Renovations and Repayments.

AlexLK

maman wrote: »

Speaking as a Celt it's something that interests me too but I understand that what traditionally constitutes a Celt is in dispute from the reviews of current British Museum exhibition.
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/art/what-to-see/celts-british-museum-review/

I find the attitude of your son's teacher strange too Alex but I don't think a letter to the Headteacher is the way to go. I'm with her in expressing preferences but she shouldn't be running down one genre over another and should be encouraging children to have open minds. My pupils knew I was an Abba fan:o but that didn't stop me encouraging the appreciation of classical and all sorts of other things in between.

I'd guess the 'what do you want to be?' day could be about getting pupils to think, be aware of the big world out there and value people who do all sorts of jobs. It's fine to have a conversation about the design of the curriculum but I'm not sure deciding it's of 'no educational benefit' (presumably based on potential Chinese whispers from a 4 year old) and in a letter is the way to go.

Good to hear you sounding much brighter:).

Will take a look at the link. Don't know anything about the Celts but always willing to learn something new.

She didn't run anything down, just didn't seem willing to learn that classical music isn't necessarily Classical music.

I suppose you're right about my assumption of that day being based on what my son told me. However, I'll wait to see what the Headmaster tells me.

edinburgher wrote: »

Did you send that letter Alex? I hope not, it comes across as very rude. How would you feel if the parents of one of your charges criticised your music lessons/techniques/approach?

School is not a 24/7 productive learning jamboree, some 'lessons' will be less valuable and some will seem pointless to you. You're not the teacher, however, and it's not for you to dictate the contents of their day.

Relax. If your son gets 10 'useless' days in a row, write to the headteacher. Otherwise butt out

The letter has been sent. I was careful about how I phrased my words so as not to sound rude. If someone questioned my methods and approach I'd be more than happy to talk to them about it and explain why I take that particular approach with them / their child. Can't say I'd find it rude or be offended.

School for the initial years is about progression onto the next stage of schooling, whatever that maybe for each child. My son has only gone to the school he has because we thought he'd settle there more quickly than going somewhere else. He will be staying there for a couple of years before moving on. In that time I will not have him getting left behind his peers because a lazy part-time teacher would like to take the easy option. When the Headmaster teaches his class, I find the work covered seems to be of a much higher standard.

Whilst it is not up to me to dictate their curriculum, that's the Headmaster's job, it is my duty as a parent to ensure my son's education is up to a standard I believe appropriate. There are lots of things that are good about the school but the lady teacher of his doesn't seem to be a great influence.

heartbreak_star wrote: »

Yay for business-ing definitely good to see you a bit more upbeat.

HBS x

Thanks, HBS.

AlexLK

maman wrote: »

My sentiments exactly and sadly the content of the day is often prescribed under the National Curriculum.

Imagine the scenario where one of Alex's own pupils at the volunteer school went home and said ' My music teacher, MrK, says we should all smoke cigars at breakfast time'. Parent comes into school in high dudgeon or writes a letter of complaint......It happens!:rotfl:

I do take your point, some parents seem to have double standards.

I had a boy call me a 'f****** toff', parents were informed and thought it perfectly OK for their son to say such a thing. Bet they wouldn't have thought it OK for me to write 'council scum' on his part, though.

AlexLK

As Mrs K is working away, I've spent the evening thinking about some targets for paying the mortgage off. In an ideal world I'd like not to have a mortgage by the time I'm 40 but I really can't see that happening. We also need to save a little more to complete the house before making any real progress on the mortgage. There is a part of me that wants to ignore my wife and have my parents take us out of debt for good. To be honest, it seems as if this has been going on for far too long but I know she'll cause a fuss. Can see the argument for paying our own way but my parents worked very hard all their adult lives to see my family in a better position.

In 2016, I'd like to see enough money together to finish the house. This means saving for jobs that will not just incur costs for raw materials but also for labour. I have mixed feelings about employing tradesmen but that certainly looks like the sensible option at the moment. If I'm honest, I still don't really want to live here. Wish I'd not read that Millionaire Next Door book because I can't help but think I'm the spoilt child they describe as never getting anywhere with his life because he knows he'll inherit.

