I think part of the problem is that the curriculum is now so packed (in primary at any rate) that yes, nowadays, a child can miss a day and that will be the only day on which that subject is covered. And then they end up in intervention / catch-up group which often means missing something else and there’s the risk of even more catching up being needed. 😕
I had a slight change of perspective on this when a teacher pointed out that 3 kids missing one day and then a different 3 kids missing another day means you’re always trying to juggle who has learned what and who is now a bit behind. (But in general I agree with you - though I might feel differently if my children were struggling in school and needed to hear things more than once).
I completely sympathise with the teachers, but realistically in a class of thirty you won’t have a full class most days. And repetition is built into the system - what about the child who didn’t quite get it the first time, or the child who wasn’t paying attention, or the child who was sent in even though they were under the weather? And with my own children I learn the lesson (over and over again!) that teaching something once does not mean anyone has learnt it. If only!
My youngest son was unable to attend school because of his mental health for 8 months. I asked if his name could be taken off the attendance ‘reward’ list as it would stop his entire class reaching the top even if everyone else was in. The answer was no. This definitely did not help him return to school as he knew (being a bright 8 year old at the time) that he had stopped his whole class from getting the attendance treat for nearly a whole year and he was convinced they would never forgive him. I agree that it’s important for children to be in school but if they’re ill, with a heavy cold or anxiety for example, how much of what is taught actually gets learned? I’d love for schools to flexible for kids who have genuine reasons for not being able to be at school for 100% of the time and not castigate them for their ‘failure’. BTW youngest still managed to exceed his educational targets significantly having missed so much school as we continued to learn at home while the school thought about what to do with him. Now we homeschool both boys and everyone is much happier and they still exceed the narrow expectations of the school curriculum.
The attendance debate has been a topic of conversation for me today too. Honestly I find it just so frustrating that in areas so desperate for funding as education and children's mental health they are still concentrating their efforts on things such as "the occasional day off" and home educating families and not on the children and families who are literally crying out for help. I wish someone would start listening and stop with the sound bites.
There with you on the ‘every day counts’ etc attendance sound bite exasperation! Siiiigh. Also it wasn’t so long ago that all that got tossed out the window due to Covid restrictions that openly didn’t give a monkey’s nuts about children’s well-being or education, and I can’t imagine school parents will be quick to forget this. Yes, the relationship between parents and schools is in need of restoration, but a relationship can not be repaired through force or coercion.
I think part of the problem is that the curriculum is now so packed (in primary at any rate) that yes, nowadays, a child can miss a day and that will be the only day on which that subject is covered. And then they end up in intervention / catch-up group which often means missing something else and there’s the risk of even more catching up being needed. 😕
I had a slight change of perspective on this when a teacher pointed out that 3 kids missing one day and then a different 3 kids missing another day means you’re always trying to juggle who has learned what and who is now a bit behind. (But in general I agree with you - though I might feel differently if my children were struggling in school and needed to hear things more than once).
I completely sympathise with the teachers, but realistically in a class of thirty you won’t have a full class most days. And repetition is built into the system - what about the child who didn’t quite get it the first time, or the child who wasn’t paying attention, or the child who was sent in even though they were under the weather? And with my own children I learn the lesson (over and over again!) that teaching something once does not mean anyone has learnt it. If only!
You're my heroine! And you're right about the odd day off....
Ha! Thank you, that made me smile!
My youngest son was unable to attend school because of his mental health for 8 months. I asked if his name could be taken off the attendance ‘reward’ list as it would stop his entire class reaching the top even if everyone else was in. The answer was no. This definitely did not help him return to school as he knew (being a bright 8 year old at the time) that he had stopped his whole class from getting the attendance treat for nearly a whole year and he was convinced they would never forgive him. I agree that it’s important for children to be in school but if they’re ill, with a heavy cold or anxiety for example, how much of what is taught actually gets learned? I’d love for schools to flexible for kids who have genuine reasons for not being able to be at school for 100% of the time and not castigate them for their ‘failure’. BTW youngest still managed to exceed his educational targets significantly having missed so much school as we continued to learn at home while the school thought about what to do with him. Now we homeschool both boys and everyone is much happier and they still exceed the narrow expectations of the school curriculum.
The attendance debate has been a topic of conversation for me today too. Honestly I find it just so frustrating that in areas so desperate for funding as education and children's mental health they are still concentrating their efforts on things such as "the occasional day off" and home educating families and not on the children and families who are literally crying out for help. I wish someone would start listening and stop with the sound bites.
There with you on the ‘every day counts’ etc attendance sound bite exasperation! Siiiigh. Also it wasn’t so long ago that all that got tossed out the window due to Covid restrictions that openly didn’t give a monkey’s nuts about children’s well-being or education, and I can’t imagine school parents will be quick to forget this. Yes, the relationship between parents and schools is in need of restoration, but a relationship can not be repaired through force or coercion.