Chicken Licken Posted June 21, 2007 Share Posted June 21, 2007 Aha - the old stress highlights - I was told by an autistic student I was 84 (actually 34!! - I think). Take the kids out of school. The whole attendance thing has gone mad (thanks OFSTED). I nag my good kids about attendance every day - they are the ones there on time day in day out, give out attendance % ever week and chase atendance constantly - there is so much more to life than caring who is beneath 94% attendance!! AAAAaaaaagh There is some shocking figure for the correlation between missed sessions of school and performance at GCSE, but quality family time and well adjusted young people are worth more than any exam results - and even a bit of self confidence and happiness - all to easily forgotten in these target driven times (rant over I think - sorry) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hellcat Posted June 21, 2007 Share Posted June 21, 2007 I'm feeling really bad! Booked to go to Florida last week, planned for December cos the children don't seem to do much then. I have now realised that I have to take them out of school for 12 days instead of 10 and am feeling really bad about it. I don't agree with taking children out of school, this was the only time in the year that I would feel happy about doing so. Our headteacher is a real old bat too Someone please tell me not to be an old worry wort...it might make me feel a bit better!! Don't feel bad. Take the children out of school and go and enjoy your holiday. The only people it worries are the statisticians. Your children will experience more and learn more in two weeks with you as a family than in two weeks at school. Especially if you are doing Sea Life etc... I feel that the only time it really matters is during exam years. Those who disagree must be in the luxurious position of being able to a) take holidays during the school holidays and/or b) able to afford to go away at these times. I am neither, my OH's work means he is often away during the holidays so we take the children out of school to have a family holiday when this happens. I certainly couldnt afford to take my children to Disneyland Paris during holiday times, but CAN do it in January... just! Get a s"Ooops, word censored!" book and have them keep a diary with photos, tickets etc, if it will assuage your guilt. then they can present it to the class when they get back. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jellyb100 Posted June 21, 2007 Share Posted June 21, 2007 As a teacher, I would rather the children in my class went on holidays in term time than not at all. The problems with attendance at our school are parents who can't seem to be bothered to bring their children in - mondays and fridays off very regularly for example. Obviously missing only one week is better than 2, but hey! Your children may miss performances, parties and crafts, but they will get an amazing holdiay! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Couperman Posted June 21, 2007 Share Posted June 21, 2007 We don't have kids as yet, however I have often thought about taking Couperwife out of school on term time to give the Kids a break. Have a nice holiday. Kev. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AnnieP Posted June 21, 2007 Share Posted June 21, 2007 As a teacher... I wish I could take time out of term time for holidays! I'd like the occasional cheap holiday too! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Couperman Posted June 21, 2007 Share Posted June 21, 2007 If that seemed odd, Couperwife is a teesher Kev Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
beach chick Posted June 21, 2007 Share Posted June 21, 2007 ooh, should just say, mine always WANT to do a holiday diary - special exercise book, write some stuff, stick in the tickets of places you go (even stuff like the metro tickets) etc etc - totally educational and fantastic memory all in one! and when we went to Oslo we brought back their money, which has holes in - what could be better than finding coins with holes coz they used to be buttons???! go for the all-in learning experience I say! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cinnamon Posted June 22, 2007 Share Posted June 22, 2007 We have always taken the children out of school for big trips, but we tend to go for one week over half trem, then they usually only have 4 days of school missed. Quite simply we could not have afforded to go during term time, so it was 4 days missed or no precious holiday for us, & I think holidays are really important - they make you become a family again. Brian (Hubby) works from 6am-6pm, usually 6 days a week, so he needs the break (although he would tell you otherwise). However, this years trip to Kos is out last during term time for a bit. Devon is doing 3 GCSE's early, then the following year her other GCSE's, then it will be Cleo's turn. Therefore they will be in school the entire year for the foreseeable. I have been pricing to go to Zakynthos for 2 weeks next July/August & it will cost us around £3500, as opposed to £2000 during May/June with the children out of school for a week Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AnnieP Posted June 22, 2007 Share Posted June 22, 2007 Good job teachers are paid so well isn't it? Otherwise we'd resent always having to pay those full prices too! