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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

to resent the unnecessary additional tasks schools drop on us?

110 replies

elliott · 30/09/2008 21:57

Ds2 has just started in reception. Today I got a note in his bag saying 'Please bring in a 'word tin' for ds2 - a pencil tin is ideal'.

Now, WHY do they need a pencil tin ffs? Do they think we have these things just hanging round the house? Or do they not think twice about expecting that we find time for a special trip to the shops to source one of these things (I have no idea where I might buy said 'pencil tin')? Do they think we have nothing better to do?

Honestly, wouldn't an envelope do?

OP posts:
zazen · 30/09/2008 22:22

I do wish that the school would get these items for us parents - I wouldn't mind paying.
I find I end up frazzled in shop - looking at item one and wondering if it is the item required then looking at item two and wondering if that is what they meant. It's not so obvious what a 'project copybook, large' or similar is to a first time school mum now is it?

Wouldn't it be easier if the school got the items for the kids (at cost) and parents bought them from school - or even leased them for a year so that other kids can use them the year afterwards?

Makes more sense to re-cycle things also.

Feenie · 30/09/2008 22:23

lol at riffling in an envelope

GodzillasBumcheek · 30/09/2008 22:24

Over the years we have had

Please supply cakes/crisps/biscuits (delete as appropriate) tomorrow

Please supply 'an old shirt' for painting (like, yes, i have tonnes of old shirts hanging around in my house with no storage space )

Next week we will be dressing as book characters/pirates/red theme/shepherds for the school book week/red nose day/concert

Buy a soft bag for the school trip next week rather than using the small case you bought in the sales a few months ago especially.

Get used to it! I had to

Original poster
elliott · 30/09/2008 22:25

romy7, you don't think I'm actually going to do anythning with these blooming words, do you?
Poor mite is 3 weeks into school, spending 6 hours a day there. Like I said, ds1 is living proof that reading skills can be acquired miraculously entirely in the absence of a word tin.
Have cast my vote for 'ban homework in primary schools' already...

I can't believe I'm the only one who finds it annoying and unnecessary.

OP posts:
ravenAK · 30/09/2008 22:28

Yes, having the essentials on sale @ Reception might be the way forward.

I do sympathise with the OP - it's a faff. What I'd do actually is to buy a dozen small 'Really Useful Boxes' online & squirrel them away somewhere for these sort of demands. They are, um, really useful...

(Dh in band, endless merchandise which needs collating, small RUBs for button badges etc.)

Original poster
elliott · 30/09/2008 22:31

But they're NOT ESSENTIAL!! I wouldn't mind so much if I thought it really was important.

OP posts:
MrsWeasley · 30/09/2008 22:38

Its not essential but does make life easier for your DC as well as anyone listening to them read.

At our infants school we used to ask the children to match their words to another set in a full sentences, they get so upset if some have fallen out of their envelope.

Use an envelope until you can find something suitable.

ravenAK · 30/09/2008 22:40

It might be important, though, if 'word boxes' are a key part of how they're teaching literacy.

I'm not saying all classes have to have them - clearly some do some don't, but if your dc's class are using them, then why not provide one? Pick your battles!

I'm sure a washed out butter/marg tub would work perfectly well, actually.

cheesesarnie · 30/09/2008 22:41

so dont do it then.tell your dc teacher you cannot be arsed as you dont think its essential.

btw yabu.

blueskythinker · 30/09/2008 22:46

It is the short notice, and the method of communication which gets me. Why can they not e-mail a list of items which will be needed at the start of each term?

What is it with notes home in schoolbags?

compo · 30/09/2008 22:46

because not everyone has email!!

compo · 30/09/2008 22:47

do you think everyone has a home PC, a home internet connection?
and to post it costs money in stamps

Simplysally · 30/09/2008 22:48

When my dd started nursery(!) we were told to provide a pencil case [or tin presumably] for said word cards. It was no trouble to pick one up in Woolworths.

I do recall in my last year at primary school we needed tins for some reason and we were provided by tobacco tins - the contents had been kindly smoked by the teacher's husband. All 30 tins of it so presuambly this had been some time in the planning or he'd got a stash of them in his shed.

