To think parents expect too much of schools?

[Arbel]

We all know state schools are desperately underfunded, with big class sizes and kids with English as a second language and unmet SEN needs lumped into mainstream.

I have a son in year 2 and a daughter in year 5. Last night on the year 2 WhatsApp, several mums were bemoaning the fact that their kids don’t know the days of the week in order, can’t spell their own middle names and have illegible handwriting. Surely as parents, you care enough to educate your own kids on such basic matters?!

Same with financial awareness, sexual health, basic nutrition, I'm always hearing that schools should be teaching all this stuff. I feel they are overburdened as it is, and they have taken on aspects of social care, plus loads of responsibility for pupils well-being.

@BerryTwistermy kid went to R already reading well. He can now read longer words like "accidentally" while some of the others are doing run Spot. We worry all the time that he will be bored. It wasn't enough not to do what we did though.

They did a phonics session for the parents recently, and the last slide was the number of weekly reading logs returned. First week 24/30, last week was 8. So not only do we worry he will be bored, we worry he will not have peers catch up any time soon.

I think a lot of parents have a huge sense of entitlement when it comes to schools, but no sense of responsibility. They will actively encourage their dc to resist any authority, but simultaneously expect the whole lesson to revolve around their child's particular needs.

There's a belief that teachers are responsible for all aspects of a child's education and no feeling of parental obligation to prepare their child for school.

I was a child of the 70s. By the time I went to school, I could read, write basic words, dress myself etc. That was the norm.

My son is three and doesn’t have any concept of time yet but he does know the days of the week in order and knows what we do on different days eg nursery Monday to Thursday and swimming Friday.

he doesn’t understand time though because he will say maybe we will do it next year but he means tomorrow.

He goes to a school nursery. They do a lot with them including phonics etc. However my worry is more the amount of time they expect parents to be available for school activities, costumes for Halloween discos, something for Remembrance Sunday, coffee afternoons etc. I work and never go to these things so I do feel a little sad for DS. I know I will never be the mum that turns up to the school stuff. I do, however, do the reading stuff which is more important.

Everyone is aware of ridiculously large class sizes. It’s important to help at home.

I am nearly 50 and dylexic although that wasn't recognised so much when I was at school. I definitely couldn't write my name when I went to school and I remember stuggling with the months of the year in Brownies so must have been 7 I think I only knew the alphabet thanks to seasame street. My spelling and hand writting remains appalling. However I am a practicing medic and have 2 post graduate qualifications.

I couldn’t agree more. Some parents seem to hand over the reins once their children start school and take no responsibility. Basic things like road safety, toileting and cleaning their teeth should be taught at home!

I took it to mean that there may be a high proportion of EAL in the classroom which spreads staff even thinner, not that those kids should go somewhere else...

Schools are expected to get involved in far too many peripheral things.

Parents give their child a phone and fail to monitor its use leading to problems on social media etc and the school is then expected to sort it out under the handy umbrella of 'safeguarding', a cop put word.
Parking problems, tell the school, they have nothing better to do.
Teaching time is constantly reduced by having to do the jobs of lazy breeders.