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Original poster

DS is so negative about school.

13 replies

Summerishere123 · 01/03/2023 18:02

DS is in year 5 and claims to hate school. He is a bit ahead in Maths but nothing else so I don't think it isn't challenging enough. He says alot of the stuff seems pointless and there are other things they could teach in place.
Is this just what kids say? Do they all hate school?

OP posts:
cansu · 01/03/2023 18:07

My reply would be brink and no nonsense.
What a pity! I usually find that if I get involved as much as I can I enjoy things more.
Then move on. Many kids moan that things are boring.

Indiaplain · 01/03/2023 20:33

Yes mine says the same, and tbh I find it hard not to agree. He is right really - there is so much wrong with our education system! I don't want to home school though, despite agreeing with the general ethos. So school it is!

I do point out the good things - eg his friendships, the times they do have interesting lessons. I also try and encourage good /fun use of time outside of school - so school is hours a days which leaves plenty left to do what he wants.

Also, I don't force homework .

FrenchFancie · 01/03/2023 20:47

Yes and no.
i would be talking to him about how we sometimes have to do things that aren’t super fun all the time - my work isn’t fun all the time, school isn’t fun all the time, but it’s necessary for him to achieve what he wants in the future.

i would certainly push reading at home - there’s good research to show that regular reading at home increases pupils ability elsewhere. Other homework at primary level is a bit dubious but it stops them having a big shock when they get to senior school.

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LetThemEatTurnips · 01/03/2023 20:54

i would be talking to him about how we sometimes have to do things that aren’t super fun all the time - my work isn’t fun all the time, school isn’t fun all the time, but it’s necessary for him to achieve what he wants in the future God, yes, crush him at age 9/10.

I'd just go with 'That's a shame, what can you do at lunchtime to have some fun in the middle of the day?' plus 'What would you like after school?' - my aim would be to minimise the negatives, accentuate the positives.

DisneyChops · 01/03/2023 21:00

Yea they all say it.
School is pretty boring.

Smartiepants79 · 01/03/2023 21:06

DisneyChops · 01/03/2023 21:00

Yea they all say it.
School is pretty boring.

No they don’t.
Neither of mine have ever said it and we’re up to year 8 now.
Inevitably, some parts are less interesting than others. But over all my girls enjoy school.

Tickledtrout · 01/03/2023 21:15

Does he seem generally happy and upbeat OP? Are his friendships good?

He's not alone in his verdict on the curriculum though and the English state education system especially, isn't a purposeful, nurturing or enjoyable experience for children (or adults tbh, but they at least make a choice to be there).

PennyRa · 01/03/2023 22:36

A lot of schools and teachers are just awful at engaging students in learning

EmmiJay · 01/03/2023 22:44

My dd (yr4) also ✨️hates✨️ school. Shes really upbeat and likes to be friendly with everyone. Sadly, the "cliquey" stuff has started amongst the girls and she doesn't like it. Shes constantly looking forward to weekends and half terms so she can have her type of fun with her gang of cousins lol. Following this thread to see if any suggestions pop up to turn this around😬

Needmoresleepmorecoffee · 02/03/2023 01:15

I think that lots of children who are getting to the end of primary school no longer like it. You have been in a class of the same 30 odd children for years and years at this point and it could be a bit tiresome.

It could be something as simple as that. I wouldn't worry to much though as lots of children don't like school.

whiteroseredrose · 02/03/2023 02:10

Mine really enjoyed school as did I.

It isn't a bad thing to learn that like @FrenchFancie said, sometimes in life you have to do things that you find pointless.

I couldn't see the point of art or PE when I was at school, but some people in my class liked them.

MintJulia · 02/03/2023 02:18

I think you need to look carefully for a decent senior school. It sounds like your ds is bored.

My ds was the same, he was bored stupid by year 5. We got through year 6 but it was a battle. The primary school just focused on SATS and it didn't help. Then I put him up for an academic scholarship at the local independent. He had a couple of taster days first, and came home raving about how good it was. I explained that if he wanted to go there, he would have to pass an exam to get in, it seemed to catch his enthusiasm and he went for it.

He's been there four years, and is a different child, happy and engaged. He's head down in GCSE Physics and Chemistry at the moment.

Newuser82 · 02/03/2023 02:34

My son said school was boring for years. Never liked it and never wanted to go. We thought it was just the way he was and that he wanted to stay at home. We moved him about 2 years ago for different reasons. He has never once said it again. Maybe that school is boring but another would suit him better?

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