Taking children out of school

[Candy]

If only it was only a few pound's im sure most would go during the hoilday's,but its not, its usually alot more than just a few pound's.


I for one take mine out of school for the simply fact i could not afford the extra £££££'s to take them during school holiday's.If that makes me a bad mother,so be it.

If it makes you a bad mother then that makes me a bad mother also as i was the one who started this thread.I do not think we are bad to take our children on holiday in term time.i just wanted to know how many parents did the same.

 

[Danauk]

I agree that this is a very emotive thread but have to join in. As a junior school teacher I have no problems with my children taking time out for holidays. If a parent chooses to take their child out of school they feel they have a valid reason to do this and it is not my job or my position to comment upon this. I actually hope they have a great time as a family. However in year 6 and in secondary school it can be hard to catch up with work in the spring term, especially up to SATS and exam time in May/June. But if the students are prepared to put extra work in upon their return it should be OK. The only real problem would be if they are missing exams.
I understand that people choose to go on holiday in school time to save money. I would love to be able to go abroad at cheaper times of the year, but simply can not do it. I am sure I would have complaints if I choose to take 2 weeks off school to go abroad (not something I would ever do, but several teachers in my school have partners who are not allowed holiday time in the main school holiday. They have to take their family holiday either at Easter or in October.)
I thought very hard before posting this as I do not wish it to be offensive in any way, I am mearly posting another view.
Have a great day everyone.

 

[Twinks]

Our youngest DD missed the first 4 days back after the Christmas holidays. I would rather she didn't miss any time at all, but we are restricted with DH employment with his holidays. As I stood watching her interacting with the dolphins at Sea World on one the the days she should have been back at school, I did not feel bad at all, this was an educational experience that would stay with her forever.

Twinks

 

[Netty]

Alison..

I have to say that as we own a timeshare and get mostly free flights to Orlando, the price issue does not really affect us..although free flights are harder to get in the holidays. We have to be a lot more organised!!!



if you find it difficult to find free flights in the school holidays, most of us find it difficult paying well over the odds in the school holidays..

 

[lagunn]

netty looks like she had too much time off school any way she cannot spell industries...lol

 

[alisonbestford]

I have to say that as we own a timeshare and get mostly free flights to Orlando, the price issue does not really affect us..although free flights are harder to get in the holidays.

Curiosity has got the better of me now
How do you manage to get mostly free flights? We also have the use of timeshare but have always had to pay normal air fares
Alison

 

[eileds]

I took my kids out of school last year for 9 days which was authorised by school (they are actually allowed 10) if school hadn't authorised it I wouldn't have done it. I agonised for ages over whether to do this or not as I have always disapproved of friends doing it in the past.

My main problem was that I was unable to get a direct flight into Orlando during the Easter period even though I had started looking at flights the July before (admitedly I was only prepared to fly with certain airlines). I didn't fancy the idea of flying to Orlando let alone flying to other parts of USA and sorting out connecting flights.

Also I would not consider holidaying in August. It is just too hot for my DH and kids (now aged 7.6 & 3).

 

[Ware Bears]

We always arrange UK holidays in summer holiday time and are also fitting both our upcoming DLP trips in the school holidays. However, if we had not taken our DD's out of school for the last 4 days of the Spring term when we went to Florida last year,(they were in three different schools at the time and all three willingly authorised it), the holiday bill would have gone up by over £1000, we went the last day before the Easter pricehike. I intend to take them out again when we go back to Florida in 2007, but again I will plan it for the end of the Spring term when all they seem to do is watch videos and they will only miss a few days of school, we will still take the bulk of our holiday in the Easter holidays.

I do not think there is a hard and fast right OR wrong to this. My friend takes her child out of junior school for daytrips to Legoland or Alton Towers. I personally do not agree with this, but her school willingly authorises this, so who am I to criticise.

At the end of the day, I think we all want the best for our children, so what is right for one family would not be right for another.

 

[SammieG]

Curiosity has got the better of me now
How do you manage to get mostly free flights? We also have the use of timeshare but have always had to pay normal air fares
Alison

Hi Alison..
No, its nothing to do with the timeshares! I wish it were.

We get free flights as my husband travels extensively on business..and earns airmiles. Just as well that he does earn BA airmiles as I hardly ever flippin see him!!(am sure he has another family in Canada!)

