To think this is pointless?

[Alte]

DD came home today and said she was missing her first 2 lessons tomorrow. Obviously I asked why, and she told me that a poet was coming into school to talk to them. Fine, whatever. I asked if she'd been studying his work and what she could tell me about it, and she basically said he wrote a poem about drugs and addiction. Surely this isn't the sort of thing they should be studying? More to the point, is it really worth missing a maths lesson for this? She's doing her GCSEs for goodness sake, I don't think this is a good use of her time. AIBU to find it ridiculous that she's being forced to go to this? Or is it actually something that could be educational?

Could he be a poet they're studying towards GCSEs? Not sure how it works now as it changed the year after I did mine, but I'm pretty sure they have to actually memorise the poems for the exams now? Maybe the school think the poems will stick better if the poet comes in to tall about his work and what he means by the words and there be a discussion about what others think he means by certain lines?

Well I dont know the poet or the circumstance, but I am sure it will be an interesting experience if nothing else. I went to a conference once where one of the speakers was "a poet who had been in foster care ". Turned out to be Lemn Sissay, who was utterly inspirational. So I'd say forget an hour of maths, worthwhile is not always found in the academics.

It's really news to you that poetry is educational

How dare the school arrange an alternative learning experience for their GSCE students without running it past the parents first.

Definitely send your daughter with a note tomorrow absenting her from the pointless poetry.

Drugs! addiction! Terrible things to write poetry about. Perhaps suggest they get Wordsworth in to say some pretty things about daffodils to the year 7s instead if they really must allow poetry into the curriculum.

You really can't see the value in this? Really?

One maths lesson won't change the result she gets. This poetry could be enough to change someone's life.

With things like this, whilst it might seem pointless & not ideal, I just roll my eyes and assume they’re doing it for a good reason, after all, the kids doing well is pretty important to the school!

If she’s the normal age for doing GCSEs she’s old enough to understand about stuff like addiction so it shouldn’t be news to her.

I suppose you could be thinking about the grief you’d get if you chose to remove her from lessons for subjects she’s taking exams in to attend something like this which is unrelated but you don’t mention that.

What LaurieFairyCake said

Education is about learning. Not just passing GCSEs.

In an exam driven curriculum with information overload, cramming, revision and exam skills. Experiences like this are a breath of fresh air! Some kids will whinge it's wasting their gcse time but those are the ones who are success driven and can't see the value of new experiences on life.

As a teacher I'm striving to minimise the monotony of the gcse curriculum and even though I hate poetry o think it's a good idea!!

The poem clearly isn't just about drugs and addiction - your daughter is a teenager and can't be arsed having a proper conversation about it.

I can't believe you're upset about this...