Issue for travel firms and government

REGARDING the issue of parents taking their children out of school to go on holiday, I have argued time and time again in school governors’ meetings that this should not be a problem
 for parents, or the school, or
even the local education authority.

It is the responsibility of the Government of the day and the travel industry to sort the problem out.

The reason why parents take this action is well known and
fully understandable, and the answer is not to beat them
into submission by fining them.

Are we eventually going to see fines of £1,000, with the threat of imprisonment for non-payment? How ludicrous would that be? While holidays taken in term time are anything up to £1,000 cheaper for a family of four, the practice will continue, and it is up to the travel companies, with pressure from the Government if necessary, to come up with a scheme that brings the price
of a holiday in term time closer to that in the holiday periods.

Of course, and possibly understandably, the parents get precious little sympathy from some members of the teaching fraternity, the attitude being – if I can’t take advantage of cheap holidays why should they?

Regarding the argument that the practice does irreparable harm to the children’s education, I am not convinced.

I taught throughout the 1960s and it was common for children to take time off school, not to
go on holiday, but because
they were ill. At that time I
cannot remember anyone
saying that the children would suffer irreparably from their absence.

Obviously it is being irresponsible to take a child out of school during Sats week, and certainly in the weeks leading up to GCSEs.

But let’s not forget that in most primary schools, academic work is scaled back
as Christmas approaches, nativity plays taking priority, and at
the end of the summer term, when sports days have to be
 fitted in.

As more schools, particularly in the secondary sector, change their school year, with holidays not necessarily falling at ‘traditional’ times, maybe this
is a possible solution to the problem.

If a situation could eventually
be arrived at where half the nation’s children were on holiday and the other half hard at work the holiday companies would not be able to target particular periods with their bargain holidays.

Eye-opening documentary

From: B Lawlor, Wakefield.

I WAS interested to view the recent fly on the wall documentary showing how ambulance staff had to deal with a growing old aged population.

The cases ranged from falls to having taken the incorrect dosage of their medication and, on one occasion, to help an old couple where the man’s wife had suffered a stroke and died on their settee as the old gentleman prepared his ill wife for bed.

Crew members made frequent comments that unfortunately the care workers who were seconded to help these old people were often limited to 15 minutes per call and with so much to do in that time had often only time to do the basics.

The financial side drew comments of saying that there was not enough money in the system to give more care to these frail and often lonely people who in the main had paid their taxes and lived through the hell of a world war for the benefit of this country and a better future. How they were mistaken!

My question here is, how can we find money to support aid for countries such as India who recently found enough money to send a rocket to Mars?

We can give money to immigrants who have never paid a penny into our society and keep their flock of children with health care and benefits and give them enough to make them feel that they really have come to the land of milk and honey.

The fact are clear to see. Look after our own and if there is anything left then help outsiders.

Memorable modern hymns

From: Ruth Pickles, Hutton Road, Hutton Cranswick, Driffield, East Yorkshire.

THE saga of modern versus traditional church music rumbles on, and I guess will continue to do so for all eternity. However I would take John Richmond (Yorkshire Post, November 5) to task with his interpretation of the list of 10 most popular hymns, broadcast by the BBC from the Royal Albert Hall last month.

He says “note that no trendy hymns were chosen”. When I looked carefully at the list, I found that four out of the 10 have been written in my lifetime, namely Make me a Channel of your Peace (1967); Here I am Lord – I the Lord of Sea and Sky (1981); Be still for the presence of the Lord (1986); In Christ Alone (2001).

In the realm of church music, not all modern is good, any more than all 18th or 19th century is good. These four modern hymns all have wonderful words and tunes – please take a few moments to look them up and decide for yourselves.