Educational?

[SaxyJag]

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/5092578.stm

How can the schools justify taking these children in the first place?

If a parent took their child out of school to attend this event, there would be severe penalties, as discussed in other threads here.

Why is it educational only when it suits the school?

Or is it just an excuse for the staff to go?

[fee-is-me]

I think you've got it in one there, SaxyJag.

[noxlumos]

Well in the loosest sense of the word it's educational, as education is also about experiencing different things and certainly when I was a lad we went to sporting events with the school, but of late schools seem so up themselevs with regards to parents taking kids anywhere during term time that it;s obviously one rule for them and one for parents, so yeah I reckon the staff fancied a trip to the world cup, who wouldn't?

[sp1814]

Watch out for schools taking kids on 'educational' trips to see Robbie Williams in concert, the Four Nations finals and racing at Ascot.

[JudgeJ]

For gawd�s sake don�t start me off again!

http://www.theanswerbank.co.uk/Parenting/Quest ion246114.html

http://www.theanswerbank.co.uk/Parenting/Quest ion244689.html

[jake-the-peg]

Lots of schools take kids to France or Germany for a few days or a week to improve their language skills and to meet and mix with other Europeans.

I don't see what the problem is if they go to see a football match at the same time - it's only a few hours out of the trip, provided the parents are happy paying for it (I must say I think I'd choke at the ticket prices).

When I was that age we went to France and went to the cinema during the trip - is that OK?

[Dolly1308]

If the schools don't do anything for the children ,they're damned and damned if they do .Those children would have been looking forward to that trip more than any normal holiday so just feel sorry they didn't get to see the match.

[SaxyJag]

Don't get me wrong, I'm all for taking kids on trips like this. They have an educational value far beyond the curriculum (an actress I know is taking her kids to Australia for six months while she's working there - no official schooling). Just that it's not deemed as 'educational' when a parent wants to do it off their own bat.

[kazza12345]

it says in the article that the boys were going to play in a football tournament themselves ... education dosent just have to be academic

[SaxyJag]

It doesn't, specifically, but I'll let you have it on this one.

My point stands, though. If you take kids away in school time as a parent, you get your hand slapped, but it's OK for the school to do it.

[kazza12345]

it does say it near the bottom, so therefore it is a school organised trip to enhance their p.e. education! with a trip to the world cup as an aside

[SaxyJag]

Left Friday (doesn't specify when), were due to arrive back Sunday night (doesn't make it clear if this is when they were originally due back or whether it's the 'day early' they were talking about).

Whatever, it's 'academic' now (pardon the pun).

[SaxyJag]

Left Friday (doesn't specify when), were due to arrive back Sunday night (doesn't make it clear if this is when they were originally due back or whether it's the 'day early' they were talking about).

Whatever, it's 'academic' now (pardon the pun & see earlier post).

[kempie]

Although moot, the children of Caistor Grammar School returned "in the early hours of Monday morning, only a little earlier than scheduled."

http://www.marketrasentoday.co.uk/ViewArticle2 .aspx?SectionID=813&ArticleID=1574605

[shammydodger]

Why do you think "educational" must mean something to do with exams? Do you know what the itinerary is? Are they going to sites other than the World Cup stadia? Don't know? Why's that? Don't tell me the papers aren't reporting that aspect! Well, I never! Wind yer frigging neck in.

[Pippa68]

I would have thought it an educational trip ~ rather like ski trips, day trips to France, 4 day trips to a recreational centre..

I don't see a problem with it at all. However I also see family holidays in term time as a rather grey area too!

[Pippa68]

I have just heard on the news that the FA have issued tickets for the kids to go to another match, apparently after a plea from Downing St...

Bless them ~ I am chuffed now!

[SaxyJag]

Shammydod, as I said, I'm not against the educational aspect. I firmly believe in education outside the classroom and I'm totally against the whole concept of exams for kids.

But if a parent wanted to take their child out of school on a Friday and Monday to allow for a trip like this, the school would be up in arms about it.

We want to take our band away to Germany for a couple of weeks - three-date concert tour, couple of workshops, explore the culture, learn some language. We can't go in term time because the kids wouldn't be allowed to go. We have to wait until the Summer when half the parents can't afford the prices and so they won't be joining us. Yet one of the schools finds it quite acceptable to run a similar visit to France during the term. I'd just like to know why they consider theirs of educational value but not ours.

Oh, and I do know that the World Cup contingent were set to take part in other activities whilst there. I wouldn't know about the papers because I get my fiction reading from books, but I do watch the news.

And you need to know that I never, EVER wind my neck in once it's out, especially if I'm told to. After all, the only way a tortoise makes progress is to stick its neck out. Try it. It's fun! ;-)

[Toureman]

I get my fiction from reading newspapers sexy!