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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To think 'no pen Wednesday' is a silly idea?

126 replies

Dancergirl · 03/10/2011 17:31

I don't know if other schools do this - at dds' school last week they had 'no pen Wednesday' which meant all the children and staff couldn't use pens, pencils or other writing implements for the day. They had to be creative and think up ideas that didn't involve writing, eg in English they did drama.

I hope I'm not being a misery and I know it's only one day and a bit of fun etc but both dh and I feel that they've really missed out on a day's education because of this. Dd1 is in Year 6 and is working hard preparing for 11+ exams (which start in 6 weeks), as are most of her class as the majority of the schools round here are in a consortium which requires a Maths and VR paper. The school don't help prepare the children at all for these papers as apparently there isn't enough teaching time, however they manage to find time for no-pen Wednesday.

Your thoughts?

OP posts:
LapsedPacifist · 04/10/2011 09:39

Great idea!

When people bash on about falling standards and how things were done in the past I despair.

I really do wonder just how many Mumsnetters attended Secondary Modern schools? For you young 'uns, these were the schools that the 75% who DIDN'T pass the 11 plus exam were sent to. And you couldn't take O level exams - precursors to the GCSE at these schools. You had to take CSE exams - which gave you a qualification roughly equivalent to grades C-G GSCE nowadays. That's ALL you could take. And none of them had 6th forms.

I repeat: 75% of the population - minus of course those whose parents could afford to send them to fee-paying schools that catered for the less academically-able.

Yes, I passed the 11 plus and went to Grammar school. As did, I suspect the overwhelming majority of the wrinkly more mature MNers who experienced an old-style education.

SoupDragon · 04/10/2011 09:42

If doing a one day fun activity to promote creative thinking is going to have an adverse affect on your child's education and their performance in the 11+ you should probably be rethinking your options.

Original poster
Dancergirl · 04/10/2011 09:57

Yes I have seeker and some valid points have been made. But to encourage something that is ALREADY BEING DONE (and well) is a pointless excercise IMO. Surely it's better, if you're going to have these 'creative days' is to pick something that needs improvement whatever that may be.

And as for the 'it's only one day' point....I'm playing devil's advocate a bit here, but the school wouldn't say it's only one day if you wanted to take your child out of school to do something fun (or even educational) for the day. They would say they would be missing a day's education Wink

OP posts:
aldiwhore · 04/10/2011 10:02

Our school doesn't dancergirl we took our kids to Joddrel Bank (sp) and the head was very supportive. (We didn't do it in holidays as DH had a job there on this particular day which meant we got a very good in depth personal tour!)

Blueberties · 04/10/2011 10:04

yanbu silly idea
hope it's not every week

WhoKnowsWhereTheTimeGoes · 04/10/2011 11:22

The only one day comparison with taking your child out isn't a valid one IMO because if you take your child out for a day they are missing what the rest of the class are doing whether it be a regular day or a special one such as this. A whole class outing is a more valid comparison.

Blueberties · 04/10/2011 11:23

It is valid really. You're getting one on one which is better.

SoupDragon · 04/10/2011 12:09

Nonsense. A day doing an activity in school is not the same as taking your child out for the day.

You would probably be horrified by DS school where, horror of horrors, Y6 have just done a 3 day Enterprise workshop.

SoupDragon · 04/10/2011 12:12

They are not missing a day's education anyway, they are simply being taught differently.

Blueberties · 04/10/2011 12:13

It's not nonsense Hmm how odd

It can be better than an activity day in school, or if they watch tv all day it could be worse.

However as they are out of school quite a lot without pens and with games and activities, and as parents are not teachers and qualified with the readin' and ritin' and whatnot, it would seem a better use of everyone's time if "school" spent time doing what children are unable to do at home.

SoupDragon · 04/10/2011 12:13

Thinking about it, perhaps we ought to ban school trips. After all, they missing out on a day's grammar and arithmetic.

Blueberties · 04/10/2011 12:14

And grammar and arithmetic are so very oppressive. Ban them both.

SoupDragon · 04/10/2011 12:17

Is is nonsense in this scenario as the children are still being taught in school, albeit creatively.

I would hazard a guess that we would all prefer a child who is capable of thinking outside the box rather than one who sits at a desk and writes what they are told.

Blueberties · 04/10/2011 12:19

I didn't realise there was either "creative teaching without pens" or "writing what you are told". Is that the only choice available in school nowadays? No wonder everything's gone so badly wrong.

WilsonFrickett · 04/10/2011 12:23

Has everything gone so badly wrong Blueberties? Quite a lot of things are going right at my DS school...

Blueberties · 04/10/2011 12:27

I'm very happy for you Smile but that does sound a little "I'm alright Jack".

Unfortunately mothers who are more than capable and willing to help their children with basic reading, writing and arithmetic seem less than capable at imagining what it's like for children whose parents can't or won't pick up the slack when the school decides to have a day off.

gethelp · 04/10/2011 12:36

I'm a bit late here I think, but this 'no pen' day is in response to the concern about children's inability to speak and listen to one another and to adults appropriately, particularly in the Early Years. Children are coming into the Nursery stage with poor speaking and listening skills as they are not being engaged appropriately by role models.

gethelp · 04/10/2011 12:37

Sorry if that has been posted already, I couldn't see it anywhere, but apologies if it has!

Blueberties · 04/10/2011 12:40

That's so depressing gethelp.

If it's a day of learning appropriate social skills, politeness, quietness, listening, self control, taking turns, sharing, hands up, hanging up coats and so on - if it's that, in a disciplined way, because the children haven't been shown that by their parents - I would support it.

If it's the sort of thing where everyone divides into groups to make the best lego doorway that two people can get through on their hands and knees then no, I would think it's a waste of time.

WilsonFrickett · 04/10/2011 13:08

We're far from alright Jack actually, but apols if that sounded smug. However I do think that communication skills are equally as important as the three R's, and an occassional focus on speaking and listening in an engaging and creative way is as positive for children who don't get much support at home, if not more so tbh.

OTheHugeWerewolef · 04/10/2011 13:25

Get a BIC 4 colour grip pro ball pen .

Grin
scarlettsmummy2 · 04/10/2011 17:10

I think these no pen days would be fine if children already had a strong grasp of the basics of english and maths. If this is not the case, and children are falling behind, then that is where the teacher should be focusing their energies.

nooka · 04/10/2011 17:16

Given how much that people complain about how children can no longer add up in their heads (like we could all do 'in the old days' no doubt) I'm puzzled as to why not using a pen means that you can't do math. Verbal reasoning is also primarily about thinking not writing, and can also be done without access to writing implements.

usualsuspect · 04/10/2011 17:22

The 11+ is a silly idea

No pen Wednesday sounds like a great idea

CrosswordAddict · 04/10/2011 17:27

Dancergirl It sounds as if you are out of step with the school your DD is at (excuse the pun)
No pen Wednesday is fine and dandy I'm sure but very frustrating if you (the parent) have to fill the gaps to get your child through the 11plus.
You have my heartfelt sympathy as I went through all this with my own DCs.