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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

to complain to the school

61 replies

pinkthechaffinch · 07/01/2011 11:40

DS is in Y4 at the local primary and every Friday afternoon, they have outside PE, followed by 'Golden Time'.

Now it turns out that the children's chosen activity for 'Golden Time' is to bring in a dvd from home and watch it together as a class-I think they vote for which dvd they watch.

When the weather is bad, outside PE is cancelled and then the Whole afternoon is spent watching dvds and chatting, according to DS, who doesn't like it as he often can't hear the DVD for all the noise of the chatting, and is often uninterested in the dvd anyway.

The teacher uses this time to catch up on her marking Hmm.

AIBU to feel that this teacher is acting lazily and unprofessionally and to feel irritated that my son is not being educated -rather baby sat?

Or is regular dvd watching normal practice in most primary schools on Friday afternoons?

I have no problem with this as the occasional end of term treat, or indeed if they watch something educational. But DS has spent vast amounts of some time watching Disney pixar rubbish over the holidays, and needs to improve his literacy!

OP posts:
blametheparents · 07/01/2011 11:42

YANBU.
Ok as an occasional treat, but not every Friday afternoon!

WimpleOfTheBallet · 07/01/2011 11:42

Seems bad to me...why can't they play games in the hall or something?

DDs school do dancing or games in the hall on wet days.

mutznutz · 07/01/2011 11:43

'Regular' DVD watching is not normal practice on Friday afternoons but Golden Time is a pretty regular thing.

If your child isn't interested in it, I would suggest you ask the teacher if he can be put in another class for the duration of the DVD...that way he's being stimulated and the other kid's fun isn't being spoilt.

wolfhound · 07/01/2011 11:44

Definitely lazy and unprofessional. I think DVD/TV might be acceptable for a lesson on the last day of term, perhaps but not as a regular activity. Surely there is some sort of indoor exercise they could do.

Original poster
pinkthechaffinch · 07/01/2011 11:45

I'm not a teacher and I can think of loads of more mentally stimulating activities then watching bloody 'Bug's Life' !

I've have left a message to the head, expressing my concerns so will see what she says- prob not much knowing her.

OP posts:
Original poster
pinkthechaffinch · 07/01/2011 11:46

'I've left a message' I meant to say -Durrrr!

OP posts:
FrostyBaubles · 07/01/2011 11:50

My ds has golden time in his school,he is in reception,it is every Friday afternoon but only for 20 mins.

He really looks forward to this time as they can play with anything they want to.

If they have been naughty then they lose minutes off this.

I think putting a DVD on is a bit too long for golden time tbh.

charliesmommy · 07/01/2011 11:51

If the dvd was put on, the children were made to watch it quietly, and then discuss it afterwards, then it would be beneficial, but just shoving a dvd on, and leaving them to their own devices is crap and I wouldnt be happy.

Sarsaparilllla · 07/01/2011 11:54

If they can't do PE outside they should do it inside, I think it's lazy just to plonk them infront of a dvd all afternoon

earwicga · 07/01/2011 11:57

Perhaps the hall wasn't available to do inside games during the xmas run-up? Play props etc. Has it been this way since September?

LoopyLoopsOfSparklyFairyLights · 07/01/2011 11:57

There are so many ways to make watching a DVD educational, I would firstly be making sure the teacher wasn't doing any of these, then perhaps suggest them to the teacher.

Firstly, they must watch in silence
Activities re: film eg. pick a character and write a description / passport for him/her
Change the ending of the film - writing activity
Look out for certain words in the film and suggest alternatives
Word bingo
Design a poster for the film
Watch the film in French/Spanish etc. with subtitles and write a list of words/phrases recognised

etc...

Original poster
pinkthechaffinch · 07/01/2011 11:57

The same teacher actually runs an after school film club-maybe she just loves children's films and sees them as an amazing treat.

They certainly aren't though. I know for a fact that Ds' classmates watch plenty of films in their own time.

