issues with school

[chris northwest]

Not all parents are luck enough to be able to take time off in school holidays, i for one work in catering so get very little time off in any school hol's so Glastonbury for us is like a holiday, most schools now have a maximum of 2 weeks off during term times and no holidays in exam times at all, fortunately the primary headmistress comes in to the restaurant where i work so knows of my holiday predicament

http://www.direct.gov.uk/en/Parents/Schoolslearninganddevelopment/SchoolLife/DG_4016103

[jimmyk83]

in my humble opinion glastonbury is as child friendly as it could be but ultimately its also fraught with unavoidable madness

[coma girl]

I agree with others who said that some parents don't have a choice. When I was a kid my folks ran their own business which was busiest during the holidays so there was no way we could go anywhere. Luckily we had an understanding head teacher who was happy for us to take time off as long as our attendance was good otherwise and we kept up to date with work. I've just finished uni, one of my siblings is at uni and the youngest is about to begin so looks our folks' 'bad parenting' didn't harm our education.

Considering some of the horrible suffering inflicted on some poor kids it seems grossly unfair to accuse the OP of bad/irresponsible parenting for wanting to take their kids on a family holiday and expose them to some culture. Good luck to you!

[DeanoL]

this is the kind of thing I was 'hinting' at earlier. Is a ski-ing trip that educational?

[Yoghurt on a Stick]

I think you have to go for it Chris and give you and your kids the Glasto experience. Nowhere else has it, so you'll not be able to get it at another festival at another time. Whatever happens they'll not shoot you for making the decision to go, and your kids will thanks you and have fond memories forever of their Glasto days.

Personally I left a funeral early to get to a Glasto. A bit harsh, and unusual arriving at Glasto in mourning suit and tie, but they'll be others dealing with all sorts of mayhem in order to get there.

Have fun.

[duggie20]

Just to upset the anti no time off in school term time a little bit more we are going to Download Festival on the 8th of May for 5 days then Glastonbury on the Tuesday morning as we have a camper ticket so they will have 9 days off in 3 weeks. So in years to come when they are as thick as two short planks and have trouble writing their name and out robbing corner shops i will only have myself to blame.

[duggie20]

The difference of course, is that if all kids go on the ski trip at the same time, then the teachers have to catch the whole bunch of kids up on work at once, and can plan around it. As long as all the kids take the absence at the same time, it's not such a big deal. Perhaps we could set some specific weeks for that and call them 'school holidays'

I'd also wager if the ski trip was the same week as Glasto you'd have no trouble getting that absence authorised.

No-one is entitled to a holiday, what about people that simply can't afford it? If a parent wants to take a kid out of school for a holiday that's their choice. It's foolish to think it won't have any effect on the child's education, but a couple of days *probably* won't hurt. But it is important to be aware of things like coursework and exams. But the expectation that schools should work around the holiday that you're 'entitled' to because you have a job that doesn't give you time off in school holidays is a bit much. And it's interesting to see advice to take the kid out of school or have them pull a sickie, when one could do the exact same thing at work if one really wanted a holiday and couldn't get time off.

[Elderflower]

We have taken our children to Glastonbury throughout their school days.

Our daughter now has an MA as a social worker working with teenagers in London. She wrote on her application to be a social worker that her experiences of attending festivals has given her a diverse view of the world and helped her be able to build relationships with different people.

Our son is currently studying for degree in music technology.

So a few days in a field could be the inspiration for future careers for your children. Or just valued and highly enjoyable family time together sharing amazing sights and sounds.

[duggie20]

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.

[Alcatraz]

Its three f**king days off school at the end of the year, which anyone whos been to school in the last 10 years will know, f**k all happens

[Beccorr]

taking my two sons this year eldest is 15 (been twice before) youngest is 12(first time)! pretty much been told by the school that no authorised absences are being granted for any child regardless of the circumstances! this all seems abit clandestine to me, pissed off at the fact the school have more power than me to decide what is best for my lads, i'm 100% convinced that the pair of them would gain more education-wise in a week at glastonbury, than they would sat in a classroom!

[tom1989]

Its three f**king days off school at the end of the year, which anyone whos been to school in the last 10 years will know, f**k all happens

[danbailey80]

We have taken our children to Glastonbury throughout their school days.

Our daughter now has an MA as a social worker working with teenagers in London. She wrote on her application to be a social worker that her experiences of attending festivals has given her a diverse view of the world and helped her be able to build relationships with different people.

Our son is currently studying for degree in music technology.

So a few days in a field could be the inspiration for future careers for your children. Or just valued and highly enjoyable family time together sharing amazing sights and sounds.

[essex_jim]

Perfect answer. There's no other argument.

[jeffie]

Lol! Of course there is! That post is just one example, what if someone else says their child went to Glasto and subsequently failed all of their exams! That would be another argument, haha!

The fact is all kids are differemt, some need everyday possible in school and others can afford a few days off to get the same results.

Edited May 11, 2011 by jeffie

[danbailey80]

Lol! Of course there is! That post is just one example, what if someone else says their child went to Glasto and subsequently failed all of their exams! That would be another argument, haha!

The fact is all kids are differemt, some need everyday possible in school and others can afford a few days off to get the same results.

[Kyelo]

Lol! Of course there is! That post is just one example, what if someone else says their child went to Glasto and subsequently failed all of their exams! That would be another argument, haha!

The fact is all kids are differemt, some need everyday possible in school and others can afford a few days off to get the same results.

[essex_jim]

do kids fail all their exams if they're off with flu for a week?

[jeffie]

Yes of course, it's horrible if that happens but kids getting ill and missing out on work does happen. God some people are so one sided in this argument it's ridiculous. Although on a Glasto forum it's what's expected, people on here are of course only going to suggest that missing school for Glasto is a good idea regardless of anything else.

For a better opinion the OP is best off asking friends.

[essex_jim]

Most people on here are giving considered responses to what the OP and you're saying. You just don't like people disagreeing with you

[Mardy]

Not strong thoughts either way, but is there a less edifying sight than people boasting about their kids, while pretending not to boast?

'I think you should do it because my son went to every Glastonbury ever and has a Phd in Nuclear physics'

[DeanoL]

So if you miss 2/3 days you might fail all your exams 2 years later? This simply does not happen. You may fail you exams but it will not be because you missed a few days one term.

[jeffie]

Great in theory, but you try explaining to Mrs X that the reason her darling son isn't allowed out of school during term time so they can have a cheaper holiday in Spain, while his friends all are, is that he's a bit on the dumb side.

[duggie20]

Lol! Of course there is! That post is just one example, what if someone else says their child went to Glasto and subsequently failed all of their exams! That would be another argument, haha!

The fact is all kids are differemt, some need everyday possible in school and others can afford a few days off to get the same results.

[ukslim]

Going away for a week to a festival will not make a kid fail exams as they should have the knowledge stored upstairs ready for the exams