School = Prison

I heard a news report about a high number of teenagers being depressed and it doesn't take a genius to understand why. Parents are forced to send their children to school to complete a minimum of 13 years in an institution where parents and kids have very little say.

School is just like an open prison where children have to follow rules without question. There is often bullying by teachers and other inmates -er, pupils- and sentences are not commuted for good behaviour. These kids have done nothing wrong and not even had a trial - so much for living in a 'free' country.

Here's the shocker... some teenagers hate school and this leads to depression and aggression. Earlier generations could leave school at 14, 15 or 16 but now it's 18 and the reasons for this are not improved education but political convenience. No wonder that some teenagers feel that the only control they have over their lives is the power to end it.

Flexing yet more power, authorities are now punishing parents with hefty fines for deciding that two weeks of quality family time is important. This is not about the child's education, it's a spiteful reaction to stop people stepping out of line.

During a discussion regarding discretionary term-time holidays, a councillor from Leeds on Breakfast TV nullified her argument by asking What if 20 people wanted to take their child out of a class in the same week? Reverting to discussions between parents and head-teacher would ensure that such occasions are managed properly and work can be made up, as it has to be if a child is off sick or suspended.

And, oh joy, we are exporting our education system to third world countries in the same way our ancestors exported religion. I think we need a re-think.

Mum
(who never took a child out of school)