Fines for parents who take their children on holiday during term time

[Gromit]

A single parent was fined �400 for taking her children on a 4 day break to a Skegness caravan park (should have done her for cruelty maybe). Is this justified or nanny state?

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/main.jhtml?xml =/news/2006/09/22/ntruants22.xml

[Gef]

Sorry julie I wasn't having a go at you and apologies to gromit for extending this thread.

I am a teacher and have to put up with the inflated prices but it is my choice to have a holiday or not.

By the way suffragette, I need my long summer break.

[unruliejulie]

no worries Gef, i didn't think you were having a go at me.:-) I just find it such blatant exploitation of these holiday companies towards parents disgusting. You too, as a teacher, suffer with the over inflated prices. I dont think it is fair and i do not hesitate taking my son out of school althouhg obviously i would prefer not to have to.

[jno]

I think these posts are still pretty much on topic, Gromit... the question is whether people should put a child's 'right' to have a holiday over their 'right' to an education. My own feeling is that an education is better in the long run, and I think (to answer your question directly) the state is indeed justified in taking the same view. As a parent myself, I avoided taking expensive holidays during the school year (making up for it now, though) and I can't see why others should find it so outrageous to do the same.

But four days in Skegness... I would have thought, without knowing all the facts, that perhaps the school could have taken a more relaxed view.

[unruliejulie]

i think they are equally important. 2 weeks out of the school year is not so bad. Still more than enough education and the kids should be made to catch up!