Aibu to be pissed off about neighbours complaining their kids behind in school but let them run around outside until bedtime?

[Bookwanderer]

My neighbours have been bitching about the school & that their kids school reports haven't been great.. However the second the kids are home from school their out playing until around 9pm even in the winter.. Most days they have friends home with them too.. They can't really blame the school can they?!!

Depends how old they are and what time they are up in the morning.

It depends on what they are complaining about and if they have the sort of child who is burnt out by the time they come home. I had to keep my DD off school to work on her reading/writing because of dyslexia. She couldn't have done school during the day and extra work in the evening.

Also, lots of schools don't have homework as such up until a certain age.

Homework is of no discernible benefit for primary school children and I say that as someone who works in education support.

Good for the kids - Out playing.

Why has it pissed you off, does it impact you in any way?

Proper homework might have no effect of children’s outcomes, but regular reading at home, parents who spend time interacting and getting a good nights sleep before school makes a massive difference.

YANBU, your neighbours just sound like the type of arsehole parents that every school unfortunately has to deal with.

If the children are behind then school should support them with this. This support should take place during the school day. If they are so far behind that they're not making expected progress then they would be considered to have SEN and would have a specific intervention plan, again this would be delivered in school.

School is for work, home is for relaxing.

I agree OP - the teachers will have told the parents how to support the children - if the parents don't value learning, going to the library, having meaningful discussions on a variety of topics with their children, then sadly the children are going to miss out. That won't be the school's fault. Playing out certainly has am important place in any child's development, but sounds like these youngsters would benefit from their parents being a bit more hands on with supporting their learning.

I think 9pm is a little late for a primary aged child, however playing outside with friends has loads of benefits. Dd does her reading with me in the mornings before school, she's often too tired to concentrate on it after a busy day of learning otherwise.

Between 9 & 12...

I'm sorry but I completely disagree. Parents are childrens most important educators.

Eeeh?

I agree with you. We have the exact same in my neighbour. Complains that her child is failing everything but he's out until who knows when and never home weekends or anything. He's going off the rails a bit and getting in with bad crowds, but the school are still being blamed! I fully agree with you.

Yes it pisses me off.. My dc are in the same school but are doing fine as they do their homework, read alot & do any additional work set.. I can't understand why these neighbours are blaming the school, their kids do fuck all & it's the parents fault!

Outside play with friends after a day at school is exactly what children need

Good grief then you are totally unreasonable. Why can't kids that age play out at 9pm is totally normal time to go to bed. If they were stuck inside watching YouTube until 9pm that would be OK would it?

You said the children are behind and you don't think the parents have got any right to blame the school when they kids are playing out all time. They're at home, they should be able to relax and play because that is what home is for. School is for schoolwork and if the school aren't able to support them with catching up then there is a problem with that school.

Looks like lots of people on this thread haven't heard of balance. If your kid is doing bad at school then surely the balance is to try and support them with homework as well as them playing out?

Blx. kids are in school long enough and the school should be able to adequately teach in that time.

Homeschooled kids only need to be educated in the mornings to get the same results as kids in school full-time - shows how little kids learn in school.

We need smaller classes and more teachers.

Being outside playing, exercising (which is hugely, hugely beneficial to mental and physical health) , socialising freely is hugely beneficial to children . My dh and I both had pretty free range childhoods, I don’t remember my parents going homework with us but they definitely read to us, we both have degrees and post grads and are doing ok… love reading etc Maybe your neighbours dcs have loads of energy , my dcs are highly physical and need huge amounts of exercise. Some of the happiest memories of my life was playing outside freely and especially in spring , summer ; those eternal evenings. I don’t remember doing hw inside or long school days. Maybe you are feeling bad about something in your own dcs life op?

Because the 9 year old won't be doing any reading.

The 12 year old is secondary school age and will have homework.

A child doing badly at school has an even greater need for rest and relaxation at home otherwise they end up burnt out which has even more of a detrimental impact on their education.

Because their parents are bitching & moaning they're behind in school & in bottom sets yet are making no efforts to support them whatsoever just leave them to their own devices after school..
Much easier to blame the school than parent ones child it seems.

It is literally the school's job to educate them...