school playtime problem

Beetlemama

halibut2209 wrote: »

My kids school says "We don't believe everything your children say about you, and we'd appreciate the same in return"

We have this too.

Our DS has missed playtime before because he forgot his homework, we didn't much like it because we feel he's young enough that it's partly our responsibility for him to remember his homework, but then again they can't make us both come in and sit in for dinnertime, they have to remind him.

With the punishment for other kids involving your DD, I think I'd leave it too unless it gets to be too often. The peer pressure thing is usually affective.

Spendless

How old is she? If she's 4 and just gone in Reception then it's way OTT punishment IMO, if she's yr 6 and concentrating on getting thru her sats this year then I can see the school's point......

ash28

Beetlemama wrote: »

We have this too.

Our DS has missed playtime before because he forgot his homework, we didn't much like it because we feel he's young enough that it's partly our responsibility for him to remember his homework, but then again they can't make us both come in and sit in for dinnertime, they have to remind him.

With the punishment for other kids involving your DD, I think I'd leave it too unless it gets to be too often. The peer pressure thing is usually affective.

Our grandson missed his first playtime in Year 4 - funnily enough because he had forgotten his homework - and he had forgotten it - it was sitting on the dining room table.

When I spoke to his teacher about it - GS was just turned 8 - he's the youngest in his year and we thought he was a bit young to be missing playtime. His teacher said that making sure his homework was in on time was GS's responsibility, not ours. And the rule was the same for everyone. He only ever forgot his homework about twice.

I haven't known him miss playtime for not doing work correctly, though I have known him miss playtime for chatting when he shouldn't have been. He used to have to do lines during a missed playtime.

He's just gone into Year 6 and now, if they are caught swinging on their chairs they have the chair removed and have to stand for the rest of the day. I think he would rather that than miss playtime. I guess they won't do it often. Though they can chat amongst themselves if they've finished their work - unlike last year. And guess what - he hasn't missed a playtime yet - early days though.

DirtyDick

geekgirl wrote: »

Also I never agreed with teachers keeping a whole class in for misbehaving when my kids were in school. They should deal with the children that are misbehaving, this is very rarely a whole classroom of kids. If children are misbehaving in a class they should take responsibility for their actions and be punished accordingly.

On the whole, I agree. However, it is not always that clear cut. Most teachers can work out the troublemakers quickly and deal with them, but with a new (newly qualified or new to the school) teacher low level disruption - generally whispering, distracting - can be a good 2/3 of the class (sheep following others) until they learn your expectations. They only do it once or twice before learning, then you can concentrate on the recidivists and just detain them if necessary.

It really doesn't help if parents get on the phone about their own child being a special case. School rules are school rules; if you don't like them, take them to another school.

mumps

geekgirl wrote: »

I will probably get shot down here but I don't agree that children get rewarded with a break. Their breaks are there as they cannot be expected to concentrate for long periods of time and they need time to have a wee and a drink and let off a bit of steam before knuckling down again.

Also I never agreed with teachers keeping a whole class in for misbehaving when my kids were in school. They should deal with the children that are misbehaving, this is very rarely a whole classroom of kids. If children are misbehaving in a class they should take responsibility for their actions and be punished accordingly.

I agree, they need the breaks if they are to concentrate.

mumofkevinandperry

geekgirl wrote: »

I will probably get shot down here but I don't agree that children get rewarded with a break. Their breaks are there as they cannot be expected to concentrate for long periods of time and they need time to have a wee and a drink and let off a bit of steam before knuckling down again.

thats kind of what I was meaning, I also do not think that breaks are rewards - but are a break from work, so that they can then get on with the next task. Some children have been out of the house at before school club from around 7.30am and go to after school club until around 6pm. That's almost as long as a working man's day, and whilst they are playing for a lot of that time, they are young they do still need to go out and get some fresh air whether they are in yr1 or yr6. seems like i might be in the minority though. I would not dream of spending all day at work without popping into the kitchen for a brew and a minute or two natter with my colleagues.

The reason for posing the question is that this has been a frequent situation since they went back in September - in the previous years there were the same children in the class, and yet the teachers managed the situation. There were occasions when the whole class were kept in but they were few and far between, and I had no problem with that.

mumps

mumofkevinandperry wrote: »

geekgirl wrote: »

I will probably get shot down here but I don't agree that children get rewarded with a break. Their breaks are there as they cannot be expected to concentrate for long periods of time and they need time to have a wee and a drink and let off a bit of steam before knuckling down again.

thats kind of what I was meaning, I also do not think that breaks are rewards - but are a break from work, so that they can then get on with the next task. Some children have been out of the house at before school club from around 7.30am and go to after school club until around 6pm. That's almost as long as a working man's day, and whilst they are playing for a lot of that time, they are young they do still need to go out and get some fresh air whether they are in yr1 or yr6. seems like i might be in the minority though. I would not dream of spending all day at work without popping into the kitchen for a brew and a minute or two natter with my colleagues.

The reason for posing the question is that this has been a frequent situation since they went back in September - in the previous years there were the same children in the class, and yet the teachers managed the situation. There were occasions when the whole class were kept in but they were few and far between, and I had no problem with that.

Why don't you speak to the teacher and let her know your concerns. It doesn't have to come across as you complaining, just letting her know you are concerned and she might reconsider how she is managing the class. I know it isn't easy being a teacher, one of mine DSs is a teacher, but there are other strategies for managing the class. It would also give her the opportunity to tell you if she has any concerns (I think someone suggested that your DD might not have told you the full story about the work.) Good luck, I think it is important for children to have a proper break.

AnnaLicious_2

That sounds a rather old-fashioned punishment. There is so much research out now about the importance of play in education. Children learn social skills, physical skills, among other things. You wouldn't punish a child be taking away a maths lesson.

Maybe read up a bit on this - http://www.playengland.org.uk/about-us.aspx 'Why Play is Important' They put it much better than me - play is important for social, emotional and physical development.

I would speak with the Head, voice your concerns about your child missing so many chances for physical activity. Perhaps a part of the children's poor behavious is about being confined to their desks all day? If she is unresponsive, contact the people involved in Play at your council and tell them you're concerned about the lack of play opportunities at the school. Or write a letter to the board of governors. Well, that's what I would do anyway. Hope that was of some help!

JC9297

[QUOTE=mumofkevinandperry;47401809The_reason_for_posing_the_question_is_that_this_has_been_a_frequent_situation_since_they_went_back_in_September_-_in_the_previous_years_there_were_the_same_children_in_the_class,_and_yet_the_teachers_managed_the_situation._There_were_occasions_when_the_whole_class_were_kept_in_but_they_were_few_and_far_between,_and_I_had_no_problem_with_that.[/QUOTE]

It may be that the previous teacher didn't manage the situation well i.e let the children get away with messing around, excessive noise etc. and the current teacher is having to re-establish what is acceptable behaviour.
Also they are a year older and the new teacher will have different expectations of them.
You haven't said what year your daughter is in although I'm guessing year 3 perhaps? The teacher obviously felt that she is capable of producing better quality work than she did and that she should be punctuating correctly.
I think it is quite common for children to lose 'their time' if they didn't work hard enough during the teacher's time.

Gingham_R

As this is not an isolated incident, I would ask to speak to the head and raise my concerns.

I don't like children being kept behind to repeat work, especially in primary school, and I find whole class punishments to be extremely unfair. They teach children that they can obey all the rules and get punished for what other people do. That's just wrong.