Family Holidays During School Term-Time: Does Education Really Inhibit Family Access to Tourism?
Author: Emily Rayner
2 Commentries
Key Words: School Holidays, Family, Children, Education, Benefits of a Holiday.
Abstract
This paper looks at the controversial issue of taking family holidays during term-time and whether educational constraints can really be considered barriers to tourism. For a number of years now, many families have chosen to take their children out of school for a week or two in order to go on their annual family holiday, but should we be allowing children to miss school for the sake of a holiday?
"Sorry Miss I won't be in School Next Week, I'm going to Tenerife"
Family holidays which had not been agreed with the school beforehand accounted for the third highest reasons given for unauthorised absences during 2008/09 (Griffiths, 2010). Sugden (2010: 17) supports these figures stating that in the UK, "Apart from sickness, the most popular reason for absence, authorised and unauthorised, was for family holidays." In total, six million school days are lost per year as parents take their children out of school to go away outside of the school term when costs are lower (Sugden, 2010). According to Wallop (2011), a recent survey carried out by a parenting website, suggested that 52% of parents asked said they were thinking of taking their children out of school this summer to save money and 15% of parents had already done so. These figures are hardly surprising given that a holiday could be as much as 269% more expensive, and on average a family of four could pay £1,132 more for a holiday during half term, than if they took their children out of school and went two weeks later (Wallop, 2011). According to Griffiths (2010: 13), "The industry consistently increases prices during summer holidays and encourages families to take children out of school so they can travel in the cheaper period." However, Wallop (2011) takes a different view in that, travel companies claim that the reason why holidays are less expensive during term time is a simple case of supply and demand, with fewer people wanting or able to travel at these times they are able to lower the price.
Holiday or No Holiday? That is the Question
For low income families (usually working class or unemployed), taking their children on holiday during term-time is their only option because the extortionate prices charged during the school holidays mean they simply cannot afford it. Smith and Hughes (1999) correspond with this theory, noting that financial means play a major part for low income families and for some, no real choice exists, leaving them with the dilemma of a holiday during term-time or no holiday at all.
This raises several issues including, whether access to tourism should be made fairer for all and why modern society now considers a holiday to be a god given right rather than a privilege. Holidays are now widely regarded as a necessary part of contemporary life (Smith and Hughes, 1999) and a common characteristic of modern society (Urry, 1990). Further to this, Holden (2005:73) states that, "Holidaying is now widely regarded as a normal, mainstream social practice."
It is clear to see that today, there are large proportions of society who are unable to access an annual holiday and are being denied the benefits that such tourism activity can bring. It is suggested that education is a contributing factor in inhibiting such access, as it is often the time constraints placed upon parents by schools that lead to the increased price of the family holiday. As McNeil (2006) reiterates', availability is as big a problem as affordability for families who can only travel in the school holidays. One head teacher claimed that they have every sympathy with parents who find the cost of a holiday during the school holidays a problem and accept that parents are put in a difficult position (Daybreak, 2011).
Why Do We Need a Holiday Anyway?
The benefits of tourist participation are wide ranging, Hazel (2005) describes the benefits of family holidays as; relief & renewal; mental health benefits; social interaction; broadening experiences; developing independence; and strengthening family relationships. Inglis (2000) further states that holidays are important to our emotional life, happiness and fulfilment. In a survey carried out by McCabe (2009) to determine why families 'need' a holiday, 51% thought that the most important reason for the family holiday was to spend time together as a family. This shows the high value that our society places on having a family holiday. Furthermore it has also been found that a lack of holiday opportunities can compound social deprivation, reinforce social problems and heighten social exclusion (Quinn and Stacey, 2010). This further highlights the importance of a holiday and the benefits that it can bring to families, particularly those from low income families who tend to be more vulnerable to social problems such as isolation, lack of family support, stress and living in an unsafe area (Quinn and Stacey, 2010).
Conclusion
This paper highlights the importance of a holiday and the benefits that it can bring to families. However, many low income families are missing out on a holiday because of the extortionate prices charged by the tourism industry during school holidays, however many families choose to take their children out of school to take advantage of the cheaper prices. This leaves the question of, if you can't afford to go on holiday during the school holidays, should you forfeit your annual holiday altogether? The research indicates that there are a range of conflicting views on this issue, but what is your view and what are the possible solutions to this rapidly increasing problem?
Please follow this link and see if you can make up your mind:
Daybreak. (2011) Going on Holiday During Term Time. [Online Video] 22nd March 2011. Available from: http://www.itv.com/daybreak/lifestyle/familiesandparenting/daybreaksfamilyweekgoingonholidayduringterm-time/ [Accessed: 28th April 2011]
Key References
Hickman, L. (2010) Are term time holidays really so bad? The Guardian. [Online] Available from: http://www.guardian.co.uk/education/2010/jun/28/taking-children-on-holiday-during-term-time [Accessed: 28th April 2011]
Smith, V. and Hughes, H. (1999) Disadvantaged Families and the Meaning of a Holiday. International Journal of Tourism Research, 1, pp. 123-133.
