AIBU to think primary schools are stuck in the 50s?

[Desperado40]

I need to get this off my chest somewhere...maybe I am unreasonable, but my kids' primary school is stuck in another decade. They constantly bombard us with things to attend or assist kids to do at home (and I am not talking spellings here, but proper projects). We both work full time! It is hard enough to organise wrap around childcare and we share as much as possible between us, but I really don't want to be wasting the only family time we have on catching up with projects and homework. We received over 60(!) School emails in the last 4 weeks about various things. I am at my wit's end, there is something to remember to bring or do almost daily. And of course the guilt when I cannot attend every single sports day, market day, school fayre, school concert, parents assembly, wave child off on the 100th school trip... I am afraid that it is all designed for a stay at home parents... I know that working full time, I am in the minority of mums in our school. AIBU to think schools should assume that both parents DO work and be more inclusive?

Yes definitely, the uniform and curriculum definitely needs to brought into the 21st century. Why are we still making our kids look like mini bank managers and teaching them algebra!!

@lollipoprainbow What's bank manager like about a t-shirt and a sweatshirt?

@Nix32 maybe that's what your kids wear but at most schools it's shirt and ties.

Totally agree except in the 50s,60s,70s and 80s there was no such parental involvement. Mums might help with class trips if free, but never came into school or to assembly, and no dressing up days. Thank god. Also no homework.

@lollipoprainbow Secondary schools and private prep schools, yes. State primary schools? Absolutely not. 70 schools in my local city - not one of them wear shirts and ties.

@canellini And much lower standards too. Expectations have changed so much - government expectations, that is - that we NEED help from home in order for children to reach those standards.

@Nix32 really ?? In my local area all the primary schools wear shirt and ties.

I’ve never once seen a primary school uniform that was shirt & tie ever in my life.

There are state Primary schools with blazers in the uniform. Ties are a relatively common item, often optional, but compulsory at others (unless wearing a gingham dress).

Not all schools give only 2 to 4 days notice about events. If the school is really making life difficult, is it possible to find a different one?

It does happen. Most primaries in my city are polo & jumper, but at least one is shirt & tie, even for the tiny reception kids. Apparently they all have to try to earn their ‘can tie my own tie independently’ award. Mad!

There are several infant and junior schools in our town. All but one wear polo shirts as uniform. But the other has shirts and ties (a state school). Not the point of the thread but it's time to get rid of blazers and ties for school uniforms (including private schools).

@LoudingVoice @Nix32 so you think I'm making it up?! Just because you have never ever seen it I'm your life doesn't mean it doesn't occur, just maybe not in your area.

I was just going to say the same as a PP - they have to do it for Ofsted. Ofsted, rightly, want to see lots of activities for children to help as part of their education - but this inevitably falls on to the teachers to promote, and the parents to support, which is very hard when you work outside of the home.

I don’t think there’s an answer to it; every thread I’ve ever read about primary school says the same.

Jesus calm yourself, it’s called a discussion - it might be common wherever you are, it’s not in other places, no need to lose your mind over it.

@LoudingVoice I'm not losing my mind over it !! Jees your tone was very accusing. Never ever in your life have you seen a primary schools age child wear a shirt and tie. Yeah right !!

@lollipoprainbow You we're the one who stated 'at most schools'. Simply pointing out its not at most schools, just some.

What’s with all the !!??!?

Yes that’s correct I have never seen a primary school uniform with a shirt and tie.

@Nix32 oh I do apologise, ok at some schools then. Happy now?

Having gone to school in the 50s I can assure you primary schools are most definitely not stuck in the 50s.

In the 50s parents have very little input into what was happening in their child's school.

I remember having to take spellings and times tables home to learn but apart from that my parents weren't informed about anything that was happening in my school.

Primary schools now seem to be very child friendly. In the 50 children were still being slapped for the smallest misdemeanour.

I lived in fear of most of my teachers in primary school.

I remember one incident when I was in the infants. A child was slapped so hard across the back of legs by the teacher that when she went home at lunch time the mark was still there - most children went home for lunch.

The child's mother turned up at the school with the child after the lunch break and after the mother left the teacher gave us all a very stern lecture that under no circumstance do we tell our parents what happens in school - we were about 6 years old at the time.

You might be bombarded with emails. The school might give you projects to do with your children and so on and clearly you find all this an imposition but, going by my grandchildren's school, school nowadays are generally happy places, not the places of fear they were in the 50s.

It's good that schools include the parents, that children can feel that home and school are connected in a positive way.

Get involved as much as you can. You can only do what's possible, you can't be in two places at once. Lot of children grow up knowing their parents can be at sports days or performances, it won't do them any harm.

*can't be at sports day, that should be