Jon Platt Term Time Holidays

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.....kids should only be taken out of school under exceptional circumstances. Whether you have kids or not it's in everybody's interest that our youngsters are well educated, adhere to rules and understand the difference between right and wrong.
 

What are the usual school times nowadays? We used to start at 9 and finish at half 3. Not got kids myself so have no idea if its the same sketch.
 
Doesn't make it right though does it when then parents will take children out of education.

They're taking them out of school, lets not pretend that school is the only place you can learn. I mean, lets say for the sake of argument that the holiday is to see some natural/man made wonders? You know, actually experience great things. It's hard to believe that missing a history lesson would be comparable to going to a concentration camp (as an example).

Of course, I'm not suggesting that all holidays are going to be like that, but merely to highlight the fallacy of having blanket rules that fail to take account of context. Learning doesn't just happen in school, and trips to see the world are certainly a good way to expand ones horizons (@chicoazul )
 
.....kids should only be taken out of school under exceptional circumstances. Whether you have kids or not it's in everybody's interest that our youngsters are well educated, adhere to rules and understand the difference between right and wrong.

How do you define exceptional? My nieces are schooled in the place where this Platt fella is from, and the schools literally never go on any trips at all. There's none of the cultural city breaks, or character building trips into nature. This notion that learning only happens at school is incredibly dangerous, if for no other reason than it overlooks the extremely limited amount of time actually in school.

I mean computing is a hot topic at the moment, but one or two hours a week isn't going to give kids the skills to get even an entry level job, let alone compete against those who are putting in 10-20 hours of learning in their own time.

As in my previous post, the problem for me isn't that children are taken away during term-time, it's that some folks don't value learning. There's a huge difference between going away somewhere that will enrich a child vs going to sit on a beach whilst dad gets drunk in the bar, but the chances are that the latter family are going to be just as feckless towards education during term time as they are on holiday.

Fix that and you're sorted imo (and I appreciate that's incredibly difficult to do).
 
They're taking them out of school, lets not pretend that school is the only place you can learn. I mean, lets say for the sake of argument that the holiday is to see some natural/man made wonders? You know, actually experience great things. It's hard to believe that missing a history lesson would be comparable to going to a concentration camp (as an example).

Of course, I'm not suggesting that all holidays are going to be like that, but merely to highlight the fallacy of having blanket rules that fail to take account of context. Learning doesn't just happen in school, and trips to see the world are certainly a good way to expand ones horizons (@chicoazul )

You're right mate if that was the case. The problem is this Jon Platt who was saying the same as you took his child to Disneyland or world if I am not mistaken.
 

How do you define exceptional? My nieces are schooled in the place where this Platt fella is from, and the schools literally never go on any trips at all. There's none of the cultural city breaks, or character building trips into nature. This notion that learning only happens at school is incredibly dangerous, if for no other reason than it overlooks the extremely limited amount of time actually in school.

I mean computing is a hot topic at the moment, but one or two hours a week isn't going to give kids the skills to get even an entry level job, let alone compete against those who are putting in 10-20 hours of learning in their own time.

As in my previous post, the problem for me isn't that children are taken away during term-time, it's that some folks don't value learning. There's a huge difference between going away somewhere that will enrich a child vs going to sit on a beach whilst dad gets drunk in the bar, but the chances are that the latter family are going to be just as feckless towards education during term time as they are on holiday.

Fix that and you're sorted imo (and I appreciate that's incredibly difficult to do).

....it's a tough one, as you say conscientious parents will use the opportunity for a learning experience whereas others won't. For me that's exactly why you need a rule for all that folk adhere to. I suppose it's the way I was brought up and the way I brought my own 2 up. I can't recall an occasion where I took them out of school.
 
You're right mate if that was the case. The problem is this Jon Platt who was saying the same as you took his child to Disneyland or world if I am not mistaken.

This is kind of what I mean though regarding a blanket ban. Who gets to decide? If they went to see the Everglades whilst there, would that make it sufficiently educational? Tricky ground :) I know the schools in his area have been atrocious for a number of years (for whatever reason), so I'm sure you'll get some saying that the schools have failed in their obligations, and families have little recourse to that situation.

It seems though that the holiday isn't the real issue. It seems to be either that it makes catching up hard work for the teacher, and/or shows a lack of interest in the education of their child by the parents. Both of those sit outside the isolated incident of the holiday. Kids can be sick, for instance, which makes catching up hard work, and parents can be feckless yet have a good attendance record at school.

Maybe those are more pressing issues to look at than the holidays themselves?
 
How do you define exceptional? My nieces are schooled in the place where this Platt fella is from, and the schools literally never go on any trips at all. There's none of the cultural city breaks, or character building trips into nature. This notion that learning only happens at school is incredibly dangerous, if for no other reason than it overlooks the extremely limited amount of time actually in school.

I mean computing is a hot topic at the moment, but one or two hours a week isn't going to give kids the skills to get even an entry level job, let alone compete against those who are putting in 10-20 hours of learning in their own time.

As in my previous post, the problem for me isn't that children are taken away during term-time, it's that some folks don't value learning. There's a huge difference between going away somewhere that will enrich a child vs going to sit on a beach whilst dad gets drunk in the bar, but the chances are that the latter family are going to be just as feckless towards education during term time as they are on holiday.

Fix that and you're sorted imo (and I appreciate that's incredibly difficult to do).

Slightly off topic, the lack of field trips, etc is down to the fear of litigation, health and safety etc. The schools aren't willing to take any form of perceived risk whilst the kids are in their custody.

They've cancelled all footy and games on the school field at my lads school due to a branch on a tree, two hundred yards from the field needing to come down !!!.
 
When this little brat gets sacked from his job years down the line because he doesn't appreciate what it means to actually attend the workplace then no doubt his dad will be crying and shaking about the injustice of it all. Ignorant Platt.
 
When this little brat gets sacked from his job years down the line because he doesn't appreciate what it means to actually attend the workplace then no doubt his dad will be crying and shaking about the injustice of it all. Ignorant Platt.
What a load of twaddle.

I'm taking my kids out in term time next month. I really hope that annoys you.
 

Slightly off topic, the lack of field trips, etc is down to the fear of litigation, health and safety etc. The schools aren't willing to take any form of perceived risk whilst the kids are in their custody.

They've cancelled all footy and games on the school field at my lads school due to a branch on a tree, two hundred yards from the field needing to come down !!!.

Aye, quite probably right, and I can only imagine the stress involved in taking a bunch of kids anywhere. Even relatively simple things are usually off the table though. I mean its infinitely easier to book tickets to the Globe for a play during the day, so is taking a day off to see Shakespeare live a derogation of the parents duty? I'd say that's good parenting personally, but I accept the number of days off spent doing things like that is quite possibly in the minority.
 
Aye, quite probably right, and I can only imagine the stress involved in taking a bunch of kids anywhere. Even relatively simple things are usually off the table though. I mean its infinitely easier to book tickets to the Globe for a play during the day, so is taking a day off to see Shakespeare live a derogation of the parents duty? I'd say that's good parenting personally, but I accept the number of days off spent doing things like that is quite possibly in the minority.
Taking your kids to the globe is child cruelty mate. You deserve to have the book thrown at you.
 
Taking your kids to the globe is child cruelty mate. You deserve to have the book thrown at you.

:lol: it was a 400 year anniversary of Shakespeare thing - I'm sure the schools are all over that, but it's completely different actually seeing the plays vs reading them. I don't actually have kids so no abuse done personally.
 

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