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AIBU?

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Original poster

To not make DS do his art lessons - distance learning

61 replies

cottonwoolbrain · 01/02/2021 14:08

I hate art. I can't do it (my art teacher always told me I was useless at it and he didn't know why he bothered teaching me) and he shows absolutely not the slightest bit of interest in the work and I've got none either.

I get him to do PE work out videos, English, Maths, Science, Geography and history and encourage him to do drama and music but I'm actually sitting in another room crying because I have no idea where to start with art I've got a job of my own to do and I'm so tired. I do make sure he's got all the eqipment and logs into the art lesson but I CAN NOT AND WILL NOT MAKE HIM DO THE WORK.

Last week I got an email from his art teacher asking where his work was... I DO NOT FUCKING CARE... what's the bloody point anyway ? (same applies to fcking PHSE that's a pile of crp too)

I don't even know what he's doing right now but I do know that he didn't manage to finish either English or Maths earlier so we need to play catch up with those in a bit.

He's 8, he's a good boy and dd 15 is great as well but I can't do this any more. DPs at work so can't help

I can't do this anymore... my job.. distance learning... constant demands for food... all the extra washing and cleaning.. .let alone another month. I'm broken.. so broken..

It feels like there's no end in sight.. it's not going to be March 8th...they're gooing to roll it back and back until they've missed teh whole year.. .and next year and next year and next year...

can't take it any more

And I'm not going to force him to do his art :( :(

OP posts:
coffeeandjuice · 01/02/2021 14:20

Forget the art!! You're doing a great job, he'll survive another few weeks without getting the paints and crayons and whatever else out.

seepingweeping · 01/02/2021 14:22

Forget the art. He can do that in his own time, if he wants to.

Finish the math and English later on today or another day.

Please do not stress this much over home schooling.

BlackeyedSusan · 01/02/2021 14:26

Concentrate on maths, science and English. The rest can wait.

cannotfindanickname · 01/02/2021 14:26

Don't stress over it. The most important thing is too look after his mental health and yours. If art is not his thing not doing it is not going to have a big impact in his life. And I speak as an artist - art is meant to be fun. If it's not fun for him (or you) don't make him do it.

Stinkywizzleteets · 01/02/2021 14:29

Don’t beat yourself up. You’re not a teacher and you’re not expected to get every piece of work done.

As for not being good at art, your art teacher was wrong. Everyone can be good at art once they’ve learned the techniques. I get so doshwartened hearing about art teachers who destroy kids confidence because they don’t draw like bloody da Vinci. There are a million different ways to be an artist. Film your son playing and call it performance art!

Stinkywizzleteets · 01/02/2021 14:29

*disheartened

Pinkdelight3 · 01/02/2021 14:30

Is this a private school? Most primaries don't have separate subject teachers who'd be chasing you like that. If it's state then they should be more understanding and it's hardly a big deal to let some art homework slide at age 8. I'd just mail a nice dispassionate message to his main teacher saying you're doing your best until they're back in school and not to chase up any more work for the time being, thanks.

randomsabreuse · 01/02/2021 14:30

I'm hopeless at art. Fortunately DD has only been set YouTube videos to copy which are in my comfort zone - I almost managed to do one of them as well as my 5yo the other day...

If any more help than find stuff and make encouraging noises were to be required I'd be in a mess...

gogojojo · 01/02/2021 14:33

We're cutting out Art, RE and Design - all things which my DD isn't interested in and I can do without to be honest. They all require too much assistance from me - I'm also working from home full time and have a 3 year old and DH is out at work 6 - 6 everyday - I've told the school and they were fine with this (even the RE which surprised me as its a strict catholic school)

I would just explain to the school you are doing the most important stuff and leaving the art for now - I'm sure they will be understanding if you explain the situation.

AndcalloffChristmas · 01/02/2021 14:36

Just let him do what he likes for art - give him paints or whatever and let him crack on

Ilovemaisie · 01/02/2021 14:39

He is 8 years old. Art is not a big deal at that age. It's usually making models out of cardboard connected to whatever topic they are doing. It's meant to be fun. If he doesn't find it fun then I wouldn't bother.

