Am I the only one who thinks removing the kids from school to go on hols in wrong?

Nanazolie

hi

I guess the title says it all. I had a heated conversation with my husband and his family about removing the kids from school during the term to avail of cheaper flights. Then my friends all rallied to their opinion, and I have the feeling I'm the only one to think it's wrong.

All, including ourselves, have family abroad so when we fly we go visit the grandparents, not spend a week in a holiday resort in the sun. So I can understand one of my friends' arguments that they don't have any choice, and with 3 kids, it cost them as much as a month's pay. But I don't understand how people can say 'at that age (5), they don't really learn anything'. Or 'in May or June, they're finishe with the curriculum, they do nothing'.

I beg to differ. Every day, my 5 years old come with a new letter, some new thing she has learned. And if the kids do 'nothing' from May onwards, why does the school only ends later?
I also don't feel comfortable with the message it's sending to the kids: that school is not that important, that the teachers work is not to be respected.

May be I'm too old school.

Outkast_IRE

Depends on your financial situation, if funds are tight then its totally understandable in my opinion to take them out early while such a young age.

Also July/august can be seriously hot in holiday destinations.
June weather can be better to manage the kids in.

Mossess

Nanazolie, I totally agree with you. Stick to your guns. Plus they do actually miss out and the teachers do remark on it too. At the end of the day you have to give your kids every opportunity. School is one of them.

pwurple

I agree with you. It isn't a great example for kids. Plus, for a lot of people it's a false economy. If you work during the school holidays, you either need to find someone to mind them, or send them to camp because you are at work yourself. Take that cost off the cost of your flights and there is rarely much difference.

Since when did the foreign holiday become normal anyway? We went on hols in ireland mostly. Or twice ever, ferry to brittany.

Sleepy

It depends on a lot of things imo: have they missed much school during the year down to illness? how are they doing in school? what will you be doing on the holiday (e.g. will they be picking up bits of a new language?) etc.

We do it because we couldn't afford holidays at peak times, our little fella doesn't miss much school through illness, isn't having any problems, I like to pass on my love of learning foreign languages to the kids so they'll be learning at least the basic manners phrases in the language of the country we're visiting "please, thank you, hello, goodbye, etc." and frankly, because there is *way* too much padding in the Irish education system: good students can get bored very quickly when they're being held back by classmates. I worry that the "no child behind" stuff of having all levels in the same classroom furthers this but tbh, haven't researched it so am open to correction on it.

Bigus

Kids of all ages learn an whole lot outside school,

especially when travelling,

so there are positives so long as its not overdone through out the year.

dudara

My mother is a National School teacher (of the Old Skool kind) and she hates this - she feels that it takes a while to get the kids settled back in once they return from holidays, that they disrupt the other kids, plus they miss the coursework from that period.

It's fine on a very exceptional basis, but what is a teacher to do when 2-3 sets of parents all feel that it is OK at the same time?

How Strange

Ok I may eat my words in about 4 years time :P but I think it sets the wrong example. We grew up in a family where you went to school unless you had a limb hanging off. We were only ever allowed miss school for hospital appointments or funerals of a very close family member or if we were sick.

I remember friends being allowed take days off for lots of reasons (going Christmas shopping in Dublin) and it was non negotiable in our home.

I'm now if the same mindset. Education, prioritizing education and leading by example are very important for me as a parent. How could I say it's ok to take a few days off because we'll save some money on a holiday but it's not ok for you to want a day off schoool for another reason.

CrazyRabbit

Is it possible to compromise in some way? Contact the teacher and ask if they could prepare some 'homework' that the kids could do during the holiday. Effectively it would be like homeschooling for that week.

planetX

It's not wrong for me - my son is an only child and every one of his cousins live abroad. It's usually a choice of going during our termtime or not going at all. Besides the pace of education in primary is so painfully slow, he has never missed anything worthwhile.

areyawell

Its perfectly okay! We are in a recession and a week or two off school is not going to hurt anyone in primary school or secondary school. They young lads have 14 years of school so I dont think 2 weeks is going to hurt here and there. If families get flights and only way they can bring there own young ones on holidays is through the school term then nothing wrong with that!

areyawell

How Strange wrote: »

Ok I may eat my words in about 4 years time :P but I think it sets the wrong example. We grew up in a family where you went to school unless you had a limb hanging off. We were only ever allowed miss school for hospital appointments or funerals of a very close family member or if we were sick.

