I need to take my boy out of school for one day so that we can go to a family wedding.
Does anyone know the 'official' process ?
Hi
It depends on the school, ask the secretary or whomever you call when your child is ill for the procedure.
For my daughter I just write a note in her correspondance book that says "she will be missing school for personal reasons" (like when I took her skiing for the day ).
I call the teacher the day before, or in the morning of the day. Just so they don't think they are AWOL. The kids are allowed 1 or 2 days a semester.
In our primary school, the kids are allowed 2 joker days when they can be taken out of school for any reason in the year (just write them a note saying they wont be in school today). other wise you have to write to the schulesekatariat.
Hi thanks for the feedback
I had heard that I had to inform the Gemeinde, but that seemed ridiculously bureaucratic... oh what am I saying... it's Switzerland... probably should inform the UN as welll
hehe, you made me smile
We have to go through this even for kids in Kindergarten .... A friend of ours ( Swiss ) told us that once she had to pay a fine for not informing !
I am taking my two kids out of Kindergarten for 5 days next week. I just had to advise the Basel Stadt, UN.... everyone. Ironically because we live in Basel Landt they don't even need to be in full time Kindi yet and despite that you would think I was locking them up and beating them for 5 days rather than taking them away for some much needed family time.
In truth - its a four page form that needed completing - for each child. It then goes back to the School director who will decide whether there is a convincing enough reason to give approval. Assuming they agree, they sign the form off and it then gets lodged with Basel Stadt. When the children transfer schools the record goes with them. I understand in Kindi they are allowed 5 days a year but can add two years worth of allowance together to give 10 days. In "proper school" I understand its only 2 days per year but this can be saved up over the years........
You are in Switzerland after all.........
I'm quite surprised to learn that it's such a big deal to take kids out of school for a few days. My parents yanked us out of class all the time as children (by which I mean we had very frequent long weekend trips and the occasional mid-academic-year week-long holiday) and I don't for one second believe that missing a few weeks' worth of elementary and high school lessons has adversely affected my life in any way.
Out of curiosity, what are the repercussions of taking your child out of school for 'unapproved' reasons, or (heaven forbid) without having received any permission at all? Do they permanently blacklist the child as a truant, or do you just receive a sternly-worded letter in the mail from the quote-unquote powers that be?
Just curious,
HM
Again the rules vary by canton. Canton Zurich had a bad truancy rate in some parts which went down after fines were introduced for repeat offenders. Admittedly it weren't the kindergartners, more the 13-15 years old troublemakers.
Thanks for the quick reply. I can understand that unexcused truancy in the teenage crowd is frowned upon, particularly with "problem kids", but I'm more curious as to what they'd do if, say, parents took their reasonably bright and generally well-behaved child away for a week-long family holiday mid-semester, or occasionally took them out of school on a Friday just for the sake of having a nice long weekend with the family. Are fines generally applied in this case? (Or are people so concerned with school attendance here that this just never happens in the first place? )
HM
Tell the school that he's got some horribly infectious disease (beri beri, scurvy or somesuch), and they'll be more than willing to let you take a week or more off!
The concept of skipping a Friday or even a whole week for some quality time with the family would sound strange to the majority of teachers. That's what the twelve weeks of vacation are for, after all. I remember though that back in primary school a classmate of mine prolonged the holidays to visit relatives in a faraway land.
Like I've said the rules depend on the canton and if the sanctions are enforced may also depend on the school. I can't exclude the possibility that a teacher would approve of additional vacation days but it's probable that they'll take unannounced absences as an affront. If they happen repeatedly, the teacher most probably will inform the school authorities and maybe also the social welfare office.
The attendance discipline sometimes dips after the nine mandatory school years have passed.
I've taken my daughter out of Kindergarten quite a few times just phoning the teacher in the morning saying that she is sick.
One day is ok... of couse if they miss 4 or 5 days in a row the school might get suspicious.
I have three children(teenagers) at a local private school and taking them out of school during term is a big NO NO! To be fair, the children at this school have long holidays, far more than in England and given the amount of work they have to undertake during this time i kind of understand the schools stance on this.
There is no need to go telling porkies to the school. Most Kantons follow the Federal guidance and allow 1 or 2 days a year for family occasions such as weddings or funerals. Simply inform the school.
This is not true. Informing the school is enough. The school informs the Schule Gemeinde and they maintain the records.
In Canton Bern you get 5 half days per school year ( green booklet) where you can take your child off school, it doesn't matter if you add them in a string and' take' them in one go or if you take them singularly, one morning off here an afternoon off there... they ask you to inform the teacher the day BEFORE you want to take your kid off.
We took our middle one off one morning last week when the EHC managed to ascend to the national League A , to allow her to sleep longer, after she returned at 2 am in the morning with her dad from celebrating in town.