Saturday detention and inflexible school.

[Rainbow]

My DS2 is in Y8 and the school policy is, if they get 5 detentions for not doing homework, they get a Saturday detention. I don't agree with it but it is school policy and I agreed to work with the school for the duration of my child's time with them. DS2 got his 5 detentions and was told on Wednesday(2/10), that he had detention on the Saturday (5/10). As a Cub Scout Leader, I had made arrangements to go to District camp with all the beavers, cubs and scouts from our district. DS1 is a beaver leader DS2 and DS3 are scouts, DS4 is too young but had not choice and my parents and my sis are also leaders with beavers and scouts and so they came too. There was not at home who could look after DS2. I explained to the school that this was the case and after numerous suggestions along the lines of put him on 3 trains and a bus (total journey time 2 hrs 40 mins) it was agreed to postpone the detention to the following week. I got on the coach with all the other leaders and children on the Friday and returned by coach on the Sunday. I then discovered, that DS2's detention had been extended by 1 hour because he could not make the previous Saturday. School seems to be steadfast in their decision and insist on punishing DS2 for my commitment. He did get a couple of Saturday detentions last ear and one was changed as my cousin was getting married but the other 2 we bend over backwards to get him there, even picking up my cubs and taking them to their event before collecting DS2 from camp only to find that the member of staff who was taking the detention had not turned up! Working together is a 2 way street or at least I thought it was!

[englishteacher78]

Lots of people are saying there other ways to make them do homework other than detentions. But nobody has given any examples of how they would make sure the work is done without. What are these wonderful techniques you all have that would make all children behave and do their work to an appropriate standard.
This child sounds like a very extreme example I must say. He would have been put on report at our school but this wouldn't get him out of detentions for the failure to submit work.

[SirChenjin]

The school does not put this in place after one missed homework Thants - this is for children who consistently don't do their homework. It's not up to the school to continually encourage and encourage - at some point there has to be a consequence. Seems quite right to me.

[RussiansOnTheSpree]

My DCs all do significant amounts of out of school stuff. If their homework was suffering that would be it for the drama dancing and music lessons, and for the shows and gigs. They all know that. They do their homework. I have cut back on my own playing commitments because I felt there was the potential for negative impact on the kids getting all their stuff done in the evenings if I was also in and out. It makes me sad, but its not my actual job so it has to come below the kids' education in my list of priorities.

[TheDoctrineOfSpike]

OP, can you agree with the school that DS will only do two enrichment activities until his homework problem is sorted.

[Cynderella]

He's only in Year 8 and has had three of these Saturday detentions. If the parent doesn't like it, there is the option with another school that has other sanctions. Essentially, the child is set work and is not completing it. The parent is not prepared to ensure that the work is completed - this is Year 8, not Year 12 when a parent could argue that they are unable to do this. What about revision for GCSEs and A' Levels - are you saying, as a parent, you will not step in if your child fails to complete the work?

As a parent, I would stop all the Scouts, computer etc and establish good homework routines.

[ReallyTired]

Would it be an option for your son to spend a day in internal isolation or be suspended instead of going to the saturday morning detention. Schools can't make children attend detentions, but they do have the option of temporary exclusion.

I feel the OP needs to find another school if she doesn't like the behaviour policy.

[Cynderella]

I don't see why the school should offer an alternative sanction because a parent and child want to go on a scout trip. The proverbial floodgates would open and the only children doing detention would be those from families with supportive parents.

[LittleMissWise]

I would have been seriously pissed off with my kids if they had got Saturday detentions, or any detention for that matter. Surely before you agreed to send him there you knew they did them?

[morethanpotatoprints]

Why are so many teachers and parents hung up supporting homework anyway?
It doesn't serve any purpose. If its to learn something then surely this is better done by the teacher at school. If it is to recap, this is also the teachers job at the end of the lesson.
What is so important about homework? and why is it necessary when they have been at school all day?

[eurochick]

I actually think it was unfair of the school to add to the punishment because of parental unavailability at the weekend. That sense of injustice will only serve to alienate pupils and parents.

However, the boy really needs to get his head around homework and get on with it otherwise he is going to have a pretty miserable few years ahead.

[cricketballs]

If you don't agree with their policy - move schools. All I have understood from your posts op is that the school is at fault for not bending their clear rules because your DS can't follow simple instructions, i.e. to do his homework.

It is your DS that has caused you these problems therefore your anger/disappointment should be Dieu at him - what is he going to learn if you put the blame withsschool and not him?

[Sirzy]

I would imagine they added to it to stop parents constantly asking to rearrange punishments.

[Cynderella]

@morethanpotatoprints

As a teacher, I would be happy not to set homework but, like everybody else, I have to follow the rules. One of them is that I set homework. Another is to chase up and report missing homework.

[cricketballs]

Doing not Dieu!

[morethanpotatoprints]

Cynderella

What purpose does it have though? Please don't think I don't support teachers though as I do on every available thread. I taught myself for a short time, without giving out homework as my students wouldn't have done it.

[englishteacher78]

It should encourage independent learning as well as consolidating previous learning.
It also enables me to give them exam style questions (only an hour at a time) so that I can concentrate on teaching them how to improve and they then practise at home.
For my lower school classes I try to set homeworks which encourage curiosity. Every other week the RSS homework is to find a news story related to RSS and bring it in for discussion in the class.

[ivykaty44]

RussiansOnTheSpree - how is the mother having a hobby stopping a 12 year old from doing his own homework?
The detention needs to be done by the ds and if he gets an extra hour then so be it - maybe he will think about doing his homework next time - though i doubt it as he already has had several punishment detentions and that hasn't worked so why not do it again as it clearly isn't working

[Cynderella]

The purpose of homework is supposedly to consolidate and extend learning. Often I just set something because I'm required to but I try to make it relevant and worthwhile. In Years 10 and 11, I set practice GCSE questions, background reading and so on. Often I start work in class and it's finished for homework. That way, I can explain how to do it and make sure everyone can get started. Sixth form is almost always essays.

The less able the children, the more straightforward the homework. Setting it isn't an option and nor is failing to complete it. There are always a couple of kids who will test you, but generally I set homework and it's done. If I thought I couldn't set it because the students wouldn't do it, I would question my abilities as a teacher. That's defiance! Couldn't have that or they wouldn't learn anything - they have to accept that you are setting meaningful work and that you care about them doing it.

[LIZS]

If you won't buy into and support the policies and ethos of the school perhaps you should reconsider your choice.

[TSSDNCOP]

So out of curiosity OP what will the school do if you elect not to send DS for the Saturday detentions?

I'm with the others BTW saying DS is being a twat and should be doing his homework and you should be checking it, and imposing sanctions as required as its a total no brainier really isn't it.

[ivykaty44]

why should the mother or father be checking the homework? The school need to check the homework and if it isn't done then they need to address the problem and if they want the parents support then ask for it or punish the dc.

If the parent say - did you do your homework and the dc say yes, then what?

[morethanpotatoprints]

Thank you Cynderella

I taught A level Sociology and started off with similar homework as you give. My students wouldn't complete it and were out of the realms of tell mum and dad. I ended up setting essays in class and doing peer style marking. I worked on the method of telling them what they were going to learn, teaching them something, then they have a go, then tell them what they have learned.

I just think there are other ways if homework doesn't work and also that it isn't essential or necessary.
I think personal revision is important in the lead up to exams though.

[englishteacher78]

ivykaty - in Year 8 I would be expecting the parents to look in their child's homework diary and sign at the end of the week that it's been done - and also to use that to communicate any problems.
Year 7 and 8s really do need help to organise themselves. They can't just be left to do it.