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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

to object to Facebook-themed homework for Y7?

37 replies

Maiasaurus · 09/05/2011 21:26

DS1 is 12 and in Y7. This term they are studying Shakespeare's A Mid-Summer Night's Dream.

This week's homework was to design Oberon's Facebook 'wall'.

First of all, I had to sign up to Facebook (something I have avoided up to now), then we had to find someone with a 'wall' to see what they looked like.

AIBU to have a word with DS's English teacher about the suitability of this homework for 11 and 12 year-olds? Or is my dislike of social networking sites colouring my judgement here?

Or is it just that I hate the way that Shakespeare has to be made to fit in today's world so that teachers can be 'down with the kids'? (Or whatever they say in 21st century freaky, modern slang Grin).

OP posts:
K999 · 09/05/2011 21:27

Yes. You have to be at least 14 to be on FB!!!!!

Original poster
Maiasaurus · 09/05/2011 21:27

When I say 'have a word', I mean 'write a little note in his homework journal' and not 'go in to school all guns blazing'.

OP posts:
LittleMissFlustered · 09/05/2011 21:28

FB is technically for 13+ people. It's in the terms of use.

However, anything that makes Shakespeare accessible to kids is a good thing.

Alambil · 09/05/2011 21:28

you have to be 13 to join facebook. That is crap homework.

K999 · 09/05/2011 21:29

I would actually go in all guns blazing, but I tend to do that anyway ! Grin

K999 · 09/05/2011 21:29

Or is it 13? Blush

ivykaty44 · 09/05/2011 21:30

making shakespeare accessible is a good thing agree with Little Miss, and most year 7 have face book anyway whether we like that or not it makes it all the more desirable to have an account if its not the done thing...

FlamingFannyDrawers · 09/05/2011 21:31

YANBU, 12 year olds shouldn't be on FB (in an ideal word, but still) what ever happened to normal bog standard homework. I know times are changing but it annoys me.

bigTillyMint · 09/05/2011 21:31

YANBU. That is like condoning / encouraging Y7's to have a FB account, and they are supposed to be 13. If DD came home with homework like that, DH would be straight on the phone!

Hardhatonamission · 09/05/2011 21:32

Making Shakespeare accessable is a positive thing, but in this manner to this age group i'd be having words with the teachers. I'd probably go along with the homework for a Yr8 or Yr9 but not a Yr7.

Numberfour · 09/05/2011 21:32

I would definitely make a HUGE fuss about it! ridiculous bloody idea! YANBU at all.

There are a zillion other things that can be done to try to make Shakespeare more accessible to children today. TV advert, movie script, newspaper article, letter by one character to another, cartoon show, rap song, poem, etc.

AuntiePickleBottom · 09/05/2011 21:36

i would go in a have a word with the teacher, before hand i would be printing out the terms and conditions and highlighting the age limit

Original poster
Maiasaurus · 09/05/2011 21:44

Thank you, everyone.

Like Lewisfan, I thought it was crap homework. And this is supposed to be the top set. Hmm

I will be getting in touch with the school.

On a happier note, DH and I have worked out that I saw him acting in this very play several years before we met. Smile And this has lead to lots of chats with DCs about the role he played and how the set was done and so on. Shakespeare is not quite so booooring after all. Wink

OP posts:
tabulahrasa · 09/05/2011 21:55

I don't think it's crap homework - it's characterization...but the teacher should have made sure they knew what to do

jenga079 · 09/05/2011 22:11

I do this for my pupils for a range of novels, plays etc. Top / middle / bottom set is irrelevant here (though the teacher's expectations may differ for different pupils) as the task works at a range of levels (even my a-level pupils have been known to do social network mock ups for King Lear or Mother Courage; i'm sure Brecht would be outraged!) What they put on the wall shows what they understand of plot; the friends list shows understanding of characters; listing events chronologically (in reverse!) shows they understand the structure of the texts we're studying. Pupils love it as it feels relevant to them. As a learning/teaching/assessment aid, it works.

I do always model it on the wall though, and our pupils start in yr 8 so are almost all 13 (and all seem to have Facebook!)

saffy85 · 09/05/2011 22:13

YANBU. It's bit dubious of the teacher to encourage the students to break the regulations on a website, even if loads of them have a profile despite being underage.

IThinkTooMuch · 09/05/2011 22:17

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

Counterstrike · 09/05/2011 22:18

but tbh no one gives a shite about how old you are, DDs school ALL the y7s have it and DS school most yr 5 and yr6s have it!

EvilTwins · 09/05/2011 22:26

YABU. I agree with jenga (and will be nicking the idea forthwith. My Yr 13s can do all the characters in "My Mother Said I Never Should")

I would assume that all my students, Yr 7 up know what FB is and what it looks like. However, I would model what I expected before sending them off to complete the homework.

littleducks · 09/05/2011 22:33

I dont think they should be setting any homework where you have to set up an account and provide personal details to a website.

I know you can provide fake details etc. but then the school is advocating lying

A pretend wall would be ok

EvilTwins · 09/05/2011 22:37

"littleducks Mon 09-May-11 22:33:39
I dont think they should be setting any homework where you have to set up an account and provide personal details to a website.

I know you can provide fake details etc. but then the school is advocating lying"

Littleducks - I think you've missed the point. OP was bemoaning the fact that they had to look on FB to see what a wall looked like. No one was expecting the child to actually set up a FB account for their homework.

RealEyesRealiseRealLies · 09/05/2011 22:38

This reply has been deleted

Message deleted by MNHQ. Here's a link to our Talk Guidelines.

ravenAK · 09/05/2011 22:38

But you don't have to set up an account - just use the layout as a template as jenga explained.

I think it's a good idea. Not allowing your child on FB is one thing; but not allowing them to see a screengrab of an innocuous example wall (which I'd've provided for those whose parents felt as you do) seems a tad over cautious to me, tbh.

littleducks · 09/05/2011 22:40

But dont you have to set up an account to view facebook...with either genuine or false?

Why cant you send home a pretend wall worksheet and get them to use that?