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?

Another vote for the Cultural Olympiad.

Or better yet, a report on everything else that happened this summer that you felt was more important than the sodding Olympics.

Fuck that! We do NOT do homework over the summer!

Start each entry with "Rather than buy into the corporate excess and corruption that the once noble Olympic ideal has now become, today I ....."

"YABU. If your ds is not interested in any sports then that is a problem that you need to try to fix."

Teddybare, why is this a problem? I wasn't aware that being interested in sport was compulsory? I hate sport, as do my DSs. We all dance and walk and work on our allotment, so are reasonably fit. Being active is important but I don't see any necessity for being interested in sport: you either are or your aren't!

And, I teach secondary and wouldn't dream of setting homework over the summer - not even to GCSE candidates! Poor kid.

So do a blog/project on train services during the olympics?

Holiday homework? In 14 years of education my DS was only set holiday homework once - in the summer break between GCSEs and A levels.

I think I would tell the school you were too busy enjoying the holiday to do homework!

Well, participating in sport is something I can sort of see the point of (though I would rather dance, myself). But watching other people do it? So some people can run faster or jump higher or throw more balls than others? So. Fucking. What

DS has now decided to watch the torch arrive in a helicopter, on the telly. I have been explaining to him that it''s a big fuss about nothing and with any luck the squaddie carrying the big firelighter will fall in the river.

I'm a teacher. Don't do it. It's the holidays!

Can we start a *FUCK OFF TO THE FAR SIDE OF FUCK OLYMPICS AND FUCK OFF A BIT MORE WHEN YOU GET THERE" quiche?

I like some sports, I used to be a competitive rower. These days, I watch a bit of football, formula 1, occasional cricket match....but I am just so frigging sick of the Olympics.

So much money spent, we won't get half of it back and all the while we can sit back and watch various other institutes fall on their arses due to cut backs.

fuckingstupidolympicwankbadgeringcunts

*oh, and don't do the homework, it's the summer holidays.

YY to travel aspect of the olympics. Could he create a table/map showing how long it will take to get to the games from different places and stick them in a fancy table?

The extra money that people like London bus drivers get during the games? Maybe do an opinion poll? Create a questionnaire?

Examine the london tube lines that are the same colour as the olympic rings?

Collect travel tickets from different countries/places that the olympics is being held at or countries that the athletes are coming from (from Mumsnetters??).

I'm sure that he can think 'outside the box' which gives lots of scope.(Also it isn't your homework so it doesn't really matter if you are interested in them or not-mine have done all sorts of projects that don't interest me, but they found them interesting.)

Just do a blog on how your family aims to steer well clear of the Olympics, from the sublime to the ridiculous!!

"DS has now decided to watch the torch arrive in a helicopter, on the telly. I have been explaining to him that it''s a big fuss about nothing and with any luck the squaddie carrying the big firelighter will fall in the river."

It sounds like you are foisting your opinions on him and not letting him make up his own mind about whether he's interested or not.

Just do a blog on something else. I'm a teacher and I don't really mind what people write about as long as they do something.

I did a couple of holiday diaries at school and I still have them now, they don't take much effort really, I think it's to help curb 'September syndrome' - getting back to school and forgetting how to spell your name!

How old is your DS? Could he get away with not doing it, or just the most tenuous of links to something he's more interested in.

I'd have steam coming out of my ears if DD had been set that. Thankfully she's only just finished Yr 2 so.all we have to do is work out how many different color combos you can colour the Olympic rings in hmm

Ah, bollocks - ykwim!

We have had weekly olympic themed homework for the entire term, starting just before Easter in fact!!

YY My DS has just finished Year 2 as well. And I have had another look at the homework and at least it;s only a single 'blog page' so we can get away with about half-an-hour on it at some point 'Dear school, we went on a steam train and had sausages today, while someone was running about and winning a medal in the olympics...'

Good grief - I thought our school were bad for homework!

My DD would love the computer side of it - she built a website a few months ago, but I can't see her being interested in or arsed to try & link Build a Bear and the finer offerings of Disney Channel & Beebies to the Olympics for it.

I am SO pleased ds has no homework this holiday!

Holiday homework!!?!

In 30+ years of teaching I have never set holiday homework for any students except exam level groups.

Entirely unnecessary.

He doesn't have to support Team GB, why not support the 2 athletes who are competing under the Olympic flag, that way, he only has to report on 'his' team for 2 days, the rest of the time his blog could start 'We didn't compete today, so instead.......'

My dd is the same age as your ds, think yourself lucky we have to build a fully working lighthouse!