Four events this week at school during working hours…

[Breakfromschoolrequestsplease]

…followed by an email “have a great half term…here’s some homework plus a half term project”…and no doubt another virus.

Of course, I did make that clear in a later post. If I didn’t answer, they would call my husband’s school (he can’t answer his mobile whilst teaching), and he would of course leave work straightaway if need be. They’d also try my mum. Schools need to keep calling round until someone answers, of course. I never mind when my child’s school calls me, they are my responsibility ahead of anything else.

I was more making the point about how some parents see it as such an inconvenience or interruption to their day, but that’s to be expected when you have children, they are their children. I also know plenty of parents who would and have gone ballistic at school staff when they haven’t called them about their child even saying they feel sick, let alone if they were actually ill. Schools can’t win.

Same here! I never did the dentist appointments - I hate going so better they went with DH who was more positive about going. However follow up letters and reminders came addressed to me only!

Schools can do much better by following the instructions left by the parents as to who to call.

I think they do? Our school office just called in whatever numbered order of priority parents asked them to, unless they don’t answer.

As a matter of interest, what events would you deem of value to attend and which would you avoid?

If it was during the working day and I was working overseas I obviously wouldn’t attend. Anything educational always but at DT’s school parents teachers appointments were in the evening so we both attended.

Art exhibitions, sports events, plays etc were at the weekend so we attended.
It was only the one term that they were at a state school we missed the “let’s look at your classroom “ style events as they were during the working day.

Four events in one week is a lot, I’m trying to think how you could have so many.

Reading this just makes me thank fuck that now my two are adults I don’t have the relentless boring school shite to deal with 😂. I was a single mum but my ex husband was a fabulous Co parent and as he worked in the school next door during the primary years he could be relied on to pop in and pick up the girls, then stash them in his office until someone (sometimes even me) collected them.
I work in the aeronautical industry and both girls are mega proud of that and have both gone onto do STEM degrees. My salary gave them fantastic opportunities and holidays and as they got older, they were able to travel to interesting places with me and meet all sorts of interesting people. If I’d stayed at home their lives would have been so much smaller.

Easily - if you have more than 1 child

You sound just the person schools should be inviting to talk to girls to discuss how being a mum doesn’t stop you having an amazing career - let them know that the worlds their oyster and think big!

Or even better don't give them any at all. Why do primary school aged children need homework at all.

Times tables practice and reading every day. That's all that's needed.

How many dc do you mean op?

My point was, we are also restricted by our working hours… Well, full disclosure I’m actually SLT so don’t teach and I’m not protected by the teachers working hours but they are so it is really difficult to organise events outside of the school day for working parents.

The Department for Education doesn’t set a statutory national requirement for primary schools to give homework, nor does it prescribe a compulsory amount. It’s optional.

I agree. Lots of parents and teachers hate it, it’s shown to have negligible value, so why not just make it optional?

What if she doesn’t want that? Neither of mine want children and do want to travel and have interesting careers.

Highly unlikely when she’s been brought up with such positivity around motherhood.

Once they get into their teenage years, school and friends have a greater influence than family.

@EasternStandardtechnically it was five events. One of the events for a DC ran straight after another for another DC, so was just one block of time, which is why I’ve called it four.
There are other events during the term, but the first and last weeks of half terms are always the most congested. Work is often busier before leave is taken, handing things over etc etc. The extra ad hoc leave the week before/week after the booked leave is hard. One parent for example has cancelled a play date for her child this week and booked them in last minute to a holiday camp for a day or two so she can catch up on work. She’s livid at the homework, but the teacher told the children how it will all go on display when they get back from holiday. It’s not what she wants to use her leave for.

Thankfully my children attend a very family-friendly local primary school, with plenty of happy Stay-at-Home-Mums. Most people’s Grandparents live very close to their school. Their friends have parents like us, Mum on every school run and around after school for play dates.

I was referring to teenager years when they spend less time at home and outside influences impact much more than their parents.

They will continue up to secondary school with these friends.

I’m absolutely besotted with my daughter though, as is her Dad, so will of course support her regardless. We would both be delighted to help her care for any GC for however much she needed, we can’t wait!

Mine love travel - something we have done loads of as a family and they are now planning their own trips. They are in their 20’s now - one an Engineer in Amsterdam and one working for the EU in Brussels. Am very proud of their career choices.

Mine did the rocket one as well and then in secondary school had to build a bridge. Their father is a civil engineer by training and I’m an aeronautical engineer…..that rocket and bridge were perfect 😂.

Hopefully they will have the opportunity to have friends from different backgrounds, beliefs, experiences and perspectives. DT’s school covered 46 nationalities - great for understanding differences.