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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

Holiday homework

113 replies

faverolles · 21/10/2011 09:49

DC's break up today for their half term break. Last night they showed me the homework they've been set. It's very labour intensive and, if done properly, will take up quite a chunk of their time.

I am really pissed off about this.
DH has taken this week off - his first break in months. He is knackered. We're all knackered. The last thing any of us needs is to have to put loads of energy into school work, when it's the dc's break from school, and dh's much needed break from work.

During term time, we are behind the dc 100%, they do everything they need to do, we don't take them out of school in term time, we are responsible parents who care about our dc's education.

AIBU to think that during their holiday, they should be able to have a complete break from school? They have one week off, surely they need some time without the pressures and demands of school life?

If anyone took time off work, and were given a "fun
project" Hmm to complete during that time, there would
be uproar.

OP posts:
DrinkYourWeakLemonDrinkNow · 21/10/2011 10:33

'I would be very tempted to write a friendly note to their class teacher explaining what you have explained to us. This time belongs to you and your family, not the school, and they can't dictate how it is spent.'

Lordy you'd be bbq'd to a crisp if you sent a note like that to the particular teacher we are having the pleasure of this yearGrin. I just work round her rather than with her nowadays. I tried the rasonable/lets talk approach the first time round when older dd was in her class and we ended up having a stand up row heated debate.

LikeABlackFlameCandleBNQ · 21/10/2011 10:38

"Dear Teacher, I must apologise that my children have returned to school without completing their holiday homework. We were, in fact away from home for the week on holiday, and as such, the children were not in a position to research and complete a large project such as this in our much-valued family time. I am very supportive of their need to work hard at school and as such, would not allow family holidays to impact on their attendance term-time, therefore I do not think it unreasonable to be able to dedicate this week in the Holidays to a well-deserved family holiday. I would be happy to discuss this further with you, should you wish"

Done.

Canella · 21/10/2011 10:39

I find it really unreasonable that your dc are expected to do homework in the holidays. Isnt it supposed to be a holiday week???

We're in Germany - it seems like the land of homework - they have it every single day from the first day of school but even they dont get any during the holiday weeks.

I'd be doing the absolute bare minimum of it if I was you. And enjoying the week off.

Original poster
faverolles · 21/10/2011 10:39

Hmm, we have our ups and downs with the teacher, so I don't think I'd dare send her a letter!
I was half expecting a flaming here, and to start off a row about Can't be Arsed Parents. I'm pleasantly surprised :)

OP posts:
Original poster
faverolles · 21/10/2011 10:41

Ooh BlackFlame, that's a good one! I might borrow it :)

OP posts:
harassedandherbug · 21/10/2011 10:43

Homework is important! It gets them in the habit of doing it, and being able to work at home, for when they do have exams etc to prepare for particularly when some of the mark will come from course work.

My ds's are 22 & 20 and I always thought homework wasn't that important, but now with dd (she's 5) I can look back and see that it wasn't so much what they were doing, more that they were getting used to doing it.

Dd is Year 1 and she has two reading books, a new sheet of words to learn, a writing exercise sheet and 6 drawings to do of to represent our daily routine.

Original poster
faverolles · 21/10/2011 10:51

Harrassed, that's great that holiday homework works for you and your dd, but for me, the thing I've been looking forward to is a whole week to have a complete break from routine, for all of us.
No way on earth would DH come home for a weeks break with a project to complete - and I feel the children should be able to have a chance to have time off.
No-one can work continuously without burning out, so I reckon it is important to encourage them whilst at school to give it their all, but equally, to learn that time off is important too.
(although like I said before, I would be more than happy to support a project during the summer holidays, as you would have ample time to do it as well as other activities)

OP posts:
stripeytiger · 21/10/2011 10:52

YANBU at all OP, I totally agree with you. My dcs are 10 and 8.

Their teachers were "too busy organising the 50th anniversary of the school celebrations" to set homework last week so they have set double to be done during half term.

