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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

Homework at half term!

47 replies

yummumto3girls · 13/02/2013 09:22

AIBU to think half term is a time to rest, play, recharge and have fun not to do homework. My DD is 8, so not even secondary. The teacher has been off sick for weeks, back this week and last night DD brings home homework to do a huge recycling project to be in in the first Monday after half term. We are on holiday for half term! (Ours break up friday15th) Have spoken to teacher and she got arsey and said don't do it then! I'm not the sort of person to 'not do it' so will muddle something together with her over the next few days instead of packing to go away!!! AIBU to be annoyed?

OP posts:
ilovesooty · 13/02/2013 20:34

I think the problem is with the culture of league tables and helicopter parenting

Spot on.

Original poster
yummumto3girls · 13/02/2013 21:22

Thanks for all your comments. Don't get me wrong I am a homework supporter, my children work hard and achieve at school so thanks for your comment Rhiannon! The point about her being off sick is that homework has been hit and miss all term and I feel the children are being asked to 'catch up' now. I was told it should only take half an hour, come on what 8 year old can research all about recycling and produce a report/presentation in half an hour! I do feel sorry for you teachers, you can't get it right for trying so I do apologise if I am out of order, just needed to vent some steam as with one at grammar we seem to have homework coming out of our ears! (Wander what recycling is like at Centre Parcs, which is where I'll be next week!).

OP posts:
oftengrumpy · 13/02/2013 21:27

Actually that is an excellent idea. Take pictures of the recycling bins around the site and get dd to write a caption for each one. Email centre parcs and ask what their recycling policy is, stick that in and then put a front cover on it. Job done.

Original poster
yummumto3girls · 13/02/2013 22:58

Good idea oftengrumpy, who needs a treasure hunt we can do a bin hunt at centre parcs!!!!

OP posts:
MaureenMLove · 13/02/2013 23:07

It's a bit off for primary aged kids to have to do more than read or maybe a few spellings.

What gets me is, that if you take them out of school for a holiday, you are fined, so you do the right thing and go on holiday during the holidays and you get told off for not doing homework!

When is the right time for down time then? HmmGrin

Dancergirl · 13/02/2013 23:13

I would completely disagree that project work is valuable for primary aged children. It assumes that you have to have good computer facilities at home which not everyone has, parents often end up doing the bulk of the work for the child, often causes a lot of stress/arguments and the child learns relatively little.

DrCoconut · 13/02/2013 23:28

I disagree with homework at all stages unless it is vital e.g. coursework that has to be done, exam revision etc. Stressing primary kids out with pointless colouring in, looking up things and printing them off, projects for the parents to end up doing are ridiculous and I don't believe they affect achievement long term. Home time is for family, friends, hobbies not more school.

kim147 · 14/02/2013 08:52

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

phoenixrose314 · 14/02/2013 08:58

Actually, the word Homework IS in parenthesis in the Home-School Agreement, along with reading at home and spellings. Sadly most parents in my school do none of the above :(

whois · 14/02/2013 09:12

I started getting 'real' homework in Y2. My mum got very good at drawing endangered animals for me to colour and put a few sentances under and helping me identify wild flowers or similar project work. Luckily she only had one little one to worry about as my brother was already at uni. Don't know how people with several small DCs manage the level of involvement required.

jamdonut · 14/02/2013 09:30

Its not quite "homework",but my daughter(16) has been into school 3 times this half-term week from 9.30 till 1pm for revision sessions!

Whilst I understand that the GCSE's are only a short way off, it does seem a bit unfair when she has already worked very hard towards them and this is an added pressure when she could do with some "down time". She is the sort of girl who goes to all the after school lessons that are put on,anyway,even though she is not struggling in any way, shape or form according to her teachers.
Sad but proud.

pointythings · 14/02/2013 19:17

I think it's different if one's DC is working towards GCSEs or A-levels, it's reasonable to expect holiday revision then. I certainly did it (though never in the summer holidays). But SATs drill in YR6? I refused with DD1 and will refuse again with DD2 next year.

willesden · 14/02/2013 21:02

At Parents' Eve last night I complained that my kids don't get enough homework across the board. But they are Gifted & Talented so that possibly makes a difference. Children need constant challenges if they are bright, not to 'switch off' for a week.

hels71 · 14/02/2013 21:16

DD is in reception. She,like many of the others in her class, is shattered. Loads of them have been off with a very nasty virus(including the teacher)...so over half term they have been given:

2 lots of maths, a reading book (not got problem with that), some spellings to learn and some drawing and writing about a book.................in reception I ask you...................I am not happy at all.....................they need to rest and have fun...........

pointythings · 14/02/2013 22:14

willesden my children are also G&T and I beg to disagree with you - even very able children need downtime. When I am on annual leave from work, I am not expected to work. When it is the weekend, I am not expected to work. Why should children not have a break from work?

Of course there is a difference between 'downtime' and 'constant vegetating in front of games consoles and tv' - I would not advocate the latter for any child. But there are many ways of keeping able children challenged which do not involve school work of any description.

ThreeBeeOneGee · 14/02/2013 22:19

I am happy to listen to my children read, help them learn spellings and practise times tables with them.

However, I HATE holiday homework. At primary school I think it's unnecessary. I would tolerate it at secondary school, but DS1's (very academic) secondary school doesn't give any.

SavoirFaire · 14/02/2013 22:21

Could you do something about how they recycle wherever you are going on holiday. Do it as a holiday diary?

kim147 · 14/02/2013 22:34

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

AScorpionPitForMimes · 14/02/2013 22:35

Actually DD1 has access to something called SAM learning, and she loves it - it's competitive, the students can challenge each other and it's all represents as a race with avatars etc. So if she wants to do that, that's fine. But no stupid worksheets.

BackforGood · 14/02/2013 23:03

I also have to disagree with willesden
Everyone needs rest and relaxation. Some people use that time to chill, some people prefer to stimulate themselves with hobbies / interests, but being bright doesn't mean you want to do school work for 52 weeks a year. What an odd thought.

ThreeBeeOneGee · 15/02/2013 07:21

DS2 is G&T. He is perfectly capable of finding activities to challenge him during a week of half-term holiday.

bowerbird · 15/02/2013 12:49

I hate homework for primary school children and it's outrageous when issued for the holidays.

I would argue that a child not only needs rest and relaxation, but it's actually good for them to not be "challenged" all the time. A little boredom is a healthy thing and constant, relentless stimulation (particularly for bright kids) becomes a kind of tyrrany. Regularly, they need to just be on their own, in their own heads.

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