Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. Only the apps you allow.

Meet the Other Phone.
Only the apps you allow.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

to object to this piece of homework

30 replies

clam · 20/04/2008 15:05

DS (Year 7) has been given a piece of Art homework, to be done for this Wednesday, to create a collage using chocolate bar wrappers. We don't have any in the house as a) DH and I are dieting and b) my kids don't eat chocolate. Am I therefore supposed to go out and buy half a dozen bars, bin the contents just to use the wrappers or, worse, let the kids eat it all? How does this fit in with "healthy schools?" And it's going to cost too. Would it be churlish of me to write to the teacher and say, "sorry, mate?"

OP posts:
twinsetandpearls · 20/04/2008 15:05

just use other wrappers and send it in with a note.

littlelapin · 20/04/2008 15:05

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

Original poster
clam · 20/04/2008 15:07

Think it's to do with pop art, so has to look a bit "happening"

OP posts:
RustyBear · 20/04/2008 15:07

I would get your DS to do a collage using wrappers from healthy food & send it in with a note pointing out why you've done it. That way the school can see that your DS isn't just trying to get out of the work & it might make your point more effectively.

mumeeee · 20/04/2008 15:07

Just use any wrappres you have.

Janni · 20/04/2008 15:08

is it the colourful foil that they're looking for? If so you could use tin foil or glittery wrapping paper.

Sounds like it's a not very well thought-through piece of HW.

Original poster
clam · 20/04/2008 15:16

Aren't you all resourceful? Have just googled some images to print off but not very good. And have just remembered that I have some fun-sized bars at school that I could force-feed my class as a surprise treat. Not very healthy for them , mind you, but better for them to have one each, than my DCs have a whole shopful. And I do have some low-fat bits and bobs in the kitchen, although I'll have to re-wrap them in clingfilm. But I do think it's a stupid task......

OP posts:
paros · 20/04/2008 19:20

Personally I would use loo paper and the plastic wrapping it comes in . I think that would make the point .

paros · 20/04/2008 19:20

Oh I wasnt joking . What a stupid bloody project .

sparklyfairypie · 20/04/2008 19:25

what a wierd project

MinkyBorage · 20/04/2008 19:34

why don't you get some tins of campbells soup and use those wrappers instead, no idea how healthy they are, but got to be better than chocolate

cutekids · 20/04/2008 19:38

well i'd send mine in and not say a word.when teacher asks for homework i'd tell him to say."Sorry Miss...We don't eat chocolate!"!!!I'm sorry, but how dare they expect this when they're forever telling them that they can't even have the odd chocolate biscuit without it being a health hazard...God! This really annoys me!

MinkyBorage · 20/04/2008 19:40

like here

trefusis · 20/04/2008 19:52

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn

colander · 20/04/2008 19:52

can you find pictures of chocolate bars on the internet and print them out? It's a stupid hw project, and YANBU, but if your ds is like my dd1 it would avoid the upset of not having done the hw.

newgirl · 20/04/2008 19:58

i think its a good idea - could be about consumerism/marketing/unhealthy eating/rise in organic culture/kids eating well or badly - surely that is the point? give him 2-3 quid to spend and let him be creative - you can chuck the chocolate away.

jeez - i feel a bit sorry for the teacher - should they only make pictures out of lentils?

spicemonster · 20/04/2008 20:00

at trefusis. Are they supposed to give you the collage at the end so that you know what to get them for xmas or something?

trefusis · 20/04/2008 20:05

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn

ScienceTeacher · 20/04/2008 20:12

Are you sure that this was the only choice your DS was given, or merely a suggestion?

I am very reluctant to second guess other teachers, but as you have written, it seems that something is amiss.

If there was a remit to use (several) chocolate wrappers, I would expect the project to take several weeks.

If he is sure that is the remit and does not want to go back for clarification, it is easy enough to buy the chocolate and store it uneaten so that it can be used up at a reasonable rate.

But my gut instinct is that there is more to it that your DS is saying.

ellingwoman · 20/04/2008 20:27

It was probably given ut before Easter because they know it's the chocolatey season

ellingwoman · 20/04/2008 20:28

Or out even

Original poster
clam · 20/04/2008 20:32

Good point ScienceTeacher. Have rummaged through his planner and found: "get chocolate wrappers and make a collage with them." Further quizzing through the bathroom door just now and he is "virtually certain" that is what she said and there was no other suggestion given. To be fair to DS, he is usually pretty reliable about these things. MinkyBarrage, couldn't find your link, sorry. And colander, only managed a grainy image of a Mars bar on the net. Will keep going, however, or rather he will, when finished in bath.

OP posts:
CrossnessMaureen · 20/04/2008 20:43

And how much notice of this were you (I mean he) given?

You can make art from lots of hings that are not necessarily healthy.

Though granted, Caravaggio still life compositions usually feature fruit, bread, fish, meat.

Probably offend vegetarians.

Original poster
clam · 20/04/2008 21:05

Ah! Another good point, Maureen. Friday 11th, but he was ill the day before, so actually that is not so unreasonable in terms of time, as long as you're a chocolate-eating household. He did mutter something to me about it a day or two ago as well, but I didn't really register the implications at the time. Hmmmm, may have to bite the bullet and get up to the sweet shop tomorrow.

OP posts:
PotPourri · 20/04/2008 21:08

Just use wrappers from things you have - OR, try to print out images of chocolate bars from the internet and use them. And send a note that you don't eat chocolate in your house. We do eat it, but not enough to make a picture.

If you really do go for buying chocolate, get a small box of roses as they are really colourful and when they open out, stretch out into quite big foil/plastic wrappers.