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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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Original poster

Why has primary homework become a race to the bottom?

130 replies

tokyogirl · 25/09/2020 10:02

I've noticed this over a couple of years now.... to be seen to be doing any kind of homework in primary school is a literal race to the bottom.

"Oh we don't do that"
"I never fill in the reading chart"
"We don't bother"
"Can't be bothered to do all those spellings"

In DC school completed reading charts and such like are rewarded yearly with certificate and prizes, why wouldn't you want your child to be rewarded and have a confidence boost?

Any hint of actually doing homework seems to be met with an eye roll or smirk?!

OP posts:

DysonFury · 25/09/2020 10:03

I haven't heard this at DD6's 'deprived' school.

seayork2020 · 25/09/2020 10:05

If i am asked i answer factually with parenting things, but I dont randomly go up to people and discuss topics

So when asked if ds had homework I said he did and when he didn't i said he didn't

Spied · 25/09/2020 10:06

Not at our school. Everything is a huge competition to be the best parent ( or be seen to be more like).

Lockdownfatigue · 25/09/2020 10:07

Primary homework is not beneficial and we don’t do it. That’s not a race to the bottom, imo it is more beneficial to them not to.

However I don’t discuss it with anyone unless asked.

Mia1415 · 25/09/2020 10:07

That's not the case at our school.

drivingmisspotty · 25/09/2020 10:08

Nobody wants to come across as arrogant/pushy or just make another parent feel bad by saying they are doing more and think it is important? So they are anxious to show how little they do.

I think it’s a bit like those kids who say they have done ‘no revision! I’m definitely going to fail the exam!’ I wouldn’t assume it is true.

justanotherneighinparadise · 25/09/2020 10:09

Well our outstanding primary must agree with you as it doesn’t set homework! I honestly do t know why it doesn’t. But there you go.

OhMsBeliever · 25/09/2020 10:09

Because young kids spend enough time at school and making them do more work at home is pretty crap.

I didn't make mine do it at primary school. They read, lots and lots, not just school books, and I felt that was more important. Sometimes they did do the homework, if they wanted to, but I certainly wasn't going to force them. Especially my youngest, he has autism and was very "school is for school work, home is not for school work"

None of their teachers every disagreed with me. (to my face)

EnglishGirlApproximately · 25/09/2020 10:09

We always do the homework and spellings but I do find needing to fill in a reading record every day a bit much. I often forget because its just part of our routine to read rather than a task.

GlovesAndBoots · 25/09/2020 10:11

We don't do homework. If someone asks I tell them we don't do it. If no one asks i don't tell them. I'm not going to lie!

Babycrackers · 25/09/2020 10:11

For us its the fact we have a child with SEN who already works so hard at school, so getting upset about homework they don't understand isn't a valuable use of our time. Same with inappropriately hard spellings, which DC has no chance of getting correct, absolutely not going to waste my time on them.

Mumratheevergiving · 25/09/2020 10:12

I have to say I'm more inclined to get DC to do it when it is acknowledged by the teacher or they spend a few minutes going through it in class. Likewise reading diary, I'm always pleased when we get a teacher who looks at it/ signs it off. Otherwise my children read regularly but it seems pointless for me to record it in a diary only I look at!

Babycrackers · 25/09/2020 10:12

We do read though regularly, a mix of school reading books as they have a great library room where children can choose their own books within their ability range and a mix of our own books. This I do find a good use of our time.

LucyLocketsPocket · 25/09/2020 10:13

I do think times tables are worth practicing at home as this gives them such a strong foundation for maths. I'm not too worried about anything else though.

CuteOrangeElephant · 25/09/2020 10:15

In Engeland children get too much homework way too soon. It's not even proven to be effective.

As such I would do the bare minimum. Luckily for me I don't live in the UK anymore.

I was such a book wurm that the reading chart was full at the end of the first month , and after that I wouldn't fill them in anymore.

Eng123 · 25/09/2020 10:15

Ive never heard this. We struggle as we are working parents but try to get it all done. I do feel judged by others though.

emptyshelvesagain · 25/09/2020 10:16

I have adult D.C. and primary age D.C. and I can honestly say in all the years of schooling I have never had the first fucking clue who did or didn't do homework.

Marzipan12 · 25/09/2020 10:21

Homework at primary was not beneficial to my child. It caused so much upset that at one point school agreed he didn't have to do it . At school he was a model pupil, worked hard and never a minutes trouble. Now in year 8 he is still a bright model pupil, works hard and is in all top sets. He now gets on with homework without a fuss because he is older and more emotionally mature to handle it. I've found that settingredients homework to young is counterproductive, stressful and has no benefit to their overall education.

Littlepond · 25/09/2020 10:22

Completely the opposite at my daughters school. They all do extra projects and extensions of the homework, and there’s constant talk of it on the Facebook page - woe betide anyone who said the homework is too much “what you can’t even find an hour a day for your child’s education? DON’T YOU CARE???”

We do what we can and I keep myself to myself 😂

sirfredfredgeorge · 25/09/2020 10:26

No homework, 'cos it's really poorly evidenced as useful and has an opportunity cost of doing things which are evidenced as useful.

In DC school completed reading charts and such like are rewarded yearly with certificate and prizes, why wouldn't you want your child to be rewarded and have a confidence boost?

Intrinsic motivation is almost always better, extrinsic rewards can crowd out the intrinsic - ie people stop reading 'cos they enjoy reading and just churn through it to get a certificate.

AriettyHomily · 25/09/2020 10:28

Not something i've come across at all.

Comefromaway · 25/09/2020 10:30

Primary homework was hugely detrimental to my children's well being and stopped them doing things that were good for their wellbeing (like decompress after a long day at school, have family time and go to dance/music classes they enjoyed.

canigooutyet · 25/09/2020 10:31

My eldests first primary were a pita for homework. He has sn and they knew the various issues, but every week I would get moaned at because he didn't do it. The aggression from him just wasn't worth it. He remembers all the moaning and oh this will set you up to do well in your gcse's, later in life etc. One of his most memorable days to date is years later, even though he was there less than he a year, he went back to show them his certificates he shouldn't have got.

My 4 attended 5 primaries and only that one set homework.

Justajot · 25/09/2020 10:31

I don't think that homework at primary level has been shown to have much impact on outcomes educationendowmentfoundation.org.uk/evidence-summaries/teaching-learning-toolkit/homework-primary/.

We read at home and do the bits of homework that are suitable for my DC. But if it isn't differentiated and is unsuitable for my DC then we don't do it. I generally have a conversation with the teacher to explain that and they are fine with it.

Teachers wouldn't give undifferentiated classwork, so I'd argue that, if they think it is worth setting, homework should be differentiated too.

cologne4711 · 25/09/2020 10:37

Any hint of actually doing homework seems to be met with an eye roll or smirk

I don't know if it's a "race to the bottom" but I don't see the point of homework at primary school except for reading and learning tables. The rest just gets done by the parents, what's the point?

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