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Original poster

Teachers - time off for "activities"

32 replies

Katymac · 12/06/2007 22:20

DD has started competitive Ballroom dancing

She is competing at Blackpool (I am not sure this is a good idea)

I am determined that she will NOT miss school

I am being told that it is a learning experience and that I am being unreasonable

Am I?

Are "activities" a good reason for absense fro school

DD will be in yr5 btw & it is in Nov (if that makes a difference)

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Hulababy · 12/06/2007 22:22

I have known plenty of secondary school pupils miss time at school for extra curricular activities, mainly sporting but also musical/drama activities. Even some school based extra curricular stuff involve time out of the classroom.

Depends on how much school, for how long, if she can catch up, etc.

Original poster
Katymac · 12/06/2007 22:24

This time it would be Fri & Mon - but I am scared it will be the "thin end of the wedge"

If I allow it this time will it become assumed that dancing is more important than school _ which I strongly disagree with

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kickassangel · 12/06/2007 22:29

i teach insecondary school & we are tolerant about a week or so in a year for this kind of thing. not so tolerant once gcse has started. could dd unserstand that there will be a strict limit on no of day in the year, with catching up at a weekend? then the wedge is pre-measured & not getting too wide.

hercules1 · 12/06/2007 22:37

Sounds a great thing to be doing. Much better than hanging around on street corners. I would guess she's pretty commited to get to that stage and hard working.

newgirl · 12/06/2007 22:40

i think it is ok - maybe work out how often it is likely to happen and talk to her teacher?

kids at the local tennis centre miss a day off a week to recieve top coaching so why not dancers?

AbbyLou · 13/06/2007 12:08

I would be happy for a child in my class to miss odd days because of this. It is a great experience for her. I agree with you that you will have to monitor it and make sure it doesn't become too regular but if she is keen and has a talent it should be nurtured. At my school children will be added to the G and T register for talents such as this and therefore they should be recognised and supported by the school. We had a child once who did a lot of singing competitions and missed the odd day and she was well supported by the school who chose to share and celebrate her achievements. It really depends on the chool too and how they feel about it. You sound like a sensible enough parent who won't let it get out of hand. Why not go and speak to the Head if he/she is apporachable and explain the situation and your concerns and see what he/she has to say on the matter. Good luck!

ungratefuldaughter · 13/06/2007 12:11

they can put it down as "being educated off site" if they don't want to annoy the education authority who are clamping down on holidays in term time

Original poster
Katymac · 13/06/2007 16:44

That is interesting I thought you would all be "no time off for having fun"

Hmm maybe I'm being a bit harsh

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bookwormmum · 13/06/2007 17:56

I took days from school for ballet exams at secondary school (my ballet teacher was a bit disorganised hence no Saturday exams...) - as long as it's not weeks at a time, it's no worse than taking time for holidays. After all, your dd will be practising a skill and she can always get some work from her teacher to make up.

islandofsodor · 13/06/2007 21:39

I had time off for music exams and I have taken my daughter (aged 5) out of school for a drama exam.

Children who compete gain such a sense of achievment and the school gains kudos from ahving a talented child.

katelyle · 13/06/2007 21:58

I think this is fine - she won't miss anything in two days she couldn't easily catch up. I occasionally take mine out for things I consider educational - a music exam, the Horse of the Year Show, a trip to the ballet, a football match and {whispers shamefacedly} a day on the beach when the weather was so lovely we couldn'd bring ourselves to spend it indoors.

Well done to you dd!. I can't help being amused at the thought of competitive ballroom dancing, though. My dd did it for a bit - she got a medal for her tango when she was 5. I thought that was funny too.

mimsum · 14/06/2007 15:11

I have no qualms about taking mine out for the odd thing here or there - my mum's taking both the boys (y5 and y2) to the theatre next week, the week after that ds1's swimming in the London mini-games and I've promised I'll take them to the Star Wars exhibition (ok, not so sure about the educational content of that one, but hey, it's the end of term ) - education isn't just about sitting in a classroom ...

Pixiefish · 14/06/2007 15:14

So long as it doesn't clash with important exams I can't see a problem. Something for her and her school to be proud of. She should receive moral support from school .

Celia2 · 14/06/2007 16:51

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

LIZS · 14/06/2007 16:55

is this a school run activity ?

lilolilmanchester · 14/06/2007 17:58

Hi katy mac, my DD does ballroom dancing too. She won't be in Blackpool in November, but she will be in Prestatyn, as last year, for the national open finals. We went last year for the first time, but luckily we live close enough not to need any time off school. In 2008, I believe the finals will be in Camber Sands. My friend (her partner's mother and I) have been discussing what we will do if they are still competing by then. I am very against taking time off school for anything other than very serious illness ("take some calpol, go to school, you'll feel better by breaktime and if not the school will phone us and if you come home it's straight to bed no tv etc"). I digress! However, I think for really significant opportunities like dance finals, it is acceptable to take time off school. As long as they see that it is a really special, rare event and only for something which really adds to their life experiences. The school lets children out of school to compete in school sports events and choir competitions etc so I don't see this as any different.

SueW · 14/06/2007 18:18

I'm also a 'no time off' person but DD has had time off for music exams.

And, to be honest, in balance, she often does exams at the weekend too (music theory, LAMDA, ballet, tap, jazz), some of which are for activities she does at school.

Original poster
Katymac · 14/06/2007 19:54

No - it's not school run

DH is a dancer teacher & although she goes to class at a school - she seems to have "inherited" his ability

I am quite sceptical about the whole thing - but apparently she is very good

She dances with a slightly bigger girl - but at her first comp the boys (and the boys techers/parents) were all eyeing her up
As few boys do BR they get first choice of all the girls (you can see why I'm not sure)

Several teachers have spoken to her teacher already (after 1 comp) but it all seems a bit much to me

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tortoiseSHELL · 14/06/2007 19:55

I used to miss school for music things, think it's ok tbh.

orderleysmile · 14/06/2007 20:07

hi
my daughter dances too and we have the occassional day off. we do camber sands in october and she will probably end up taking the monday off school. Most schools in our area do allow for this

Original poster
Katymac · 15/06/2007 09:35

Never heard of Camber Sands

Is it famous?

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Wotz · 15/06/2007 09:41

I think I year 5 why not? They all are expected to work so hard in year 6 for the SATS, let her enjoy it while she can.

It can only be a good thing if the school support outside activites and achievements.

We have some exceellent Judo and cross counrty runners in our Junior school (all outside activites) and they get a mention in the newsletters.

bookwormmum · 15/06/2007 15:01

Katymac - I was asked if my dd would do competitions as the teacher had got a boy who wanted to compete and needed a girl partner. I chose not to take up the offer as quite frankly, I didn't like the other child and I didn't want to spend hours at weekends for her to train - she is only six!! (I was approached to do ballroom comps myself years ago so I know the commitment involved) She now does ballet as we eventually dropped ballroom and is as happy as Larry.

I think as long as you and your dd are happy to compete, then go for it. Good luck .

Original poster
Katymac · 15/06/2007 22:45

Thanks DD started on ballet and moved to Ballroom

Odd how children are - isn't it?

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lilolilmanchester · 15/06/2007 23:14

I just want to set something straight (especially after watching Strictly Baby Ballroom a while back). Not all children who do ballroom spend hours and hours and £100s on it. Don't get me wrong, if people choose to do so, it's up to them. But my daughter competes, and only trains 2 hours/week which I don't think is excessive. I make this point only because programmes such as SBB give the wrong impression and might put people off what is otherwise a great hobby. My DDs friends who do ballet actually spend a lot more time doing it even tho they don't compete.