, IMO.

My DH has gone (lecturer) and I would have gone too had I not had three kids to take to school etc.

We almost decided to take them too (after all it's their future too) but decided it would just be too hectic.

And by the way, 17 is absolutely the right age to get involved in politics. I have a bit of an odd family and went on more demos in my childhood than I had hot dinners. Nevertheless, I would like all parents to support their kids in expressing their political views: I think he's MORE likely to get into university by getting involved in such poitics, than less, tbh...

claig, you make me larf.

VERY quiet here in this university... They had to book extra coaches in the end.

many of the children round here owuld be suported in choosing to take time off school to march for the countryside alliance.

But then, we live in NotLondon.

I would want him to go.

I'd be proud and make him sandwiches.

I am actually in favour of the rise in tuition fees but i would still support my son's choice to go

Why in favour ?

Do you mind if I ask why? Is is just so we get rid of the country's debt quicker? Because it would mean that only a few selected people would be privileged enough to afford university? (sorry they are the only 2 reasons I can think bout) A totally different reason?

I support the raising of tuition fees but if my ds wanted to go then I would let him.

Can someone please explain why on earth they support raising tuition fees ?

My dd is going and I am very proud of her for standing up on this issue.

I support the rise in fees because it will rebalance the financial contributions to universitys between students and the Government. The fees will more accurately reflect the true cost of a university degree. Like it or not the current subsidy level of university from Government was unsustainable and needed to be adressed.

A thought.

Before 1944 you had to pay for secondary education (unless you were lucky to get one of the 2-3 scholarships in your area). Yet I can't imagine a situation where someone could legitimately argue that middle class families should pay £6000-£8000 a year as this reflects the full cost of such education to the state, and their children are going to benefit in the long term therefore families should happily bite the bullet and cough up. Why not? Because it would be economic and social disaster to deprive older children of education in this way.

Yet nationally we are making the same argument about turning off the education tap for 18+ aged people. Even though collectively we all profit from educating at least 25-35% of our young people at degree level and this is well documented.

It's bonkers.