The plus side is that most of our flights over the last few years have been free. The downside is that I am almost a single parent!

Believe me I would rather have my husband home every night and pay full price for our tickets!!

 

[SammieG]

netty looks like she had too much time off school any way she cant spell industries...lol

well if you are going to be picky.. Can't has an apostrophe in it!!

 

[alisonbestford]

Hi Alison..
No, its nothing to do with the timeshares! I wish it were.

Bother, knew it sounded too good to be true
I try to earn free airmiles on the web, through Eurmiles, and, in 1 year, I'm about a quarter of the way to buying a single ticket to Europe! Don't think I'll hold my breath trying to save for Florida

 

[SammieG]

yes its a hard old slog earning airmiles. DH goes to mexico for 36 hours...or the day after we get back from Florida he is back on a plane to Canada.. (stupid, yes I know!)

 

[alisonbestford]

Maybe, but what you get used to I guess
I just received a Silver Wedding invitation from a DF from school. She was an Army wife for many years, until quite recently actually, and her DH was always away from home. I always said that at least they never got chance to get fed up with each other
Seriously though, I'd find it pretty hard if DH was away so much
Alison

 

[daveyoghurt]

We'll be taking our lad out of school for three weeks in September, I don't feel guilty about it as we're making sure he will be doing the work he's missing prior to the holiday in the six week break. The price issue is a major factor for us, but both myself and my partner work for two large companies and there are holiday allocation issues at work. It'd be great if we could afford to go out of term time and be guarranteed to both get the same dates, but the reality is much different.

We give our holiday a lot of consideration and we're fortunate that our lad is focused at school, if there were any issues with him and his behaviour/attitude then that would be the overriding factor and he wouldn't miss school, end of story. On the flip side, you could also comment on the number of random 'teacher training days' that seem to be dropped on you at the last minute - why can't these be done in the school holidays?

Whilst I accept that taking children out of school is not ideal, how it is managed by the parents is the real factor in whether the child suffers as a result, and until the travel companies realise that school holidays should not be used as an excuse to add on an extra grand to travel packages, taking children out of school will continue to be an attractive option to families.

 

[SammieG]

ah Dave (Great name by the way!) you have now hit on my other favorite topic.. TEACHER TRAINING DAYS!!!! arrghhh!!!

We are fortunate that these happen in the holidays at our school.. but our local school here has 6 weeks off, are back for 2 days then the teachers have a training day! How are working parents supposed to cope with that!?

I have to say, if this happened at our school I would bitterly complain.. its not acceptable imho...

 

[Netty]

the teaching days are set out at the beginning of the school year. they should be on your list of school term dates that your child is given. this thread is about how many parents take their children out of school in term time. this thread is getting too emotional , it all boils down to your own choice in the matter. some do want to take the child out of school and have good reasons why, and some dont for their own good reasons.lets leave it at that and carry on with a friendly forum, as this thread is turning sour....

 

[lagunn]

...................

 

[alisonbestford]

 

[traceycooper]

I took my 10 yr old DD (yr 5 class) out of school for 3 weeks last november.
I checked with the headteacher before i booked to make sure it was ok with him & asked the teacher if there was any 'work' she could take to do on the flights.
Taking children out of school is an individual choice, some are for it some are not. I was worried but the teacher said my DD was doing well at school & when we returned she did a NFL exam & got the 5th highest score in the country!!
We have just booked for October 2006 for 3 weeks (one week being a school holiday) & my DD will be in her second year at secondary school (she starts September this year).
If parents do not want to take children out of school i respect their opinion, the world would be a boring place if we all agreed on the same things!
My opinion is that travel is educational (even in wdw) & real life experience can teach us so much, my DD, DH & myself learnt a great deal on our trip about people, places & countries & count ourselves extremely lucky to be able to travel (as my parents couldnt afford to) we even did the 7 night disney cruise & visited the carribean & US Virgin Islands.

 

[daveyoghurt]

Netty, I don't think this thread is turning sour , I think it's another good example of the whole point of these boards. Taking kids out of school is quite an important issue and there's been some valid points brought up in this thread that may have helped some people make their decision.

Ultimately, it's up to each individual, there's no right or wrong answer.