I'll ask DS if they have discussions about the film afterwards.

OP posts:
faverolles · 07/01/2011 11:57

My dc's have golden time, but this is choosing from a range of activities, so it's still educational.
Sitting the whole class in front of a DVD every Friday seems very lazy!

LoopyLoopsOfSparklyFairyLights · 07/01/2011 11:58

Plus re: PE inside, presumably poor weather will be affecting the whole school, so not enough space for all classes in the hall.

Original poster
pinkthechaffinch · 07/01/2011 12:00

Yes, but only Y4 have outside PE on Fri pm so should be possible to use the hall.

OP posts:
SpikyBinkle · 07/01/2011 12:02

PE is a lesson. It should be taught somehow, be it indoors or outside. The children are entitled to this. Golden Time is an opportunity to reward good behaviour. In our school, pupils sign up for an activity. Activities include art/craft making things such as jewellery, physical activities such as football or dance, singing and board games such as chess. There is also a film club sometimes but this includes reviews and discussions of the films. Would not be happy with my child watching DVDs for most Friday afternoons and my head would not be happy with me doing this with my class.

PrettyCandles · 07/01/2011 12:05

I wonder whether it's anything to do with the non-contact time that isscheduled into teachers' days. I don't know what the proper name for this is. It is an afternoon when the TAs look after the class and either follow the teacher's pre-arranged lesson plan or do something that they are considered competent to do off their own bat. During this time the teacher does marking or lesson-planning or something.

In our school this teacher's non-contact time is usually PE or Music. If this is the case in the OP's school, then if it's raining, and the hall is already in use, it could be that there is nothing available for the TAs to do.

Which is poor planning. As a one-off, OK, but regularly? YANBU.

If all my child was doing for the whole of every wet Friday afternoon was watching DVDs - I would make my point by taking him out of school at lunchtime on rainy Fridays.

starfishmummy · 07/01/2011 12:05

I think she is being lazy. Even for "golden time" she should be providing a range of different things for th class to choose from rather than a dvd every week.

earwicga · 07/01/2011 12:11

PPA, (Planning, Preparation and Assessment) time is covered by another teacher in schools here PrettyCandles, and the teacher wouldn't even be in the classroom. Would Yr4 even have a TA?

AngryPixie · 07/01/2011 12:17

Hideous practice! I am a teacher and Golden time is half an hour on a Friday where the children can use the equipment in a child led way rather than an adult led way (but still educational 'stuff' tracing paper, numicon, compare bears, etc) They can write in...felt pens (gasp) and use my whiteboard to play teachers etc Year 2.

During this time I interact with the children or pull out individuals to address something in their work, misconceptions usually.

PE is an entitlement and they should not be missing out in wet weather. I would have issues with both of these.

Original poster
pinkthechaffinch · 07/01/2011 12:37

His Y4 class definitely has a TA and the teacher is in the classroom doing some kind of paperwork.

I think it could be something to do with PPA as they often seem to have supply teachers on a Fri am as well but, whatever it is, it shouldn't be impacting on their education the way it is.

Head hasn't go back to me yet.

OP posts:
earwicga · 07/01/2011 12:47

PPA is only 10% of contact time.

earwicga · 07/01/2011 12:47

And if the head is any good, she will support her teacher and ensure that Friday afternoons aren't spent in front of the tv ever again.

dessen · 07/01/2011 12:52

Why are they watching tv? - why isn't the teacher reading a story, why aren't the kids doing drama, music, art, running about, playing games.

Totally unacceptable

sims2fan · 07/01/2011 12:54

I would go up to the teacher the next time you collect him and say, "DS told me that every wet Friday afternoon they just sit and watch a DVD. I'd like to set him straight as I was sure that can't be right. What happens on Fridays if it's too wet to do PE?" Even if she manages to come out with an excuse, I bet she'll think twice about doing it next time.