To not make the kids do the homework?

[LittleMissGerardButlersBaubles]

The head teacher at our school has sent a letter to every child (infants and juniors) with a homework task for the school holidays. It's a learning log which they are meant to complete with a theme.

There is a long letter saying the work must be very neat and tidy blah blah.

Am I unreasonable to not make my kids do it?

They get homework every week in school, and we do that.

I feel very disappointed with the head, I can't see many parents being happy!

:( oh ffs how bloody mean. It's the Xmas holidays te only time most people get any time off to see their families.

I wouldn't do it, I would send a letter in on the first day and basically say your children were exhausted after the busy term or learning and were very much in need of a break from studying but they have done lots of fun things which have been 'educational' and are now rested and ready for the learning ahead.

What an old Scrooge!

Can you use the power of MN to compose a snarky, but polite, letter back?

Depends how much of the holidays it covers- if it could be done on one Sunday afternoon, I'd probably make them do it, if it's a daily or large task, no way.

They really do need a break and the point of the holidays is not neat writing- although I do 'encourage' mine to do a bit of maths (times tables, maths website) every day if possible.

A lot of schools are having them watch films etc this close to the end. They could have done it in class if it was that important!!!!!

How long will it take to do? It seems a bit mean to set homework for over the holidays, especially as most of the children will really need the break.

I'm very strict about homework being done, but think on this occasion it's a bit OTT.

We do the homework every week normally.

I just think its mean, she is new to the school and so far I'm not impressed with her general manner. I agree that heads need to be firm but she just seems over the top. The other head was too soft and I agree that doesn't work either but she was a lot more family orientated.

I've set my secondary kids to read at least 3 times for at least 20 minutes a time and write a couple of sentences about what they have read. I'd expect them to read anyway but we are expected to set them homework so I found this a good compromise. I'm pretty sure I will never make my kids do homework I find unreasonable. Just send a note in saying why!

Am I naive in thinking that there may be time over the exciting holiday when a school based task might be a good idea as a 'calm time' though? If I had that kind of time to fill (eg at gp house) I would do it.

thats is so mean giving out homework at xmas my dd's school had the local ice hockey team in the day signing and talking wi the kids I would not make my dds do homework over xmas they will b way 2 busy playing wi all their new toys from santa lol xxx

What are they actually meant to do in this learning log?

Depends how much they are expected to do. I don't think a small amount of homework with over 2 weeks to complete it is unreasonable. My DD will be doing her homework tomorrow afternoon as they break up early. That leaves the rest of the hols to chill out.

What about those who are going away for Christmas? Lots of people do at this time of year.

Depends how old they are and how much time it will take.

I don't think it's the end of the world, if it's a relatively small task.

It will take a couple of hours. I am normally strict with homework, we practice spellings and read every day,

And it's not about when it suits, in the other holidays I wouldn't mind so much, but I just think its very mean to give them homework at this time of year, especially the little ones.

I would always check they do work neatly anyway and I don't like the wording of the letter, saying it must be very neat, she expects excellent presentation etc, its ok to say that, but its the way it is put. This isn't the first letter from her that comes across as aggressive and rude.

I wouldn't make my DCs do it either.

If learning was do utterly important there would have been a whole lot less of DVDs, colouring in and playing with toys in the last week of school.

DS in reception has homework to do over the holidays. He has to write about what he ate, received, gave and visited and has some number work to do, as well as 2 reading books. I don't have a problem with it at all, I think they sound like quite fun things to do.

Sounds like a power trip more than anything else. Perhaps she's lonely and miserable at Xmas so wants to hang a cloud over everyone else's. Who knows.

As two if us have said now, plenty of time in class to have done it instead of games and films!!

Is it meant to be done in one sitting, or is the idea that the kids do 10 mins a day to keep things ticking over?

I wouldn't have a problem with it, and I think it's fine to have games/films at the end of term too. It doesn't sound like an "aggressive and rude" letter to me, just a task being set with clear directions.

But we don't know the contents of the whole letter, so how can you say that?

My dds very homework heavy school has managed to not give homework. And if the same task has been given to all kids then just how relevant is it?

I'd get the kids to make a photo diary instead. Get them to take Photos during the holidays, get the photos printed then stick them in a book with a sentence next to each one.

So you can't take kids out of school for a holiday, and now the school want children to do home work in the holidays.

When do they get a chance to have a holiday.