I remember friends being allowed take days off for lots of reasons (going Christmas shopping in Dublin) and it was non negotiable in our home.

I'm now if the same mindset. Education, prioritizing education and leading by example are very important for me as a parent. How could I say it's ok to take a few days off because we'll save some money on a holiday but it's not ok for you to want a day off schoool for another reason.

Dont take school so seriously, really! 14 years of it and where does it get you no-where. Only thing you have to do well in is your final year of college to get 1:1 or 2:1 or 2:2. People who take school so serious is ridiculous. Its like a holiday and the school system is a joke in ireland

doolox

A week or so is not a problem in my mind especially as the holiday companies jack up the prices during the school holidays esp the 6 week english ones.

I now have a 13 yr old daughter in Secondary school who, I feel, was not challenged enough in Primary school but is now finding secondary school challenging but manageable. She gets 80 to 95% in all her tests and is finding it enjoyable. While I would have had problems motivating her to attend primary school I have no problems now as she wants to go every day to secondary school.

I think that teachers, coming from a strongly middle class background with middle class money and values, might take umbrage for people taking holidays at off peak times to save money without realising that poor people have less choice than they have and may not be able to go on holidays at all if they do no avail of the off peak times.

Teachers were used to dealing with less educated people from a position of unchallenged authority and got used of not being contradicted in their views and recommendations of how life is supposed to be but now most people are educated enough to realise the dangers of abuse of school attendance. I would have a problem with , for example, 2 weeks or more in a school year missing for non urgent reasons as there is no way of knowning when an urgent need for absence will arise, but if a child has done near perfect attendance and it is towards the end of the school year, then a week is no harm in my opinion.

Jogathon

CrazyRabbit wrote: »

Is it possible to compromise in some way? Contact the teacher and ask if they could prepare some 'homework' that the kids could do during the holiday. Effectively it would be like homeschooling for that week.

I'm a teacher and I refuse point blank to do this. Why should I do extra work to accommodate you because you choose to holiday when I'm teaching? Total joke and unbelievably cheeky. Also, some concepts are very specific with how they are taught, are you a trained and experienced teacher?

One example of a child that missed one week of school, directly before the mid-term break one year - she missed learning long multiplication in 4th class, I worked so hard with her when she returned but she struggled and struggled with the concept as she had missed all the building blocks leading up to actually doing the sum. This child was so upset and it all could have been avoided. The parents were in, asking how could they help her, etc etc. This is a child who was very/exceptionally bright so to all the above posters who believe that their bright child is bored in school, I disagree. They might say they are at home but observing daily how hard they work in school means that I know better!!

So, in short, every week in school is important and a child absolutely should not miss school unless very sick.

hungergamer

I think its a bit rich suggesting teachers prepare work for the child going away. Teachers work in a school and teach the children in front of them, they shouldnt have to 'teach' children who's parents have decided to take them out of school and on holidays. Also parents then expect teacher to catch up their child when they come back. The school calendar is available up to two years in advance, so book your holiday during holidays not term time!

Charl0tte

Jogathon wrote: »

I'm a teacher and I refuse point blank to do this. Why should I do extra work to accommodate you because you choose to holiday when I'm teaching? Total joke and unbelievably cheeky. Also, some concepts are very specific with how they are taught, are you a trained and experienced teacher?

One example of a child that missed one week of school, directly before the mid-term break one year - she missed learning long multiplication in 4th class, I worked so hard with her when she returned but she struggled and struggled with the concept as she had missed all the building blocks leading up to actually doing the sum. This child was so upset and it all could have been avoided. The parents were in, asking how could they help her, etc etc. This is a child who was very/exceptionally bright so to all the above posters who believe that their bright child is bored in school, I disagree. They might say they are at home but observing daily how hard they work in school means that I know better!!

So, in short, every week in school is important and a child absolutely should not miss school unless very sick.

