AIBU to think most kids hate school

[StitchInLime]

It’s not just mine but other people’s kids too from
talking to other parents. Most school mornings are a battle to encourage them in. ‘I have a bad tummy’, ‘my leg hurts’ ‘I don’t want to go to school’. It’s all made worse by the fact we have a family member (my nephew) who is home schooled so they see there is a possibility NOT to be at school.

Maybe it’s normal. Most of us, when faced with being forced to drag our arses out of bed to go somewhere and do something we’re not always enthusiastic about (work!) don’t adore it. But we’re adults so don’t try to manipulate our ways out of it (most of the time). Has it got worse since the pandemic?

Or are the kids I know unusual cases? Do your kids love school?

I guess I’m just sick of the daily battle on school mornings. We always say school is important, plus we can’t always lounge around at home as life isn’t fulfilling that way, this the routine and learning is good. But still, the morning drama!

My daughter loves school. But she hates getting up, getting her uniform on, getting the bus to school, after school care and coming home on the bus. What she does when she's there she seems to quite enjoy though!

Four DC here.

None hated school.

Never made excuses not to go.

Small sample I know but 100% YABU.

If that's what your voting rationale is?

Mine never do this. I don’t know whether yours or mine are unusual! But they have never wanted to miss school unless they are at deaths door, they really like it . Year 7 and year 10.

My dd hates it, I hate the cliche of 'all kids love school' .

You're conflating not wanting to get up with school.

I’m very, very fortunate that mine (so far) have loved school and enjoy doing extra curricular activities. I know that some of their friends do not like school for a variety of reasons but most seem to do very well.

Hate is a strong word. But I agree that lots of kids don’t like it much, on the whole. I’ve had this conversation with my teenagers. NONE of my friends (I’ve checked) liked secondary school much. Some hated it, others are neutral, most, like me, just didn’t like it all that much. My view is that you’re lucky if you love it. Like it, even. If you don’t, you’re like a zillion others. But you’re not there to like it.

University, on the other hand… 🎉

Its not school most kids hate its the actual act of waking up, getting ready and going. That one hour from waking to leaving is stressful for everyone 😂

Perfectly happy at school and speak well of it but hate getting up and organised for school. Things improved massively when they organised themselves rather than me or DH organising them.

I am sat in the car on strike, whilst my 12 and 14 year old are inside (hopefully) scrabbling round getting their act together.

After a decade of saying brush teeth, eat breakfast, get shower, pack bags, put shoes on, sort PE kit I have revolted. They HATE life.

Three kids, never had to battle with them to get to school in the morning.

Mine both like it but they are teens quite academic and like to see their friends. That said they were perfectly happy in lockdown

3 DC here, eldest Y10. None of them have ever full-on hated school, but they certainly don't love it, despite all being quite academic. They were pleased to get back after the first lock down but that only lasted a day!

Their schools are nice, normal state schools with good behaviour. I sometimes wonder if they would feel differently if we had have been able to afford an independent education with smaller class sizes and more exciting opportunities, but I'm not convinced.

Daughters Cahms therapist said their referrals and calls sky rocket in September when they go back to school.

So a lot don't like it but not sure it is most of them.

To be fair it doesn’t matter what I have on of a day. I could have won the lottery and be off to spend my winnings. I could be going on my dream holiday. I still hate getting up in the morning and I’d still be running late.

My DD loved primary school, she says high school is “fine” she’s an early riser always has been and I think that helps

Nope my DD loves it, spent the summer holidays counting down until school started again, disclaimer though she is only 6. That said she can struggle with getting up in the morning as like us is a night owl not a morning person, we just make our routine as simple and easy as possible to make it the least stressful for all.

I love my job but there are plenty of mornings that I don’t fancy going in because bed and home seem more appealing at the time.

IME there are parts of school that children don’t like especially if they find the work difficult but overall they love it. Having to be off for covid for so long proved it.

We are conditioned in the UK to think school is the only way to gain an education and God forbid if your child dislikes it or worse still developes an anxiety disorder because of it, then you are really in deep trouble.
My eldest sailed through school no problem, my youngest mananaged to stay in the school system until aged 13 when he developed an anxiety and panic disorder. The school were more concerned about his attendance than his wellbeing. HS has been a huge success, his MH is so much better now , he is studying A levels and working part time, so it very much depends on your individual child.
There is a huge amount of ignorance concerning alternative educational routes, my youngest son is actually alot more self disciplined and motivated than my eldest. Eldest is doing well, but youngest is unstopable.

Two of mine are quite happy to go to school, the third is a real homebody and we struggle to get him out of the house at all. He only complains about being ‘I’ll’ when he’s a bit germy or tired. Which is about 1/3 of the time in winter.

3 DC here, all love school. We still sometimes have a bit of ‘getting up in the morning’ grumbling. But on Monday, for example, they were disappointed that school would be closed.

Mine love school thankfully (year 2 and 4). Their school is lovely, they get on well with teachers and love learning and seeing their friends. So no, i don't think all kids hate school, especially not at primary. I find it really sad that so many do end up getting totally switched off to learning and education though (I'm a former high school teacher and lots of kids hated it by then). We're very fortunate so far that ours enjoy it

i l l

not I’ll

DD has always gone into school with no problem . She enjoys it. She doesn't say she loves it though. There are still a couple in her class battling their parents at the gate each morning so you're not alone . DD says the moment they're in class they're fine.

There is such a lot of pointless faffing when it comes to school. Uniforms for a start. Having to wear such restricted clothes from a young age. Homework from such a young age - special 'family tasks' to do on the weekend. Make a cake together, go to the park and collect leaves etc. All those dull reading books and reading diaries and "you MUST read for 15 minutes each day".
It's just off putting to enthusiastic learning. Makes everything a chore.
And then secondary....urrgh. Everything is about "this is important to your GCSEs....exam, exam, exam..." and "if you don't do this now in Year 7 you will FAIL your GCSEs" and then they spend to much time caring about the colour of socks rather than finding out a child's interests and giving them actual career/job advice and helping them choose a decent path.
It's all just so tedious.