School truancy

[anotheoldgit]

It never fails to amaze me when I go into town or into a supermarket, how many children of school age there are shopping with their parents, during school hours.

We are always being told that although the Goverment keep pumping in vast amounts of our money into education, some children are still leaving school with an unacceptable standard of education.

In my school days, if a child was absent from school, without a valid reason, an official was sent to the child's home, to enquire the reason for the absence. This official was called the School Bobby, this seemed to work then, why could it not work now?

[Reverandfunk]

Oldgit my ex had a daughter who at 14 had the reading ability of an 8 year old and her mates were the same. Couldn't spell, punctuate etc etc. The best happened when were on holiday, went in a bar for lunch and I asked her what the time was, her and her mate couldn't tell the time off the clock I kid you not.

If we approached kids not at school surely we would be encroaching on their human rights....oh dear.

[rabbitygirl]

Oooh yes anotheoldgit I remember the school board man - tho thankfully not at my house cause I was a good girl!! He was a great big fella on a motorbike. I too have noticed how many schoolkids are in the shops when they shouldn't be. I remember too that if you were off ill (real or faked) in my day (our day?) the golden rule was you stayed indoors. They dont care now but I'm sure in some areas the authorities are out challenging them.

[baremission]

some of them might be on study leave around this time of year. you get it from year 10 onwards.

[Buenchico]

The 'school bobby' still exists but under a different name. (It was 'educational welfare officer' when I was teaching but they've probably changed the name again by now).

In many areas, education staff carry out patrols of areas such as shopping centres, to try to identify truants. (They always work alongside the police so that there can be no worries about 'adults approaching children'). Local education authorities are also getting much tougher about taking court action against the parents of truanting youngsters.

However, there can only be limited success where the parents don't support schools. I remember the situation where, in the school I taught at, the head of year phoned the mother of an absent 13-year-old to ask why he wasn't at school. The reply he got was very abrupt. The parent made it extremely clear that she detested this 'victimization'. She stated that her son was unwell and unable to get out of bed. She took strong exception that my colleague might even be suggesting anything to the contrary.

Later the same morning, that mother took a short cut to the shops, through the school grounds. She was accompanied by her 'sick' son and the couple stopped right outside the head of year's classroom, so that she could light her son's cigarette for him!

Chris

[cameo]

I've lost count of the times my daughters have told me about their friends having a day of school to go shopping, with their mums, as it's their birthday!
How absolutely ridiculous. Take them at the weekend.
What are we teaching our kids - that they don't need to 'work' on their birthday?

[Chrizzy]

These kids do not care whether or not they get a decent education, but we must remember that it is only a very small number. How sad that the parents had them in the first place when they didn't really want the responsibility of looking after them properly. Regarding the time issue, my granddaughter is a very clever girl academically but can only tell the time by a digital clock/watch. Just shows that technology is not always a good thing, but when she needs to know the time while out she looks at her mobile phone!!!

[anotheoldgit]

I am very suprised Chrizzy that nobody took the time (excuse the pun) to teach your Grandaughter how to tell the time. For a very small cost one can buy a cardboard clock, and start teaching a child how to read the time from a very early age, even before they are old enough to possess a mobile phone.

[aims1202]

I know this is a very old one but had to say something. These children might be Home Educated? My children are and they come shopping with me, its part of their education. Its amazing how much they learn from it when you let them write the list and work out the money or how much you can save on things etc There are a lot more Home Educated children in the country than most people would think, we have a large community in and around our area and loads of activities and events in which we all socialise on a regular basis. This is the same across the country. You point out that many children leave school with practically no education, i agree, this is one of the reasons i took my son out of school, so he could get a better education! Home Education is legal and anyone can do it!