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Original poster

Check this out for me please

23 replies

newknifenewslainthreadslayer · 28/10/2007 20:56

"We have not completed the homework as it is came with no explanation of its purpose. I am becoming increasingly frustrated by the fact that work is set with no background/explanation which one could make use of in order to motivate one's child in completing a quintessentially dull piece of work"

Work was fill in a 7 day sheet of what dd had for brek, lunch and dinerr. For why?

Dd wouldn't write 'mummy didn't feed us because mummy was fed up most of the time'.

OP posts:
ScaryScienceT · 28/10/2007 21:05

I wouldn't send that.

juuule · 28/10/2007 21:25

Neither would I.

TwigorTreat · 28/10/2007 21:26

that's rather rude

there are many reasons for compiling a food diary

ChipButty · 28/10/2007 21:29

Here's an idea - why not pop in and have a word with the teacher? I'm sure you don't want to come across as rude and unsupportive of the school's homework and your note is very blunt and impolite, I'm afraid.

Leslaki · 28/10/2007 21:31

could be that teacher/school is under pressure from the Healthy Food police - we have to send out endless questionnaires etc at school. Something that schools have to do I'm afraid - head may be terrified of an impending ofsted or something and doesn't want to be marked down as failing at the healthy food malarkey.

foofi · 28/10/2007 21:33

Are you mad? Fill it in before school tomorrow and make something up. Otherwise your child will be the only one unable to use their data in the lesson!

MrsWeasley · 28/10/2007 21:33

my DS had to fill out a food diary a month ago and they didnt do any work relating to it before or afterwards. We were told it was part of science and PHSE!

islandofsodor · 28/10/2007 21:45

I personally wouldn't send that back in as I imagine that they will be using the info for something.

I am however tomorrow sending dd in with a £5 coin. Her homework the week before half term was to do with money and she had to draw round and name all the coins. She just used the ones in her money box so there were some missed out like 20p and 50p, we just didn;t happen to have any of those denomination in the house.

Her teacher wrote by the rather large circle with £5 in that there is no £5 coin. Err, yes, there is and it is legal tender. It may not be very common but it exists!!!

cazzybabs · 28/10/2007 22:01

I got my children (I used to teach year 3) to fill in a food diary - it had PHSE and science links. We talked about what was healthy in their diet and what wasn't (I went for the everything in moderation angle) and we looked at % protein, carbs etc.

I would not appreciate your message and TBH I have lots of things to do rather than writing long explanations about why I am setting homework!

nooka · 28/10/2007 22:05

Lost my post. Damn. Anyway, I think that you are being completely unreasonable, and will simply antagonise your dd's teacher. If you want to discuss how to motivate your dd to do her homework then talk to the teacher about it. Food dairies are not an unusual homework after all, and generally it's one that kids find quite easy to do.

nooka · 28/10/2007 22:10

This term all ds's homework has come home with a little ditty as to why they are doing it and a box to fill in about whether you enjoyed it or had any problems. I'm not sure why this has happened (he has the same teacher as last year) and find it difficult to complete - I don't think I could put "ds objected to doing this until the last minute, hence the unreadability factor. I tried bribery and threats, but to no avail. dd volunteered to do it for him, but I thought you'd notice her much neater writing (she is two years below hi at school)" As they know him well I think they can probably read all this between the lines! Homework is a pain, and that's all there is to it.

ScaryScienceT · 28/10/2007 22:11

Oh, bollocks to that!

Original poster
newknifenewslainthreadslayer · 28/10/2007 22:18

I don't mind coming across as rude. It is quite rude to assume that it is okay to fill valuable home time of my child's with a potentially pointless piece of work without explaining that there is in fact a purpose.

I have asked school through notes and finally a chat at parent's evening, to explain the background to the work. They agreed to do but here we are again.

I like John Holt by the way - that's my background.

OP posts:
Original poster
newknifenewslainthreadslayer · 28/10/2007 22:20

Eating was the last thing on my mind this week - as was feeding the children. The school will know this but I have to exlain every time in the homework folder that mummy is a shitey mummy right now. I don't like having to do this.

OP posts:
ScaryScienceT · 28/10/2007 22:21

You obviously know better than the professionals. Bully for you.

Original poster
newknifenewslainthreadslayer · 28/10/2007 22:24

The professionals. Aren't they TV cops?

No, I'm not professional me - being a bad mother and all removed all modicum of professionality about me. I did train as a teacher, I did work with children for about 12 years. But no, I'm depressed so not a professional in anything.

OP posts:
pooodle · 28/10/2007 22:26

Eating was the last thing on my mind this week - as was feeding the children.

Blimey, it's usually my main task. Food is a bit more important than homework. Are you ok newknife? You sound fairly down

pooodle · 28/10/2007 22:29

Why are you feeling such a bad mother? Actually dont answer that, having kids makes me feel like a bad mother whatever I do. But you know what, I grew up, left home and married, and dont give my mum much of a second thought most of the time! So dont worry about not being a "perfect" mum, they wont be "perfect kids" either!

my email is [email protected] if I can help you with anything, even just an ear is sometimes enough.

minorityrules · 28/10/2007 22:31

Most of the homework children get won't have meaningfull background for parents. Hopefully, the children will know why and what it is for

I have seen what an awful time you have been having lately but even if the homework is pointless, it is better for the children to do it, than face being in trouble at school or being the only ones who haven't done it. It doesn't matter if its useless or that they have eaten badly recently, let them have some normality

I'm guessing this isn't about homework and more to do with whats going on in your life and not wanting to be judge, that's ok, it really is, you are going through a bad spell. Don't let the little things get you down, concentrate on the the bigger things that you need to solve to get back to full health

Original poster
newknifenewslainthreadslayer · 28/10/2007 22:32

Thanks pooodle. I've been hiding from here as I'm all over the place and have a whole thread where I worried people silly.

Thought I'd come back tonight and offload a bit. (more)

OP posts:
MrsWeasley · 28/10/2007 22:39

offloading is good
Welcome back. You were missed

pooodle · 28/10/2007 22:39

ah dont worry about it, i think we all lose the plot at some point in our lives (mine was man induced but i was lucky i had no kids to see my mental state) Main thing is finding a way to get back on track. I finally got back ok but it wasnt very nice at the time, but you know what they say, what doesnt kill you makes you stronger! have you been to see doc? i wish i had at time!

newknife · 28/10/2007 23:04

thanks mrsW

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