Take YOUR Kid Out of School Without Permission? Court Will Take Your Furniture...or Jail Term.

I thought I was getting ready to turn off the computer and retire...then this came up for a WTF? moment.

www.telegraph.co.uk...

Parents who took their teenage son out of school without permission for a five-day holiday ended up with a £1,200 bill and a visit from the bailiffs. The couple were originally fined £120 over the 14-year-old’s unauthorised absence from Sweyne Park School, an academy in Rayleigh, Essex.

Fined for taking YOUR child out of school? Wow!

But then I thought "Ok, ridiculous and most likely an error...nope. It actually gets worse.

They were convicted in their absence and ordered to pay fines of £200 per parent plus costs and a victim’s surcharge. The amount was left unpaid and court bailiffs arrived on the family’s doorstep threatening to remove items to settle the debt. They were even threatened with prison if they refused to co-operate.

They get a visit from court appointed goons threatening to actually REMOVE household items AND threatened with jail if they did not allow them to enter the house to steal their personal belongings. That's right, I said STEAL.

And so the grandmother gets involved:

The grandmother, who asked not to be named, said: "My son rang me in a state of panic and I in turn rang the bailiff who informed me that if the eye-watering fine of £1,230 wasn't paid immediately they would force entry and remove goods to the value. "These goods would then be auctioned and all charges would be added to the bill, making an estimated total of £3,500, while inability to pay would have automatically incurred a three month custodial sentence for both parents.”

FORCE ENTRY to steal their couch and kitchen chairs? WTF? While not being able to pay would result in 3 Months behind bars for BOTH parents. And this is beneficial to this family...how?

WAIT! We're not finished yet...How's this for a case of you not raising your own children?

A spokesman for Essex County Council said: "Parents have a legal duty to ensure regular school attendance for their children who are registered at a school.

"Where there is concern for a child's attendance, schools will work with the family to address the cause of the absence. "If this is not successful and the absences are not authorised by the school, the matter may be referred to the county council's Education Welfare Service (EWS) which will arrange a meeting between the school and family.

"If the situation does not improve the EWS will escalate the matter as appropriate, which may include issuing a penalty notice, prosecution or education supervision order. "If a penalty notice is not paid within 28 days the EWS would proceed with prosecution.”

Catch the term: "Not Authorized"

Granted that some cases may be cause for concern here but for those that are not a case of a child in trouble, just pay up or else you'll have to hand over your laundry hamper for sale.

And the permission to take your child on vacation comes from?

Not you but a teacher must PERMIT you to do so:

headteachers should only permit term time absences in “exceptional circumstances”.

So, still having doubts as to who you answer to, who actually has control over your household goods, bank account AND your kids?

I am not even close to being done but I believe the picture has been presented.

Jude11

a reply to: jude11

"An academy" sounds as if it is a private school. Is that the case?

Here we go again.

Schools work on a very tight budget. They are paid only if student is in attendance.

You take your kid out of school - - you are stealing from the government.

You don't want your kid in a government school - - then pay for a private one.

a reply to: jude11

Indeed, they might miss the class on turning in your family for unauthorized disposal of recyclables.

Seem perfectly reasonable to me, you already paid for the service so missing it will cost society much more, roundabouts £1,230 as I understand it.

originally posted by: Annee
Here we go again.

Schools work on a very tight budget. They are paid only if student is in attendance.

You take your kid out of school - - you are stealing from the government.

You don't want your kid in a government school - - then pay for a private one.

That is truly an unbelievable response.

Socialism is a wonderful thing.

This is where the US is heading.

originally posted by: Annee
Here we go again.

Schools work on a very tight budget. They are paid only if student is in attendance.

You take your kid out of school - - you are stealing from the government.

You don't want your kid in a government school - - then pay for a private one.

um...wow.

So if I can't afford a private school because the Govt. takes most of my money for everything else, I have to hand over ownership of my child to the very same Govt. and then pay them again if I decide to take that same child out for a couple of days?

I think I got that right. ?

And as another poster just stated "Academy" must mean private school. In this case your argument just lost all traction.

Jude11

originally posted by: Bilk22
a reply to: jude11

"An academy" sounds as if it is a private school. Is that the case?

If that's the case then the Academy is already paid so who has the right to send cops to steal your dishwasher?

Jude11

a reply to: jude11

We see tourists from the UK all the time in my town, with their kids. During school season. If this was something ordinary, it would be talked about more.

I'm thinking maybe the parents skipped out on telling the school anything about the planned absence which may have led to concerns. Seriously, if they had to gain "permission" each time they went on vacation, there would be stories about jailed parents every day.

Is this just a case of mistaking "informed absence" with "getting permission"? I have a hard time believing that all these families we see here went through some permission process.

originally posted by: Cuervo
a reply to: jude11

We see tourists from the UK all the time in my town, with their kids. During school season. If this was something ordinary, it would be talked about more.

I'm thinking maybe the parents skipped out on telling the school anything about the planned absence which may have led to concerns. Seriously, if they had to gain "permission" each time they went on vacation, there would be stories about jailed parents every day.

Is this just a case of mistaking "informed absence" with "getting permission"? I have a hard time believing that all these families we see here went through some permission process.

I can meet you there on that point.

But what about the fines, confiscation (theft) of your toaster, jail terms even after they tried to appeal?

Not ok.

Jude11

originally posted by: jude11

originally posted by: Annee
Here we go again.

Schools work on a very tight budget. They are paid only if student is in attendance.

You take your kid out of school - - you are stealing from the government.

You don't want your kid in a government school - - then pay for a private one.

um...wow.

So if I can't afford a private school because the Govt. takes most of my money for everything else, I have to hand over ownership of my child to the very same Govt. and then pay them again if I decide to take that same child out for a couple of days?

