Sir, – As a retired school principal enjoying affordable flights during term time, which were previously unavailable to me, I empathise with parents who take their children on holidays during the school year (Carl O’Brien, “‘The savings are huge’: Surge in parents taking children out of school for holidays but not everyone is happy”, Education, February 3rd).
However, for academic success, good attendance is imperative. It’s not only about the missed work but also the parents’ lax attitude towards education that detrimentally influences their children. The curriculum has become more prescriptive and congested, necessitating optimal attendance. When children underachieve at school due to poor attendance, it is the school that will bear the blame. – Yours, etc,
ENDA CULLEN,
Armagh.