Wallop, H. (2011) Half of parents will take their children out of school for holiday. The Telegraph. [Online] Available from: http://www.telegraph.co.uk/travel/travelnews/8492162/Half-of-parents-will-take-children-out-of-school-for-holiday.html [Accessed: 28th April 2011]
Abstract
This paper looks at the controversial issue of taking family holidays during term-time and whether educational constraints can really be considered barriers to tourism. For a number of years now, many families have chosen to take their children out of school for a week or two in order to go on their annual family holiday, but should we be allowing children to miss school for the sake of a holiday?
"Sorry Miss I won't be in School Next Week, I'm going to Tenerife"
Family holidays which had not been agreed with the school beforehand accounted for the third highest reasons given for unauthorised absences during 2008/09 (Griffiths, 2010). Sugden (2010: 17) supports these figures stating that in the UK, "Apart from sickness, the most popular reason for absence, authorised and unauthorised, was for family holidays." In total, six million school days are lost per year as parents take their children out of school to go away outside of the school term when costs are lower (Sugden, 2010). According to Wallop (2011), a recent survey carried out by a parenting website, suggested that 52% of parents asked said they were thinking of taking their children out of school this summer to save money and 15% of parents had already done so. These figures are hardly surprising given that a holiday could be as much as 269% more expensive, and on average a family of four could pay £1,132 more for a holiday during half term, than if they took their children out of school and went two weeks later (Wallop, 2011). According to Griffiths (2010: 13), "The industry consistently increases prices during summer holidays and encourages families to take children out of school so they can travel in the cheaper period." However, Wallop (2011) takes a different view in that, travel companies claim that the reason why holidays are less expensive during term time is a simple case of supply and demand, with fewer people wanting or able to travel at these times they are able to lower the price.
Holiday or No Holiday? That is the Question
For low income families (usually working class or unemployed), taking their children on holiday during term-time is their only option because the extortionate prices charged during the school holidays mean they simply cannot afford it. Smith and Hughes (1999) correspond with this theory, noting that financial means play a major part for low income families and for some, no real choice exists, leaving them with the dilemma of a holiday during term-time or no holiday at all.
This raises several issues including, whether access to tourism should be made fairer for all and why modern society now considers a holiday to be a god given right rather than a privilege. Holidays are now widely regarded as a necessary part of contemporary life (Smith and Hughes, 1999) and a common characteristic of modern society (Urry, 1990). Further to this, Holden (2005:73) states that, "Holidaying is now widely regarded as a normal, mainstream social practice."
It is clear to see that today, there are large proportions of society who are unable to access an annual holiday and are being denied the benefits that such tourism activity can bring. It is suggested that education is a contributing factor in inhibiting such access, as it is often the time constraints placed upon parents by schools that lead to the increased price of the family holiday. As McNeil (2006) reiterates', availability is as big a problem as affordability for families who can only travel in the school holidays. One head teacher claimed that they have every sympathy with parents who find the cost of a holiday during the school holidays a problem and accept that parents are put in a difficult position (Daybreak, 2011).
Why Do We Need a Holiday Anyway?
The benefits of tourist participation are wide ranging, Hazel (2005) describes the benefits of family holidays as; relief & renewal; mental health benefits; social interaction; broadening experiences; developing independence; and strengthening family relationships. Inglis (2000) further states that holidays are important to our emotional life, happiness and fulfilment. In a survey carried out by McCabe (2009) to determine why families 'need' a holiday, 51% thought that the most important reason for the family holiday was to spend time together as a family. This shows the high value that our society places on having a family holiday. Furthermore it has also been found that a lack of holiday opportunities can compound social deprivation, reinforce social problems and heighten social exclusion (Quinn and Stacey, 2010). This further highlights the importance of a holiday and the benefits that it can bring to families, particularly those from low income families who tend to be more vulnerable to social problems such as isolation, lack of family support, stress and living in an unsafe area (Quinn and Stacey, 2010).
Conclusion
This paper highlights the importance of a holiday and the benefits that it can bring to families. However, many low income families are missing out on a holiday because of the extortionate prices charged by the tourism industry during school holidays, however many families choose to take their children out of school to take advantage of the cheaper prices. This leaves the question of, if you can't afford to go on holiday during the school holidays, should you forfeit your annual holiday altogether? The research indicates that there are a range of conflicting views on this issue, but what is your view and what are the possible solutions to this rapidly increasing problem?
Please follow this link and see if you can make up your mind:
Daybreak. (2011) Going on Holiday During Term Time. [Online Video] 22nd March 2011. Available from: http://www.itv.com/daybreak/lifestyle/familiesandparenting/daybreaksfamilyweekgoingonholidayduringterm-time/ [Accessed: 28th April 2011]
Key References
Hickman, L. (2010) Are term time holidays really so bad? The Guardian. [Online] Available from: http://www.guardian.co.uk/education/2010/jun/28/taking-children-on-holiday-during-term-time [Accessed: 28th April 2011]
Smith, V. and Hughes, H. (1999) Disadvantaged Families and the Meaning of a Holiday. International Journal of Tourism Research, 1, pp. 123-133.
Wallop, H. (2011) Half of parents will take their children out of school for holiday. The Telegraph. [Online] Available from: http://www.telegraph.co.uk/travel/travelnews/8492162/Half-of-parents-will-take-children-out-of-school-for-holiday.html [Accessed: 28th April 2011]