Term time holidays: why I won’t take my child out of school

It's an age-old debate for parents of school-going children.

Last year, the UK's Supreme Court ruled against Jon Platt, a dad who took his daughter out of school for a holiday to Disney World. Five judges unanimously upheld an earlier ruling that the girl's father had acted unlawfully by pulling the youngster out of school for seven days without valid reason. Unlike our closest neighbours, Irish parents aren't likely to face a penalty if they decide to lower the cost of a family holiday by taking their children out of school during term time, but does that justify such behaviour? The numbers don't lie - it's certainly a lot less expensive to go head off on your jollies outside of the school hols. Working parents are also less likely to encounter problems getting annual leave, and there aren't over-crowded roads, airports, and resorts to contend with during quieter periods.   Many parents who choose term-time holidays argue that travel is a learning experience in itself and say they aren't overly concerned about their children missing a few days as long as their attendance is good for the rest of the academic year. Irish schools are usually fairly pragmatic about such situations and the kids are obviously delighted with the break in routine, yet I can't bring myself to do it. Why? My concern lies primarily in the message that it gives our young learners; missing school isn't that big a deal and the rules apply - just not always to us. The decision to take my kids out of class inevitably puts their teachers in the position of having to help them catch up with their schoolwork, homework, and group work. Is it really fair for us to add to a teacher's workload and delay the progress of other students whose parents adhere to the school calendar? Clearly, it's not a black and white issue, but one of personal moral choice. If travel companies and airlines were to stop hiking up the prices of holidays during school holidays, this would be a non-issue. But, the profits to be made by taking advantage of parents mean such price increases are unlikely to change anytime soon. The Supreme Court judge who ruled against Mr Platt and his Disney escape says that it all boils down to a question of fairness:

"Any educational system expects people to keep the rules. Not to do so is unfair to those obedient parents who do keep the rules, whatever the costs or inconvenience to themselves."

And, as controversial as it might be, this nerdy rule-loving mama agrees.