To think primary homework is getting out of hand

[BeanBag7]

Speaking to a friend today with a primary aged child. They have been asked, for homework, to make a space themed cake and bring it in.
AIBU to think this is lovely if you have parents with the time, money and inclination to do this sort of thing, but for many parents would be a nightmare? Surely there must be many children whose parents simply can't afford to buy the extra ingredients to make and decorate a cake for homework, or who work 2 jobs and don't have the time to help a child with this project on top of reading homework and other stuff. And then the child is embarrassed or gets in trouble for not doing their homework.

I have also heard of children being asked to build a replica of a motte and bailey castle, wear various costumes (world book day, Victorian day, dictionary day, Christmas jumper day), bring in money for whatever fundraiser. AIBU and parents should just be expected to budget for this sort of thing when they have school aged kids.

Wouldn’t have been asking me to help bake a cake wouldn’t know where to start

It's absurd. I couldon't afford any of that when I was a single mum nor the time working g full time but it's definitely much worse now.
Don't even mention school trips.

I wouldn't contemplate doing that.
With my primary age children I tell them if they want to do the homework then do it ( with no help from me)
BUT IF THEY DON'T WANT TO DO IT THEN i'M NOT GOING TO MAKE THEM.

I think you can put as much or as little effort in as you want.
It wouldn't be hard to buy a pack of plain cupcakes/cookies and decorate them in icing with pictures of spacey stuff.

Disclaimer - my DD is only in reception and I haven't been worn down by this shit yet.

@vikkimoog I agree that parents shouldn't have to help - surely the whole point of homework is for children to do it themselves. But many 8 year olds wouldnt be able to make a cake independently, at the least they would need an adult to help put it in the oven.

We are hardly rich but I would object to everything being pitched at those on the bread line. Surely the focus should be on helping people in need out with the 'extras' rather than making it so none of the children do it?

I hate craft homework. You get the masterpieces that are obviously more the parents work than the child's. The child made ones where the child has tried but cannot compete with the adult ones. The ones where the child has no interest and have done the minimum.

And it's always the parent ones that get any kudos.

sorry about the caps!

I can cope with the reading and a worksheet...but in recent years, I've had to make replicas of ancient Egyptian tombs, Roman amphitheatres and the north pole...it's expensive, time consuming and creates huge amounts of family disharmony. My ds has absolutely zero interest and hates anything creative. I do the lions share of it...regardless though, these homework projects are impossible without a lot of parental input.

I haven’t got to this stage yet. I’d like to think I’d just let my children crack on and produce something crap but theirs but I know my competitive nature may mean I can’t stop myself from interfering. It shouldn’t really be a test for the parents which so many of these projects seem to be.

Sounds ridiculous. I'd send him in with nothing and call it a Dark Matter Cake.

Although I will say the teachers in dcs school definitely reward the ones which are obviously made solely by the child.

Re: Silly costumes, I'm not a sewing, knitting creative mum and could never make nor have the inclination when they were younger (i think the idea is that they're home made?). Ours and many others were always bought and cost about £20-£30 a pop. DC would wear them and donate the required £1 to charity. I always wondered why they didn't scrap the costumes and just ask for £10 donation instead, would've been much more meaningful.

There's very little learning involved in most primary homework. If you listen to them read, help them learn spellings and times tables that should be enough.

My 9yo had a very condescending letter in the summer holidays asking us to make a model to ensure parents were spending time with their children. It actually said that. Now my kids had a fair amount of screen time over the holidays but they also had swimming lessons, went to adventure summer camp, we baked, went to the library, did creative stuff at home, all manner of educational activities together. I know not every child has this experience but didn't appreciate the tone.

I'm a primary teacher and the children who need to homework most are the ones who won't do it. For many reasons. No pens in the house, chaotic home lives, no quiet space, caring for siblings etc.

I hated them when DC was at school. Made me feel like I was back at school and I know I was happy to never have to attend school again. So why was there constantly something to do at home that we couldn't care less about? The pressure to help your DC not look bad in class and other parents stealth boasting about their DC's "work" which they obviously did themselves like it was the Olympics competition and knowing that what you did wouldn't get acknowledged anyway.
It was just too much "back at school" for me and caused some anxiety issues. Thank god its over!

When our new head started three years ago, parents rejoiced because she banned all homework bar reading, spelling and 1 maths sheet a week (reading only in reception).

Each key stage has 1 dress up day a year, linked to a topic and the date publicised from the beginning of the year. No book day dressing up, no children in need, nothing. Only fundraising is for the PTA; the school has found charities to support with students' time rather than money.

It's glorious. And how it should be everywhere.

I also object to the waste. Will the cake get eaten? Are costumes ever worn more than once? It just highlights the poverty gap without adding any learning value.

Ridiculous.

I like making cakes but I don’t do them for school anymore because it’s too much like hard work. I buy a pack for the cake sale and if that isn’t good enough, well I’m sorry that’s too bad.

Luckily we don’t tend to get this sort of homework.

It could be simple like some rich tea biscuits decorated with icing pens? Or a cheap shop bought Victoria sponge/fairy cakes, decorated with icing and magic stars?

www.tes.com/news/open-letter-teachers-parent-poverty

Email the headteacher and teacher this link (be warned, the article itself will make you cry) and ask if they've considered the ramifications of homework tasks like this.

Ooh we had this. Dressed up as maths homework as you needed to weigh ingredients. Then KS1 and KS2 each had a winner and they sold the cakes at the school fete. Definitely maths homework.

Do crispie cakes on a silver board and label it meteors in the milky way. Add real milky way stars for comic effect.

Are you sure it’s not optional? Or a termly topic project based homework and the cake thing was just an example - other options are also avaible?

Of course it’s optional. Just don’t do it!

A large part of homework at our school is there for the children to get to grips with the idea of completing a task, on time and handing it in. Taking responsibility if you like. And not making excuses such as “my mum forgot to put it in my bag”. The quality of what is delivered is somewhat less important. At least that’s what we’re told

My 9yo had a very condescending letter in the summer holidays asking us to make a model to ensure parents were spending time with their children. It actually said that

That would get a snotty email from me. How rude. Homework should facilitate learning, not try to influence family life.