You wouldn't be just doing it for her, you'd be doing it for one of your students. I find your attitude very aggressive.

The teachers teaching my children generally have their curriculum pre-planned. I know this because I was concerned about my children missing out on work in the past. I'd never take my children out of school willy nilly, and their teachers have been most helpful.

The way I see it is, you're only seeing how taxing it would be on yourself. The original poster said that it was not a holiday resort they were going to, but to see family when they can't afford it while the school are on breaks. Perhaps it's down to the individual teacher, but I've been fortunate so far in getting support from my childrens teachers. The idea of a mother being concerned for her childrens education being called "cheeky" is rather strange.

MrTsSnickers

Charl0tte wrote: »

You wouldn't be just doing it for her, you'd be doing it for one of your students. I find your attitude very aggressive.

It's not aggressive, it's practical. Who'd have to go through all the concepts when the child comes back from hiatus?

Charl0tte wrote: »

The teachers teaching my children generally have their curriculum pre-planned. I know this because I was concerned about my children missing out on work in the past. I'd never take my children out of school willy nilly, and their teachers have been most helpful.

So the teachers teaching your kids don't mind. Great. Maybe some teachers don 't want to? They're not there to fit in with your schedule. Now it is different, if someone is not just going on holidays, but to see family or something actually important rather than a cheap week in the algarve. If it's a holiday, it's the parents problem to sort the schooling out if their kids are missing school. They should speak to both the teacher and principle as soon as they know and I'm sure that most teachers would point the parent in the right direction or maybe advise the parents to wait for x amount of time as they're covering something particularly complex in class over that time.

Charl0tte wrote: »

The idea of a mother being concerned for her childrens education being called "cheeky" is rather strange.

If the mother was that concerned surely they wouldn't take the child out of school during term for something as trivial as a holiday?

Jogathon

Charl0tte wrote: »

You wouldn't be just doing it for her, you'd be doing it for one of your students. I find your attitude very aggressive.

The teachers teaching my children generally have their curriculum pre-planned. I know this because I was concerned about my children missing out on work in the past. I'd never take my children out of school willy nilly, and their teachers have been most helpful.

The way I see it is, you're only seeing how taxing it would be on yourself. The original poster said that it was not a holiday resort they were going to, but to see family when they can't afford it while the school are on breaks. Perhaps it's down to the individual teacher, but I've been fortunate so far in getting support from my childrens teachers. The idea of a mother being concerned for her childrens education being called "cheeky" is rather strange.

"I worked so hard with her when she returned but she struggled and struggled with the concept as she had missed all the building blocks leading up to actually doing the sum."

Quote from my original post... I think Charlotte, that you are only seeing what you want to see. I would never let a child suffer because their parents are not concerned with their child's education, as is obvious when they choose to holiday rather than attend school.

I have no problem with children missing school due to illness and would gladly send certain easy, non-technical, work home then if they were able to do it.

Sunny Dayz

We took our son out of primary school (2nd class) for the second week in September just past. He was back a week and half so was just settled in. I was nervous clearing it with school principal but she said it was no bother! He has great attendence otherwise. When he was back he caught up on the work in a couple of days. At that time of the year, they are only getting started into the coursework.
Was a once off, it was our first ever family sun holiday due to winning a few yoyo's in a draw and getting a last minute deal. However, if you were doing that every year, I can imagine the school would kick up.

byhookorbycrook

If five or six kids do this -and it does happen, it can totally disrupt the months of May and June. Kids miss the standardised tests, sports day, school tours as well as revision of the year's work.

When we were kids, our parents couldn't bring us on holidays because we didn't have that money. Since when did a week in Lanzarote become compulsory?:p

It is often the parents who take kids out at the drop of a hat that will complain about a snow day or teachers on a course etc.

CrazyRabbit

Jogathon wrote: »

I'm a teacher and I refuse point blank to do this. Why should I do extra work to accommodate you because you choose to holiday when I'm teaching? Total joke and unbelievably cheeky. Also, some concepts are very specific with how they are taught, are you a trained and experienced teacher?

One example of a child that missed one week of school, directly before the mid-term break one year - she missed learning long multiplication in 4th class, I worked so hard with her when she returned but she struggled and struggled with the concept as she had missed all the building blocks leading up to actually doing the sum. This child was so upset and it all could have been avoided. The parents were in, asking how could they help her, etc etc. This is a child who was very/exceptionally bright so to all the above posters who believe that their bright child is bored in school, I disagree. They might say they are at home but observing daily how hard they work in school means that I know better!!

So, in short, every week in school is important and a child absolutely should not miss school unless very sick.

It was just a suggestion...

Better the child has some schoolwork to do while away rather than none, if indeed the parents do indeed decide to go on holiday during the school term. As for the extra work for the teacher, well that's up to each teacher to decide. Of course they have every right to say no.

tacofries

Nanazolie wrote: »

hi


I beg to differ. Every day, my 5 years old come with a new letter, some new thing she has learned. And if the kids do 'nothing' from May onwards, why does the school only ends later?

I missed over 20 days of school at least every year, through going on holiday or long weekends with the family.Sometimes my mam would randomly turn up at my school and take me out on an unofficial halfday as a surprise.. Did i miss anything? No, I got 515 in my leaving cert.

Did i get anything from the holidays? Yes, lots of memories that will last forever. Your sayin that when your child misses a day of school she is missin out on learning! Well when i was out for a day I learned the most important things, things like how to live my life!

tacofries

byhookorbycrook wrote: »

If five or six kids do this -and it does happen, it can totally disrupt the months of May and June. Kids miss the standardised tests, sports day, school tours as well as revision of the year's work.

When we were kids, our parents couldn't bring us on holidays because we didn't have that money. Since when did a week in Lanzarote become compulsory?:p

Since when did sports day, school tours or end of year revision become compulsory either?!

pwurple

tacofries wrote: »

I missed over 20 days of school at least every year, through going on holiday or long weekends with the family.Sometimes my mam would randomly turn up at my school and take me out on an unofficial halfday as a surprise.. Did i miss anything? No, I got 515 in my leaving cert.

Did i get anything from the holidays? Yes, lots of memories that will last forever. Your sayin that when your child misses a day of school she is missin out on learning! Well when i was out for a day I learned the most important things, things like how to live my life!

I know right, the children who have 9 weeks off in the summer, plus easter, christmas and mid-terms, must have no idea how to live their life, versus those who take that extra one on top of it. :rolleyes:

And it seems fairly unlikely to me that someone with 515 points in the LC would have the grammar and punctuation of that post, so I won't be believing that one in a hurry either.

I guess if a parent doesn't value an education highly in the first place, then nothing will change their priorities. We all have different values.

pwurple

tacofries wrote: »

Since when did sports day, school tours or end of year revision become compulsory either?!

1922

Side Show Bob

dudara wrote: »

My mother is a National School teacher (of the Old Skool kind) and she hates this - she feels that it takes a while to get the kids settled back in once they return from holidays, that they disrupt the other kids, plus they miss the coursework from that period.

It's fine on a very exceptional basis, but what is a teacher to do when 2-3 sets of parents all feel that it is OK at the same time?

So the settle back time out weighs the time that the parents spend doing overtime at work for maybe up to 6 months or more to pay for over priced high season flights?

Kids who are not in exams an year will learn more on a holiday (adventure) than they ever will in just one lost week at school,

Stark

Depends on how the kid is doing at school I suppose. Never bothered me being taken out of school for a week as I was easily able to catch up and just meant being slightly less bored for a week or two after I came back. If the kid was struggling a bit in class, then it would be fairly irresponsible to take them out of school.

dahamsta

The OP's child/example is 5 for feck's sake. There's no revision or tests, no multiplication, and there's as much a chance of disruption from a dog outside the window as there is from What I Did On My Holiday.

OP, your child will have enough to worry about later on, let it have some fun while it still can. If you feel the need to worry about something, find something /important/.

And let other people worry about their own kids. Mind your business.

Ickle Magoo

We try not to take them out of school in term-time but since my family are in another country, there are always the odd family occasions/weddings/funerals that we go to which means a day off here and there.

