FACEBOOK COMMENTS

WE asked our Facebook followers whether they agreed with fines for parents taking children on term-time holidays.

Here’s what they said: Beth Smallman: I know a lot of teachers that have taken time off to go on holiday...just saying. Jean Bedson: Teachers can not take time of unless its a death in the family. Or due to illness. Rachel Calnun-Pratt: Can’t afford holiday abroad in or out of term time. Luxury not necessary! Kara Chesters: I wouldn’t mind if the fine money went into the school fundraising pot! Teachers when they strike make children miss a day. Some children have a lot of time of sick too, at least if they are on holiday its sightseeing and learning about different parts of the world. Jeanette Hackney: There is soooo much pressure on the kids these days that if they get a chance of a holiday they should be allowed to go when ever possible Lee Taylor: If travel agents continue to rip people off in kids’ holidays I will continue to take my daughter out of school which I have done for the last five years eg holiday for two weeks all inclusive to Lanzarote in May is £1,800 for two adults and one child, for the same holiday in the six week hols it is £4,000 and they wonder why people don’t mind paying the £120 fine instead of the extra £2,200 they need to split up the six weeks up and bamboozle the travel companies Andy D Ollier: I don’t agree with teaching your children to challenge rules like that....they will grow up thinking it’s ok to do what they want. Matt Hollingsbee: Inset days.....teacher training....... strikes, all in term time. If we as parents risk getting fines for taking our kids out during term times then the teachers should be fined as well Mark S T Lake: Never did me or my education any harm being taken out of school for holidays whilst growing up. Given the current extortion created by holiday companies, I’d gladly pay a fine over an extra couple of grand for the same holiday if it meant taking my children out during term time. If it’s a one off, which in most cases it would be, I can’t see it being an issue, especially if a child’s attendance levels are good throughout the rest of the school year. We’re already being held to ransom by these holiday companies with their price hikes during half-term...... why should we also be held to ransom by schools and their threat of fines David Heathcote: I think schools should have some sort of application process but keep it strict. Ryan A Adams: The councils and government should exist to provide services and protect our rights and freedoms. We the people pay for all this and the state need to realise their position as civil servants, to serve us not generate faux laws and bylaws to tax and control us. Darren Cross: I say reduce holiday prices, but at same time reduce services such as clean rooms, removing TVs from rooms, no breakfasts, no wifi etc etc this might shut the whining parents up that can’t be bothered to find better paid jobs or even jobs at all. Don’t see why companies should be blamed they’re entitled to make a business. John June Heath: Parents who do not care if children are at school or not will not bother with this rule. Children who have hard working parents who budget very carefully and try to give their children lots of happy memories to look back on are the treated like criminals. All children should be allowed at least one week to use throughout the year with consent of the school. Children who are off school constantly are pushing the boundaries and spoiling things for the rest of the pupils, are the ones who should take responsibility for taking advantage of school rules. Peter Wood: People should be able to take their own children out of school whenever they like. If you’re not stupid about it and just go on the occasional holiday it’s not going to make a difference to their education. I think it’s disgusting that schools do this and it’s about time they stopped it. It’s not a legal requirement that a child attends school, only that they get an education. What right should they have to decide this and penalise a parent for something so normal. There’s a lot of things wrong with schooling but this really is annoying. If you home school you can take them on holiday whenever, so it should be the same for taking them out of school. On a similar topic, they’re getting ridiculous with wanting ‘ evidence’ when your child has been off for a day. They want a doctors’ note or proof of illness. How the hell can we do that if it takes days to see a doctor or they’re not unwell enough to see a doctor. It makes no sense at all. Think next time I might just bag a load of snot rags up or sick bags and send them in to the school. Perhaps that might be enough proof. Richard Jones: Whatever the rights and wrongs of the argument it sets a very bad example to the children if parents challenge the schools’ authority. How can they then tell the children to do as they’re told at school without being hypocritical? Ian Lewsey: Teachers can get cover for the lessons they miss, but you can hardly send another kid to cover the lessons your child has missed, so not the same at all. Lesley Anne Baxendale: Perhaps there wouldn’t be a need for things like this if parents took a stand against the holiday companies and refused to pay extra just because it’s the school holidays. If people don’t book holidays through them, they will eventually reduce prices. Going when it’s cheaper isn’t going to get prices reduced. They will just find ways of adding extras to bump up the cost and hope people don’t notice. By the time you’ve paid for all the extras and the fine from school, you could have gone in the approved holidays in the first place Margaret Hanson: Stick to the rules ●● LIZ Thomas took matters into her own hands by getting a court order to stop a housing development when builders moved on to the flood plain next to her. Christina Webb: Well done and Good Luck! Belinda Burrows: I hope Liz wins I totally agree with her Christine Foye: Wonderful if it works Stacey Davies: Ace job Liz Lesley Anne Baxendale: Well done Liz. It’s about tome someone stood up to these developers. Many of the recent problems with flooding have been caused because there’s nowhere for the water to go. That’s why they’re called flood plains! Duh...... John Bennett: Liz and others. Well done. Proves the law can work in favour of common sense. Glenn Tinley: Good for you Nan Broad: Well done Liz! I am sure all the people in the area will back you as I dont know anyone who hasn’t voiced an opinion on that development!