146 replies to this topic

[Jackmypie]

essex_jim, on 04 May 2011 - 01:02 PM, said:

I never missed school days for festivals if that's what you mean.

Maybe, maybe not, school is school though whoever pays for it.  Good point.

In your opinion.  Many would completely disagree.

No, as it's arranged by the school and would sure to have an educational feel to it, unlike Glastonbury.

I wouldn't miss Glastonbury for school even if you paid me £1000

[Kyelo]

Anyone who thinks somebody cannot miss school for a few days has been smoking far too much sh*t tbh. If that student has a decent enough record and has a good work ethic they will lose out on nothing by taking some days off.

I'm only 23, so not that long ago that I was at school and speaking from experience a perfect attendance is NOT needed.

[danbailey80]

I'm a Primary school teacher in London.

Just say you're ill. They have to legally say you are not authorised, but they can't force you to do anything. Next time, don't even ask, as it is not something they can legally justify giving you official time off for. They have a list of particular reasons for absences. Glastonbury is not one.

As for being fined. No they will not. Fining is something the Tories are toying with, but nothing is happening.

You are absolutely right in that they will gain a HUGE amout of education from Glastonbury, particularly if you show the many positive examples of charity, behaviour and empathy shown to each other. Obviously the music, Arts, crafts and theatre are a feast for a developing, inquisitive mind.

Edited by danbailey80, 04 May 2011 - 02:02 PM.

[essex_jim]

BenchBuddah, on 04 May 2011 - 01:35 PM, said:

Anyone who thinks somebody cannot miss school for a few days has been smoking far too much sh*t tbh. If that student has a decent enough record and has a good work ethic they will lose out on nothing by taking some days off.

I'm only 23, so not that long ago that I was at school and speaking from experience a perfect attendance is NOT needed.

Of course by all means miss school, but personally I wouldn’t let my children do it.  Especially not at 15 as it’s in the GCSE years, the most important years.  Sure, when the kids flipping burgers whilst everyone else is heading off to Uni you could be safe in the knowledge they were there for the moment U2 played Glastonbury.  Suppose it depends where your priorities lie.

[Kyelo]

essex_jim, on 04 May 2011 - 02:17 PM, said:

Of course by all means miss school, but personally I wouldn’t let my children do it.  Especially not at 15 as it’s in the GCSE years, the most important years.  Sure, when the kids flipping burgers whilst everyone else is heading off to Uni you could be safe in the knowledge they were there for the moment U2 played Glastonbury.  Suppose it depends where your priorities lie.

In my last 2 years at school my attendance was about 85%, I have 7 highers all B's and A's. Missing a couple of days will make no difference at all if they have worked hard all year. Students are taught to pass exams these days, if you fail because you have missed a couple of days then your wasting your time in education and should go do a more hands on job.

[Aragorn]

lol @ essex_jim

so miss a few school days and you will end up a burger flipper

utter utter bollox I am afraid mate.  If your kids have half an iota of intelligence even in a GCSE year they will more than make up for those 2 days should they have want to do so on their return.

I cannot believe you think they would be missing out on valuable education that somehow could not be caught up on.  If you really think that then perhaps you didn't spend as much time at school as you should have done !    ( that last sentence is said in jest fella )

Edited by Aragorn, 04 May 2011 - 02:28 PM.

[DeanoL]

BenchBuddah, on 04 May 2011 - 01:35 PM, said:

Anyone who thinks somebody cannot miss school for a few days has been smoking far too much sh*t tbh. If that student has a decent enough record and has a good work ethic they will lose out on nothing by taking some days off.

This is true, the thing is you have to understand there are two different perspectives here. For any one kid, missing a few days won't do any damage, but if everyone did that then it'd be a nightmare for the teacher to manage it and work important tests and such around when everyone is running off on holiday.

If the school authorise the absence, they're doing two things: the first is opening the door to pretty much anyone asking for time off for holidays (yes, I know Glasto is more than that to us, but it's not to most people) and secondly they're accepting responsibility for the kid. That's key: with an authorised absence, the school are saying: "it's okay for you to go, and we'll make sure you still get a good education". Yes, that can work with one or two kids, but if you start giving everyone holidays... you get issues.

