Early school start....why????! | ExpatWoman.com
 

Early school start....why????!

118
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EW NEWBIE
Latest post on 04 October 2011 - 11:25

Having lived here for over 14 years and doing the school run for all of that time, (with a few more years to go...) I still don't understand why we have to get our kids to school so early. It isn't a case of keeping 'cooler hours' anymore! They start, in most cases between 7.30am and 8am, due to the traffic situation we have to leave earlier and earlier -(6.45am in our case) - which usually means getting up around 5.45am, if your child has to get the school bus they pick up anywhere from 6am to 7am! Mine are in secondary now, usually finishing around 4 to 4.30pm with after school activities....homework and any extra curricular stuff done in the evening quite often means kids not getting to bed fairly late, to be up at 5.45am again! If our kids were starting earlier and finishing earlier than their cousins at home in the UK I could possible understand it, but actually in the UK they start at 8.45am and finish at 3pm??????? Wouldn't it be more sensible to have a slightly later start, less traffic on the roads so it would be safer, kids would have a good nights sleep and be better for it!!!!As would I! Sorry, moan over!

63
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EW NEWBIE
Latest post on 04 October 2011 - 19:41
I have thought about petitioning DD's school about this. She is a bright kid but always tired for waking up at 6am, even when I get her to bed at 7pm. And the early starts are adding years to MY face! it's ridiculous and unnecessary IMHO!
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EW MASTER
Latest post on 04 October 2011 - 19:00
it's nice finishing at 2 - makes the afternoon seem longer..could do without the 5.30 alarm though lol
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EW NEWBIE
Latest post on 04 October 2011 - 18:04
Because the holidays are alot longer here and they need the extra time to get through the currriculum
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EW MASTER
Latest post on 04 October 2011 - 16:13
I find the starting time of 8 am perfectly normal. What I don't find normal are the late finishing times and there is another thread about that subject that appeared today.
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EW EXPLORER
Latest post on 04 October 2011 - 14:08
I think it's all about your routine at home and how you manage it. If your child starts earlier, then they need to be in bed earlier. You have to find the right balance between giving them some free time, homework time, and ASA time. I think also here in Dubai, the school culture is different - i.e. it is hard to find schools near where you live, and therefore you spend a lot of time on the school run because you don't live next door. Before, it took us 15-20 mins to get to school. Now that we have moved, it literally takes us 4 mins in the car, The difference is enormous. School Buses leave you no other option but to leave earlier - some kids leave home 1 1/2hrs before the school bell! Surely this is detrimental for the child. I guess, if you can, try and choose a house close to your school or vice versa. It will change your life!! In regards to the link from OP - I don't think you are teaching your child any discipline with letting them sleep in, As they get older we need to prepare them for the real world. Go to bed earlier...get up earlier - not much to it really.
118
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EW NEWBIE
Latest post on 04 October 2011 - 12:03
Phew, don't like the sound of French hours!!! But, simpleasabc - I am Paul Kelly's latest fan!!! I would love to send those reports to the schools - agree re the lead ballon though!! In all seriousness I read a report last week in the Gulf News about the increase of diseases like diabetes in expats and locals and in children in the this area. It did highlight lack of sleep as being one of the triggers for many physical and mental health issues. I really do believe that having to get your children up around 5.30, 5.45am is ridiculous, common sense dictates it can't be good for them. The 'because of the heat' response always gets me when the kids are sent outside for PE and breaks around 11am, and after school netball, football, rugby at 3pm.....doesn't quite follow....but it has been bug bear of mine for many years now and I don't think it will ever change. It has been re highlighted to me recently as apart from all the other issues surrounding early starts, the roads since September appear to have gone crazy...lots of manic driving around, how much safer would it be for us if school started just a little later.....
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EW EXPERT
Latest post on 04 October 2011 - 11:56
I went to school in France and the school days for secondary were lessons start at 8h and carry on until 16h30, with 1h30 break for lunch. I had to get the school bus at 6h50 to get in for 8h. 6th form was even "better" - 8h-18h, so 9 hours of lessons and 1 hour for lunch, bus at 7h and back at 7h, to have dinner and then do homework... ... and I used to dream of living in a shoebox! Gosh, yes, I worked as a French conversation teacher in a secondary school in Arles and the hours the children had to be awake were barbaric, particularly as the catchment area for the school was huge and some children had to get the bus at 6 am and would arrive home at 8pm, because of the bus routes, IIRC. It clearly had an effect on their ability to concentrate on school-work during the day. yup... properly hardcore, but I think it only really worked because we had Wednesday off and boy did we need that mid-week break! Still, in comparison, the UK school day is positively part-time!
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EW OLDHAND
Latest post on 04 October 2011 - 11:53
Ours starts at 830 and ends at 330. Works well for us.
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EW MASTER
Latest post on 04 October 2011 - 11:41
I went to school in France and the school days for secondary were lessons start at 8h and carry on until 16h30, with 1h30 break for lunch. I had to get the school bus at 6h50 to get in for 8h. 6th form was even "better" - 8h-18h, so 9 hours of lessons and 1 hour for lunch, bus at 7h and back at 7h, to have dinner and then do homework... ... and I used to dream of living in a shoebox! Gosh, yes, I worked as a French conversation teacher in a secondary school in Arles and the hours the children had to be awake were barbaric, particularly as the catchment area for the school was huge and some children had to get the bus at 6 am and would arrive home at 8pm, because of the bus routes, IIRC. It clearly had an effect on their ability to concentrate on school-work during the day.
1861
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EW EXPERT
Latest post on 04 October 2011 - 11:38
I went to school in France and the school days for secondary were lessons start at 8h and carry on until 16h30, with 1h30 break for lunch. I had to get the school bus at 6h50 to get in for 8h. 6th form was even "better" - 8h-18h, so 9 hours of lessons and 1 hour for lunch, bus at 7h and back at 19h, to have dinner and then do homework... ... and I used to dream of living in a shoebox! <em>edited by Hello.Again.Kitty on 04/10/2011</em>
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EW MASTER
Latest post on 04 October 2011 - 11:38
Completely agree. Also agree with Dr Paul Kelley as seen here: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-14759593 or heard here: http://news.bbc.co.uk/today/hi/today/newsid_9574000/9574143.stm Thought about sending this to head of dorter's school, but think it would probably go down like a lead balloon ;)
32
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EW NEWBIE
Latest post on 04 October 2011 - 11:36
When i was touring the schools to find one for my daughter, and I think I toured them all! - I always asked the question of the early start and I got several different replies depending on the schools. Some said it was because in Dubai everybody starts early so working parents have to leave their kids to school early - Other schools said it was because of the heat - And other schools said it's because it is more convenient for their staff. Ah and some other said well it's like that. Not sure which one is the right answer! :)))
 
 

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