Opinions please guys
09 December 2010, 06:48 PM
#91
She can't pay - the kids don't go on a trip - fair enough. That does not give the teachers the right to abandon their responsibilities of teaching children.
09 December 2010, 06:52 PM
#92
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09 December 2010, 07:03 PM
#94
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The school never knew that and have acted disgracefully IF they never told her that the children couldn't attend school NOT just the activity
09 December 2010, 07:19 PM
#95
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I think we'll have to agree to disagree here. My heart goes out to those poor children who've missed out on the rabbit trick, jelly and, potentially, icecream. 
09 December 2010, 07:24 PM
#96
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I can't believe some of the replies on here... These are CHILDREN we are talking about. Maybe the OP's daughter couldn't afford it, who are we to say? Maybe like lots of parents she gets letters every week from school asking for contributions and decided that she couldn't pay this time. For the school to expect the children to leave school early is a disgrace, and something ofsted would be very interested in hearing about. The school has chosen to humilate primary age children and it is disgraceful. The school has completely dissolved themselves of their duty to educate these children at the times they are obliged to.
I am a governor at my children's primary school and am disgusted at the behaviour of the school. I would not let the school fob me off with pathetic excuses and would definately take the matter further. Some children would be left emotionally scarred by this.
I am a governor at my children's primary school and am disgusted at the behaviour of the school. I would not let the school fob me off with pathetic excuses and would definately take the matter further. Some children would be left emotionally scarred by this.
09 December 2010, 07:24 PM
#97
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09 December 2010, 07:27 PM
#98
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I can't believe some of the replies on here... These are CHILDREN we are talking about. Maybe the OP's daughter couldn't afford it, who are we to say? Maybe like lots of parents she gets letters every week from school asking for contributions and decided that she couldn't pay this time. For the school to expect the children to leave school early is a disgrace, and something ofsted would be very interested in hearing about. The school has chosen to humilate primary age children and it is disgraceful. The school has completely dissolved themselves of their duty to educate these children at the times they are obliged to.
I am a governor at my children's primary school and am disgusted at the behaviour of the school. I would not let the school fob me off with pathetic excuses and would definately take the matter further. Some children would be left emotionally scarred by this.
I am a governor at my children's primary school and am disgusted at the behaviour of the school. I would not let the school fob me off with pathetic excuses and would definately take the matter further. Some children would be left emotionally scarred by this.
09 December 2010, 07:39 PM
#99
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Thanks to all who have contibuted with constructive opinion, whichever way your feelings lie.
Whilst I'm not so naive that I would ask for opinions and expect everybody to agree with my viewpoint, I am disappointed that some contributors cannot get past the financial aspect of this.
You don't need to posses the incisive logical prowess of a Vulcan to see that, had the required fee been paid, this situation would never have arisen.
For all the fiscally focussed contributors, let me pose an alternative scenario. That my girl is as rich as Croesus and a mental lapse meant she forgot to pay the Ł0.50 fee (please remember this is theoretical). Is the school still correct in excluding her children at short notice? After all the same principal of non-payment still applies.
I'll say it once more, it's not about the money. It's a point of principal, and not about her social standing or ability to pay.
Anon.... my girl had the meeting with one of the governors today. She was told that she would have to write to the governing board and present her case for consideration in this way. Meanwhile we have an appointment with the head teacher next week.
Whilst I'm not so naive that I would ask for opinions and expect everybody to agree with my viewpoint, I am disappointed that some contributors cannot get past the financial aspect of this.
You don't need to posses the incisive logical prowess of a Vulcan to see that, had the required fee been paid, this situation would never have arisen.
For all the fiscally focussed contributors, let me pose an alternative scenario. That my girl is as rich as Croesus and a mental lapse meant she forgot to pay the Ł0.50 fee (please remember this is theoretical). Is the school still correct in excluding her children at short notice? After all the same principal of non-payment still applies.
I'll say it once more, it's not about the money. It's a point of principal, and not about her social standing or ability to pay.
Anon.... my girl had the meeting with one of the governors today. She was told that she would have to write to the governing board and present her case for consideration in this way. Meanwhile we have an appointment with the head teacher next week.
09 December 2010, 07:43 PM
#100
Blue By You,
Can I just ask you, did the note requesting your daughter contribute to the cost explain that if she didnt she would be asked to remove the child from the school?
From what I can see, moving on from the financial aspect, you're not impressed by the 30 minute text warning she recieved, and rightly so. But, was there advanced warning that this would be the case?
Can I just ask you, did the note requesting your daughter contribute to the cost explain that if she didnt she would be asked to remove the child from the school?
From what I can see, moving on from the financial aspect, you're not impressed by the 30 minute text warning she recieved, and rightly so. But, was there advanced warning that this would be the case?
09 December 2010, 07:51 PM
#102
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Blue By You,
Can I just ask you, did the note requesting your daughter contribute to the cost explain that if she didnt she would be asked to remove the child from the school?
From what I can see, moving on from the financial aspect, you're not impressed by the 30 minute text warning she recieved, and rightly so. But, was there advanced warning that this would be the case?
Can I just ask you, did the note requesting your daughter contribute to the cost explain that if she didnt she would be asked to remove the child from the school?
From what I can see, moving on from the financial aspect, you're not impressed by the 30 minute text warning she recieved, and rightly so. But, was there advanced warning that this would be the case?
As for advanced warning, she has told me the only notification she received was the text message. I think this is unacceptable.