Making it an unauthorised absence absolves them of responsibility somewhat. While I don't mean to sound harsh, they're covering their arses as if your kid fails his exams at the end of the year they can turn around to you and say "well we told you not to take him out of school". And putting responsibility for catching up with the work on the kid and not giving extra work to the teacher. It's up to you to make sure the kid does catch up, and also to make the choice of: "Will missing these days from school damage my kids performance in exams" - if you are sure it won't, and it probably won't in most cases, then take the unauthorised absence.

But not all parents will be as sensible as all this. Some parents will happily take their kids to Spain for two weeks then moan at the school that they've failed their exams.

For a few days, social services won't get involved, no-one will bat an eyelid, and unless your kid is struggling they should be fine. It just has to be judged in context of other people who'll be asking for various time off here and there to the point that it will cause issues. And if you get permission, said person will use that as an excuse for why they should...

[Jackmypie]

essex_jim, on 04 May 2011 - 02:17 PM, said:

Of course by all means miss school, but personally I wouldn’t let my children do it.  Especially not at 15 as it’s in the GCSE years, the most important years.  Sure, when the kids flipping burgers whilst everyone else is heading off to Uni you could be safe in the knowledge they were there for the moment U2 played Glastonbury.  Suppose it depends where your priorities lie.

Uptight much?

[DrWackadoodle]

chris northwest - It's easier to beg forgiveness than to ask for permission.  The school can't stop you, neither should they 'authorise' the absence ... thin end of the wedge and all that.  Take your kids regardless of what the school says secure in the knowledge that nothing will happen to either them or you and be reassured you’ve got them in a school that takes attendance seriously.

essex_jim -  you been smoking crack or something?  Actually, have you ever been to Glastonbury before?  I suspect from your posts you haven't ... or if you have you've been planted in a camping chair on the pyramid field all weekend.

[essex_jim]

Lol, apologies, was on a wind up throughout..in one of those moods today, think I was out for a bit of revenge on here after everyone mocked my April fools joke about the stones playing a few weeks back...of course missing 4 or 5 days off school makes no difference in the long run.  I hope your kids enjoy Glasto as much as everyone else and also do well at school, no reason why they can’t do both!

[Jackmypie]

essex_jim, on 04 May 2011 - 03:01 PM, said:

Lol, apologies, was on a wind up throughout..in one of those moods today, think I was out for a bit of revenge on here after everyone mocked my April fools joke about the stones playing a few weeks back...of course missing 4 or 5 days off school makes no difference in the long run.  I hope your kids enjoy Glasto as much as everyone else and also do well at school, no reason why they can’t do both!

Do you watch only way is Essex?

[essex_jim]

Jackmypie, on 04 May 2011 - 03:09 PM, said:

Do you watch only way is Essex?

Absolutely, as that’s exactly how we all act round this way.

[fred quimby]

essex_jim, on 04 May 2011 - 03:01 PM, said:

Lol, apologies, was on a wind up throughout..in one of those moods today, think I was out for a bit of revenge on here after everyone mocked my April fools joke about the stones playing a few weeks back...of course missing 4 or 5 days off school makes no difference in the long run.  I hope your kids enjoy Glasto as much as everyone else and also do well at school, no reason why they can’t do both!

