General Chat

No what Jude?? :-S :-)

No....definately not!!

jude


:-D :-D

I have always thought that the idea that Janet and John's education would be irreparably damaged by missing a week or two of teachers droning on through a boring syllabus absurd. Any reasonable school will agree a time out if there is relevant educational content but not maybe for 10 days at Orlando.

What did you learn in school today,
Dear little boy of mine?
What did you learn in school today,
Dear little boy of mine?
I learned that Washington never told a lie.
I learned that soldiers seldom die.
I learned that everybody's free.
And that's what the teacher said to me.
That's what I learned in school today.
That's what I learned in school.

What did you learn in school today,
Dear little boy of mine?
What did you learn in school today,
Dear little boy of mine?
I learned that policemen are my friends.
I learned that justice never ends.
I learned that murderers die for their crimes.
Even if we make a mistake sometimes.
That's what I learned in school today.
That's what I learned in school.

What did you learn in school today,
Dear little boy of mine?
What did you learn in school today,
Dear little boy of mine?
I learned our government must be strong.
It's always right and never wrong.
Our leaders are the finest men.
And we elect them again and again.
That's what I learned in school today.
That's what I learned in school.

What did you learn in school today,
Dear little boy of mine?
What did you learn in school today,
Dear little boy of mine?
I learned that war is not so bad.
I learned of the great ones we have had.
We fought in Germany and in France.
And some day I might get my chance.
That's what I learned in school today.
That's what I learned in school.

+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

When I think back
On all the crap I learned in high school
It's a wonder
I can think at all
And though my lack of education
Hasn't hurt me none
I can read the writing on the wall

Kodachrome
You give us those nice bright colors
You give us the greens of summers
Makes you think all the world's a sunny day, oh yeah!
I got a Nikon camera
I love to take a photograph
So Mama, don't take my Kodachrome away

If you took all the girls I knew
When I was single
And brought them all together for one night
I know they'd never match
My sweet imagination
And everything looks worse in black and white

Kodachrome
You give us those nice bright colors
You give us the greens of summers
Makes you think all the world's a sunny day, oh yeah!
I got a Nikon camera
I love to take a photograph
So Mama, don't take my Kodachrome away

Mama, don't take my Kodachrome away
Mama, don't take my Kodachrome away
Mama, don't take my Kodachrome away

One person we know takes her children out of Primary school to go on holiday - she is happy to pay the fine as it still works out cheaper! It's completely against our ethos, but what can you say?

The other thing that gets me is the children who have the day off because it's their birthday. Really? We're aren't even talking about young children who might have gone hyper. What would happen if the whole workforce 'pulled a sicky' on theirs?

Interesting to note that according to figures published yesterday, truancy fines rose massively last year and guess what one of the biggest factors was?

Yep! Unauthorised absences due to holidays.

Also interesting that some 40 per cent of parents don't pay the fines.

What a great example for their offspring to learn from!

Before anyone starts banging on with the somewhat hackneyed excuse that holidays are too expensive outside term time maybe they should consider the undeniable fact that they have a responsibility to ensure their children have a decent education and, if they really have no alternative than to take their children out of school, then pay the fine.

If you cannot afford the fine (only a paltry £60) then can you really afford the holiday?

Holidays are NOT more expensive during school holidays. They are cheaper during term time because there is less demand. A big difference.

Exactly as Florence says and in fact, I heard both those statements made today at work.

The first by a five year old to his class teacher, the second by an eight year old, with " I hate you and I am going to kill you one day, you wait." added. as he kicked his SNA and shut himself in the library and started to throw books about.

All anyone bangs on about is the length of the holidays, I would love to see some of those who snipe, have a go in an average classroom for a week, be it Infants, Juniors or Secondary. Good luck to them.

And how about doing it on a teacher's pay.

I have worked in an Infant school for 23 years and Nursery for six years before that, mostly with children with special needs of varying types. EVERYONE works blinking hard and we all deserve each minute of holiday that we get, especially as a lot of that time is spent on school related activities.

M.

When it comes to booking holidays, some people just don't think ahead.

At one time it was customary for Year 11s to be granted 'study leave' from about mid-May only attending school for their GCSE exams. One such student was heard to say that he wouldn't be taking (exam) as he'd be away on holiday. His form tutor rang the parents - they thought that he could take it in the Autumn term. Err....no!

Only last year a Year 11 student went on a week's holiday to NY - during half term one might add. Their flight home was cancelled meaning he wasn't in school for an English Language exam on the Monday. Even if the flight had landed on time, he'd have been jet lagged!

Thankyou Errol and Kitty.
Yes until you.ve worked in a school, you.ve no idea of what goes on really!!

Florence
in the hebrides

Some time ago my daughter worked (as head librarian) in a city comprehensive and told me of the long hours all the teachers worked - many of them stayed in in the evening and/or came in very early to prepare work- and she said those who did that and didn't take work home seemed to be the happiest and probably the best!

Rant away Florence...............I work in a primary school and agree with everything you've said.

Most of the children are a joy, but there are an increasing minority who are rude, aggressive, disruptive and make for an unhappy class.

I had no clue how hard teachers worked and how many hours they put in before and after school, weekends and in the holidays until I worked in that environment.

They are an amazing group of people, all credit to them.

It should most certainly be instilled at home - just like things like basic maths and basic English/spelling.

Florence - succinctly put - I agree with you wholeheartedly!!!

Not a rant in the slightest - you are just telling it how it is rather than the picture too many people want to view through rose tinted specs!