What devotion to his wife's career .

CaptainJaneway · 30/09/2008 22:49

You're not the only one Elliott, I find it irritating too. Who has time, frankly? Not me and not most of the people I know.

Simplysally · 30/09/2008 22:50

with, not by

I have just remembered being told to get a green t-shirt at about 2 days notice so my dd could play a seed that sprouted in last year's harvest assembly...

Didn't even see her in action wearing it after my travails in getting it.

Romy7 · 30/09/2008 23:41

lol only dd1 ever had a word tin. the other two had taught themselves to read way before reception. you may be right about the miraculous osmosis elliott.

but i'd just like to say a marg tub would in no way be an acceptable alternative. it would be fine for the storage, and the riffling and the games, but it would just be a real pita in a book bag.

i would suggest a maximum height of 1.5 inches for optimum suitability.

UnquietDad · 30/09/2008 23:52

We were once, in DD's Reception, asked to bring a white T-shirt in by the end of the week so they could do tie-dyeing. DD possessed no white T-shirts. Cue a trip to shopping centre on only evening possible to find a plain white T-shirt for a 5-year-old - very tricky, as it turned out.

Some of schools' requests and assumptions work on what I like to call the "Blue Peter Principle" - you know, the way John Noakes or Lesley Judd used to tell you to go and get those "old boxes" or "old clothes" that you'd have "in the attic".

nametaken · 01/10/2008 00:15

Do you really "resent" having to make an unplanned trip to the shops for your ds once in 3 years? Really? Coz if you do then yes, YABU.

If you're just having a moan though, that's allowed

Original poster
elliott · 01/10/2008 13:35

unquiet dad. Yes, funny how every BP 'make' required 'sticky backed plastic' - to this day I have never known what it is or where to get it!

I resent anything which adds to the hassle factor of life - additional shopping trips definitely counts on that score!

I'm ashamed to say that I haven't even managed to get the envelope organised yet. I think reception teacher will be drawing her own conclusions...

OP posts:
ronshar · 01/10/2008 13:44

It is almost as irritating as the Inset day added in already this term. They were only back at school for two days before school informed us of day off the following week!!

peanutbutterkid · 01/10/2008 13:47

How can it be hard to find a white T-shirt, surely that's what they use for PE?
Never heard of a word tin before this thread.
Short notice for cakes/biscuits is usually the PTA's fault, can't blame the school.
Just don't send your DC to poncy schools where word tins are required.

Simplysally · 01/10/2008 13:52

Some of the children in my dd's class still do not have painting aprons or "Dad's old work shirts" - so all Dads work in an office, do they? after these were requested in Reception. She's now in yr4.

Those that have shirts, have to share with those who do not so only half the class can paint at one time.

RubberDuck · 01/10/2008 13:52

I'm with you. This Friday is "Pink" day in aid of Breast Cancer. Fine no problem with that, it's a good charity.

But I have dses... sob. We have NOTHING pink in the house. They have also point blank refused just about anything pink so we finally compromised on socks.

I made a special trip out today to Tesco (can't get into town - would be too complicated, time consuming and costly with parking for 2 pairs of socks). Every one else obviously had the identical idea, because all the primary sized pink socks are completely sold out. ARRRRRRRRRRRRRGH!

So I've bought them vaguely pinky spotted socks which are going to be massively too big for them and that will HAVE TO DO.

pooka · 01/10/2008 13:57

OUr school provided little cardboard wordboxes.

But dd did have to go to school dressed as if she was in a lauren child book with 24 hrs notice last term. Fortunately she already had her "lola" dress. Phew.

RubberDuck · 01/10/2008 14:01

Oh god... dressing up as a book character. [crying loudly emoticon while pulling hair out]

Ds1 wants to go as Harry Potter - easy, he already has glasses, I can draw a scar (with bloody felt tip if I'm feeling belligerent) and he has a toy wand thing.

Ds2 has announced he wants to go as Preston Pig... .

I admitted defeat and bought him a pig mask.

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