detention for not doing homework in y1? !

[mybloodykitchen]

Just had a letter from school saying that if children fail to complete hwk they will be asked to do it at lunchtime. Which is a detention basically. Dd is 5! I can't believe they can put a 5 yo in detention because she didn't complete hwk - surely it's our fault if she doesn't do it - not hers? I wouldn't mind but the hwk is MINDNUMBING. I am a teacher and I think the things we do at home are more valuable than - for example - writing out all the numbers up to 100 so sometimes she does it sometimes it gets left.

Does anyone know if this is becoming standard practice? Or am I right to be so cross?

I am inclined to write to the school and would ideally like to back it up with something other than just me whinging!

[rosieliveson1]

I think you have to do it. Do you not sign a learning agreement with the school which says you'll support the ethos etc? Just crack whatever the work is out really quickly and get on with something else.

[mybloodykitchen]

Thanks for replying -I see your point but I feel the policy is wrong. Apart from anything else we know that homework is much less likely to be completed by disadvantaged children. So the detention will probably consist of the poorest kids in the class and dd It just feels like really poor practice...

I don't know if it's just dd's teacher who is fairly inexperienced or school policy. I guess I should find that out.

[Wolfiefan]

That's rubbish! And the HW tasks sound mind numbing and pointless.
Perhaps ask the teacher every week what the learning objective of the HW is? Perhaps HW will improve!
And do check if it is policy. Sounds nuts if it is!

[ohisay]

I wouldn't be happy about this at all! Totally unfair to punish young children for their parents not doing homework with them! You are absolutely right that it will be the disadvantaged children being punished! Our school encourages completing 'home learning' tasks but they certainly aren't forced! Definitely make your feelings (and concern) clear!

[ReallyTired]

Really... How much home does your dd have. Surely she could get it done quite quickly if she just got her head down and got it out the way.

[3point14159265359]

You could look at it as the school making sure kids who don't get the time/space/help at home to get the time/space/help they need to do it in school instead.

[Molio]

Any form of homework in primary is unreasonable and this compulsion particularly so. I'm amazed too: aged 5! None of my DC ever had homework, apart from their reading book being sent home when they were learning to read. I don't think the teachers were keen to mark and that suited me, them and the DC fine. I think I'd tell the teacher you don't think it's productive and you don't want your DC kept in at lunchtime to do it.

[BlueSmarties76]

What BOLLOCKS from the school.

Personally I really value the ability to say either "not enough work, more please" or "sorry, DC too tired yesterday".

[crispytruffle]

I wouldn't be happy either. Like you say it is punishing a child for something not in their control. Our year 1 homework is also very dull, our school relies heavily on worksheets which are usually really awful and it never gets marked! We've missed a sheet before and DD and been told by the TA that she must remember to do her homework, that's pretty much all that happens.

[Jw35]

That's harsh!

[user789653241]

Just let them do the homework. Problem solved. And good habit for future.

[RiverTam]

Utter bollocks. DDis year one, they are given homework but it doesn't have to be done and isn't officially marked. Even in Year two they don't mind if you don't do it as long as you communicate the fact.

I would kick off about this big time. And yy, the hw sounds very dull!