Two words......knob off

harassedandherbug · 21/10/2011 10:56

faverolles is the fact that it's a big project so it's more the amount/content that's inconvenient, or would you rather have none? I'm happy with the amount that dd has, we can cope with that and I can stretch it out over the week. I think this half term in particular it's important to have a break and rest due to all the germs around.

I like Blackflame's letter, maybe you should use it!

TotemPole · 21/10/2011 10:57

It is important for getting them in the habit, but term time homework should be sufficient for that.

DrinkYourWeakLemonDrinkNow · 21/10/2011 10:59

My older dd has progressed into senior school and now gets a lot of homework. That's to be expected and she manages this well and is always on top of it. This stems from a maturity to cope with the work now that she's older and not from being buried under piles of it at a younger age.

At age 9/10 she was given a difficult and lengthy project to complete which was pitched at someone more the age she is now. Did it help her? No. It completely demotivated and worried her sick. It took up evening after evening of detailed research; she didn't have the maturity to know where to begin, felt she was failing and was distressed about it. I spoke to the teacher and got short shrift (the same teacher my dts have this year).

So I helped her (ie did it with her) and when the projects were displayed it was plain as day that most other parents had done the same; not a word was said. How that 'helped' anyone I'll never knowHmm. If they set the same piece again I'll do the same.

I will be reasonable about homework all the time the school are themselves reasonable about it. I remain convinced that setting too much at a young age is demotivating and counter productive.

scaryteacher · 21/10/2011 11:02

I hate holiday homework and from the teaching side only ever set it for Year 10 (mocks in December), year 11, mocks in January and Year 12 (essays).

I expect ds to have some as he is Year 11, but otherwise, I always took books in to mark/have a look at over half term, and to give the kids a break. I did suggest reading something might be an idea, but half term is there to give them and the staff a break.

Original poster
faverolles · 21/10/2011 11:02

I think it's the principal of it, as well as the practicalities.
We will do it, I can't chance the dc getting into trouble over it, but I think the fact that I they will do the bare minimum needed will make it a pretty pointless exercise with regards to their education. I'd rather do it over a couple of weeks in term time, and the dc would get far more out of it.

OP posts:
fuzzynavel · 21/10/2011 11:03

YANBU. I don't agree with reems of homework, but rules are rules I suppose. I'd just help DC to the bare minimum.

TotemPole · 21/10/2011 11:31

faverolles, I think most of it's pointless anyway, apart from spelling, maths and reading.

They are supposed to be taught the curriculum i.e. what they should know, in class. I can see the projects are useful for them to get used to doing homework regularly and a project over a few weeks is good for planning & time management etc. But really the content is pointless.

Idontknowhowtohelpher · 21/10/2011 11:31

At dd2's school, if they don't do their homework at home they get kept in at lunchtimes until it is done - how miserable! She is 9.

Carrotsandcelery · 21/10/2011 11:34

Drink that teacher sounds like a bully Shock which puts you in a horrid situation. My p5 teacher was a bully and, although the parents realised this, they were all too scared to face up to her because they knew their child would be on the receiving end of her wrath if they did.

I am Sad for your dcs and for you. That is shocking.

sugarandspiceandallthingsnice · 21/10/2011 11:35

From a teacher's viewpoint, I hate setting homework, especially holiday homework. However, in every (primary) school I have taught in, parents have compained if I have not set holiday homework! You can't win as a teacher! Now I set games etc that I don't want handed in, to try to appease both sides.

Carrotsandcelery · 21/10/2011 11:38

I used to be a Secondary teacher and even with the pressure of exams I only set holiday homework for the senior classes, and then only if they hadn't really been pushing themselves. I found pupils were more productive in term time if they had had a rest.

colken · 21/10/2011 11:44

I think some of you are being shortsighted. Homework is applicable regardless of the child's age. Having some to do during a holiday period will simply keep his/her mind on learning things. My children always did their homework when they arrived home even it it didn't have to be submitted until a week later. Holiday work was done at the beginning of the holiday so they could enjoy the rest of the time. They were not made to do this. They realised it for themselves.

