Kids Away From School

[sir.prize]

Recent news has shown headteachers and union heads say that children should not be deprived of their schooling by taking holidays in school time.

On Wednesday I see the NUT are taking strike action. Maybe they have forgotten their earlier grouse about kids being excluded from school.

[ummmm]

The argument about taking holidays in term time is because the child will be behind when they get back meaning the teacher/s have to spend more time with that one child.

Striking is for 1 day and 'all' the kids will miss the day.

[sir.prize]

ummmm - does that make it ok then?

[ummmm]

No.

Just don't think the two can be compared.

[Gromit]

If a kid goes on holiday the lesson goes on without him/her and they miss the lesson.

If the teachers do not take the lesson because hey are on strike, the child does not miss the lesson because it has not taken place. The lesson can then be taken at a later date.

The same thing happens with training days.

[sir.prize]

Training days! Training for what? Aren't they qualified teachers?

[youngmafbog]

Tough if a child is ill of course!

Not really the same thing as pointed out although it does give out the wrong signals.

[sir.prize]

Does this give out wrong signals too?

NUT wants teachers' classroom hours capped at 20 a week amid claims many hardly see their own children and work late.

[diddlydo]

sir.prize - re your mention of training days for teachers. Would you be happy to be treated by a doctor who had qualified 35 years ago and hadn't done any training since? I think not.

[Tilly2]

Oh, hum.

[rockyracoon]

I don't take my kids out of school during term time but I'm really peeved that the school might have to close because of the poxy Tour De France that will be racing past.

[Tuvok]

Some have to due to parents work.

[ToraToraTora]

Are we attempting to look for common sense with a Union? mmm

[sherrardk]

There are new rules regarding taking kids out of school to go on holidays. Head teachers used to have the authority of granting up to ten days absence (based on individual children). This has now been stopped and there is a £60 fine per child, per parent. Some schools are also using the fine if children are persistently late.

Holiday companies have shamelessly jacked up their holiday time prices this year to take advantage of the situation (all for businesses making a profit but some of the hikes are outrageous and a lot higher than in previous years).

Teachers have the right to strike and so they should.

Training days are used for a wide variety of reasons and the five days used to be part of the teachers' holiday entitlement so the kids aren't missing out on schooling but the teachers have lost five days of their holidays.

[Booldawg]

They also have 5 'inset' days a year; exactly the same amount of days you'd need to take your kid out of school for a weeks holiday in term time.

Why can't these 5 'inset' days be incorporated into the already existing (and lengthy) amount of time they get off school.

Easter Holidays; they are having 2 weeks off and then going back on the Tuesday after Easter Monday. When I was at school both Easter Bank Holidays were incorporated into the 2 week Easter break.

Mixed messages indeed!

[sherrardk]

The five inset days are the teacher training days, they were taken off teachers' holidays. All state school pupils receive 190 days of schooling.

[sherrardk]

Also, Easter is late this year so it it probably not practical to go back the week after Easter Monday as it would make the following half-term too short.

[factor-fiction]

Good answer, sherrardk. Many people misunderstand how inset days are treated. The school year is no shorter - it's the teachers who get 5 fewer holiday days (although i realise that most will have no sympathy!)
The teachers will not be paid for the strike day and many schools will close.
I don't support the strike but I can see why teachers should be allowed to strike.
For those who think teachers have an easy life, I've spent 4 hours (unpaid) today marking work from when I did three days supply cover at a school last week. And I've just spent another hour planning work for the supply teacher who'll be covering tomorrow at that school. Right- I'm now going to plan my own lessons for tomorrow including an after-school revision class.

[jno]

it's clear that a sensible and responsible union - in any sector - would only strike in the middle of the night so that nobody would be affected.

[anneasquith]

we very often hear from teachers about the extra hours they must do at home................why not change professions, or do the generous holidays make it worthwhile ?

[Tilly2]

Well done, sherr. I couldn't be bothered to respond . I am feeling a bit lethargic.
You have made the point well. Thank you. xx