3 days ago
Mom Sees 'No Point' in Making Her Kids Attend the Final Week of School
The end of the school year has either already come for your family or is almost here. Before summer officially begins, parents must sift through the seemingly endless list of end-of-year activities. Depending on your child's age, the last few weeks of school might look different for you. Some parents of older kids are picking out graduation outfits, while parents of kiddos are busy finding child care for the next few months.
Either way, the month before school ends is a busy time for many parents. And sometimes, not so much for kids—especially younger ones. By this time, most elementary school and middle school kids are finished with their curriculums and have settled into a state of lax. So it's no wonder that some parents decide not to take their children to school during the last week.
It's also not surprising that the idea of withholding kids from school during the last week is a hot-button topic among parents and teachers.
School attendance has been a longstanding debate among parents, one that teachers have weighed in on too. The conversation around taking kids to school during the last week is no different. However, when one mom posted a video explaining why she withholds her kids from attending during the last week of school, it sparked new discussions.
Patricia Horton, whose TikTok handle is @mrshorton87, shares why she believes it's unnecessary to take kids to school during the final week of classes. "I don't see the point," she says in the video.
Horton explains that when she was a child, her parents made her attend school "every single day, all the way to the last day of school—every year." As a result, she says she's experienced a lot of final weeks of school and almost all of them were pointless.
"I have cleaned a lot of desks," she says. "That is what we did the last week of school when I was a kid—we cleaned desks in classrooms and I was a professional at cleaning desks."
Teachers and parents flooded the comments under Horton's video, discussing their conflicting opinions around missing the final week of school. Some argue the last week is the best part of the year and don't want their kids to miss out.
"I'm a teacher and I hate when kids miss the last few days of school," one commenter shares. "We as a class have been a family for several months. Kids and teachers would like to say goodbye ... The fun week gives them something to end school on a good note."
Another parent jumps into the conversation with similar sentiments. "My kids would be SO disappointed if they missed the last few days. Splash pad, movies, field day, auctions ... all on the last days. That's the fun stuff they've waited all year for."
However, some teachers are happy that Horton is spreading the message. "From a teacher, you are correct," one commenter writes. "Those 'fun' days are just us babysitting. We are done teaching at that point! Start the summer break early! (Please)."
And some folks in the comment section are simply concerned with their child's perfect attendance rate. "It's part of the required school days for the year," one person weighs in. "My kids go to school every single day unless they are sick."
Ultimately, it all depends on your child, your parenting style, and your child's school. Some older kids might be boggled down with exam preparation during the final days of classes, while younger ones might have movie marathons all week long.
If you're considering skipping the final week, it's best to check in with your child first. Your child might be learning skills that will help them prepare for the year ahead during the last week, or they could simply want a chance to kick back with their friends and say their goodbyes.
Remember that keeping your child at home during the last week is not a sign of bad parenting, as one educator mentions in the comments. As long as there are no assignments left, it's typically OK to have them stay at home.
Conversely, it's also not a bad idea to have them attend those classes. Not only does it give kids a chance to enjoy school outside of assignments, but it also gives many parents a last chance to catch their breath before summer begins. And sometimes that's really all you need.
Read the original article on Parents