The more your children do, the more they learn so the more they excel. It doesn't matter if GCSEs are 6 years hence - everything they do at school is a grounding toweards what is coming in the future.

I know two boys (5 and 10) who do theirs as soon as they arrive home, even if it's just reading or a page of sums, because they know that the time after that is theirs. They ionsist on homework being done at the beginning of a holiday period because their parents pointed out that all the time after that is theirs before they go back to school. This is the way to teach children responsibility, reliability, confidence and lateral thinking.

WhoKnowsWhereTheTimeGoes · 21/10/2011 11:47

I agree with whoever said that we are expected not to take holidays in term time so school should be expected not to set work during holiday time. Reading, a bit of writing, a bit of researching on the internet, fine, but not written stuff to be handed in, or models to make, that sort of stuff, not in primary anyway.

marriedinwhite · 21/10/2011 11:52

Mine are now almost 17 and 13. IMO the autumn half term break is essential resting time. It feels like the longest term, the foundations for the entire year are set during it and it ends in Christmas. Mine have always been exhausted by this holiday and this year dd is especially so.

As yours are 10 and younger I think the holiday homework is ridiculous not least because your 10 year old may have had the stress of visiting schools and worrying about secondary transfer on top as you will all have had.

What is the homework - is it a fun one - do they want to do it? Can you do anything as a holiday fun activity - I once remember ds having to do a project about the microscope and we combined it with a trip to the Science Museum.

All a bit pointless really but you will probably have to suck it up on this occasion but I would raise it with the school later and ask for a response along the lines of what does the school think the benefit of setting holiday work are?

DS has been at a recognised "hot house" since he was 8 years old and only on one or two occasions has holiday homework ever been set but they do work very very hard during term time. There will come a joyous stage for you when you simply can't help any more and they just have to get on with it themselves.

Original poster
faverolles · 21/10/2011 11:53

Colken - if this homework could be done tonight in an hour or so, it would be done and I would think no more of it.

The homework is a project which needs researching and several items found/made/bought to back up this research.
If it is to be done properly, by the children, it will take far more than an hour a day. Looking at the subject of the project, I don't believe that the dc will actually learn anything from it at all. In fact, it is not a project that the dc could do on their own in any way.

OP posts:
startofnewterm · 21/10/2011 12:02

Holidays are holidays for a reason, to have a break and switch off, in the same way working adults do. IMO there is absolutely no reason at all to set homework in the holidays. If so much homework is being sent home then I would also question why they are not getting through it all during the school day.

Its more beneficial for a child to have a complete break from school without any worrying about completing homework (which most of the time in our case gets no feedback or marking). Why does everything have to be academic with children? I'd much rather my 3 be running around having fun at half term getting lots of fresh air with no routine, rushing from a to b than sat at the kitchen table doing projects/timestables/literacy etc.

There have been lots of complaints at my dc school about the amount of homework and now the school have announced that its not compulsary but that we should use our common sense about whether to do it or not, and just put a little note in for the teacher as to why it didnt get done.

3littlefrogs · 21/10/2011 12:16

Yes, homework is necessary, DURING TERM TIME, and my 13 yr old does approximately 3 hours per evening, every evening, including weekends. She also does music practice as she is in the school band and trains after school for school sports team.

DH and I work stupidly long hours in very stressful jobs (NHS) and have had a really awful year coping with family illness and bereavement.

DD has been set 4 "projects" to complete over half term. All of them require group work, the kids are expected to meet up daily to discuss their research, all projects (RE, History, Geography and science) are to be typed up, printed and handed in first day back.

We are going away on holiday with extended family for the whole week, with very limited luggage allowance - no way am I carrying lap top and text books. Instead of looking forward to a nice relaxing break, we are all stressed out and dealing with a distraught child who has been threatened with all sorts of sanctions if this work is not done.

To say I am upset would be a massive understatement. Angry