I think I got that right. ?

And as another poster just stated "Academy" must mean private school. In this case your argument just lost all traction.

Fact is Fact.

You enroll your child in public/government school - - - your child is the marker for payment. No Marker - No Payment.

Do you work? How would you feel if your work depended on someone being there? That person decides to take a week off - - you don't get paid.

You don't like it? Get a different job.

It is what it is.

originally posted by: Bilk22

originally posted by: Annee
Here we go again.

Schools work on a very tight budget. They are paid only if student is in attendance.

You take your kid out of school - - you are stealing from the government.

You don't want your kid in a government school - - then pay for a private one.

That is truly an unbelievable response.

Socialism is a wonderful thing.

This is where the US is heading.

The Real World is unbelievable?

What? Schools function on a "Promise and a Prayer"?

a reply to: Annee

You do understand that public schools are funded by taxpayers right?

originally posted by: jude11

originally posted by: Cuervo
a reply to: jude11

We see tourists from the UK all the time in my town, with their kids. During school season. If this was something ordinary, it would be talked about more.

I'm thinking maybe the parents skipped out on telling the school anything about the planned absence which may have led to concerns. Seriously, if they had to gain "permission" each time they went on vacation, there would be stories about jailed parents every day.

Is this just a case of mistaking "informed absence" with "getting permission"? I have a hard time believing that all these families we see here went through some permission process.

I can meet you there on that point.

But what about the fines, confiscation (theft) of your toaster, jail terms even after they tried to appeal?

Not ok.

Jude11

I'm not saying I'm agreeing with the fines at all. I'm actually thinking there's something critical to the story we are missing.

Are there any UK folks to confirm that this is a thing?

Unbelievable......so whats next.....will the diet police be sent round to your house if your kids is getting on the heavy side...bad parents off to jail you go for allowing your child to consume to many calories....

We the people are on a slippery slope of loss of rights and privileges...pretty sad really

a reply to: Annee


If this is how you see children in our society and are as ok with it as you seem to be.....then I hope to whatever creators are out there, that you don't have a job having anything to do with them

When people have started seeing others, especially children as nothing but commodities and are as ok with it as you are....then we are truly heading down a very dark path

Honestly these posts have brought understanding now to a lot of view points I've seen you share

It turns my stomach that people can feel this way and be ok with it

originally posted by: Annee

originally posted by: jude11

originally posted by: Annee
Here we go again.

Schools work on a very tight budget. They are paid only if student is in attendance.

You take your kid out of school - - you are stealing from the government.

You don't want your kid in a government school - - then pay for a private one.

um...wow.

So if I can't afford a private school because the Govt. takes most of my money for everything else, I have to hand over ownership of my child to the very same Govt. and then pay them again if I decide to take that same child out for a couple of days?

I think I got that right. ?

And as another poster just stated "Academy" must mean private school. In this case your argument just lost all traction.

Fact is Fact.

You enroll your child in public/government school - - - your child is the marker for payment. No Marker - No Payment.

Do you work? How would you feel if your work depended on someone being there? That person decides to take a week off - - you don't get paid.

You don't like it? Get a different job.

It is what it is.

It's called enrollment but it's actually just turning the kids over. Try NOT enrolling. It's not optional.

Comparing Govt. run schools with a private job doesn't even make sense.

Now, if I worked for the Govt. and someone didn't show up so that I couldn't do my job that day what happens? I either just clock in, drink coffee all day and get paid. Or sent home...with pay. What happens if the school closes for weather issues? Do teachers get docked wages? Nope...Paid.

Jude11

originally posted by: Annee
Here we go again.

Schools work on a very tight budget. They are paid only if student is in attendance.

You take your kid out of school - - you are stealing from the government.

You don't want your kid in a government school - - then pay for a private one.

Which is complete and utter horse sh**. That's not public school, that is forced indoctrination. When I had to undergo surgery (in the U.S.) we kept my daughter out of school for it. I've kept her out for birthdays and relative visits and my father's cancer surgery. I don't ask permission. Ever. They could read us the riot act for it. They could turn us into CPS for that matter, because it works exactly the same way in that they get paid by the government per head. They are incentivized to punish people for taking their kids out of school. But guess what? They don't say a word, because they know damn good and well that:

A. I would throw a wall-eyed fit.

B. I can afford a decent attorney to handle whatever crap they may want to send downstream my way.

and

C. I know how to work the system to make it cost them more money to make an "example" out of me than they even want to think about.

If you're poor though, you're vulnerable, either you home school your kid or you jump through their hoops. If that isn't exploitive than I don't know what is.

I choose what to prioritize for my child.

NOT. THE. SCHOOL!!

Period. Done.

Get over it.

I don't care how much money they are losing if she misses a day of attendance, and she has an IEP so they lose even more on her if she doesn't make their attendance requirements, and I give a crap. I pay the same % of my income in taxes whether she goes to school or not, I'm not "stealing" anything. I'm paying for that school just like everybody else is. The school is there to provide a service for which they are reimbursed. Saying that I'm stealing from the government by keeping her out of school is like saying that growing your own vegetables is "stealing" from the grocery store.

originally posted by: greencmp
a reply to: Annee

You do understand that public schools are funded by taxpayers right?

Absolutely!

originally posted by: Annee

originally posted by: greencmp
a reply to: Annee

You do understand that public schools are funded by taxpayers right?

Absolutely!

So, if a citizen has already paid for a service, how does fining them for not utilizing it completely make any sense at all?

a reply to: redhorse

You can claim whatever you want.

I'm talking about America's school system - - - which sounds exactly the same.

You keep your child out of school - - - you are stealing from the government.