09 December 2010, 07:52 PM
#103
09 December 2010, 08:05 PM
#106
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What if the recipient hadn't responded to all other attempts at communication?
09 December 2010, 08:08 PM
#107
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If all other communication includes phoning their mobile and getting no reply that really should be a sign that perhaps that mobile phone is not the method to be communicating by 
09 December 2010, 08:10 PM
#108
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Not so. She may have been in a meeting. Pay review perhaps?
09 December 2010, 08:17 PM
#110
Why don't you back off a bit? Even if money was the sole issue here, who are you (or anyone else) to judge her based on her financial situation? If she couldn't afford it, and can we all remember it was for 2 kids, then she couldn't afford it. We don't know why she felt she couldn't ask her Dad for the money either. It's not for you to decide what she can or can't or should be able to afford.
Tbh, if this was an in-school activity, I don't understand why the school couldn't arrange some sort of alternative. There would be no more kids in school than normal, and the same amount of teachers, so why couldn't they just have somewhere set aside for those who couldn't attend, under the supervision of one of the teachers (as I would guess there wouldn't be loads of kids unable to go).
To give 30 minutes notice to collect the kids isn't on in my opinion. During term time, the school has the responsibility for children during the school day. If they want to have events/trips they should offer alternatives for situations like this. What if we were talking about a trip out somewhere at a cost of Ł20+ each, would some be jumping on her the same way. Not everyone can afford to keep pulling money out, and shouldn't have to.
Blue, I think you are right to go and have words about this, but I would say, stay calm and find out exactly what the situation was from the other side. There could have ben some breakdown in communication along the way.
Tbh, if this was an in-school activity, I don't understand why the school couldn't arrange some sort of alternative. There would be no more kids in school than normal, and the same amount of teachers, so why couldn't they just have somewhere set aside for those who couldn't attend, under the supervision of one of the teachers (as I would guess there wouldn't be loads of kids unable to go).
To give 30 minutes notice to collect the kids isn't on in my opinion. During term time, the school has the responsibility for children during the school day. If they want to have events/trips they should offer alternatives for situations like this. What if we were talking about a trip out somewhere at a cost of Ł20+ each, would some be jumping on her the same way. Not everyone can afford to keep pulling money out, and shouldn't have to.
Blue, I think you are right to go and have words about this, but I would say, stay calm and find out exactly what the situation was from the other side. There could have ben some breakdown in communication along the way.
09 December 2010, 08:31 PM
#112
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Are you being serious? 
Attendance at school is required by law. If a school operates say from 08:50 to 15:10 then that is when you expect your children to be there 5 days a week and you are entitled to plan around this. Saying it's not a day care centre is a complete misunderstanding of how school works in my opinion. A school should not be sending home children during school hours because they have not been able to pay for an activity. It is the school's responsibility to make sure there is something else for those children to do at school. End of.
As for JTaylor, I just treat his comments as a wind up and trolling for a rise and not worth getting in an argument over to please his antagonistic desires.
Attendance at school is required by law. If a school operates say from 08:50 to 15:10 then that is when you expect your children to be there 5 days a week and you are entitled to plan around this. Saying it's not a day care centre is a complete misunderstanding of how school works in my opinion. A school should not be sending home children during school hours because they have not been able to pay for an activity. It is the school's responsibility to make sure there is something else for those children to do at school. End of.
As for JTaylor, I just treat his comments as a wind up and trolling for a rise and not worth getting in an argument over to please his antagonistic desires.
09 December 2010, 08:55 PM
#113
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lets get it straight
Root cause: Schools exclusive policy
Contributory factor: (in unnecessary result of children being made to feel 2nd class) the Daughter for not asking
School is outrageous imo - external trips understandable and fine, internal school events petty and mean spirited (and as others have mentioned probably against DoE guidelines) -- but that’s the way it's going
Root cause: Schools exclusive policy
Contributory factor: (in unnecessary result of children being made to feel 2nd class) the Daughter for not asking
School is outrageous imo - external trips understandable and fine, internal school events petty and mean spirited (and as others have mentioned probably against DoE guidelines) -- but that’s the way it's going
Last edited by hodgy0_2; 09 December 2010 at 09:00 PM.
09 December 2010, 10:46 PM
#115
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Well, exclusive is the opposite of inclusive – inclusive is where the default view is, if possible, everyone is included (regardless of a fiver)
Not always possible – my eldest (14 year old) daughter is going to Peru on a 3 week school exchange trip next year. It is costing the best part of 2.5k, - I don’t expect to subsidise anyone else child and I don’t expect my child goes for free either.
But an xmass magic show at a primary school – petty and mean, and if the head at our primary school (I have 4 at primary) tried that on, my wife and I would hit the fvcking roof. But she wouldn’t coz it is a fantastic inclusive school and she is a fantastic head.
Not always possible – my eldest (14 year old) daughter is going to Peru on a 3 week school exchange trip next year. It is costing the best part of 2.5k, - I don’t expect to subsidise anyone else child and I don’t expect my child goes for free either.
But an xmass magic show at a primary school – petty and mean, and if the head at our primary school (I have 4 at primary) tried that on, my wife and I would hit the fvcking roof. But she wouldn’t coz it is a fantastic inclusive school and she is a fantastic head.
09 December 2010, 11:00 PM
#117
I was under the impression that schools asked for a voluntary contribution for trips/treats etc, and weren't able to exclude a child from the activity due to 'lack of payment'.
09 December 2010, 11:04 PM
#118
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