to not make my dc sign a school agreement she won't understand

[m0therofdragons]

Dd is 3 but will be 4 at the end of august and so starts school in September. We are filling in all the school documents and one bit is a school /child agreement about Internet usage. Dd has to sign to say she will use the Internet and school network responsibly and will respect copyright etc. I can understand that she needs to use the Internet carefully, do what her teacher says and put her hand up if something appears that she is unsure of but that's not how it's worded. I feel really uncomfortable making her sign something she won't understand. Also she can't actually write her name so overall it's pointless.
When she's older of course it makes sense but at 3? (Letter is supposed to be handed in before the summer).

[Cantbelievethisishappening]

Cant you just have a chat to her about it then sign it yourself to state that?

[Icimoi]

Home/school agreements are legally worthless - they're not enforceable contracts. I agree the idea of making a 4 year old sign one is mad. I would be tempted to tell the school you don't think it is appropriate at DD's age but you will reconsider in a year's time.

[MakeItACider]

Its to show that you have discussed it with her and she understands it as much as she possibly can for her age. What's the big deal?

We signed the exact same document, and DS2 was much the same age as your DD.

[CoogerAndDark]

It comes down to listening to teacher instructions and telling an adult if they have any problems or come across something that worries them online.

I agree it sounds like an agreement for an older child, but you can explain it to her in a way she understands.

[OwlinaTree]

Will she be able to use the internet at school if she doesn't? Could you write on it that you have talked to her about it?

[m0therofdragons]

I'm happy to talk to her and i have signed the parent bit but the child bit just won't make sense. What 4 year old understands copyright?! Another bit says she mustn't use it for financial gain. Huh? How would she do that exactly?
I know I'm probably being u but I would never sign something I didn't understand so I don't feel happy making her do it - although she's more likely to draw a picture than attempt her name anyway.

[BarbarianMum]

Don't ask her to sign it, if you don't want to. We didn't - just put in a note that we expected their internet access to be appropriately supervised at all times (these are 4 year olds after all).

They never came back to me, even though now (aged 7 and 9) I'd be happy for them to sign.

[m0therofdragons]

Thanks barbarian - that's what I've done so it's nice to know it's not just me. I'm not normally antagonistic.

[VoldemortsNipple]

It's just about making dcs feel included in rule making. She's not likely to be surfing the web in foundation anyway. But if you feel strongly about it, just leave it blank. If the school question it, which they probably won't, explain why it's been left blank.

[ChablisTyrant]

I didn't get my kid to sign it. She's four. She's never even seen the Internet, except BBC iplayer website.

[BossWitch]

I'd be speaking to the school about the importance of not signing things you don't understand just because someone in authority told you to do so. That, I think, is a much more important life long lesson!

They've obviously got a stock acceptable use agreement from somewhere (local authority or academy sponsor) and have just dished it out without thinking. I would want to point out to someone high up - headteacher or deputy, whoever has IT in their remit - the complete and total pointlessness of asking infants to sign a "contact" which has clearly been written for much older students. I might, depending on how arsey I was feeling, be asking if they take a similar approach to resourcing their lessons - ie cut and paste of something utterly inappropriate for the age group. Ooh I might also ask where they got the original from and whether they obtained permission for its use or if in fact they were guilty of plagiarism themselves! He he!

They need their heads adjusted. I'm a teacher, so I'm not simply up for stirring up shit, but it is bonkers Fir them to ask for this. Bypass the poor sod teaching reception, go to the numpty who made the decision in the first place.

[SuburbanRhonda]

BossWitch, you sound like a lovely calm and level-headed teacher

[WaxyBean]

I returned these forms for my nursery and reception aged children without their signatures (mine was on it) - the youngest is only just learning to write his name so how they elected him to sign it I don't know! Not heard a word back from the school so assume they can't really expect them to so comprehend and sign this at this age.

[MarionHaste]

Like you, I signed my part and left the DC part blank. The school never asked again.

[BossWitch]

I am indeed Rhonda. I didn't suggest ranting and raving, but I fully believe idiotic policy - such as this - should be challenged. And maybe it's because I teach secondary not primary, but I think teaching anyone to blindly submit to authority even in situations in which the authority is clearly, obviously wrong is a terrible thing to do. Obviously the OPs dc wouldn't consciously understand that point, but I wouldn't want to start building up that mindset by telling her to sign an agreement she doesn't understand and isn't relevant to her.

I'd say recognising and challenging institutional stupidity is a good thing.