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Original poster

homework clubs why shodul we bother?

110 replies

cod · 20/03/2006 18:11

ok so state primary has asked for parental input intot he settign up of a hoemwork club tow nights a week afetr school

spoke ot friend and she said " why the hell shoudl we support flakey parents who see it as freee childcare adn a way of getting somoen else to do thier kids homework"

i think i agree

what do oyu think

OP posts:
7up · 21/03/2006 09:58

cod, i think our school must have loads of money coz the new head is knocking it down and rebuilding itGrin

Original poster
cod · 21/03/2006 09:59

parents after school in a room with kids

OP posts:
Enid · 21/03/2006 09:59

well I'd never volunteer put it that way Wink

the idea of helping 20 kids with their homework

Original poster
cod · 21/03/2006 10:00

the ide of helping other parents kids wiht homwork whilst they watch trisha( or whatever crap is on)

OP posts:
Feistybird · 21/03/2006 10:01

are they proposing to charge (as in after school club) or is it free?

Enid · 21/03/2006 10:01

but not all mums clever

or interested

harpsichordcarrier · 21/03/2006 10:03

precisely so Enid
it is for the benefit of the children, surely a good thing
if it helps them catch up a bit, it helps everyone
(BTW I am not sure about primary level homework AT ALL but hey ho)

Original poster
cod · 21/03/2006 10:03

im nto interested in effin homework

they ahould be banned form procreating

OP posts:
Hallgerda · 21/03/2006 10:29

Thirty years ago parents were not expected to supervise their primary school children's homework, as primary school children did not have homework. (Oh, we did once. And there were no complaints about it because it made us feel so grown up and sophisticated...) So why is it necessary now? I doubt parents are better able to do homework than they used to be. In the old days, homework used to be about children learning to work on their own - parents were discouraged from helping.

I agree with cod and GDG that SAHMs should not be treated as a source of free childcare for WOHMs. I am aware of the problems faced by illiterate and innumerate parents, but I believe they require proper investment rather than a cheap patch (though I do buddy reading, which probably comes under the cheap patch category).

I also wonder about the benefits to the children of bringing yet more unqualified people into schools. OK, I know there's a literacy test of sorts for classroom assistants, but I despair at some of those who have passed it.

Bozza · 21/03/2006 10:30

How much homework do the kids get? DS is only in reception and so far is getting nothing - not even a reading book. Shock

GDG · 21/03/2006 11:54

Go fish! Totally agree

MaloryMargotTowers · 21/03/2006 12:00

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

galaxy · 21/03/2006 12:29

If it's anything like ds's homework club, it's just used as free childcare until the parents get home from work and very little homework gets done. We pulled ds out after 3 weeks. He now gets home at 3:45, does his homework immediately and is usually finished by 5.

harpsichordcarrier · 21/03/2006 12:39

I agree MT
homework before the age of 11 is evil

puddle · 21/03/2006 12:55

Homework clubs are a good idea in principle (for junior school age) but not in practice if they are relying on volunteers. As a parent who woth I would be reluctant to give up my good quality after school care for a club run by parents and reliant of goodwill to continue functioning.

I love the references to WOTH parents on this thread - yes we're all too busy cultivating our high flying careers to be bothered with doing our children's homework with them.

fairyfly · 21/03/2006 13:03

Some people love volunteering, they don't have a gun to their heads. My mother can't get enough of babysitting , soup kitchens and the like.

I think they are a fab idea, i have no concentration, i try my best, but quite frankly it's not good enough and any extra support would be a blessing.

As for banning people from procreating, what we going to do, give them an i.q. test and if they fail it whip their womb out.

Just because im crap at Academia and teaching small children doesn't mean i have nothing to offer them. They are happy and secure and witty and well mannered. All obviously from me. Attention span nil, also from me.
I need help and guidance with their homework, so bloody what.

Original poster
cod · 21/03/2006 13:30

wonde r if workshops to help parents to helpt heir kids woudl be better

( mind oyu we know who woudl turn upa dn who wouldnt).....

OP posts:
puddle · 21/03/2006 14:12

cod we did two workshops to introduce parents to a new reading scheme - both really well attended (and not just by the usual suspects).

The school has also done worksheets for parents for eg to explain how they are teaching maths (titled 'They didn't do it like that in my day'). A lot of parents need some help to feel confident about helping their children, especially if they were not particularly engaged by school.

Original poster
cod · 21/03/2006 17:47

yes we have dont hose too but htink ti was the usual suipects

OP posts:
fairyfly · 21/03/2006 20:05

I go to parenting class, i have learnt nothing,it's for simpletons. Oh actually i learnt i am allowed to say no to a child and not feel guilty. No shit. I still however don't captivate my children when it comes to excelling at school, and in my opinion have done nothing to progress their academic abilities. It's a matter of different personalities excelling at different things. Some mothers a fabulous at home studies and don't make their children laugh. Some mothers are not very touchy feely but really wonderful at making organic tofu omega 3 rich superior luncheons. I'm sick of the pressure that we all have to be perfect at everything. Lifes not like that.

Tortington · 21/03/2006 22:59

wrap around care is coming anyway. it will be funded by the govt.

i honestly cannot see the argument - are people pissed off becuase they have been asked to volunteer in school to help with homework club?

i'm seriously trying hard to grasp the underlying issue with major difficulty - i am not sure what the principle concern is?

is the principle of "homework" club offensive - becuase they should do it at home? ridiculous argument. as has been pointed out - many children find it hard to concentrate at home, some cannot get the help they deserve from parents. some homework is absurd. some homework in senior school especially requires materials and equipment i certainly dont have and do not have the money to buy.
what about kids with no computer access, access to arts materials etc.
so hard up kids would benefit
kids with siblings crying and screaming - detracting parents attention and help woudl benefit
kids with no parental support becuase their parents dont give a shit would benefit
kids who want to learn will benefit

so it can't be that

is the principle concern the 'volunteering' and why the bloodyhell should i?

i can just about wrap my head around that. on the proviso that its not "why the hell should i help other peoples kids - their parents should" becuase of the reasons above.

if its the principle of volunteering, i have heard it said that every volunteer is doing a job which shuld be paid for.

if it should be paid work then the govts new reforms will be welcome i am sure

swedishmum · 22/03/2006 01:31

Hallgerda, is there really a literacy test for classroom assistants? Hasn't made its way down here - or it's way as one particular TA turned mature teaching student at school would write in my ds's book...

Homework isn't compulsary at primary level. I make mine do it because I'm evil, and a sometime teacher. So much stuff given out by dd's old teacher was so pointless. At dd's new school we are given strict govt suggestions, then told if we disagree with our child doing said homework we simply have to initial the book/sheet. I don't think anyone ever does as teacher is great and all children want to exceed expectations, but it's nice to have the choice.

Oliviab · 22/03/2006 13:26

I can't believe parents literally can't help with their PRIMARY schoolchild's homework because they aren't bright enough! Shock

Tortington · 22/03/2006 14:01

i couldnt help with maths homework by late primary level becuase i am a mathsfuckwit.

Passionflower · 22/03/2006 14:04

I agree with the OP, wouldn't go anywhere near it.