AIBU to think that schools shouldn't dish out detention to pupils who can't complete online homework as they do not have access to a pc or laptop at home?

[NellysKnickers]

As the title says, there is a homework club after school once a week but this keeps being cancelled. I've told DS1 if they do carry out the threat of detention then I will ring the school. Any teachers out there who can offer their point of view? as I'm failing to see the schools side in this.

It's not fair to assume everyone has access to a pc outside of school. I also don't feel it's fair to assume kids will do the work in their lunch break! In the same way as an adult no one would assume I would work through lunch to complete something! If school insists on online homework then they need to facilitate that with after school club ect if they can't/it keeps getting cancelled you can't punish the child!! Or they offer an offline alternative! Otherwise you are setting certain kids up to fail for no valid reason.

I absolutely hear you helena but the reality is if we worked at the level accessible by the most impoverished we would achieve nothing. Instead we have to set our standards high (policy wise) and push those in charge to make it possible for all children to access education fully.

It starts way beyond secondary frankly. For some no amount of homework club is going to make them stand apart from their peers so the gap has widened by 5.

passmethecrisps how is giving detention for homework someone is unable to complete due to finance pushing change from the higher ups?? I get it must be hard to work across the range but it is fundamentally unfair to set a unachievable goals!

How many excuses for not doing homework do you think the average teacher hears in a week? The ones I know are genuine are the ones accompanied by a note from a parent. Which is all the OP needs to do!

I have never, ever given detention for not doing homework makemywine. Actually, my own school has a policy of no punishment for lack of homework. Poor homework means home communication rather than punishment for the child. The intention being any issues in the home can be managed and supported within our capacity.

I agree that at the end of the day op needs to make contact with the school. That may end the issue hopefully. But for some who may be concerned this thread is helpful

Sorry and makemywine you are correct that the policy of this school is not helping if it is as the op thinks. At the end of the day we don't yet know

Iggi999
A friendly heads up. Neglectful and abusive parents dont send notes.

Schools have to take some of the responsibility here and stop charging parents so much for school uniform and stop making them buy it from one expensive place.

This would free up more money to spend on PCs.

£56 for one blazer at a state school near me.

I think the OP needs to talk to the school. Her son seems to be finding a lot of excuses for not doing homework and it needs to be checked that what he is saying accurate. It's not unheard of for 11 year olds to make excuses.

I also think the OP needs to be prepared to start looking at options as he will have a much easier time in future years with access to a laptop or pc. Ask around family and friends about old laptops or PCs that they don't need anymore (I have a few sitting in the cupboard and would be happy to hand one over to someone if they put a new hard drive in it). Ask family for money for birthdays/christmas to put towards it. Can he get a paper route, do some odd jobs for people to make a bit of cash? You need to be prepared to come up with some options.

I find it mind boggling that a household would not have a computer printer and web access. I can't understand how they manage.

If the school requires web access to complete homework the onus is on them to make sure they provide the means and resources to all children who made need that.

I would just talk to the teacher to see what's going on before he gets detention so you can set him up for success. I'm willing to bet he's telling half truths about the situation.

Claiming computer issues is the new 'dog ate my homework'. However, a note explaining the situation would result in detention avoided.
A student who regularly had this situation would be identified and followed up.
We're not evil. We're teachers.
Coursework is on the way out for GCSEs by the way.
As it happens I give as many handwritten homeworks as possible. They have to write in the exams at present so that's what I do. Computer based work doesn't have to be printed. It can be emailed.

Don't rely on messages going back and forth through your son. Call the form tutor / head of year before any detentions are issued, explain that your son has no PC or printer at home, and ask the form tutor to help your son arrange a timeslot to complete the work on a school PC, eg at lunchtime. The form tutor can also pass the message on to other teachers.

Lots of people on here don't seem to understand how difficult it is for a child in a rural area who doesn't have pc access. Suggestions such as "stay at the school library until 4pm" don't work if the school bus to your village goes at 3pm. Similarly, going to a public library only works if there's one within walking/cycling distance of your house. Our nearest public library is several.miles and a (costly) bus ride away. There are only 2 pcs there so even assuming you could afford the bus fare (£3.40 for children) you could get there and find all the pcs are taken.

Some of these posts make my blood boil, NEWSFLASH not everyone has internet, printers, laptops etc, that is the reality for people on low incomes. When we were low income, we had one crappy, extremely slow old PC which only had dial up and 1998 Microsoft word, this was scarcely used for school / work only and this was combined with living rurally which meant internet was always accessible anyway.

Printers are expensive (along with ink), I was lucky I got my printer on some club card deal years ago along with my (then) brand new PC, I recently upgraded to a new laptop which isn't compatible with my ancient printer so I have to buy a new printer.

DD's at a secondary school which is bring your device is a must, one day DD internet was playing up so DD asked if she work out of the workbook and the teacher flatly refused, which I thought was outrageous.

There seems to be an impression on here that all schools work like this. We don't.
This situation is hypothetical for the OP anyway. In her shoes I would contact the form tutor if all subjects are done this way or if not the individual teacher. Being verbally told by a student isn't enough. Students lie about these things all too often. This is why she must contact the teachers.
For a more long term solution. I would approach the heads of relevant departments stating that this isn't possible for you.
A local comp has been in the news for 'getting rid of homework'. It hasn't. It's optional. And all online (I believe there are rewards for completion). It has quite a diverse intake. So the unfairness is a possibility.
Some short maths and languages homeworks are computer based at our school (MyMaths and Moodle). The different IT areas have different priority year groups so that homework can be completed for those who need/want to. I have, on a rare occasion (I think a total of twice) helped a younger student get on a computer when an older one was chancing their arms and not getting off when they were just playing games.
There will be a way around the situation. However, don't leave it until the homework is due in. That appears an excuse. If homework is a problem (for any reason) always let the teacher know as soon as you can (notes in planners/emails) will avoid 'trouble'. Communication is key and that doesn't mean sending verbal messages via an 11 year old. Unfortunately, not all of them can be trusted not to lie and some just get confused/embarrassed.

Our school states very clearly that DC are expected to have access at home to a computer, the internet and a color printer, in their own homes

Yes but your kids are at a private Catholic school. There are kids at my DC's school who live four to a room in temporary B and B accommodation. Surprisingly they don't have colour printers.

Terrific non sequitur there, PlasticBertrand. Do you think there are no DC living four to a room in Paris Catholic schools?

Not the expensive private ones I don't expect.

None of them are expensive, all are private. I can assure you that they do.

Schools communicate with parents via the parent portal. It's not really possible to not be online. How would you know what was going on?

I don't have dc yet (currently TTC) but I don't think you are BU.

Actually I was thinking as I read this that I am SO GLAD this was not how homework was done when I was at school - how could I have possibly raced to copy my friends homework two minutes before the class started if I had to submit online (time stamps etc!! Haha) Obviously I wouldn't want to encourage that sort of terrible but everyone did it behaviour but I am just feeling really thankful at this moment Hahahaha!!!