So here's my pennies worth.... flame me if you want. But I'll still sleep well tonight.
1. I think MoreCashThanDash has made a valid point on the start of school for his child on the two week's point. It was a handful of 1/2 days for my children, only a few years ago. However the wording may of been better worded.
2. MoreCashThanDash is getting unfair ribbing for his user name and some stereotypical comments going out. I don't know him, but if he's really that more cash, he'd be going private. Trust me, I'm looking closely to pull mine out of state school because me & my wife (and my children) are not happy with a number of different things .
3. There's a huge variation of schools and quality of teachers out there. Some, frankly in the private sector wouldn't get past the front door - others I have the utmost respect for. E.g. For the junior school my children went to the new head turned up with a new personalised number plate X5, then sets about trying to encourage them to walk to school. Funnily enough she couldn't get to school in the snow. A few other things too and you get the gist.
4. As next week is the last week of "teaching" for most schools - how many of you will have your children come home and say they watched videos all day? I experienced that last year and was not impressed.