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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

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?

238 replies

NellysKnickers · 09/10/2016 10:35

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.

OP posts:
Original poster
NellysKnickers · 10/10/2016 13:03

Hi all. I've emailed his tutor asking for his suggestions and to let him know in case ds hasn't. Thanks again for helpful advice and Grin at some comments from those who clearly have know idea about how some people cope financially these days. We both work, we do not claim benefits but we cannot afford a laptop, I know that's mind boggling to some and to be honest you are incredibly lucky to be in a position to be able to assume that anyone can just pop out to get one. We are looking into it though and am hoping with xmas and a couple of birthdays soon we may be able to get one without dh and I actually having to sell a kidney!! It's actually been really interesting to read all of your responses, a real wide range of opinions and answers. Thanks again Smile

OP posts:
carefreeeee · 10/10/2016 13:03

You can get a new laptop for about £200 which will be perfectly fine for doing homework on. I expect there are even cheaper second hand ones around. Maybe just buy one? For Xmas/birthday if necessary.

If you can afford tablets then you should be able to stretch to a cheap laptop.

If you genuinely can't afford the internet, mobile phone, computer games or tv then fair enough - but if you have these things but refuse £200 for your child's education I think you are being a bit silly TBH

PlasticBertrand · 10/10/2016 13:13

FFS why do I let myself get sucked into these debates? Nowhere have I displayed crashing ignorance bobochic. But never mind.

witsender · 10/10/2016 13:20

There is a difference between those who could buy a laptop etc but choose not to, and those who cannot afford to full stop. The latter should not be penalised or treated in such a way that implies they have some choice in the matter.

Original poster
NellysKnickers · 10/10/2016 13:20

Yes carefreeee what a splendid idea, I will just check the safe in the west wing, I'm sure there is a spare £200 floating around in there..........what a silly sausage I am for not thinking of that before Hmm

OP posts:
Soubriquet · 10/10/2016 13:24

Oh OP don't you know you're supposed to scrimp every last penny to get this laptop

Even if it means you don't eat for a week. I mean come on, your child's education means more than food surely Grin

FlabulousChic · 10/10/2016 13:25

Pcworld today £149. It's a necessity not a luxury though without it your child's education will suffer

expatinscotland · 10/10/2016 13:27

'Pcworld today £149. It's a necessity not a luxury though without it your child's education will suffer'

Checks bank account for spare £149 that can go on a laptop and not to top up the leccy and gas metres, food and petrol for another week and a half. Nope, not there. Do you realise that a lot of people cannot just say, 'Oh, look, deal on at PCWorld. Let's roll on over there and buy a laptop'? Because they don't have £149!!!

witsender · 10/10/2016 13:45

If it was that easy, would we be having this discussion?!

Original poster
NellysKnickers · 10/10/2016 13:45

This is getting funnier. Best I shit out £149 and hot foot it down to pc world right now so I don't ruin my 11 year olds education

OP posts:
Soubriquet · 10/10/2016 14:07

If £149 is so cheap to you, why don't you go out and buy one and give it for free to us Grin

bloodyteenagers · 10/10/2016 14:21

So nobody has still mentioned all these amazing companies that give them for free?

FarAwayHills · 10/10/2016 14:38

Schools DO make allowances but we have to know that there's an issue before resolving it.

I agree in that schools do need to be made aware that there is an issue. However, in my personal experience teachers involved are not always accommodating and I know there is a lot of huffing and tutting from teachers if my DD has asked in the past for something to be printed at school when our printer is not working. How humiliating must it be when a student cannot print stuff or access homework for financial reasons. You can imagine self conscious teens not wanting to be singled out or made to feel different among their peers by having to admit they cannot afford these things. Homework should be accessible for all at no cost to the parent.

FarAwayHills · 10/10/2016 14:44

You can get a new laptop for about £200 which will be perfectly fine for doing homework on. I expect there are even cheaper second hand ones around. Maybe just buy one? For Xmas/birthday if necessary.

It's not just a laptop though, it's also expected that parents provide a printer with an endless amount of paper and extremely expensive ink. And sorry as PPs have said not everyone can afford these things in the real world. Our printer has just broken so should I skip the food shop this week and skip along to PC World instead? Confused

Oblomov16 · 10/10/2016 16:02

Let's see what the school says.

There are separate issues here.
Online homework generally, a laptop and the printing issue.

Depends where the majority of students live and their prosperity as to whether all/majority of homework is set on line these days.

