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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

to expect my sons homework to be looked at?!

54 replies

Greenfingeredfun · 09/01/2017 17:57

My son is 10yro and at middle school. In our house, homework is a misery. But it gets done, on time. However, half the time it remains in his bag because 'they haven't asked us to hand it in'. When they do collect it in, he never gets it returned/any feedback. He really struggled with some maths homework which was set over a month ago. I wrote a note on it to his teacher explaining that he found a particular section difficult and please could he go over it with him'. The teachers never gone over it with him, apparently he just said 'that's okay, don't worry about it'! FFS!!! My son is not naturally academic and works bloody hard to stay afloat. Seriously, what's the point in this extra work?! This is an 'outstanding' school Angry

OP posts:
Original poster
Greenfingeredfun · 09/01/2017 18:00

He got a special certificate today which is hard to get (this is only his 2nd one he's received). He tried to show it to his form tutor today at the end of a lesson who told him 'do you really think I want to look at that right now'? I'm so dissapointed in the school.

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Trifleorbust · 09/01/2017 18:05

Not all homework is set so that feedback can be provided. It is an opportunity for consolidation of skills regardless of whether it is marked. As long as the teacher is marking work regularly, he or she is meeting his or her obligations.

Trifleorbust · 09/01/2017 18:07

He tried to show it to his form tutor today at the end of a lesson who told him 'do you really think I want to look at that right now'?

How unreasonable this is depends on what was going on. If I have just told the class to sit down to listen to an instruction, for example, I might well say this if a child tries to show me something. There is a time and a place.

SnatchedPencil · 09/01/2017 18:08

The homework is there for the child's benefit, not the teacher's. Teachers work six hours a day, 39 weeks of the year - you can't really expect them to spend their free time marking!

If the homework is part of an assessment, it needs to be marked - but otherwise, there is no need for the teacher to wade through thirty copies of the same piece of homework. Most kids will not care, to be honest most parents will not care either.

Original poster
Greenfingeredfun · 09/01/2017 18:13

Okay, thank you, perhaps I'm being a bit precious!

OP posts:
Original poster
Greenfingeredfun · 09/01/2017 18:14

I just feel like I'm the time she took to say that even if it's a bad time, she could have said 'well done, but show me later, I've just asked you all to sit down' for example

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Original poster
Greenfingeredfun · 09/01/2017 18:16

And why 'don't worry' about not understanding it? Why not explain it?

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EagleIsland · 09/01/2017 18:17

We had a teacher that never checked home work, or would mark your work while maintaining eye contact with you and never reading it. To prove a point we inserted swear words in sentences. Was never noticed. Until a different teacher checked our books!

Original poster
Greenfingeredfun · 09/01/2017 18:20

eagle Grin

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cherrycrumblecustard · 09/01/2017 18:21

I think homework is often set to keep parents happy to be honest.

I can quite see how approaching a teacher at the start of a lesson isn't the best move.

PurpleMinionMummy · 09/01/2017 18:22

I don't think yabu. My ds' homework is often self assessed or peer assessed and I don't really see the point of this. If the teachers don't have time to check it I'd rather they didn't set any. In fact I'd be quite happy if they didn't set any Grin

My dd's homework is also not really looked at. I get the impression the hw is set due to other parents wanting it. I may ask if we can skip it altogether!

Original poster
Greenfingeredfun · 09/01/2017 18:25

Yes purple exactly how I feel.

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sonjadog · 09/01/2017 18:28

I think the teacher´s responses sound a bit odd. Are you sure your son is not being economical with the truth here..?

sonjadog · 09/01/2017 18:28

Odd as in unlikely

Trifleorbust · 09/01/2017 18:30

I just feel like I'm the time she took to say that even if it's a bad time, she could have said 'well done, but show me later, I've just asked you all to sit down' for example

The first time a child does this? Sure. Praise is important. By the nineteenth time, no. No praise, just a very clear message that they have not listened.

EmeraldScorn · 09/01/2017 18:37

The teacher doesn't know what benefit (if any) the child is getting from set homework if the teacher isn't checking it!

Teachers work a whole six hours a day? How very precious, there are 24 hours in a day. Teachers work 39 weeks a year? The rest of us work 52 weeks a year!

I'd be annoyed too if my child's work was not being marked etc.

Potnoodleforbrains · 09/01/2017 18:38

Snatched pencil !! 6 hrs per day 39 weeks of the year . Are you taking the piss . If only it was "just that "

ilovesooty · 09/01/2017 18:44

Perhaps some parents and teachers would benefit from a better understanding of peer assessment.

No one works 52 weeks a year. I assume that post was a joke.

ilovesooty · 09/01/2017 18:45

Sorry - I meant a better mutual or shared understanding of peer assessment.

Renniehorta · 09/01/2017 18:48

I would love to know who these teachers are who only work 6 hours a day.

Prior to retirement I was arriving at school at 7.30 and most days leaving about 5. Though this was often nearer 6 or 6.30. Having got home I usually did about 2 hours prep/marking Monday -Thursday evenings. The weekend I worked Saturday pm and all day Sunday.

I was a single parent and when my son was little I used to get up at 4 am so I could get my marking done then. It gave me more time with him in the evening.

I believe that teachers work even more hours now.

Homework should be marked, but as a pp said it is often only set because parents expect it. Teachers have just too heavy timetables to be able to do they job they would want to do.

Original poster
Greenfingeredfun · 09/01/2017 18:52

It's a shame they can't state somehow on the homework if it's optional or expected. That way we could spend more time on Work which is actually collected in and less no time on the optional extras

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SecondsLeft · 09/01/2017 18:54

YANBU I think it is very disheartening when homework is set but no feedback given. OK to have some peer assessment, say for work done in class, or short tasks. OK to have some homework that is to extend. But the lack of marking I see in homework in some subjects suggests a lack of care or valuing.

cherrycrumblecustard · 09/01/2017 18:54

This is the thing though, it's a faff for teachers and children. Wish someone would just make it optional. DS needs help with his, and it'll have to wait until DH comes back.

YokoUhOh · 09/01/2017 18:55

snatched no, that's not right. I often pulled an 80 hour week as a teacher before DCs.

Trifleorbust · 09/01/2017 19:12

Class teachers don't have discretion about whether to set homework. It is an expectation of the job in virtually every school. If they could choose whether to set it I think it would be 50:50. Some teachers see the value, others don't.

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