We're lucky in that the kids go to a school where a not insignificant number of the pupil population have at least one non-irish parent and while it's certainly not advocated, they acknowledge that those kind of ever more common non-parochial family dynamics can mean the odd school day is missed and are very supportive/helpful/understanding in terms of syllabus to be covered/work to do while away/to catch up on return. :cool:

Nanazolie

CrazyRabbit wrote: »

Is it possible to compromise in some way? Contact the teacher and ask if they could prepare some 'homework' that the kids could do during the holiday. Effectively it would be like homeschooling for that week.

The argument happened because my brother in law is getting married next year, mid-may. When I said that because it is during school time, we would travel on the Friday, back on the Monday, and I would explain to the teacher that it is my husband's only brother so we cannot miss it. My mother in law and my husband wanted us to stay the whole week, I said no way.
I'll ask the teacher for extra homeworks, but to be honest, there is a reason why he is a teacher and I am not: I have the patience of a mosquito and homeworks are always a struggle (for me!).

Nanazolie

dahamsta wrote: »

The OP's child/example is 5 for feck's sake. There's no revision or tests, no multiplication, and there's as much a chance of disruption from a dog outside the window as there is from What I Did On My Holiday.

OP, your child will have enough to worry about later on, let it have some fun while it still can. If you feel the need to worry about something, find something /important/.

And let other people worry about their own kids. Mind your business.

Are you always so aggressive? There is no need to, I was asking a simple question because I found that whenever I was talking to my friends, I was alone in thinking that it wasn't a good thing for the child. If the child is 5 and learns nothing, why bother sending her to school then?

pickarooney

It shouldn't really be an issue at 5 years old. It's far more important that they get to see their family than anything they would learn in school in that short time frame. It's all stuff you can easily teach them yourself in any case. If there is anything they need to learn in September, find out beforehand and teach them in August instead.

deisemum

My lads are in secondary school and I've tried to avoid taking them out of school for holidays in term time over the years but when I did on a few occasions I took the last week in June where they might have missed 1 - 3 days and I took them out for one week one side of a half term to have a foreign holiday and the odd time if they had a Thursday or Tuesday off I took them out for the Friday or Monday and went on a short break.

Some families don't have much option but to take their children out of school if they've got family abroad and some parents workplaces do not allow holidays during the school holidays.

As a parent when you see a teacher take her own children out of school in term time to go on a holiday which has happened by one teacher in my childrens primary school on more than one occasion then how can a school turn around to parents and discourage parents doing the same.

ScouseMouse

I agree its not idea, but perhaps a necessary evil.

Last year we went to Orlando and to go the day after my nine year old was finished, it cost €3999.

I asked how much it would be to go a month earlier. It was €2999.

We went for two weeks but because of a bank holiday and two weeks turned into 9 days.

I agree its not ideal, but that is nothing to be sniffed at. PLUS, as she is only nine, she missed very little.

gbee

Far too much emphases is put on school, they are like a whole other dictatorship, had my own battles with them in my time.

And at the micro slow rate that school moves, I dare say that a child could miss and entire year and not actually miss anything, let alone a couple of weeks for a holiday, especially if such holiday afforded the therapeutic and medical benefits of a better climate than our infamous summer.

I always put my children first.

Charl0tte

gbee wrote: »

Far too much emphases is put on school, they are like a whole other dictatorship, had my own battles with them in my time.

And at the micro slow rate that school moves, I dare say that a child could miss and entire year and not actually miss anything, let alone a couple of weeks for a holiday, especially if such holiday afforded the therapeutic and medical benefits of a better climate than our infamous summer.

I always put my children first.

That has to be one of the most ridiculous comments I've ever heard.

dahamsta

Nanazolie wrote: »

If the child is 5 and learns nothing, why bother sending her to school then?

You're the person that keeps saying that; there's no mention of "learning nothing" in my post.

It's not a binary equation, a day out of school is different to a month; it becomes more of an issue as they get older, and quality of parenting and teaching is also a factor. Even social circumstance has a part to play, since a family that can afford grinds is in a better position than a family that can't.

All that being said, a 5 year old? If a 5 year old - or their class - is being affected by a week or two away from school, then there's bigger problems to worry about.

Charl0tte

dahamsta wrote:

All that being said, a 5 year old? If a 5 year old - or their class - is being affected by a week or two away from school, then there's bigger problems to worry about.

