Well, it’s shaping up to be a typical British summer holiday so far – completely unpredictable weather-wise. I wish somebody who can actually DO something about it would listen to those people who, every year, suggest it’s about time we change the dates and length of the school holidays.
Not that I’m against a long break – far from it – but this year’s been a good example of the fact that the weather in the Uk is (according to met office stats) generally better in May/June than it is in July/August. Finishing in May or early June after the exams are finished makes much more sense – those pupils taking exams don’t then have to come back into school until the new term and pupils who aren’t get more of a chance to be outside in the sunshine!
I don’t really know what the answer is – but it doesn’t make sense that we’re still tied into holidays that were fixed when we were an agrarian society and kids were needed to help in the fields! I read a couple of items around the end of term talking once again about the thorny issue of whether parents should be allowed to take their children out of school for holidays in term time when the prices aren’t so extortionate - and again, perhaps changing the school holidays – or perhaps even staggering them throughout the country – might help. As a parent, I can totally understand why people would take holidays in term-time. I think I’d do it myself if I wasn’t a teacher – I really resent being ripped off just because the holiday companies and destinations can.
On that note, we’re off camping next week. It’s what we used to do when I was a kid, so I’ve come full circle now, with my own! Given the unreliability of the weather, we’ve decided to have two separate weeks in two different destinations, rather than going to one place for a fortnight. My eldest can’t wait to get to as many old houses/castles as possible and has already been going through the English Heritage/National Trust books to work out where to go.
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July 24th, 2009 at 5:25 pm
Happy camping! In my experience, sitting in a cosy tent while the rain beats down on the canvas can be fun, as long as you have enough supplies. We’ve even been in a tornado – in Warwickshire! Even so, I hope the sun comes out for you. It’s just so nice to live at a different pace from school. And five weeks to go!