If many students are from families who struggle financially, and if the majority have no/poor access to Wi-Fi then presumably a school knows this and must adapt accordingly.

There are second hand laptops available. Op said she didn't want to buy one because she had been burnt/ripped off before.
But they are available, some for £20 on eBay. If opening post doesn't want to choose that option, that is of course her choice but people can't then complain that there are no options because there clearly are.

they may be that she doesn't want to. For whatever her reasons. Totally fine. But you cant then claim there aren't any.

There are also laptops available on interest free credit over 9,12,36 months so depending on how much money is available that could be an option.

The printing is very expensive for many of us, the inks are expensive. we all appreciate that. But, children don't need to print at home, they could print at school or some schools allow homework to be emailed to the teacher so no printing is required at all. Let's see what the schools response is re the printing issue.

so that separate out the different issues and address them on the time and I think you'll realise there are actually quite a few options here.

Op could sell the tablet and put the money towards a laptop. She may not want to, but she could, it's a choice.

There are options.

Original poster
NellysKnickers · 10/10/2016 16:23

Oblomov, I can assure you, selling either of the tablets will make nowhere near enough for a laptop. One is 3 years old, the other 2 years old. Probably get 20 quid for both, if I was lucky. I could of course sell my phone as it's obviously outrageous that I have one but then with all the emails and texts schoolso send now rather than actual letters, there would be no way of them contacting me, let alone family and friends. Oh and before anyone mentions a TV, yes we have one TV for a family of 4 and it's 6 years old, so no, we haven't forfeited our sons education for that..................... I'm done now. Had some great advice on this thread and support, so thanks again for useful advice

OP posts:
DoctorDonnaNoble · 10/10/2016 17:01

People can say schools should make allowances but tell that to the exam boards! Where coursework still exists (eg A Level) it is expected to be word processed. I would dearly love school to be pen and paper based. It's a bloody nightmare getting into IT rooms.
However, any teacher making a student feel bad for not being able to sort IT related homework through no fault of their own, certainly does NOT have my support. My students now what to do in that eventuality and how to do it without drawing attention to themselves.

Slowtrain2dawn · 10/10/2016 17:29

YANBU OP. In the area I live we have a local charity that will help with one off grants for items like this. They ask for an income expenditure form to be completed to show that there is no excess income. It might be worth asking at your local CAB or looking at the turn2us website. If a computer is essential item for your DCs education a children's charity may help.

pippistrelle · 10/10/2016 22:04

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

I do hope this is satire. It made me laugh anyway

KingLooieCatz · 11/10/2016 14:53

I have friends who are behind on rent, school dinner money and childcare fees. Both parents work. Hard. Their DS birthday party last year was cake at the playpark. My friend hopes to break even in time for Christmas. I'm shocked that people exist that assume everyone has money to spare. We are comfortable money wise but use printer so rarely the ink always dries up.

HelenaDove · 11/10/2016 15:06

On the other thread poorer people were being told that internet and PC at home is a luxury and to go to the library.

The gaslighting of poorer people that ive seen on this board is astounding.

expatinscotland · 11/10/2016 15:28

Yes, Helena, I noticed that, too, and even a few names from both that thread and this one. There was one in particular who claimed net access at home was not an essential, the pupils can just go to these mythical libraries that have all these PCs sitting idle or do the work at school. Never mind that the JobCentre expects you to now have internet access at home so you can do your job searches if you are JSA, the WRAG group for ESA, etc.

HelenaDove · 12/10/2016 17:47

It was the poster who advocated child abandonment that floored me.

The one who said that if deadbeat dad isnt paying Child Support to drop the kids off at his and make him look after them while the mum pays Child Support.

When a few of us questioned how this was possible if he refused and one poster pointed out her ex would likely not even answer the door, her answer was "well you drop them off at his mothers or his sisters instead. (note how only the female relatives were mentioned)

I never got a chance to reply cos the thread ended. but wouldnt this be classed as child abandonment.

How the fuck is it the mothers or the sisters responsibility when neither of them chose to have the child.
Absolutely astonishing.

Pisssssedofff · 12/10/2016 17:53

Child abandonment- giving the kid to its other parent ? Fuck me the worlds gone mad

Pisssssedofff · 12/10/2016 17:56

Aren't you the one that's always crapping on about dads being equal parents and having equal rights ? Well bloody well give them equal rights then, these men aren't going to do anything voluntarily but I bet they won't loose face and put the kids into care - SS couldn't take them anyway, where to? Depends just how desperate the situation is doesn't it ?