At that age my children were sent home with spellings and tables, reading and writing. Pretty much everything they came home with was new to them. Thats a week or two's worth of work you've more or less said was pointless to both teacher and pupil here.

Nanazolie

dahamsta wrote: »

You're the person that keeps saying that; there's no mention of "learning nothing" in my post.

It's not a binary equation, a day out of school is different to a month; it becomes more of an issue as they get older, and quality of parenting and teaching is also a factor. Even social circumstance has a part to play, since a family that can afford grinds is in a better position than a family that can't.

All that being said, a 5 year old? If a 5 year old - or their class - is being affected by a week or two away from school, then there's bigger problems to worry about.

Saying it this way makes more sense. I understand your point better now

Mossess

My little fellow is 5. Loves school. Yesterday’s word was HE. He will have a new word today, and tomorrow. Every day is important on many different levels. Education is the one gift that all parents in this country can/should be able to give their children. It doesn’t matter where you live, what your parents do or who you know, every child has the same right to an education. And with that Education they can go on to do whatever they decide and once they have it, it can never be taken away from them.

Rasmus

I think it is ok if is an exception, rather than the rule. I don't think it is a good idea for annual (or even bi-annual!) family holidays. Kids miss out on end of term fun and play-date planning, not just school work. Once in a blue moon will not affect the child though - and I would not cancel a special trip or family event (for example, if you have overseas relatives waiting etc) on account of school term.

Sleepy

How much effort do people think is involved in covering a weeks' classroom learning in a one-on-one environment?

A 5 year old spends what, 9am to 1pm in school? Including an hour or so of breaks and playtime a day, most likely an hour or two of worthless religious indoctrination a week, an hour of PE, Art & Crafts, Story Time etc. Would be interested to hear a teacher's viewpoint on it but I'm guessing there's maybe, what, 8-10 hours of actual education going on in a junior/senior infants class per week?

Definitely not a blanket bad thing, but something to be avoided if possible. I was taken on a holiday during school, and I think my visit to Kennedy Space Center is a far bigger influence on my career path (engineer) than whatever I would have learned in the two weeks of primary school I missed.

To this day I want to go back and successfully land the shuttle sim

eviltwin

I've done it a few times. The most she has ever missed in one trip is 2 or 3 days and its never been a problem. I wouldn't do it at the start of a new year or in an exam year but other than that I would do it. Kids can learn a lot by travelling too. I don't see any evidence that it has been detrimental to her school work. She got her JC results this year and did really well so I am happy but I agree it depends on the child.

IvyTheTerrible

It's not something I'd want to get into the habit of. I remember myself how hard it was for me to catch up in Maths, for example, if I was a few days off sick. And I'm good at maths.

And I think the suggestion of asking the teachers to prepare work for the child missing school is a bit rich!

pwurple

Sleepy wrote: »

How much effort do people think is involved in covering a weeks' classroom learning in a one-on-one environment?

A 5 year old spends what, 9am to 1pm in school? Including an hour or so of breaks and playtime a day, most likely an hour or two of worthless religious indoctrination a week, an hour of PE, Art & Crafts, Story Time etc. Would be interested to hear a teacher's viewpoint on it but I'm guessing there's maybe, what, 8-10 hours of actual education going on in a junior/senior infants class per week?

Thank feck I'm not a teacher. What other job is held to account like this? I was a classroom assistant a few times when I was younger on my college hols, in junior and senior infants. The workload is massive. Class sessions are 15 minutes long. And how can you dismiss arts and crafts and all the rest so easily? The skills they learn in arts and crafts help with their dexterity, how they hold a crayon teaches them how to hold a pen and write. The more you practice that grip, the better you get, and the easier it is to write. Not to mention increasing their concentration. Storytelling teaches them creativity, increases their vocabulary and encourages group cooperation. Religion teaches them moral values, social context to things going on in their lives like Santa and easter eggs and yet more vocabulary... PE for teamwork, physical skills...I can go on and on, but I'm sure you get the point. It is ALL education. Even the breaks, where they learn to eat and behave in a social setting, and clean up after themselves.

