U
User482
Guest
In a world where the school isn't being asked to judge the merits of absences, or to make up the work missed, absolutely nothing.
Unauthorised absence from school
- Thread starter User
- Start date
Page may contain affiliate links. Please see terms for details.
In a world where the school isn't being asked to judge the merits of absences, or to make up the work missed, absolutely nothing.
Tin Pot
Guru
Good for them.
I'm sure their children's future life failures will be traced back to this specific event, and parents incarcerated accordingly. Justice.
Beebo
Firm and Fruity
- Location
- Hexleybeef
There is an entitlement culture developing were parents seem to think they can withdraw children from school just to go on a cheaper holiday.
If you want to make up the rules then home school your kids. If not then you have to accept the school rules.
If you want to make up the rules then home school your kids. If not then you have to accept the school rules.
Tin Pot
Guru
Yes, an entitlement to raise kids how you see fit.
Where could such a crazy culture come from?
U
User482
Guest
Fine. Home school it is, then.Yes, an entitlement to raise kids how you see fit.
KneesUp
Guru
The Education Act says
"'The parent of every child of compulsory school age shall cause him to receive efficient full time education suitable a) to his age ability and aptitude, and b) any special educational needs he may have, either by attendance at a school or otherwise.'"
If the child is 'being educated' whilst out of school, it is fine, legally. This means, as you say, one can home school full time, but it is also perfectly legal to flexi school, whereby the child is educated sometimes at school and sometimes elsewhere. Unfortunately the government have put up barriers to make flexi effectively impossible to achieve, without actually making it illegal.
Beebo
Firm and Fruity
- Location
- Hexleybeef
But no one who sends their kids to school can raise their kids as they see fit. There are rules that apply to the school day.Yes, an entitlement to raise kids how you see fit.
This is similar to parents that get annoyed when their kid gets detention for the wrong haircut or shoes.
smutchin
Cat 6 Racer
- Location
- The Red Enclave
I had a lot of 'unauthorised absence' from school in my teens. I can see now that I might have been better off turning up occasionally, but I hated the place. (Part of the reason I hated it is linked to the fact that they mostly didn't even notice when I wasn't there.)
With our son, we always supported the school and definitely encouraged attendance - never mind convincing the school he was poorly, he had to convince me and his mum first. We had a few differences of opinion with the school over the years but ultimately none of it really matters - he passed his exams and is off to university next year. Whatever it says on his attendance/discipline record is no longer of any consequence, except perhaps to the LEA, but that's their concern, not ours or his.
My sister has a different attitude and is constantly railing on facebook against the injustice of not being able to afford to take her kids to Disneyland in term time. She also rails against the council introducing parking charges on Poole seafront. She's one of the most entitled people I know. God knows where she got it from cos it certainly wasn't our parents.
With our son, we always supported the school and definitely encouraged attendance - never mind convincing the school he was poorly, he had to convince me and his mum first. We had a few differences of opinion with the school over the years but ultimately none of it really matters - he passed his exams and is off to university next year. Whatever it says on his attendance/discipline record is no longer of any consequence, except perhaps to the LEA, but that's their concern, not ours or his.
My sister has a different attitude and is constantly railing on facebook against the injustice of not being able to afford to take her kids to Disneyland in term time. She also rails against the council introducing parking charges on Poole seafront. She's one of the most entitled people I know. God knows where she got it from cos it certainly wasn't our parents.
smutchin
Cat 6 Racer
- Location
- The Red Enclave
They'll get exactly the same 'educational benefits' from a trip to Disneyland during official school holiday times.
KneesUp
Guru
I note that whilst posters are talking about taking children to Disneyland (as though enjoying childhood is a strange idea) no-one has come up with (or even attempteded) a reasonable objection to Kid A being taken out during term time
A law which cannot distinguish between taking a child out of school when it is detrimental to the child's education and taking a child out to benefit it's education is a bad law, surely?
A law which cannot distinguish between taking a child out of school when it is detrimental to the child's education and taking a child out to benefit it's education is a bad law, surely?
KneesUp
Guru
I'm not defending Disney Land per se I was merely pointing out that it is assumed that 'education' consists entirely or being in school, and that education is all that is needed to produce a functioning member of society, and that I reject those assumptions.
I should also point out that your point is moot if a trip to Disney Land during school holidays is unaffordable to the family.
A couple of year ago I took my 7 year old (at the time) daughter out of school to attend Glastonbury festival. She missed one day of school which was 'bring your favourite toy to school day'. I feel no guilt whatsoever and feel that she learnt a hell of a lot more that weekend than anything she would have learnt at school (she rolls a mean spliff now). My wife is a teacher and fully supported this. I was honest with the Head about what I was doing and said I have no problem with whatever she put down on the official register, I think deep down she approved.
Would I take my kids out of school for a week in Disneyland - No, do I support others in doing so, probably not either. A week experiencing India, maybe. i think this is where it gets tough, what is ok and what is not? It is hard to create a one size fits all rule.
Would I take my kids out of school for a week in Disneyland - No, do I support others in doing so, probably not either. A week experiencing India, maybe. i think this is where it gets tough, what is ok and what is not? It is hard to create a one size fits all rule.
KneesUp
Guru
That's another thing that bugs me - this idea that no time at school can be missed alongside all the days at school where there are activities that are not 'learning' in the 3Rs sense - if the school does sod all academic for a day because it's sports day, or Comic Relief, or because the Tour de France is going past, or because it's Founders Day, or because there is a sponsored fun run or because the class is being rewarded for being good by not having to do work (because that's a great message - it implies school work is punishment) or any of the other myriad reasons they give, that's fine, because it contributes to the child's development. But if the parents want the child to have the Friday off because their Aunt is getting married 400 miles away and the child needs to be at rehersals on the Friday then that isn't contributing to their development, and they have to come in regardless of their attendance previously, their attainment or achievement.
Tin Pot
Guru
No it's not, it's fundamental to a free life in the U.K. I take my family wherever I want in the world whenever I want, we do what ever we want - we *choose* to send out children to school, and we choose when not to.
I also choose to be reasonable and raise my family is a reasonable way, that is healthy for mind and body.
*I don't need the law to compel me to have my children in school at every hour of every school day for nine years.*
This is not violence, it is not theft, it is not speeding a motor vehicle.
The problem with taking your child out of school is that it can damage other children's education. Why should teachers be forced to go over already taught things for the returning holiday makers, therefore missing out on time that could be better spent reinforcing the knowledge of the attending pupils.
It's the standard "me me me" attitude of a small selfish portion of the population.
It's the standard "me me me" attitude of a small selfish portion of the population.
