http://www.independent.co.uk/news/education/education-news/gove-set-to-ban-family-holidays-in-termtime-7216685.htmlI reckon this will be a much, much hotter topic than Gove realises, simply because of the fact that so many parents who are struggling economically cannot afford to take children away during peak-season school holidays - there will be a backlash from them for sure.
Having said that, and I am on the other side of the political divide than Gove, I must say that I have some real sympathy for what Gove is trying to do here, he is trying to break the truancy culture and is there really a more flagrant form of truancy than buggering off to Spain with your parents for two weeks during term time!!!???
I would be really interested to get peoples views on this one, my own situation is a bit different because I can only take my own holidays at set-times during the year anyway (no, I am not a teacher), but I know many folks on here have taken their kids out during term time for economic or logistical reasons.
Your views?
Comments
For the record i won't take my son out of school for a holiday.
it's a tough one, guy I work with has booked and is taking his 3 kids out of school for a week this summer, he's just been fined £200 per child for the week !
You dont need 2 weeks in the sun every year.
You learn too much both academically and socially in a relative short period of time in school, no probs with the proposals in my eyes.
I took my girls out of school for holidays, because at their ages, I believed it wouldn't hurt, but now my eldest is due to go to secondary school, I wouldn't
And for the record - Michael Gove is an insipid little Tory xxxx!
One point missed is that if little Jordan and Jamie take a week off skiing then another couple in the summer, then a few days here and there to go to Alton Towers, etc - all of a sudden they're missing a month of school. It's not just the effect on them per se but on the rest of class because the teachers then have to spend extra time with those kids making sure they catch up on what they've missed meaning that the rest of the class is put at a disadvantage. Multiply this by half the class and you’ve got a real problem with students not making as much progress as they should be.
Plus everyone gets to have the holiday they want i.e. with other families or without other peoples children being around.
If the school deem them necessary, then why not take them all at once (ideally after a bank holiday). This would allow you to take your child away at an off peak period, whilst schooling disruption is kept to a minimum.
I'm not sure the posters on this thread realise quite the level of disrutpion that is occurring in schools these days. In some schools it has got out of hand - students missing 6 weeks a year (usually with parents who complain the loudest at the end of the year when their levels have dropped and who expect each teacher to provide catch up work tailor made to their special ones.)
If you have chosen to have kids, its fairly obvious school holidays are more expensive. It has always been the case. Simple supply and demand rules apply. Budget for it. No one is stopping you take your kids out for you to save a few quid - its just there needs to be a deterrent to level the playing field so more parents will do the balance of cheaper holiday plus fine vs not missing education.
Equally, I have some sympathy for families who do take term time holidays because of cost. However, I do think it depends on what the 'experience' is going to be as to whether it outweighs the negatives.
It is also very disruptive and time consuming for the teachers who have to ensure that the children complete all missed work and tests etc. on their return. In my opinion, for what it is worth, it is disruptive all round.
Never thought I would until I saw the absolute extortionate rates they charge during the holidays.nearly a 300% mark up!
Wouldn't be surprised if Cameron and his ilk even think the workers deserve a fortnight in the sun.
When they start dealing with the feral scum on the streets and the no good junkie alcoholic workshy maggots, the gypsy children that travel the country not attending any formal education,
Then I will take a fine
Don't buy the 'travel [to Orlando!] broadens the mind' argument (& i bet some schools would turn a blind eye to a genuinely enlightening trip). School trips do that job, and that would also be the way for low income kids to have varied trips. The family holiday - I guess it's camping, caravan or similar - no it's not exotic but it's still a holiday. You can find a way. Of course low income is not much fun, I realise that...
Last year I asked if I could take my 2 children of school age to centre parcs during term time (missing jut 4 days as they were only starting back on the tuesday) and was told categorically no............i did it anyway as the price was double otherwise and any fine (I was told the council could fine me £100) would be worth taking. I don't like doing this but I have very few options due to my family circumstances. Also I will continue to take this stance , especially when the school then decides to take an inset day (teacher training days that used to be called Baker days) on the first day back from a holiday (like today). YTeachers get 12 (TWELVE) weeks holiday a year, compared to most people's 4 or 5. I understand that some of the days they are working, but it is still hell of amount of time off. A lot of parents have to work during school time and so arranging child care is a problem..........to add another day when the teachers have just had a week off is adding insult to injury & so if the school persists in taking this stancei will persist in taking mine.
A close neighbour took her daughter out for a year as was very unhappy at school, again incredibly positive results did not suffer educationally and now at university.
I would not hesitate to take my youngest son who is in year seven away from school during term time if I felt it was best for him as a person and he was gaining greater worldly experience then sat in a classroom.