I WOULD like to comment on the topic of children being taken out of school to go on a family holiday.

I believe that children should be allowed to have a fortnight’s holiday with their parents outside school holidays. Why do I believe this?

Politicians are wrong to make taking a holiday in term-time a criminal offence.

All the towns in Lancashire used to have different holiday times. This enabled hoteliers to cater for everybody, but not any more. Politicians do not seem to understand the economics.

Germany has a system of staggered holidays because it makes sense; our politicians seem to be sadly lacking in common sense.

Parents who take their children out of school can be prosecuted and even go to prison. This means having a criminal record which can damage employment possibilities for something I believe should not be a crime. It seems our politicians are lacking education.

If you happen to work in an industry that allocates your holidays you may well have to take your holidays during term time otherwise you do not have a family holiday. If you can only afford to take your children on holiday outside the prescribed school holidays then you are again penalising the child. If you’re on a politician’s pay then you’re sitting pretty and you can afford it; the majority of the nation, however, are not.

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