Very naive to think those things are for distraction or babysitting purposes.

Tipsygypsy

I've been in that position. When my eldest was young I was adamant that he wouldn't miss school unless it was absolutely necessary, my husband (and his family) see it as no problem to miss a week here or there. Over the years I've relaxed a bit about it, I don't mind a day or two here or there for exceptional circumstances - weddings away, special trips etc, especially if the trip wouldn't be affordable otherwise (dearest flights always at weekend). Mine are only in primary school yet, but they do get so much from EVERY day, things that we don't realise they are learning, what you see coming home as homework is such a tiny fraction of what is covered during the day.

While I do think a week is too much we have done a full week when the opportunity of a cheap skitrip came up -and to be fair it was a fantastic experience for them, and it was a learning experience in its own right - and our FANTASTIC teachers were more than willing to send coursework and homework to keep the boys up to speed, the school had no problem with it all. I would try to avoid doing it again in the future if at all possible, but that said, if you offered me an all expenses paid trip to the alps that could only be taken during school term we'd be gone.


All that said, I'm not the only parent, and my husbands views are as valid as mine, trying to strike a balance on issues like this isn't easy. But what I would say is that it is between you and your partner, the in-laws need to respect whatever decision YOU BOTH come to.

Penny Dreadful

areyawell wrote: »

Dont take school so seriously, really! 14 years of it and where does it get you no-where. Only thing you have to do well in is your final year of college to get 1:1 or 2:1 or 2:2. People who take school so serious is ridiculous. Its like a holiday and the school system is a joke in ireland

School is serious, it is important and it does get you places. Try not going at all and see how far from nowhere you get.

planetX

Quite often I've found our primary school schedules holidays like mid-terms so they don't co-incide with uk schools. Which is great for people going on real holidays, but no good for those of us who need to see family over there. I have no problem taking my son out of school so he can see his family. If I didn't you could be sure that would be the week they would be in the church every day wasting everyone's time.

CelticRambler

It very much depends on whether the time off is for "holiday" or the "travel". Taking a child out of school just to sit on a beach and build sand-castles is of dubious value, but taking them to visit far-away family or to actively explore foreign places - yes, even at the age of five - is worth at least half a dozen letters of the alphabet.

In a previous life, my busiest time at work was the school holidays, all of them. Being self-employed, that was my only "holiday pay" so we regularly took our children out of school. This was in the UK and it was a major hassle, every day having to be approved by the board of governers, but (a) worth it for our family's quality of life, and (b) worth it for the children's education, not least because they all returned from trips proud of the fact that they could "speak" German/French/Italian. Maybe only three words then, but it gave them a taste for communicating in foreign languages that they've developed since.

As for "missing out" - well, as one enlightened head teacher remarked when I raised this matter when our two eldest were in secondary school, there are many children who have to miss great chunks of school time due to illness and other "legitimate" reasons. It's the school's job to accept that their pupils lead many different kinds of lives and respond accordingly.

tacofries

pwurple wrote: »

I know right, the children who have 9 weeks off in the summer, plus easter, christmas and mid-terms, must have no idea how to live their life, versus those who take that extra one on top of it. :rolleyes:

And it seems fairly unlikely to me that someone with 515 points in the LC would have the grammar and punctuation of that post, so I won't be believing that one in a hurry either.

I guess if a parent doesn't value an education highly in the first place, then nothing will change their priorities. We all have different values.

Takin the usual holidays off does not teach them how to live their life. Learning that you don't have to be forced into things (like school) and miss out on happy occassions because of it, does. You learn to do what makes you happy :rolleyes:



Also misses "unlikely" :rolleyes: , do you realise that you do a minimum of 6 subjects in the leaving cert, and that of those six subjects, in only 1 does punctuation count for a significant amount of marks (10 %). Thus, punctuation works out to be worth 10points out of a possible 625. Going by that, how can you justify sayin that it is "very unlikely" that I got 515points in my leaving cert due to the standard of punctuation in my previous post!? :rolleyes:

I suppose its been so long since you did your leavin cert that you forgot how the system works?? :rolleyes:

P.s. see. We can both use :rolleyes: to be condescending :rolleyes: