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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

6 and 7 year olds being kep in at lunch time for forgetting homework

575 replies

DaanSaaf · 08/05/2018 20:55

Year 2 ds just told me they have to stay in at lunch time and do extra work if they haven't brought their homework in.

Aibu to think that's a bit harsh at their age?

OP posts:
Oliversmumsarmy · 11/05/2018 01:19

How do you know children of 6/7 have undiagnosed learning difficulties. Things like dyslexia at that age are too young to diagnose and if the parents tell you and you don't like them then as you said you relish punishing their children

ThisIsTheFirstStep · 11/05/2018 01:25

As a teacher, I just can't imagine relishing punishing a small child. I would far rather help them to improve by building a positive relationship.

ICantCopeAnymore · 11/05/2018 05:10

Nah, I just can't believe some of the people on the thread are real teachers.

Relishing punishing little children? Believing that they "deserve" a break, not just that they're entitled to one? Blaming a 6 year old for their parents' actions?

It just wouldn't happen in the real world. No one I've ever worked with has treated little ones in this way. We work to ensure children's safety, happiness, comfort and enjoyment at all times, not to make their lives a misery with strict homework, earning breaks, blame and nastiness.

Children learn when their needs are all met. It's a simple concept.

Pengggwn · 11/05/2018 06:51

Although I don't necessarily think a 6 year old should be punished for not completing homework, I think there are some very strange attitudes to learning and teaching on MN. There is a kind of cognitive dissonance, where many posters seem to imagine that knowledge and skills can be developed in their children without hard work. It's weird.

Gileswithachainsaw · 11/05/2018 06:56

Every piece of homework dd hands in she's barely abke to do.

She would sit staring at it if you kept her in break it still wouldn't kean she could read it or understand it.

But good to know me having to sit there and tell her what to right is of such value

She's a good girl at school always helping people and taking them.to the medical room . She looks after people if they are upset and they will spend her break helping your kid look for something they lost.

But you would punisgh her cos you don't like me and cos homework has to be set even when they can't sodding do it Hmm

Gileswithachainsaw · 11/05/2018 06:58

She probably wouldn't tell you she couldn't do it either cos she wouldn't want to annoy the teacher or get into trouble

Believeitornot · 11/05/2018 07:05

@Linzeyhun your reactions are punitive.

When you go into your class you look at those little children and enjoy punishment.

Urgh.

Believeitornot · 11/05/2018 07:06

There is a kind of cognitive dissonance, where many posters seem to imagine that knowledge and skills can be developed in their children without hard work. It's weird

Maybe we’re smart enough to realise that homework at that age is pointless and there are other ways to encourage children to learn.

Pengggwn · 11/05/2018 07:11

Believeitornot

Maybe.

Louise56 · 11/05/2018 07:12

it's ridiculous giving children of that age homework. of course they shouldn't have to do it, and keeping them in is absurd. I would protest very strongly.

Linzeyhun · 11/05/2018 07:23

This is all being blown out of proportion

If a child doesn't do their work they stay in at playtime to complete or for me to find out whether they don't understand and to try and help them.

Gileswithachainsaw · 11/05/2018 07:35

My dd would not come and find you.

She's never focus if she couldn't have a bit if a run around.

She cant do the work half the time she's slow at reading and writing.

And whenever I lost break at school it was cos I was sat next to a kid who the teacher places next to me so they could ask me how to spell stuff every two seconds as opposed to bothering the teacher.

But if course as a well behaved child I didn't say anything

Either you have 30 kids in the class and can't possibly keep track of every one and conveniently didn't see the bullying under your nose and can't think of anything to reward half the kids for besides 100 percent attendance .

Or you miraculously know every child in your class is lazy and just isn't doing the work even if it's the first time it happens , tgat there are no possible other reasons and every kid will come and find their teacher and ask them for help if needed

Which is it....

GirlInterruptedOftenByKids · 11/05/2018 07:37

Oh I'm done here I think ....we will never agree

Linzeyhun · 11/05/2018 07:42

@Giles

I have never said they are lazy or I keep them all in or have to.

If you are referring to the girl, yes we are human, so maybe I missed a child kicking her under the table, or maybe she needed a wee.

The answer is she should have told me.

Gwenhwyfar · 11/05/2018 07:43

I would have loved this as a child. I hated being forced to play out in all weathers.

Pengggwn · 11/05/2018 07:56

Quite a few people in the thread have been quite scathing about teachers not being up to speed with educational research. Can anyone point me to research that says that homework for primary age children doesn't further learning when it is appropriate to ability and actually done? To be clear, I am asking about the efficacy of homework itself, not research about other factors that impede its effectiveness, like working parents etc. I am not saying that doesn't factor into a wider debate, it is just not what I'm asking.

Believeitornot · 11/05/2018 08:05

@Pengggwn

Not maybe. Definitely. My children are like sponges and they love to learn. Sitting down and forcing homework isn’t the way to do it at home. We do hands on practical stuff, read books etc etc.

Why don’t you do your own research...

Linzeyhun · 11/05/2018 08:10

@believeitornot

But they do at school. How would you feel about your child losing lunch because they hadn't completed class work?

Pengggwn · 11/05/2018 08:12

Believeitornot

I have looked for what I am asking for. I couldn't find it. If you can help, that would be fantastic. If not, let's leave it there.

Linzeyhun · 11/05/2018 08:44

Well I can see people don't agree. I still believe no work, no break is the right approach.

The thing you have to remember I miss my break too.

ICantCopeAnymore · 11/05/2018 08:48

I've recently completed a Master's in Education. Recent research shows homework still isn't beneficial for young children. I'm not finding it right now, as I'm in work, but that seems to be the case generally.

BlueBug45 · 11/05/2018 08:57

@Linzeyhun you are an adult so your levels of concentration are better than a child's. Added to that you probably have a degree or two, so unlike the average person you have learned skills which enable you to work for longer periods without a break.

You are working with children who have just started formal schooling so don't have the skills which take over a decade to learn and develop.

Oliversmumsarmy · 11/05/2018 09:14

Well I can see people don't agree. I still believe no work, no break is the right approach

Don't forget

And hate the parents so punish the child.

Quickerthanavicar · 11/05/2018 09:15

Do the crime, do the time.

Idontdowindows · 11/05/2018 09:37

Well I can see people don't agree. I still believe no work, no break is the right approach.

Shame the experts in this field disagree with you then eh.