Originally Posted By Mr X ***What is ironic is he always develops so much every time we travel. even when it is simply a theme park*** My Grandpa always used to say if you pull a kid out of school for a year and just travel around with him, he'll learn a million times more than just sitting in some classroom.
Originally Posted By davewasbaloo Agreed X, or rather in the UK I think they push literacy too soon. Kids are expected to be in school at 4 and are tested nationally at 7. In my experience (remembering I was a qualified teacher before I was a Social Worker), most boys pick it up in their own time and are later than girls. When kids are supported without too much pushing, they are normally into it at 9. Mikey loves to read, if there is something to learn or a story to discover. But to ask him to read one off sentances and right down a synonym bores him to tears, so he rather do something else.
Originally Posted By davewasbaloo >>>My Grandpa always used to say if you pull a kid out of school for a year and just travel around with him, he'll learn a million times more than just sitting in some classroom. <<< Agreed. Some of my clients say they "hate" consultants. Then they wonder why I can do certain things so much quicker than they or why I seem to know the answers to things when I used to be half their age (not so much anymore). Well travelling around for 12 years working on international programmes and leading numerous senior teams can tend to teach you far more than working 9-5 a few minutes from the office. It means rubbish social life, difficulty in balancing work and family, but it instills an enormous amount of info. Just like those who read copious amounts tend to know far more than American Idol, Fox news fans. Sorry, I know I am elitist. But in the America I knew, I was always taught this was a good thing. To strive to be the very best you can be. Seems to have been forgotten.
Originally Posted By davewasbaloo You know as well as I, if I took the kids out of school and said, right, we are going to Japan and China for 6 or 8 weeks, they will learn far more than if they were tucked up in their class room. As it is I am anoyed. Later this year we will be doing a trip around France, Germany and Belgium. I am annoyed because after the school vacation we will have to rush back, for three days of school, because there will be another short break for the Royal Wedding. It is most annoying.
Originally Posted By Mr X ***there will be another short break for the Royal Wedding*** I recently lost $100 thanks to Hirohito's birthday (yup!), so I can relate. Royalty should be laid to rest with the dinosaurs, as far as I'm concerned.
Originally Posted By Mr X Can't you just call the school from your location abroad and tell them the kids are sick (and will likely remain so for another couple of days so don't bother expecting them?)? (NOT kidding here)
Originally Posted By Mr X <---put in a call to Tokyo DisneySea FROM Hong Kong Disneyland to let them know that I wouldn't be into work for a couple more days due to a severe stomach flu...yup, that's how *I* roll kids!
Originally Posted By davewasbaloo That could be a fineable or legal offence unless we have a Dr letter to back it up. As an immigrant who could still be deported (with no guarantees my family could join me in paranoid America), I am not keen on breaking laws.
Originally Posted By davewasbaloo We could potentially ask permission in advance, but permission is normally granted based on attainment.
Originally Posted By Mr X ***That could be a fineable or legal offence unless we have a Dr letter to back it up*** Damn...there really IS evidence that Socialism is a dangerous thing! ***As an immigrant who could still be deported (with no guarantees my family could join me in paranoid America), I am not keen on breaking laws*** Well, I HIGHLY doubt you'd be deported over something like that (in fact, I'm quite sure you wouldn't even be questioned), but I can understand your concern! Still, sometimes you've got to say "no" to authority (I'm shocked that you guys are so under the thumb...dayum! Sarah Palin WAS right!)... I'm glad to know this...I can remove the U.K. from "possible countries to move to if necessary". I'll keep Canada in my back pocket though, you can get away with ANYTHING there! (lived there for a time, I know from where I speak!)
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Originally Posted By davewasbaloo Well I have had cousins say in the US they have had similar issues. They rarely prosecute parents, but there schools are funded largely based on the attendance of children. One of the reasons my mom started homeschooling my brothers is the younger ones were getting into trouble for non attendance when my mom would take them all to London each week for Danny to receive medical treatment at Gt Ormand Street. The school view was why couldn't mom make other arrangements, but as my Dad had to work (being self employed, if they wanted to eat, he had to work), I was on the road, and my mom really had no one else to help. So she took all three boys to the hospital with her. In the end she had enough of the harrassment and threats, and took them out of school. I doubt they would deport me, but it is an issue, and the right wing are getting harder and harder on immigrants. I never said the Uk was perfect, I said it was the lesser evil.
Originally Posted By EPCOT Explorer >>My Grandpa always used to say if you pull a kid out of school for a year and just travel around with him, he'll learn a million times more than just sitting in some classroom. <<< Speaking as a student... Totally true. Learned more during my week- week and a half in Philly, and several days in Boston, this past summer than I picked up in most of my colonialism classes.
