School summer break under threat - a bit of heated reaction from me ;-)

[helenprev]

http://education.guardian.co.uk/schools/story/0,,2282142,00.html?gusrc=rss&feed=networkfrontRead more... )

Comments

[balooky]

It's not the govt. Re article I think it's a bit of a stretch to call the IPPR 'close to the government', they're an independent Institute like my lot, we can only suggest policy not implement it.

[rosyposypie]

I can understand the thinking that a long break causes some children to slip behind in their learning. But surely that's because they're not being encouraged to learn at home, and that's an attitude issue, not an income one.

[b_liz]

I wonder how many of the resaerchers have children. And how many of them spend quality time with them over the summer break versus paying for some kind of childcare.

Reading and writing is not everything. Yes it's a very important skill, but there are other things that children need to learn, that they can't learn at school.

I agree with Rosy - it's more to do with attitude than income.

[mrs_redboots]

I don't blame you. They seem to manage all right in the US where they have anything up to three months' holiday in the summer - makes our five weeks seem very mere by comparison!

[tiphanism]

*agrees with everyone else* Some parents do not give their children anything over the holidays; but that is no reason for all the rest of them to loose out. Free time is important for self-reliance and creativity and independence and resourcefulness, quite apart from the fact that kids should be having fun. Grrrrr.