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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To think that ds's school shouldn't give projects over school holidays

180 replies

Glassofwineneeded · 21/12/2015 16:18

My ds 9 has a project to do over the Christmas holidays. 10 + pages are expected.
My thoughts are that school holidays should be for relaxing and not for doing massive projects in year 4!
As this is the Christmas holidays we have lots planned including 3 days spent with family and then my ds is going to his dad's. As well as other days out etc it makes it hard to find time to fit project work in and make a decent job of it.
He is currently working on it now when what I want to do is curl up on the sofa with him and watch a festive film!
So AIBU ?

OP posts:
DinoSnores · 22/12/2015 15:04

" I prefer the kids doing homework than watching tv frankly."

Gosh, life must be boring if those are the only two options. I'd much rather mine were playing outside or inside, or helping me bake or tidy up, or reading with or to me, or drawing or colouring or writing stories, than watching TV or doing homework.

starry0ne · 22/12/2015 15:20

We are watching nativity 2.... Does that count as schooling? Wink

Shockers · 22/12/2015 15:22

I wish DD's school would give her a project; it would get her out from under my feet!

SirChenjin · 22/12/2015 15:31

Agree Dino

Anotherusername1 · 22/12/2015 15:33

You do realise all primary homework is optional don't you? He doesn't have to do it. Just write a note explaining that you ds needed to relax and spend time with family and don't give it another thought.

Not true, my son's junior school used to set breaktime detentions if homework was not done, or not done to the expected standard for that child's ability.

Anotherusername1 · 22/12/2015 15:38

It's good practice for as he gets older.

Why do people always say this? Maybe we could let kids be kids. What's with the obsession of making kids grow up before their time? How about setting kids homework when they need to do it, rather than years in advance?

Alicewasinwonderland · 22/12/2015 15:42

DinoSnores

don't worry, life is not too boring for them, they are having a blast. Congratulations for managing to have the 2 weeks holiday without any tv at all, I think it's great.

Could you just please tell me what the difference is between drawing, colouring, writing stories and homework?

If parents start crying, telling them that OMG homework, it's so unfair, school is too cruel, of course they are going to hate homework. If we all sit down for one hour, time depending on activities planned during the day, then no-one is feeling punished.

fredfredgeorgejnrsnr · 22/12/2015 15:43

SummerNights I think the reason is why encourage them to something that is simple, and doesn't already interest you or them, rather than invest the same time and effort in something that does interest you both and has equal value.

What that teaches is that doing school work is an end of itself, rather than learning and achievement which should be the end. What does my DD get out of seeing me research elephants because the teacher said to, rather than us researching toads 'cos we found one at the bottom of the garden. The effort is the same on us.

Now if research had shown that homework provided value to primary kids then it might be worth that cost, but of course it hasn't. The risk against that is teaching kids that homework is drudgery, that just needs doing.

Sallystyle · 22/12/2015 15:45

YANBU. None of mine have had homework during holidays.

If they did, I wouldn't make them do it anyway. Holidays are for relaxing. I would tell a teacher straight out that it wasn't going to happen.

Sallystyle · 22/12/2015 15:47

BTW my year 10 also has no homework and is not expected to do anything educational in the holidays.

SirChenjin · 22/12/2015 15:48

Who on earth said parents start crying and telling them OMG homework is so unfair etc etc? Hmm

Children of 9 years old perfectly capable of formulating their own opinions of homework over the holidays, and it's a rare child who will happily sit down for an hour of homework a day at that age - and more to the point, what on earth sort of holiday homework takes that long for a P4/5 child? I'm not working over the holidays and I have no intention whatsoever of checking my emails - this is my time, with my family, and nothing from work is going to disturb that. I don't expect school to intrude on that time either.

knobblyknee · 22/12/2015 16:04

YANBU. 10 pages is too much at that age.

AndNowItsSeven · 22/12/2015 16:30

Another they could not have put your ds in break time detention without your consent.

DinoSnores · 22/12/2015 17:56

Alice, goodness me, I've clearly touched a nerve there, haven't I?!

"Could you just please tell me what the difference is between drawing, colouring, writing stories and homework?"

Really? You can't see a difference between children pursuing their own interests and filling out repetitive and simplistic worksheets?

I'm not sure that any parents here are "crying" to their children about homework, but there are parents who know their children and don't see the value in homework ahead of rest time, fun activities full of value and family time and won't make their children do things that have no value.

balletgirlmum · 22/12/2015 17:56

Of course they can andnowitsseven

My ds has had to miss break for not doing homework in the past.

AndNowItsSeven · 22/12/2015 18:10

Ballet but did you withdraw consent for homework related consequences?
If you didn't then yes your ds would receive a consequence.

balletgirlmum · 22/12/2015 18:14

The headmaster wouod probsbly have been tempted to laugh in my face had I attempted to do that!

balletgirlmum · 22/12/2015 18:16

I never actually got around to signing the home school agreement incidentally. But by continuing to send my children to that school implied I consented to their homework & discipline policies.

balletgirlmum · 22/12/2015 18:17

I did actually go in & complain that dd got kept in at lunchtime becsuse Her homework wasn't completed because we were in a & e with ds. The head agreed they should have made allowances on that occasion.

Hulababy · 22/12/2015 18:21

YANBU

I've been a teacher and an HLTA. And I still believe holiday homework is rubbish. Holidays are for time out and giving themselves a break so they are fresh and ready for the new term ahead.

Yes, encourage reading and maybe some every day maths through games, cooking together, etc. But nothing formal is needed. It really isn't!

Hulababy · 22/12/2015 18:33

To be honest I hate it even for secondary - even revision - over holidays, bar y11/13 when proper exams are coming up.

We should be able to go away on holiday for a week/fortnight when school is out. Not have to spend part of the day hidden in a room working rather than chilling out in the pool or on the beach.

Homework should be for term time.
Tests, etc other than proper official exams should happen before holidays, not the immediate week back.

Kennington · 22/12/2015 18:37

Depends on the project: if it is a bit of grammar or memorising times tables then great.
a ten page project on the Vikings would annoy me too.
Not much choice so I would knock it out quick!

FannyTheChampionOfTheWorld · 22/12/2015 19:46

Obviously YANBU.

Nanny0gg · 22/12/2015 20:17

We are watching nativity 2.... Does that count as schooling?

No. It counts as torture. I actually paid money to go and watch that in the cinema. Xmas Sad. Two hours of my life I'll never get back again!

But what on earth is wrong with letting children watch TV during the holidays? Are they not allowed to chill out and enjoy themselves? It really won't turn them into sociopaths or zombies. Honestly.

DinoSnores · 22/12/2015 20:29

Nothing wrong with a bit of TV, but if all the holidays are watching TV or doing homework as a PP suggested, that would be boring.

(Not seen Nativity 2, but I did watch a terrible film last night, which I linked to on the Downton thread in which Rob James-Collier did a pretty poor American accent. If I wasn't pregnant, I could have knocked back the port while doing the wrapping, and it might have seemed better!)