Hacker News Reader

Comment by kleiba | Hacker News Reader

Sorry, I don't understand - why wouldn't you do that?

Parent (heh) means they have no choice but to plan their holidays during the days off in the school roster. Tools like these are pretty much pointless if you can take a day off from work, but your kid is required to show up in school.

When I had younger children, we would just pull them from school on occasion. This did require a bit coordinating with homework, teachers etc, but they don't have to be in school. On a more serious note, schools are there to serve you, be assertive about your children being yours, they do not belong to the state (at least in the USA).

Yeah, that doesn't work in a lot of countries. I can be assertive all I want, but if I pull my child out of school without permission, I risk getting a call from the local child protection services and/or getting fined.

_Whose_ permission is needed? You're their parent , that's all the "permissions" needed.

In the Netherlands (and other countries), you have something called "leerplicht" or obligatory education law, and have to ask the school for permission.

The school is allowed to make an exemption for a maximum of 10 days, above that you need to contact the school attendance officer. This can only be provided if the reason falls under some specific types.

If you want to take your children on a holiday outside the national holidays, you have to provide proof that this only a possibility during term time.

You can read more about this at https://www.government.nl/topics/compulsory-school-attendanc...

It's the same in Germany, plus home schooling is not permitted (except in some very specific circumstances).

I live in a country that has laws that protect the children, this includes making sure they get an education.

So now you are not free to do whatever you wish or force schools to teach the way you would like to.

And this is great.

And I also pulled my kids from school once or twice to get a better price on skiing but I am ashamed of myself.

School isn't optional in a lot of European countries. Parents don't get to decide that their kids don't need to attend.

Parents don't always know best. There are countries where the child's right to education is seen as higher than the parent's right to do what they think is right.

If kids are performing academically there isn’t much grounds for the school to stand on.

If I am driving 200 km/h but did not have an accident there isn't much grounds for police to fine me.

Law is not optional.

I meant to be referring to pulling kids out of school randomly .. nothing to do with speeding. My comment appears to have ended up under the wrong post :)

You're not from around here, are you :-)

> if you can take a day off from work, but your kid is required to show up in school.

Sounds like a real day off, though. ;)

If I could go on a 4-day week, I think I would choose Wednesday, drop the kids off at school, head to the mountains for a hike or skiing in winter, and pick them back up in the afternoon. Now, that would be the perfect work week :)

This sounds like a feature request / opportunity.

Like, can the tool be expanded to do:

1) Finding vacation time for a group of people (family? college friends?)

2) Can you include black-out days (school days for kids, whatever your specific job requires, etc)

I mean, as long as _I'm_ not responsible for making this thing I can make feature suggestions all day :)

Reply on news.ycombinator.com