when I say I'm sick to death of tutored kids?

[TopBoxCorbelle]

I came away from the end of year assembly having watched awards being given out for progress and achievement. Two of the winners for 'progress' and 'achievement' are frequenters of our local tutoring centre. Their parents are actually perfectly lovely people who I like and get on with, and I've actually had to drop one kid off at the tutor when I was looking after him. Now, I know I'm clearly in the minority of parents that don't tutor mine, and I'd like to point out my two got amazing grades this year so have nothing to prove BUT, I hate having to applaud the cheating parents who send their kids for extra work as I always then start wondering whether mine will start falling behind...and wether mine will need tutors in order to survive the competitive entry exams at 11. Even typing this makes me question why I'm worrying but frankly, I can't believe that the tutoring industry has a hold over me, even when I choose not to tutor. And even when I have naturally bright children who do enough work at school. Anyone else? Or am I an utter churlish witch? Should I give in now and just book one up?

I am thinking of getting a tutor for DS1 in literacy. He is strugling, and needs help, but does not respond at all well to us trying to help him. He ends up screaming at us. I think he would respond better to/behave better with a tutor.

Is this cheating?

And I have wondered whether some of the tutoring is counter-productive and causes confusion when the problem-solving methods taught are not the same as those at school.

But sometimes you suddenly click when someone introduces a concept from a different angle, so it cuts both ways. Tbh, if you really understand something, it shouldn't be confusing. It's only confusing if you're just following a process without understanding the underlying principles- that's when it's easy to inadvertently mix methods.

Marge - who cares whether other people consider it cheating? Do what's best for your son, no one else.

All these people that have so much power as to make you reconsider the choice you have made for your child, who are they? Are they significant people who will be in your life forever and are important to your child? No? Then do what you think is best and don't give them another thought.

Marge YADNBU go for it! :)

OK I dont think its cheating either and it shouldnt matter what other people do, but wow really that many parents you know pay for tutors??? Just astounds me!! So it must be a catching, competitive sort of thing and that in itself is annoying, and I wouldnt want to be those kids... But the rule I try to stick to is not my baby, not my business

Wow just reading some of the other posts, you really touched a nerve!! None of that where I live, yet somehow our children survive and do OK :)

Why automatically assume it's a "competitive thing"? Some people just like learning for its own sake :)