common practice?

[Kaz]

It does seem to be very much a one-way street!

[TheOstrich]

Lets hope it works both ways ......

Absolutely. A £15 fine for being 5 minutes late is outrageous and the school should be challenged.

Same with our quacks. "If you're 10 minutes late for an appointment with a doctor or a nurse, you will be asked to re-book". And how many times have I sat idly in a waiting room for over 20 minutes past my appointment time without any hint of an apology?

As MM said, it should work both ways ...

[Kaz]

Quite so Ossie!!

[Rodo]

When it comes to things like this, teachers are always in the wrong, no matter what. There is little appreciation from the general public nowadays. I am only too glad I am out of it now. Teachers these days have to teach children how to eat, how to go to the toilet, how to dress themselves etc. etc. etc. Parents just leave everything to them and then just complain endlessly.

I think I will leave the debate now!

[Kaz]

Aw Rodo, I think teachers do a great job on the whole - I wouldn't want to do it - but they don't do so badly on the holiday front I don't think anyone here thinks that the teachers themselves have put these fines in place, or the rules over holidays! Nothing personal! xxxx

[miasmum]

Aw Rodo, I think teachers do a great job on the whole - I wouldn't want to do it - but they don't do so badly on the holiday front I don't think anyone here thinks that the teachers themselves have put these fines in place, or the rules over holidays! Nothing personal! xxxx

Absolutely not and having worked in a primary school I know how tough teaching children these days can be.

BUT nothing but nothing, will convince me about snow days. Even though I now realise half the kids don't turn up, I still think the schools should be open for those that do. For working parents already trying to make 4 weeks holiday cover 12 weeks school holidays, plus training days, polling days, strike days, heating/water/lighting not working days, without snow days. Everybody else has to at least try or face losing money or holidays, therefore so should school staff. Although I would be quite happy if all they had to do was report to their nearest school and keep the children safe

[Kaz]

Yep, I agree on that too

[miasmum]

Lets hope it works both ways ......

Same with our quacks. "If you're 10 minutes late for an appointment with a doctor or a nurse, you will be asked to re-book". And how many times have I sat idly in a waiting room for over 20 minutes past my appointment time without any hint of an apology?

As MM said, it should work both ways ...

but MM actually sees this one differently. The other week I went to see my GP about my anxiety. She is the same GP that diagnosed my breast cancer and she is wonderful. I went in at 10.10 which was 10 mins late, but I came out at 10.35 she saw me for 25 mins in a 10 min slot. She is always, always running late but that is why, because she gives you time, she never ever makes you feel you are wasting her time, she never sneaks a look at the clock but she always apologises for running late, and if your surgery doesn't that is wrong. When I was a receptionist I kept my eye on the time, and told patients if their GP was running late.

[Kaz]

That's really good Shell, they should all do that - but they don't! Mine don't

[miasmum]

I know they don't I am very very lucky with my surgery (the one I go to, not the one I work at that is)