Originally Posted By Mr X <--wondering what the heck got admined up there!? HAD to be something to do with my conversation with Dave...either me or him...what the heck did we say that was erasable!? ***Learned more during my week- week and a half in Philly, and several days in Boston, this past summer than I picked up in most of my colonialism classes*** Wow, you walked around my hometown did ya!? Tons of history there, and walking the walk is the best way to do it I'd say (I had many a field trip when I was a kid, but sadly I (and the rest of my classmates) didn't appreciate it as we should have!
Originally Posted By SuperDry <<< They rarely prosecute parents, but there schools are funded largely based on the attendance of children. One of the reasons my mom started homeschooling my brothers is the younger ones were getting into trouble for non attendance when my mom would take them all to London each week for Danny to receive medical treatment at Gt Ormand Street. >>> Interesting. Most US states have a similar system (the local public school gets paid by the state for each day a student attends), but most have the notion of "excused" vs "unexcused" absences. A student that's absent because the family went on vacation is unexcused, and the school doesn't get the money for that student for those days. But if the student is absent for the reason of a medical appointment or other such reason, then it's an excused absence and the school still gets the money for those days. I'm surprised the UK doesn't have a similar system, or if it does, that it doesn't consider needs directly related to a family member's medical treatment to be okay.
Originally Posted By EPCOT Explorer >>> Wow, you walked around my hometown did ya!? Tons of history there, and walking the walk is the best way to do it I'd say (I had many a field trip when I was a kid, but sadly I (and the rest of my classmates) didn't appreciate it as we should have!<<< Well, seeing I walked (and walked and walked and walked) around both of them, the answer, by default, is yes. Which one is yours? Both of them are fantastic... Every few steps, there's a landmark, and me trying to comprehend what I'm seeing.
Originally Posted By SuperDry <<< Well, I HIGHLY doubt you'd be deported over something like that (in fact, I'm quite sure you wouldn't even be questioned), but I can understand your concern! >>> Things like that happen in the US. Well, not that *particular* issue, but things like people getting deported over very minor violations. There's a federal law that says that people with convictions for any felony, crimes of violence, and/or crimes of moral turpitude are inadmissible and deportable. It all sounds well and good based on that description, but the way it's been implemented has caught many people by surprise, especially when they classified petty theft as a crime of moral turpitude (probably not what Congress intended, I don't think). So, you have people that are US permanent residents that have been here for decades, and in some cases have something like a minor shoplifting offense from the 70's suddenly percolate up into the DHS computers, and they get deported despite an otherwise-clean record. Again, probably not what Congress intended, but who's going to go to bat for the "criminal alien" in today's environment? <<< I doubt they would deport me, but it is an issue, and the right wing are getting harder and harder on immigrants. I never said the Uk was perfect, I said it was the lesser evil. >>> Doubtful as well, but you never know. When the public gets whipped into an anti-immigrant mindset, laws get passed that end up affecting people unintentionally, and 100% of those directly affected by definition are non-voting people, so it's very easy to ignore their issues unless abuse or injustice becomes widespread.
Originally Posted By davewasbaloo >>>I'm surprised the UK doesn't have a similar system, or if it does, that it doesn't consider needs directly related to a family member's medical treatment to be okay.<<< Danny was excusable, it was my brothers who were not.
Originally Posted By davewasbaloo >>>Doubtful as well, but you never know. When the public gets whipped into an anti-immigrant mindset, laws get passed that end up affecting people unintentionally, and 100% of those directly affected by definition are non-voting people, so it's very easy to ignore their issues unless abuse or injustice becomes widespread.<<< Thanks for the cheer up. But yep. Just like friend of mine and I were mugged when we were 18, because he fought back and had a black belt in Karate, made it very difficult for him last time he tried to take his family to Disneyworld at the age of 36. Dangerous criminal don't you know? When I was a teen, my mom scared me from being alone with girls in case the claimed molestation and rape, could deport me. also she saw me on the news once at a human rights protest, and asked me if I loved her? when I asked her why, she said because she could not stand to see me deported if laws were broken and I got blamed. These things can make you paranoid.
Originally Posted By Christi22222 Wow! Getting such an education on this thread, and not the one I'd imagine! Interesting stuff. Especially since I've been debating for a year pulling my 12 yo out of school to travel for a year. Scared of the responsibility, though. He is a great student and an only child. Wonder if it would wreak havoc, or offer an irreplacable experience. Tough stuff, for a parent. I want the best for him, but I don't want to expect more of him than just being a kid!