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lesley Posted June 22, 2007 Share Posted June 22, 2007 .........but you do get longer to use up all that money you earn I thought all teachers went camping in France for 6 weeks? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gallina Posted June 22, 2007 Share Posted June 22, 2007 (edited) I think whether or not taking children out of school matters depends on how much work they will be missing, and there isn't much at Christmas. As long as they don't mind missing end-of-term events (not being able to be in plays etc.) there won't be any harm. It was different when I was young: it would have been traumatic being taken out of school. We sat in class in primary shool (all 52 of us!) in the strict order that we had come in the previous Friday's end-of-week test (so some people changed their place every week). If you had been ill, you obviously didn't do as well in the weekly test and slipped down some places. (Our school operated on strictly Victorian principles: we even learnt to write with chalk on individual slates.) If the deed is done, there is no point in worrying. Remember D-i-c-k Van Dyck's excuse for taking his bright children out of school to go on adventures in "Chitty Chitty Bang Bang": "It'll give the rest of the kids a chance to catch up!" [edited **** back to D-i-c-k] Edited June 22, 2007 by Guest Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Dogmother Posted June 22, 2007 Share Posted June 22, 2007 Those who disagree must be in the luxurious position of being able to a) take holidays during the school holidays and/or b) able to afford to go away at these times. That certainly doesn't apply to me! I don't have two pennies to rub together and rely on my folks to kindly treat us to a holiday. But my daughter's education comes first and I want to show her a good example, and to understand that time should not be taken off during school term times just because it's possible. Rosie has only had 1 day off sick in the 4 years that she's been at school, and is always on time, which is more than you can say for most of the stragglers that I pass going to school as I am on my way on to work. Can you tell that I feel strongly about this? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cinnamon Posted June 22, 2007 Share Posted June 22, 2007 Speaking from a personal point of view,I think its really important for the 4 of us to spend a couple of weeks together as a family. We haven't been able to afford to do this during school holidays so far, therefore I take them out for 4-5 days a year. This is ALWAYS under the condition that they must catch up when they get back with any class work or homework, but my children are older & have developed a strong sence of responsibility. Devon in particular really wants to get back up to speed on her school work & works her socks off to catch up when she gets home. I am lucky in that my girls are responsible & also bright, so they don't find the catching up hard to do. We will be scrimping & s"Ooops, word censored!"ing to pay for our more expensive school holiday time trip to Zakynthos next year, but we think its worth a few sacrifices on our part to get this precious time as a family again. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bronze Posted June 22, 2007 Share Posted June 22, 2007 I'm torn We won't be able to pay for a holiday at any time of year so don't have to make that decision. On principle I think it's a bad idea taking children out of school to go on holiday. Then I remeber that I have always felt that I learnt so much more off my parents than I ever did at school. Maybe people are expecting too much from their holidays. It didn't used to be every year people jetted off. People used to stay at home and do things. Why not go every other year but in holiday time? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Dogmother Posted June 22, 2007 Share Posted June 22, 2007 Maybe people are expecting too much from their holidays. It didn't used to be every year people jetted off. People used to stay at home and do things. Why not go every other year but in holiday time? I do agree about that point Bron. A friend was moaning recently about the expense and hassle of taking her 3 young children abroad every year; I pointed out that when Rosie was little, we always went on holiday in the UK - mostly at my folks place in Norfok because it is free - she loved it as we always did as youngsters, and still enjoys going there as much as abroad. You can't beat rockpool fishing in Cornwall when you're a smallster. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