[Ed209]

I'd be more pissed at the parents taking their kids for cheap holidays to costa da sol during term time, than the headmaster. In all probability they've used up his school's allowance and he's had to resort to this stance

[formed a band]

if you cant see that school is more important than glasto at that sort of age, be it for just a few days then  perhaps you shouldnt be breeding.

you dont want to take chances with education, and yes glasto is an education of sorts blah blah and other such tedious rhetoric , but there will be festivals a plenty in later life,  nobody suffers from missing festivals til age 16.

besides im not totally 'down' with kids at glastonbury , there is loads for them to do  but its aslo a massive assault on the senses especially after dark and just for those few days dont you just want to totally let go as an adult? no parent can totally let go with their  kids around

add to this i remember being about 21, going wild to some techno in the glade,trying to put myself into a gin and drugs coma, my mind was everywhere it was great,  worn out, i stepped to the side , collapsed to the ground to sup a much earned drink and i find myself eye to eye with some sort of hippy child, bad trip!! i doubt he was keen either

[tonyblair]

essex_jim, on 04 May 2011 - 01:02 PM, said:

No, as it's arranged by the school and would sure to have an educational feel to it, unlike Glastonbury.

depends what you consider educational. I know many school trips that are vaguely educational, but in the main are a few days off school.

Why is Glastonbury not educational? Life is an education and never stops (if you're open minded enough)

[fred quimby]

formed a band, on 04 May 2011 - 03:28 PM, said:

if you cant see that school is more important than glasto at that sort of age, be it for just a few days then  perhaps you shouldnt be breeding.

you dont want to take chances with education, and yes glasto is an education of sorts blah blah and other such tedious rhetoric , but there will be festivals a plenty in later life,  nobody suffers from missing festivals til age 16.

besides im not totally 'down' with kids at glastonbury , there is loads for them to do  but its aslo a massive assault on the senses especially after dark and just for those few days dont you just want to totally let go as an adult? no parent can totally let go with their  kids around

add to this i remember being about 21, going wild to some techno in the glade,trying to put myself into a gin and drugs coma, my mind was everywhere it was great,  worn out, i stepped to the side , collapsed to the ground to sup a much earned drink and i find myself eye to eye with some sort of hippy child, bad trip!! i doubt he was keen either

Post of the week. So wrong in so many ways. Perhaps lay off the drugs a bit more, as you say -you don't want to take chances with your future.

[tonyblair]

formed a band, on 04 May 2011 - 03:28 PM, said:

if you cant see that school is more important than glasto at that sort of age, be it for just a few days then  perhaps you shouldnt be breeding.

no-ones suggesting missing all of school for a lifetime of Glastonbury... it's a few days.. you know, like when a kid has a cold, they catch up

formed a band, on 04 May 2011 - 03:28 PM, said:

you dont want to take chances with education, and yes glasto is an education of sorts blah blah and other such tedious rhetoric , but there will be festivals a plenty in later life,  nobody suffers from missing festivals til age 16.

you'll never have the chance to experience anything at any given age again

why are you advocating finishing school before they take their a-levels if you're so concerned?

formed a band, on 04 May 2011 - 03:28 PM, said:

besides im not totally 'down' with kids at glastonbury , there is loads for them to do  but its aslo a massive assault on the senses especially after dark and just for those few days dont you just want to totally let go as an adult? no parent can totally let go with their  kids around

here's a hint... not everyone is like you (or me) some people are happy to take their kids without getting totally out of control. Is that ok by you?

formed a band, on 04 May 2011 - 03:28 PM, said:

add to this i remember being about 21, going wild to some techno in the glade,trying to put myself into a gin and drugs coma, my mind was everywhere it was great,  worn out, i stepped to the side , collapsed to the ground to sup a much earned drink and i find myself eye to eye with some sort of hippy child, bad trip!! i doubt he was keen either

you want to go to a festival and reach a coma induced state without being bothered by other people?? and you're lecturing others how to live their life?

[formed a band]

drugs?  you do that for the years 19- 24 dont you? the start of uni,  travelling period before you realise 'shit, id best get a decent job!!!'

thsts what i did anyway, and it yielded some dark times, especially at glasto, and especially the sort of thing the children of guardian readers want to winess

for the record im thirty now, I read the guardian, i dont have children , we have cat though, but I wouldnt take him to a festival

[essex_jim]

tonyblair, on 04 May 2011 - 03:39 PM, said:

depends what you consider educational. I know many school trips that are vaguely educational, but in the main are a few days off school.

Why is Glastonbury not educational? Life is an education and never stops (if you're open minded enough)