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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

aibu not to do everything the school wants during homelearning?

34 replies

Hshdg · 07/02/2021 16:45

So my childs school are providing an excellent online learning experience in fact its a bit too good. There are four registrations per day. Mostly live lessons unless a teacher is on a course and all work must be completed and handed in on time. So far we have complied with this. However they thrown in a curve ball. They now want us to measure on an app our daily exercise. We go for a walk in our local area as and when it suits us, time and weather permitting. I don't see why we should have to prove how many steps we have done.

OP posts:
clpsmum · 07/02/2021 16:46

Tbh we do what we can when we can. I have three dcs and three different schools and one laptop between us. Don't beat yourself up xx

clpsmum · 07/02/2021 16:46

And although we are allowed to exercise the advice is to stay at home

AlaskaThunderfuckHiiiiiiiii · 07/02/2021 16:49

My children attend school as I’m a key worker in community nursing, they don’t do online just a learning plan at the beginning of each week with all the work sheets to go along with it. They do a couple of work sheets at school but I don’t force them kids to do more once we get home, I’m knackered they’re knackered and I’ve got my own uni course work to do as well, honestly welcome the news that P1-3 will hopefully be back on 22nd in Scotland

HeckyPeck · 07/02/2021 16:51

I would just say I don't have space on my phone to download the app but we are going for regular walks. They can't moan at that surely.

inquietant · 07/02/2021 16:54

I would say I don't wish to record but we get appropriate exercise.

Nosey parkers!

LolaSmiles · 07/02/2021 16:56

YANBU
I wonder if they're considering trying to do a class push to be active given how many children are probably spending all day in front of screens and sitting down, but expecting parents to track exercise to prove it is unreasonable in my opinion.

MrsFionaCharming · 07/02/2021 16:56

I guess it depends on why. Is it just for nosiness, or are they going to use the data for a maths / Geography task? If it’s going to be used, I can see how it would be engaging for the kids to use their own data.

Original poster
Hshdg · 07/02/2021 16:59

I have 3 dcs one in year 7 in college who is suffering with depression and one in Uni but working from home and Im also in my 3rd year of Uni. My husband is still able to work but is out of the house 10 hours a day so running the house is also down to me. I try and get them out as much as I can , I know its important but I know I could be called out for not doing this. Its the principle really

OP posts:
inquietant · 07/02/2021 17:02

Just ignore. Don't feel bullied. Schools need to know the appropriate boundaries - this is none of their business.

PE is their business at a push, but not what kids do the rest of the time.

Properbobbins · 07/02/2021 17:04

We’re doing something similar but as part of a school challenge to see how far each year group can walk/scoot/bike. All a bit of fun, something to make our walks more interesting and my 9year old DD is really enjoying plotting our routes on a map and calculating the distance. Bit of a win all round really.

TierFourTears · 07/02/2021 17:04

YANBU, but PE staff are getting a bit twitchy, as they are getting low levels of kids participating in lessons, and at my school are getting worried about long term fitness of the kids when they get back.

DS1s school has sent out a list of the kids who have demonstrated participation in at least 3 lessons since the start of term - it's about twenty kids out of a year of 250.

inquietant · 07/02/2021 17:06

DS1s school has sent out a list of the kids who have demonstrated participation in at least 3 lessons since the start of term - it's about twenty kids out of a year of 250.

This breaches data rules so if my kid went to that school I would be pretty angry at that.

Some schools need to back off.

Janus · 07/02/2021 17:09

I have 4 children and I would be livid if they started wanting to monitor their steps!! We don’t get out every day, the weather has been either soaking wet or very cold, by the time they’ve actually finished their lessons at 3.30ish we don’t always have the time or the inclination to go out for a walk. I’m concentrating on them doing all their schoolwork, they take the school day and sometimes more once all staggered out to do this, I won’t be made to feel guilty if we don’t then go for a walk at 4 o'clock because it’s starting to tip down.

BungleandGeorge · 07/02/2021 17:22

We don’t have online PE lessons. We’re getting far too little exercise but that’s as a direct result of lockdown, it’s pretty much the same for the entire country! I’m not having a battle about going for a walk every day on top of everything else. It’s cold, everywhere is waterlogged and you’re not allowed to travel to anywhere for a more interesting walk. I’m aware it’s less than ideal but many of us have more urgent things to cram into the day!

MatildaTheCat · 07/02/2021 17:30

Your year 7 might actually benefit from exercise if suffering with depression. Are they doing any at all? It certainly doesn’t have to be steps along a dreary pavement or mud bath of a park. I don’t blame the school for being concerned about extremely low activity levels but counting steps is a rubbish way to promote healthy exercise.

NerrSnerr · 07/02/2021 17:35

Our school has been encouraging more activity (not asking for steps or anything though). I think they're concerned that some children are not getting any exercise at all at the moment. I'm lucky that my children are small and are keen to get out but we don't see many children on our walks or at the park at all.

aintnothinbutagstring · 07/02/2021 17:58

No we wouldn't bother with that, my DD is in y8 and I tell her to focus on her core subjects, so things like drama, food tech and PE have fallen by the wayside. Can understand PE teachers may feel a bit meh at the moment with children not participating but that's not my problem. We go out for walks and DD does the odd exercise video, I couldn't be arsed to log it with the school.

Original poster
Hshdg · 07/02/2021 18:00

Sorry that was a typo it's my middle one in college. Ironically he's studying sport. He's a talented footballer and athlete but can't get out of bed at the moment, but he's 17 and huge so I can't force him. Although on the rare occasion he will join us his mood lifts a bit.

OP posts:
TheChip · 07/02/2021 18:01

No yanbu. The way I see it, is if they really want so much control over the learning and stuff then they can open the bloody schools. Otherwise, they can do their job, and I, as a parent will do what I can.

hansgrueber · 08/02/2021 15:00

Jusy say to yourself, Teachers and school can't do right for doing wrong.

Woolff · 08/02/2021 18:14

While you seem precious about your daily steps, turn this around.

Would it be okay for the school not to bother doing their best to for your children as part of your their duty - either remotely or at school? Or would you feel entitled to whinge that you weren't getting what you deserved?

They won't make you. But they'll judge you for thinking you're somehow above what they set.

junebirthdaygirl · 08/02/2021 18:33

They are not measuring you so would your kids buy into it and run around the garden or depending on age around the block. It might appeal for a while. All exercise is helpful at the moment. But l wouldn't feel under pressure only if it would be of benefit to them ( or you!!)

lazylinguist · 08/02/2021 19:33

YANBU. Just don't do it. I'm a teacher btw, and I think this is OTT and unnecessary.

GertrudePerkinsPaperyThing · 08/02/2021 20:37

On the days when Ds isn’t at school we don’t do everything.

Janus · 08/02/2021 21:20

@Woolff I’m really interested in your post - are you a teacher?? Would they/teachers really judge you if you don’t do one piece of work? I have 4 at home and we don’t do everything set, one day I won’t do say RE for my 9 year old because we’ve spent a long time doing the maths, English, spellings etc. Would his teacher really judge me if we don’t do RE?