NichyNoo · 01/02/2021 14:46

We’re ignoring art too. DS, 8 years old, had a tantrum this afternoon trying to learn about a Buddhist festival for RE. I’m working full time in a keyworker job and do not have the time or energy to help him do a Jackson Pollack painting (last art lesson) or learn about how soldiers help the community (last week’s PHSE).

Avidreader12 · 01/02/2021 14:49

We get art on a Friday afternoon primary school I send them a message saying we will do over weekend but if it is a ridiculous request needs paint/ materials etc we I have no hesitation in saying we can’t do this.

AStudyinPink · 01/02/2021 14:51

You’re not his teacher. Just ignore it.

YerAWizardHarry · 01/02/2021 14:51

Its part of the curriculum, your child wouldn't be able to pick and choose what work they do at school. Your attitude isn't exactly showing your son to respect the learning process or his teachers, I don't really understand why your experience of art at school is even relevant?

XelaM · 01/02/2021 14:53

How can you be so bad at art? What would that look like? I don't really get what the school is asking of an 8-year-old in an art lesson which he can't fo

Nodancingshoes · 01/02/2021 14:53

God no, we're not doing it either. I've spoken to school and told them we are doing english and maths. This takes hours as ds(10) has some additional needs. School were supportive. We are trying our best

MarshaBradyo · 01/02/2021 14:54

You don’t need to be good at art for him to give it a go

Him refusing is harder to resolve

AStudyinPink · 01/02/2021 14:55

Its part of the curriculum, your child wouldn't be able to pick and choose what work they do at school.

But he isn’t at school. It’s not parents’ job to deliver the curriculum. This is inappropriate pressure.

VenusClapTrap · 01/02/2021 14:58

Ds (8) hates art too. My heart sinks when I look at the timetable for the day and see ‘you will need: paint, scissors...’

Last week we had to make a Viking shield. Ds lost his shit because he just couldn’t do it. In the end we did the absolute bare minimum - I held down a saucer while he drew round it, he managed to paint it green, I told him to forget about decorating it further and I handed him a piece of egg box and a bit of sellotape for the middle blob thing, saying “stick that there’.

It was crap, but he had something to photograph to hand in. Duty dispensed. Minimal effort. Tick. I noticed on their online lesson lesson later that not everyone had done it, and made a mental note not to bother next time.

Life is hard enough at the moment and missing art if they hate it isn’t going to do them any harm whatsoever.

Pjsandbaileys · 01/02/2021 14:59

For goodness sake he is 8!!!! As long as he keeps up with maths and English, maybe a bit of science (even if that is the bbc bitesize programmes which actullay liked quite good) and reads the odd book. So much pressure is being put on the kids and parents atm it's simply not fair. I am friends with quite a few home schoolers who were following the curriculum before covid times, they found it only really took a couple of hours a day if that. When you take into account breaks, answering 30 different children's questions, settle everyone down after someone farted the curriculum is only a small proportion of the school day. Give yourself and your son a break, you are trying your best and that is enough x

Pinkdelight3 · 01/02/2021 15:00

Its part of the curriculum, your child wouldn't be able to pick and choose what work they do at school.

That's all well and good in normal times, but there's no way OP is responsible for teaching her DC the curriculum. She didn't choose to homeschool and even if she did, she could set her own curriculum. Like everyone else juggling a job with kids at the moment, she's doing her best and the art teacher should understand that and back off.

SpiderinaWingMirror · 01/02/2021 15:01

Fuck it
Do some potato prints and send that.

greensnail · 01/02/2021 15:02

English and maths are the priority here for the primary aged DC. If we manage to do all of that then we move on to other stuff, but they're absolutely not going to fall behind by missing a couple of art lessons. We usually do manage art because the DC enjoy it and they art materials for Christmas so we have whatever is needed. If they didn't enjoy it then it wouldn't get done.

allmycats · 01/02/2021 15:10

Let him go outside, stamp in some muddy puddles and come home and walk over a piece of paper. = ART.
Really you are doing a great job and, if it is causing upset just get on with the basics, 3 RRRs.