Rant!

So as you know we are planning to take Tom out of school this year to take him to Japan.  We have been speaking to the school about it for ages.  They started out in July last year saying, don't worry, there will be new legislation, but you will be an exception.  In September they said, we weren't an exception but to take him and it will go down as unauthorised absence.  In January they told us they are very sorry but it will be a fine - the only exceptional circumstances are if someone is about to die or if your parents are in the forces / work on an oil rig?!

Humph!

We decided to get in touch with our local MP (typical smug Tory type).  We didn't hear anything, but then he put out a tweet saying he was having an on-line surgery via Skype, so we booked in.

Once we got the IT working we had the conversation.  To say he was wet is an understatement.  Being a back bencher we figured that he could do nothing except tow the line.  

The upshot of the conversation was that he was very sorry for us and our situation and that as a human being he felt for us, but he believed whole heartily in the policy and wasn't going to back down.  He said that it would cause too much bureaucracy to allow exceptions even though our case was very strong.

He spent most of the conversation rifling through papers, not looking at us and blowing his nose (how rude) .  When he was looking at us, he just winced at our arguments.  Now I'm not the most argumentative person and certainly not confrontational, but I found him the easiest person to put forward arguments to and win!

+ He winced when I mentioned that Tom has not missed a single minute of school since he started in September

+ He winced when I said that we were prepared to go to the school and provide simple Japanese lessons, Japanese cookery lessons and to Skype with the school when we were over there - and that if we were to be fined the school would miss out on it.

+ He asked us what our Headmistress said and winced again when I told him that she isn't worried about him in an academic sense as 'he's a bright button' (her words)

+ He winced when we pointed out that language education in this country is awful and that there is no provision for Japanese language education in this area so the only way Tom can get exposure to it is to visit the country.

+ He winced when I said that had he been born 2 months later it wouldn't be a problem.
+ He winced when we told him that we are a very close family and have hardly ever been apart.  Splitting Tom up from his father for a month would be detrimental to our family and have an impact on his schooling - he is such a sensitive little boy.

At no point did he even try to counter argue our points.  He knew we were right - he didn't have anything to say to us and didn't even try to convince us not to take him.

He kept quoting policy at us and saying that absence from the classroom is proven to have a negative effect on academic achievement.  How, HOW at age 5 can that be the case?  Most countries don't even send their kids to school at 5, and most of those countries are higher up the academic achievement table than the UK.

He never once told us not to take him to Japan and at one stage even said what a great opportunity it was????!  How does that work?!  We can provide Tom with a great learning opportunity that The State can't provide and for that The State will fine us?????!!!!!!!  I was sooooo angry.

The upshot of the conversation was that we should take him and pay the fine.

It's OK for politicians, I'm sure most of them send their kids to private schools - guess what this legislation doesn't apply to those in private schools.  Another case of one rule for them and another for us.

He couldn't even tell us what the fine would be.  Funny that, because our Headmistress can't tell us that either.  How are we supposed to make a decision if we don't know what the fine will be?

Oh and now I hear on the radio that the government are thinking of lengthening the school day so it is more in line with work hours - ie 9-6.  Exactly how is that going to help?  Tom's tired as it is, all they will get is tired, lethargic, miserable pupils and excuse me - I would like to spend sometime with him - he's my child after all?!  What has happened to childhood?  Surely it is a right not a privilege!  It seems that The State think parents are the worse people to be in charge of their children.  I realise that there are exceptions to the rule, but must all of us be punished because of some few irresponsible parents - punish them, not us!

Both Matt and I have had sleepless nights since.    There is a sense of doom in the house.

Can't wait for the next General Election!