Teachers are there to educate & promote good behavior which in the latter case should already be installed by the parents at home..

Can i just say as someone who works in a primary school and yes I have children of my own that i never took them out of school unless unavoidable, ie doctors app or dentist.

If every parent decided to take their child on holiday during school term, think of the disruption it would cause to the classes. i mean what if the teachers decided to take their holidays during term time? yes we do have inservice days and quite often have to go in and plan ahead. So i dont get extra long holidays at all.

i have recently joined a union after being advised to do so because of the nature of my job. Considering i get less than £9.oo per hour and have many difficult children to deal with, I would not feel guilty about striking if i had too.

As someone else said, if your child was ill or a power cut happens, you have to make sudden alternative arrangements and a strike is not sudden, so you have time to sort childcare in advance. Until my children were 10, i stayed at home to look after them as i believe that was my duty as a mother and a parent. no i wasnt well off either, but having children means being committed and if necessary you have to make sacrifices in order to do the best you can. So if you cant afford a holiday or new car then so be it,prioritse what's important.

I do get cross when i hear parents complaing they cant get abroad or go on a shopping trip because they have 3 children eating up all their earnings as if it is their faults!

As for children's behaviour, dont get me started. The comments and abuse we get is amazing."cant tell me what to do miss", "you are not the boss of me".!!! Unfortunately people don't realise just what staff have to endure on a daily basis compared to 30 or 40 years ago. All the discipline has been taken away from teachers and even sending them out of class or made to stand and face a wall is not allowed for bad behaviour as that can be classed as discrimination, i kid you not.

Sorry having a bit of a rant. But i do get annoyed at people who always say we get too many holidays and are well paid because we do not unless you are a head or principal.

Florence
in the hebrides :-|

I think "joking" about such an emotive issue could possibly show a certain lack of understanding and/or respect.

Tell me, where did you "read" that little nugget?

@Paula+

From what I read of your education system, teachers are there to stop the younger generation from running amok.

It's a great subject for controversy - see my comment re hornets nest. I got you all buzzing more than usual. Apologies to those who took it seriously.

B

My daughter is a PM teacher so wont embark on whats already been put,but well put to those who have been there and done it,!


how does a parent cope when little Johnny wakes up ill,or an emergency arises ,,,,,,phones in work to say"",I cant come in today,"" , little Johnny loses a days schooling,,,,,parent loses a days pay or in leiu, yet a teacher day strike seems to cause mayhem.


Only a hand full in any one school will have children taken out of school during the terms for holiday purposes.------

lolol Rollo!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I think those who bang on so much about it not being fair that teachers strike because they have to find alternative arrangements for Kaylee and Caden (sic and I therefore rest my case! ) are precisely those who believe that education is purely a childminding service and have a total failure when it comes to facing up to their own responsibilities - the responsibilities of parenthood.

I am not referring to anyone in particular and there will be exceptions but those exceptions are most likely the ones that know how to spell "exception" in the first place.

I taught mathematics for a year in Manchester before giving it up in favour of something easier with less stress and a lot more money.

Good luck to the teachers but they won't get anywhere with Gove who thinks he knows all about education having been to one of the worst public schools in the UK.

Gove has the job because (a) nobody else in the Tory party is interested in educating proles and (b) he is quite happy to work his way back to payment by results, "free" schools and pupil teachers etc etc saving Osbourne's budget.

Gove also believes that state education is essentially a mix of a child minding service and crime prevention. Thus he proposes to increase school hours from 8-6pm!

The inevitable result of course is that either firms will move abroad to find skills or immigration will go up even more.

Tony Blair once said ( rightly ) that the main priority of his government would be "education, education, Education". Unfortunately he is useless with word processors and it came out "destruction, destruction, destruction".

:-(

I do wish people would get this notion of teachers having long holidays out of their minds. Just because it is not term time does not mean that teachers are on holiday.

It would appear that some seem to think that teachers should not be afforded the right to strike.

As for the prices of holidays, that is simple supply and demand economics although I do believe it is being looked into. Maybe those that believe it is quite alright to take children out of school in order to get better deals also advocate draconian measures curbing freedom of choice when it comes to holiday companies, hotels and B&Bs setting their prices.

Has anyone ever paused to consider the fact that maybe, just maybe, companies charge more in, for example, the summer because it is erm

um

erm

THE SUMMER !!!!!

lol

I fully support teachers and their right to choose whether to take strike action or not.

Isn’t the purpose of strikes to withdraw labour and cause inconvenience? If no one noticed, it would be pointless!

People may say that teachers have long summer holidays, but in reality they aren’t as long as they might appear. Many teachers have training days either at the end of the summer term or before the autumn one begins. They are responsible for the wall displays in their classrooms if they use one as a base, and have to prepare lesson plans and teaching aids for the forthcoming term. All that comes out of what is perceived by the general public as their holidays.

Going away on holiday isn’t a right, it’s a privilege. With a few exceptions I feel that a child should be given the best possible educational advantage by staying in school when it’s open. Maybe, just may be a few days at the end of the summer term might not do any harm. As for the trip to the Costa’s to broaden their horizons? Well, may be a plane journey but other than that the only additional experience they will have would be a warm climate. Hotels in the main full of English people, and English foods served in the restaurants. That isn’t exposing them to another culture.

With 3 children, we couldn’t afford to take holidays every year and only once took the eldest out of school for a week at the end of the summer term when they were in year 4. After then we decided that their education was more important than going away. Although they moaned at the time, they admitted in their teens that they saw more of the UK via day trips than their peer group who had an annual holiday abroad.