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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

to not want to come home from a day's work to face an hour or more of homework?

114 replies

jasper · 20/11/2008 22:26

Serves me right for having 3 kids in 3 years I suppose.

It is just such an unwanted added source of stress in the evenings

OP posts:
Original poster
jasper · 20/11/2008 23:12

AAND THEY WONDER WHY THE SCHOOL CHRISTMAS CARD FUNDRAISER TO BUY SMARTBOARDS UPSET ME!!!

OP posts:
scotlass · 20/11/2008 23:14

Another one here who is definately on your side! I find it a nightmare coming home, getting DD (9yrs) from afterschool then fitting homework in. It's OK if it's 20 mins of revision and she needs minimal assistance but we have both been in tears before . By the time we get round to it, I'm either multi tasking helping and cooking dinner or it's 8pm at night and we're both too knackered to concentrate.

BreevandercampLGJ · 20/11/2008 23:14

I went to parents night, asked what the government guidlines were on homework, the teacher fudged it a bit. So armed with good old MN, I said from now on we will do 30 minutes and then I will stop. I will sign it to say we did 30 minutes, and that is your lot.

She looked a bit and but she agreed.

You have got to love MN.

starbear · 20/11/2008 23:15

Serious question Jasper. What time do you get in? What time do they do their homework? And when do they go to bed?

Original poster
jasper · 20/11/2008 23:15

TOO RIGHT.
I LOVE THE LOT OF YOU

OP posts:
Tortington · 20/11/2008 23:15

yip...but they wont lisen on the ttc #3 threads...

maybe.... if teachers were allowed to teach more core subjects instead of being food police/general health monitors/govt agenda foot soldiers...then it wouldnt be such a problem

TeenyTinyTorya · 20/11/2008 23:16

Think how the poor kids feel, spending all day in school and then having to give up their evenings to work as well.

cutekids · 20/11/2008 23:17

Smartiejake...you've said it all!!!

swanriver · 20/11/2008 23:18

I've two 6yr olds(yr2) and 1 8yr old(yr4) and find combination of three homeworks very stressful. Sometimes end up forging their handwriting just to get it over with. I've complained if DS1 gets a research project to do overnight without warning. I wish they would give six year olds something fun to do at home like write a story or draw a picture and talk to everyone about it next day. Or even do more practice handwriting and less dreadful worksheets. Copy a poem or nursery rhyme which interested them.

Twinklemegan · 20/11/2008 23:18

I can't remember the details, but I'm pretty sure my parent's only responsibility was to make sure the homework was done (and that was only to avoid us kids getting into trouble). Teachers used to discourage too much assistance didn't they?

To an extent I think I would be glad for the involvement, but I do feel for you Jasper with 3!

smartiejake · 20/11/2008 23:19

Oh jasper that is far too hard for an 8 year old! Poor child.

My dd had to prepare a talk at the end of year 5 but it was very low key and there was no stress involved.

Twinklemegan · 20/11/2008 23:20

Swanriver - a research project overnight? You're kidding? What happened to learning spellings or doing 10 sums?

nappyaddict · 20/11/2008 23:21

actually scrap that ... reading only for primary aged children. a teacher friend of mines says learning spellings is very out of date.

nappyaddict · 20/11/2008 23:22

if anyone thinks there school gives too much homework speak to the parent governor who can bring it up and see if the school will review the homework policy. if you get enough parents to back you up you might get it changed.

starbear · 20/11/2008 23:23

Swanriver, aren't the children suppose to do the forging on sick notes and stuff LOL {grin]

Tortington · 20/11/2008 23:24

i had to take my twins to a local historic town, gather local tourist information and look at the cathedral and gather history and research.

come home and prepare TWO fucking presentations - most were doing it on laptop - but mine did it on flip chart paper.

of course they couldnt do the same - so i have to think of the different way to put the same fecking info.

they were 11

fucking ridic

Twinklemegan · 20/11/2008 23:24

Why is learning spellings out of date? Not because of the wonderful spellchecker surely?

Sickofhorses · 20/11/2008 23:24

See, the idea is that the DCs do the homework

starbear · 20/11/2008 23:25

They've gone over to phonics.

VictorianSqualor · 20/11/2008 23:25

Seriously, how much homework do they have?
DD is in year 3/4 and she has one piece of literacy homework a week, plus some reading.

I actually like the reading bit because it forces me to spend 15-20 minutes on my own reading with her before she goes to bed.

Also, wot custy said.

I think people need to take responsibility for not just feeding and watering their children but educating them.

VictorianSqualor · 20/11/2008 23:26

Wot custy said at 23:15:43.
Trust me to x-post

pointydog · 20/11/2008 23:29

For every parent who complains about homework, there's at least another one who wants MORE.

Speak to other parents about it, then speak to the school.

Twinklemegan · 20/11/2008 23:29

Yes but I'm quite old (feeling it anyway) and learned reading through phonics the first time around. I still had to learn to spell though! Since when could you know how to spell "cough" and "though" just using phonics!

VictorianSqualor · 20/11/2008 23:30

TM, At DD's school they are still doing spellings and 'sound walls' for the 'th' 'sh' 'ough' type things.

starbear · 20/11/2008 23:32

Twinkle I don't know what I'm talking about.
I can't spell to save my life. This all stresses me as I don't want DS to fall behind But then.... I don't want to be pushy. I also want to pay our bills, cook fresh food have a tidy house and have some fun living is that too much to ask is it.