beach chick Posted June 22, 2007 Share Posted June 22, 2007 we cant afford to go on holiday this summer, and as we live practically on the beach I feel ridiculous going on a sun 'n sand hol anyway! this feeling wears off when the summer hols weather is not good. last year we went to the beach about 3 times during the entire summer hols coz the weather was vile - but we had a flaming June & July while they were still at school, and it was gorgeous again as soon as they went back. we tend to do city breaks, which I think are educational (well some bits are, you cant stuff too much culture down their throats without a revolt!) and also fit into half terms or a weekend with maybe the Friday afternoon added on. having said that, we do plan to do Florida when we win the lottery, but prob not the Disney side - the Gulf Coast is lovely, as are the Everglades. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tina C Posted June 22, 2007 Share Posted June 22, 2007 I am intrigued as to which Kentish beach you live near - I used to live next to the beach in Tankerton - it was a rented house when I was at Uni. One year the sea came half way up the lawn. I worked in a pub in Whitstable over the summer and used to go swimming in the sea every day. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Dogmother Posted June 22, 2007 Share Posted June 22, 2007 We did a lovely UK break a couple of years ago - Phil and I planned a route around the UK, taking in things that we all wanted to see. I booked us into some cheap farm B&Bs and off we went inthe van. We drove all through Wales, the lakes and peaks, yorkshire and loads of big cities as well as small villages. We had picnic lunches every day and thoroughly enjoyed ourselves. Rosie learned so much and still talks about it now. We plan to do another one in Scotland, perhaps next year when we have more cash. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Olly Posted June 22, 2007 Share Posted June 22, 2007 I don't have kids, and don't have a strong view on the 'term-time' issue .. but Bronze, I do agree about the expectations from holidays now! I'd never been abroad till I was 18; when we did have a holiday (not every year) we rented a house in Suffolk; it can't have been much of a holiday for my mum, who went on cooking, washing etc. in a different kitchen. We did not go to theme parks (there weren't any!) - the highlight would have been hiring a rowing boat on the Mere for an hour or so; we swam in the freezing cold sea, sailed boats, had picnics, and loved it! When we didn't go away, we played in the garden, had picnics there, made 'tents' with a clothes-horse and a blanket; rode our bikes ... we had the occasional day out in London or at the coast. Ok it was the sixties and things are different now, but I don't feel that I missed out at all. Keep your carbon footprint down, stay in the UK and enjoy what there is on offer! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted June 22, 2007 Share Posted June 22, 2007 We have never had a fortnights holiday together as a family We have had a few weekends, days away though and we always take and include the children. This is our family time and we like to enjoy it together This works well for us, I don't think we are a 2 weeks on a beach/pool sort of family I don't agree with taking children out of school, but that is how I have been brought up, I was never allowed a day off Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Dogmother Posted June 22, 2007 Share Posted June 22, 2007 Sounds lovely Olly, we were lucky enough to spend each summer in Norfolk, living a Swallows and Amazons life on the broads, boating, fishing and practising our guiding skills. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
beach chick Posted June 22, 2007 Share Posted June 22, 2007 Tina - I'm in Dymchurch, so a fair way from Whitstable!! I think the thing these days is that people (adults and kids) do expect a lot. one of the reasons I like the long summer holidays is that it lets everyone just flop for a bit, and the kids re-learn the things like mucking about in the garden, riding their bikes, etc etc. not to say they don't do it in termtime, but it is lovely to just have the extra time. my only gripe about going on holiday in the UK is the food - yes you can eat well but its either v. expensive (restaurants), or you've bought/cooked it yourself (not my idea of a holiday). I know things are getting better, but I think we are still in the "chips with everything" era. I always feel desperately sorry for tourists in this country, who are used to going into a little town and finding a nice restaurant, like you do in France/Spain/Italy... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Dogmother Posted June 22, 2007 Share Posted June 22, 2007 Most of the B&Bs that we use will cook you a gorgeous supper (of home produce) for a small extra charge. Try googling 'organic places to stay' for details of fab B&Bs Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tina C Posted June 22, 2007 Share Posted June 22, 2007 Never got that far from Canterbury - didn't drive then. However would like to go to Kent for a weekend - would you recommend your part of the world? I always say that I want Layla to get bored during the holidays - just like we used to. But I mean the flopping thing - its good for them to just do whatever they want and not be rushed or 'scheduled'. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Dogmother Posted June 22, 2007 Share Posted June 22, 2007 I hate the fact that I have to work through the summer, I manage to take at least a week off to spend with Rosie, but we're lucky in that she goes to a fab summer camp the other days - loads of sport and craft activities, and swimming every day. There was a news article recently (you know, one of those ones where they rehash old common sense and call it a breakthough!), where they said that being bored actually makes children more creative and inspired. A truer word was never said! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
