FabSwingers.com forum: Termtime holiday, learning more than in school?

By (user no longer on site) OP
over a year ago

I saw an article about a couple taking their child with them to New York for 5 days for their honeymoon. They only informed the school a few days before over the phone and not in writing and now they are being ordered by the court to pay a fine.

The lady says that the child learned more in the 5 days on holiday than she would have in school.

I really don't understand how a child can learn more on holiday than they can in school.

Visiting the tourist places/historical sites for a few hours and then what? In school you would be covering multiple subjects.

I don't get it. Oh well, they've still got a fine to pay!

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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago

They will have a fine to pay, quite a small fine.

It still works out cheaper to go away during term time, even with an imposed fine.

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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago

A friend of mine always takes her kids away during term time because it always works out cheaper with the fines included..

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By *r.BlondeMan
over a year ago

Chester/Wirral

How old was the kid?

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By *icecouple561Couple
Forum Mod
over a year ago

East Sussex

I think the kid would certainly have learned different things in New York than at school.

I'm in two minds about this. Our education system isn't designed for individuals and if you don't fit into the oddly shaped hole thats been designed for us all you need huge strength of character to make your own way. However I still struggle to conjugate etre correctly because I was away on the day we did it.

On the whole I don't think five days makes much difference. I probably lost that in sickness some years.

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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago

My daughter's school is pretty fair about this. No problem taking a holiday during term time as long as attendance is good the rest of the year. There are lots of travellers in my area too and the schools work really well with the families taking long absences for that. I think communication and co-operation between the school and parents is so much more effective than fines.

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By *icecouple561Couple
Forum Mod
over a year ago

East Sussex

"My daughter's school is pretty fair about this. No problem taking a holiday during term time as long as attendance is good the rest of the year. There are lots of travellers in my area too and the schools work really well with the families taking long absences for that. I think communication and co-operation between the school and parents is so much more effective than fines."

If the teachers have the time and resources. I think education is too target focussed.

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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago

I think it's irresponsible. If all the kids were off on holiday at random times how could the teacher make sure they'd all reached the level they were supposed to.

Just ban term time holidays or make the fine £1,000's. Or if they think they can teach the kids better, home school them so the rest of the kids aren't affected by their selfish absences.

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