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Editor's Note: School truancy in teh UK is a problem that just will not go away. Without the participation of parents, little can be achieved to overcome this problem. By the end of 2004, over 49,000 pupils missed school every day without a good reason, according to government reports, and in 2006, a staggering 55,000 pupils per day.
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"School Is Cool" was the message sent out when school children from the East London-based Ben Jonson Primary School recently took part in a day trip to the seaside.
The 37 pupils traveled to Walton on the Naze, a traditional seaside town with the second longest pier in Britain. The specially arranged day trip was a reward for the pupils upon accomplishing the mammoth feat of 100 percent attendance for the academic year 2006/07.
Jenny Rollison, Ben Jonson's school home support worker said, "At Ben Jonson School, our good results are based on partnership between all concerned parties."
"A lot of pupils have had to tackle many obstacles to achieve so well, and I am delighted to have been able to be a part of such a fun filled day."
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"Credit is due to everybody; pupils, parents, and professionals for working so hard to reach such brilliant school attendance. On a personal level for me, the shrieks of delight and seeing the children having such fun has been the icing on the cake."
Jay Hussain, the borough's Attendance and Welfare Advisor allocated to the school, said, "The improvement of school attendance is a responsibility that is shared by pupils, parents, and the borough."
"We are very grateful for the support of our sponsors, without whose generosity, the visit to this lovely seaside town may well not have happened."
Accompanied by adults, the children took part in a sandcastle-building competition, a knee-length dip in the sea, and a fun-filled session on the pier. Abida, a third-grade pupil, said,
"I really enjoyed myself. This is the first time, I have gone to the beach. I liked playing on the pier."
Ayub, another pupil, said,
"I liked building sandcastles and splashing in the water. I never miss school, because I like learning and being with my friends. I'm going to make sure I come in every day next year as well."
The daytrip was arranged, coordinated, and managed by the adults, and it was made possible by the generosity of the London-based Canadian Imperial Bank of Commerce.
If school is so cool, why are more and more children truanting from school?
Sources:
"Primary School Truancy Crackdown." BBC News. 28 May 2006. Accessed 1 Aug. 2007.
Smithers, Rebecca. "More Pupils Bunk off School, Figures Show." Guardian Unlimited. 17 Sep. 2004. Accessed 1 Aug. 2007.
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