Not wild about DS's holiday homework. Not everyone gives a toss about the Olympics.

[solidgoldbrass]

School have asked parents to help their DC create a blog over the summer holidays; the school is very techno-happy (which is a Good Thing generally). They have made provision for DC whose families don't have a computer or internet access; suggesting either a visit to the library or making a paper diary in stead. That's all fine, DS would love doing a bit of that every day.

But it's got to be 'about the Olympics'. No one in our family gives a flying fuck about sport. DS is far more interested in trains than watching overpaid steroid-addled numpties hop about. DS dad might pontificate from time to time about important cultural events and all that shit, but he's only really interested in typesetting. And me, not only do I despise all competitive sport, but I also object to the corporate piggishness and the all-round inconvenience of having this crap all over my home town. Why the fuck couldn't they just have asked the kids to do a blog about what they get up to in the holidays?

I agree with everything you've said.

I know sod all about the Olympics too.

Do a blog on something else. I would.

do an anti olympics blog then

Because the Olympics here is s once in a lifetime event?!?

And er, no, they are not overpaid either...

Are you in London? Could you blog about how shit the Olympics is making your summer?

So get them to do a blog about where they think the Olympic organisers went wrong. Pick an aspect like the daft brand protection police or the security issues and look at how it affects people's perception of the games.

Or something.

Blog about the corporate crap, the drug use, the expenditure and so on. Could be fun.

Or get them to follow one of the less well-known sports, or a small team from a not-particularly competitive country.

YANBU to not like the Olympics, different strokes and all that.

YABU to describe those taking part as over paid (not by the standards of other sports) or steroid addled.

[on a roll]

Or what about blogging about what is going on back in the home countries of some of the athletes from troubled parts of the world - real stories behind the sport sort of thing.

Or stage your own mini version of the Olympics using hamsters/ladybirds/nits.

Take photos and write about that.

:)

Do the blog about the trains then! How the transport system is (not) coping / any other traffic angle you like. TFL have an online exhibition, showing 1948 Olympians being bussed around London in double decker buses, along with all their equipment. As long as he does the homework, they won't mind if the link is tenuous.

If your son is into trains could he theme his olympic blog around transport during the Olympics? The country has spent a fair whack on it so it's right someone should pay it some attention!

There's a whole page devoted on it on the London 2012 website and means he can deviate from the sports subject as a lot of the routes look like they've been chosen for sight seeing. They've got river routes, walking routes, cycling routes as well as the bus, tube and train.

Also means he can do stuff after the games have finished and include random facts about what went on and winners and so on.

The olymipics is a massive event and its a pretty big thing in this country. a blog about the Olympics though could be on a whole host of different topics though.

If he had been told he had to do a positive blog about the games and how great they are you would have a point but when its such a broad topic you just need to find the right approach for him

He could do a blog on "what I did today when I wasn't watching the Olympics", or "Things that I find more interesting than the Olympics" or "If They Held Olympics for Locomotives ..."

What are they all supposed to blog about during the two weeks between the Olympics and the Paralympics?

Cross post eglantine - we're so clever and reasonable

Yabu-do you always want to opt out of topics that bore you?

Holiday homework is stupid, kids need a rest from school work. I just wouldn't do it anyway.

Why doesn't he do a blog about travel...train travel and how the Olympics have affected it?

Bit vague maybe but I agree with you! I would HATE to do this and so would DD.

YABU. If your ds is not interested in any sports then that is a problem that you need to try to fix. If he is interested in a sport then he could just write about that one. Perhaps he could try as many of the olympic sports as possible over the summer and blog about his experience of trying new sports.

Why not ignore the sport and concentrate on the Cultural Olympiad instead?

All a blog requires is that the person has an opinion and is prepared to write about it, pro or anti. I'm sure there will be some facet of what is happening that your DS will have an opinion about, especially if he shares your very strong opinions.

You are right! The school should have rung every parent personally and asked them what topic they might feel inclined to help with! Make sure your kids get the message loud and clear that they don't have to do what teachers say unless it completely co-incides with your outlook and opinions on life and that making wildly offensive generalised comments about other people's lifelong passions is A-OK!

Wow. I must have had a worse day than I thought.

Yanbu. Homework in the school holidays is entirely unreasonable. Ffs.

Holiday homework? What's that? DD2's school gave her some, due in on the 7th of September. She will not be starting it until Wednesday the 5th, which is her first day back. Any complaints from her teacher will be dealt with by me.

The summer holidays are sacred.

Absobloodylutley