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AIBU?

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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:
Booie09 · 12/05/2018 06:37

Could you not get them to do there homework at the childminders?

famousfour · 12/05/2018 07:04

I am curious - how much homework are children getting in Y2 for it to be mutually exclusive with playing and family time? I'm aware there is a bit of a range. My child is only in Y1 and he is supposed to read daily (which I see as essential), gets a set of spellings every week to learn and a couple of maths exercises. This seems a decent level to me, doesn't take more than 15 mins a day, can be done in a fun way and we would read anyway. Do other children get much more?

I am not a fan of lots of homework at a young age but I can see the merits of a little to consolidate learning from the classroom and practice some things that they won't be able to do in the same way at school.

That said taking away play time seems pretty nuclear. Maybe the teachers was going over their homework with them so they don't fall behind?

FWIW I work full time and often do homework first thing as I find they are much fresher and more receptive than late in the day. I'm not sure how sustainable that is though as homework gets longer!

Linzeyhun · 12/05/2018 07:07

@Oliver

Do you really think that a child kept in at playtime and lunchtime doesn't eat?

Linzeyhun · 12/05/2018 07:10

@famousfour

That is one of the points I made. Although I keep them in, it is sometimes to try and grasp whether or not they have understood the concept.

Sososowow · 12/05/2018 07:14

I am a teacher and I think that is appalling.
My youngest is in y2 and we rarely do the homework set by school tbh - dd has a very busy home life with instrument practise each day and other activities. We do the reading and spelling practise only.
6/7 year olds are tired after a day at school being pushed for SATs and deserve time to play too.

Sososowow · 12/05/2018 07:19

Famousfour - in addition to reading and spelling, my y2 6year old gets a difficult comprehension sheet and maths to do.

We just don't do it as she has two instruments to practise daily as well as activities for herself and siblings to attend and time to just relax and play!

Cloudweewee - do you have children of your own?

Linzeyhun · 12/05/2018 07:20

@sososowow

It also means it sends out an appalling attitude to your dd of I don't have to do as Miss/Mr so and so says.
It is not fair that some children do it and others just choose not to. Is there no punishment for your dd not doing homework?

Pengggwn · 12/05/2018 07:27

Sososowow

'We just don't do it' - you mean she doesn't do it? And it's her education that is affected by that, not yours.

Sososowow · 12/05/2018 07:28

No punishment at all. The homework does not seem to be monitored or marked in y2.
My dd does loads of work at home - she is working towards grade 2 exams on two instruments, she reads, plays and does some extra work I set her.
My eldest two are at grammar school - I completely believe in working hard - I just don't agree with ridiculous sheets being sent home for 6 year children, after a long day at school.

Linzeyhun · 12/05/2018 07:30

@Pengwwwyn

You have to laugh at these parents who think it is up to them. What a terrible shock these children will get as they progress through school, not to mention their education as you say being affected.

Pengggwn · 12/05/2018 07:33

Linzeyhun

I don't agree about punishing 6 year olds, and, if I'm honest, I think the parents are responsible for whether homework happens at that age, not the children. However, I don't think parents should complain if their children fall behind. The learning opportunity was there and they didn't take it up. Their issue when their child leaves primary school and still struggles with the basics.

Linzeyhun · 12/05/2018 07:33

@Sososowow

How would you feel though if there was a punishment? I'm sorry but in my class your daughter would be spending her breaks inside.

ThisIsTheFirstStep · 12/05/2018 07:34

I think it sends out an appalling message if you say your kid has to blindly follow authority frankly.

If I don’t think it’s good for my child, why would I do it? If they get in trouble at school because they were cheeky or whatever, I totally support the teacher. But I am not wasting their and my time on something proven not to work.

ICantCopeAnymore · 12/05/2018 07:36

Pengggwn - You could try doing your own research. I spent many years doing mine.

Pengggwn · 12/05/2018 07:37

ICantCopeAnymore

Not being able to find evidence of something that others assert to be true does not mean I am not looking hard enough. I can't find it. It isn't to be presumed that, if I looked harder, I would find it. That is putting the cart before the horse.

Sososowow · 12/05/2018 07:38

I have no problem with doing homework further up the school - I just don't think there is any benefit at age 6....except for reading and spellings of course. After a day at work, instrument practise, reading, spellings etc there is little time left.

I would've extremely annoyed if there was a punishment for no homework done by my very busy and hardworking 6 year old! Like I said, my older dc are at grammar schools and we are a hardworking family!

Pengggwn · 12/05/2018 07:39

ThisIsTheFirstStep

'Blindly follow authority' Hmm

How about, if you don't accept the authority of the school over your child (not you, your child) you don't place your child in their care? It is utter hypocrisy to expect a school to safeguard and educate your child, but undermine their ability to do so by teaching your child that they can pick and choose. Ridiculous.

Mrsbadger77 · 12/05/2018 07:40

I would be fucking livid if that happened at my school.

Mrsbadger77 · 12/05/2018 07:41

My child's school I mean

ICantCopeAnymore · 12/05/2018 07:45

Odd, I found enough for an entire assignment.

Pengggwn · 12/05/2018 07:48

ICantCopeAnymore

Good for you. Without your evidence here, I only have your word for that, don't I?

gussyfinknottle · 12/05/2018 07:48

You're supposed to remember stuff. You have to learn that. We all cock up and forget things. But it is a cock up. Usually with consequences. It's not about following authority Hmm, it's about learning a life skill.
Mine's y6. We have a list for the week. She's still forget stuff if it's just down to her. So would I, frankly.

rabbitmat · 12/05/2018 08:02

School policy at my school too. Most of us don't agree with giving homework but we do it because the majority of parents want and expect it. All parents sign a home school contract agreeing to support their children with this. There is a homework club for those children whose difficult home lives prevent them from doing homework.

The children in my Y2 class get rewards for doing homework but if they are repeatedly not doing the homework they have to stay in. Those children then often understand that if they do the work on their own they can get the same rewards as the others. From Year 3 there are harsher sanctions so I consider this part of the transition.

Bouledeneige · 12/05/2018 09:39

I understand the frustration of too much homework at a young age. But at our school everyone seemed to do it so it didn't occur to me for my child to be the only one not doing it. In some ways a little bit seemed helpful to reinforce class learning - and enable them to get more explanation than they might get individually in the classroom. It also helps get a realistic feeling about how your child is progressing - or what they might be struggling with - which could be fed back. The teachers will then also see what hasn't been understood and needs better explanation in class.

I suppose also its about making it a habit that you need to follow up on your classroom work. So it becomes part of a regime like cleaning your teeth. Since homework becomes increasingly important through school life I suppose its not a bad thing that it becomes an expectation - its a part of school life. You will need to make space for it - and what if you kids get in the football team or other activities at the weekend. You won't be able to just do family socialising.

Not sure about the punishment - maybe a little harsh. But isn't it parents role to reinforce the authority of the school most of the time - and its a message to you that you've heard now. All the other kids are doing their homework and your kid could miss out.

Help them learn. Engage.

ThisIsTheFirstStep · 12/05/2018 10:39

by teaching your child that they can pick and choose

So we should just accept every single thing schools do? When corporal punishment was still a thing, I should just have put up and shut up because ‘they’re in charge’?

Things only change because people complain about it.

Calling people’s opinions ‘ridiculous’ because you disagree with them will rarely get you an interesting debate, but if your strategy is more to get people’s backs up rather than have a civil discussion, have at it, I guess.