Formally withdrawing child from homework

onlyroz

Person_one wrote: »

Not to mention the fact that kids seem to do about a million GCSEs today. We did 9 and a half (RE was the half) and that took up the full timetable, but you see schools putting them for 12, 13 or even more these days.

Yes, I did 9 and that seemed plenty. I don't see the wisdom in entering kids for much more than this.

Spendless

My nephew in the first few years of Primary school started to have his spelling tests marked as wrong by one of his classmates. This went on for several weeks. Then it was established that nephew wasn't actually getting his words wrong, but the child doing the marking could see his own (incorrect) spellings as being marked with a x and was getting upset/angry so in retaliation was marking the words that he had in front of him (nephews) as wrong too, even when they weren't.

Lagoon

I've found this thread very interesting! I avoided homework throughout secondary school - luckily, I got away with it and was never punished, though I don't know how. I know I used to get told off - teachers would make it clear that they were angry, or disappointed - but I think that when I started at the school I was so far above my peers that I was forgiven for everything and by the end I was so hard to deal with that they simply didn't bother. I wasn't badly behaved as such; I was quiet and didn't disturb anyone, but getting me to do anything beyond the necessary was an impossible task.

I do think that homework has benefits, but only for certain children. It was pointless for me, because I just didn't care and never had reason to. It was also pointless for a girl that I considered a very good friend throughout school, because she boasted about her wonderfully supportive family but when I went to visit I saw that her mum took her homework off her when she got in the door, and sat and did it for her. This was, it turned out, how every piece of homework was done. She got alright grades, but by Sixth Form the homework went beyond her mum's capability and coursework wasn't up to scratch. She dropped out, went to college instead, and did badly there.

I don't yet have children, but I intend to take an active interest in their homework and what they're learning at school, and to bring their education to life with practical examples. I've seen a child's eyes light up when they saw a Tudor building after learning about them in school, and I remember that even when I was completely disillusioned with the education system I made an effort when we were offered the opportunity to talk about politics with a local politician. Sadly, I think the emphasis is on passing exams and not on 'learning', which is why I made no effort with school work or homework myself. I wouldn't withdraw my child from homework, but I will make a point of giving them a reason to care.

Poppy9

onlyroz wrote: »

Yes, I did 9 and that seemed plenty. I don't see the wisdom in entering kids for much more than this.

DD who is Y13 did 11 1/2 the 1/2 being short course Welsh. One was done a year early though so only did 10 1/2 in Y11. A reason some seem to do 12/13 GCSE is they do GCSE equivalents which give the equivalent of 2 or 3 GCSEs.

Spendless wrote: »

My nephew in the first few years of Primary school started to have his spelling tests marked as wrong by one of his classmates. This went on for several weeks. Then it was established that nephew wasn't actually getting his words wrong, but the child doing the marking could see his own (incorrect) spellings as being marked with a x and was getting upset/angry so in retaliation was marking the words that he had in front of him (nephews) as wrong too, even when they weren't.

This happened to DD in Y2 and she was too shy to tell the teacher.

DD now does self marking. She says she is harsh on herself!

tanith

I have to say I was confused by one of my grandsons who says he does all his classwork and homework in school but after reading this I realise there are children that manage to get all work done in school time.. I guess if he wasn't keeping up/handing in homework his parents would soon know about it.

unschooler

Home-school agreements are not legally binding documents, though they are usually set out to imply otherwise.

New users can't post links but if you google 'department for education home-school agreements' a government link will come up with the following information.

"Breaches of the terms of the agreement will not be actionable through the courts. Furthermore, a child must not be excluded from school, or face punishment, as a result of a parent’s failure to sign the agreement or abide by their declaration. Furthermore parents should not face any sanction for either not signing the home-school agreement or failing to abide by its requirements."

Legally, yes a parent can legally withdraw their child from homework, as well as, obviously, from school should the need arise.

jellyhead

pigpen wrote: »

Peer assessment/marking is totally wrong.. it gives other children the opportunity to bully/ridicule/whatever others by highlighting their lack of understanding or makes others feel a failure when they 'mark' a 100% correct one and they get 25% for example.. if teachers can't be bothered to mark the work they shouldn't set it..

My son's primary were told off by OFSTED for not doing enough peer marking. Apparently it's something schools should be doing.

My son was demoralised in year 2 because the others couldn't read his handwriting, but the teachers deal with it sensitively, and he doesn't feel bullied. He's in year 3 now and nobody seems to be unkind about the differing levels of ability at all.

valk_scot

onlyroz wrote: »

On the other hand there are plenty of bright children who feel that they have to pretend to be less clever so that they can get on better with their peer group.

You should hear the drivel they come out with around exam time, it's social death to admit you care about your exams enough to actually do some studying unless it's during the week before. DS works hard but he keeps very quiet about it and if one of his pals catches him doing this shameful thing he blames it on me!

silvercar

My elder son's secondary (state) school has a statement of education from the governors, that you should consider when deciding to apply. It states that a commitment to homework is expected.

moneysaymoneydo

It is not illegal then again either is making sure our kids brush their teeth but for their own sake the majority of parents make them brush twice a day. Save you time i suppose sitting with your child for twenty minutes a night helping them do their homework and knowing its helping them, then again as Jezza Kyle would say thats twenty minutes away from facebook for you :eek: