Term Time Holiday Ban

[ans]

Saving a few quid is always more important that your child's education.

[Lee54]

Saving a few quid is always more important that your child's education.

 

For some families that's possibly true, the low income families that would like the opportunity to take their children away on a foreign holiday may have to sacrifice some school time if they are to afford the trip. But then you have the others that can afford to go on what ever holiday they want, for these families to take children out of school term is wrong unless they are restricted to the time they can get away from their employment or business.

Every case should be looked at separately before any decisions are made and that's where the BOE policy is wrong.

[GD4ELI]

... the low income families that would like the opportunity to take their children away on a foreign holiday ...

 

In my book if you can afford a foreign holiday then you are not on a low income.

 

And education comes first, second and third.

 

Parents who take children out of school for holidays should be offered a free holiday at the Island's new five star 'Rest and Recreation' center at Jurby.

[%age]

Manx Radio - Anne Craine Minister for Education

 

So, is all this the law, a dreamed up policy or what?

 

Anne Craine "hopes parents accept the spirit of the policy" How wishy-washy can you get?

 

Oh, and the 'new approach' has been delayed for 12 months so it can't be all that big a deal can it?

 

From my own experience, it doesn't take much to get behind in your education, well not in my day certainly. Perhaps these days where everyone seems to get more or less top marks regardless, perhaps it really doesn't matter anymore if you miss a week or two here and there.

[GOVAG]

Parents who take children out of school for holidays should be offered a free holiday at the Island's new five star 'Rest and Recreation' center at Jurby.

 

And where is the space going to be found in Jurby? They've only got single rooms and nearly all are full !!!!!

 

Holidays are educational for kids and if the catching up is a big issue the schools are able to give out work.

[Tugger]

Anne Craine is a politician. She will happily throw out a fundamentally sound policy if she doesn't think she can SELL it.

 

The fact is that if you take your kids out of school other than for a good reason (and a cheaper holiday doesn't cut it I'm afraid), you are basically stating that you are prepared to disrupt the entire class for your convenience.

[Skeddan]

Aside from attending religious events in Pakistan, and other red herrings, it seems one of the issues is the extra cost of taking holidays during the very busy school holiday period.

 

Is there any reason why IoM schools could not choose to set their term times so these are staggered rather than coinciding with UK school holidays?

[Tugger]

That's a good idea, in the main. There would still be a spike in demand for transport to and from the island, but it would make any onward journeys that much cheaper.

 

The only issue that springs to mind is for those years sitting public examinations. Presumably everyone nationwide has to sit the same exams on the same day?

[Static]

The only issue that springs to mind is for those years sitting public examinations. Presumably everyone nationwide has to sit the same exams on the same day?

 

Yes, which is why a lot of kids here have exams during practice and TT week.

[La_Dolce_Vita]

Saving a few quid is always more important that your child's education.

 

But how do you see two weeks taken out of the school as having such an important impact?

 

What is SO important about those two weeks?

 

I must say, however, the taking of holidays is a selfish acts in that the reasons why the foreign holidays are taken are because the parents (justifiably) need a break. So the children will probably have a great time, but it isn't in their interests in the sense of spending time with parents.

[ans]

By taking them out you're sending a message to your children that school is optional.

[sarahc]

By taking them out you're sending a message to your children that school is optional.

 

 

And teaching them that anything else they might not be so keen on can be optional too: dentist appointments, exams, getting to work on time, rent, electricity bills, etc.

[VinnieK]

Wait a minute. Electricity bills aren't optional? How about hearings at the magistrate's court?

[Skeddan]

That's a good idea, in the main. There would still be a spike in demand for transport to and from the island, but it would make any onward journeys that much cheaper.

Do all schools in IoM have to have the same term times? Couldn't it be up to individual schools to decide when to have their 'flexi-terms'? Is following UK school terms simply adhering to something which has little benefit other than bureaucratic orderliness?

[col12342001]

... the low income families that would like the opportunity to take their children away on a foreign holiday ...

 

In my book if you can afford a foreign holiday then you are not on a low income.

 

And education comes first, second and third.

 

Parents who take children out of school for holidays should be offered a free holiday at the Island's new five star 'Rest and Recreation' center at Jurby.

Who said anything about it being a foreign holiday?