AlexLK

edinburgher wrote: »

Relax.

Been thinking about this also. To be honest, I think this is my main problem with school, I can't relax because I don't trust them to provide my son with the best education they possibly can. Not because it's a bad school or I've much in the way of evidence but because I'm not in control of what they're teaching him.

heartbreak_star

AlexLK wrote: »

Been thinking about this also. To be honest, I think this is my main problem with school, I can't relax because I don't trust them to provide my son with the best education they possibly can. Not because it's a bad school or I've much in the way of evidence but because I'm not in control of what they're teaching him.

There are going to be a lot of things in his life you're not in control of...but you HAVE to let go a little.

From my experience, my mum had me take the MENSA tests at three - the trigger for which was me asking "What does 'inflammable' mean?" as I'd read it at a petrol station.

I flew them. But I never joined the society or the schools...because I wasn't 100% happy with the few days I did there. I'm not sure why, as I vaguely remember enjoying the work, but apparently I was very withdrawn and quiet when I came home.

What my parents did do was teach me anything I wanted to learn at home, and give me plenty of things to keep my brain stimulated. I had a full library card before I started school, got taught names of plants and animals on woodland walks, could beat my dad at chess by the time I was 7 (and we could still play a mean game until he got ill), and could speak a few words of basic French and German by the time we started them in school.

Bright kids will do well as long as they're stimulated. Let Little K spread his wings. You're an awesome dad - don't allow your love to smother him too much *coach hugs*

HBS x

heartbreak_star

*sheepishly climbs down from soapbox*

HBS x

turtlemoose

AlexLK wrote: »

I do take your point, some parents seem to have double standards.

I had a boy call me a 'f****** toff', parents were informed and thought it perfectly OK for their son to say such a thing. Bet they wouldn't have thought it OK for me to write 'council scum' on his part, though.

That's because he is a CHILD and you are not just the ADULT in this situation (apparently!) but also the TEACHER, and should know better.

AlexLK

heartbreak_star wrote: »

There are going to be a lot of things in his life you're not in control of...but you HAVE to let go a little.

From my experience, my mum had me take the MENSA tests at three - the trigger for which was me asking "What does 'inflammable' mean?" as I'd read it at a petrol station.

I flew them. But I never joined the society or the schools...because I wasn't 100% happy with the few days I did there. I'm not sure why, as I vaguely remember enjoying the work, but apparently I was very withdrawn and quiet when I came home.

What my parents did do was teach me anything I wanted to learn at home, and give me plenty of things to keep my brain stimulated. I had a full library card before I started school, got taught names of plants and animals on woodland walks, could beat my dad at chess by the time I was 7 (and we could still play a mean game until he got ill), and could speak a few words of basic French and German by the time we started them in school.

Bright kids will do well as long as they're stimulated. Let Little K spread his wings. You're an awesome dad - don't allow your love to smother him too much *coach hugs*

HBS x

I know that I need to stop trying to control everything, though it's a lot easier said than done. I did speak to the Headmaster today and feel a little more enlightened about what they cover at KS1. He's starting to enjoy school and join in with the other children there.

Unfortunately, I often think I'm doing the right thing but in reality I'm making things difficult.

AlexLK

turtlemoose wrote: »

That's because he is a CHILD and you are not just the ADULT in this situation (apparently!) but also the TEACHER, and should know better.

At no point did I write anything derogatory on the boy's part.

The point was to illustrate that some parents think it is perfectly acceptable for their child to behave in a disrespectful manner, yet would be beside themselves if somebody else behaved in a disrespectful manner to their child.

Not sure about you but I know there's not a chance something like that would happen at my alma mater and at that age if my father heard I'd used such language, the last place I'd want to go would be home.

smallholdingsister

AlexLK wrote: »

G major is set on the Grade 1 syllabus, so you got a little further than son for the moment. Unfortunately my son's schoolteacher 'doesn't like "classical" music', she didn't appreciate me explaining there's lots of genres of "classical music" and clearly is of the university is for a job brigade. :mad: In fact, she's obsessed with what pupils parents do and what the children want to do when they grow up - had a full day on that. I've written a letter to the Headmaster explaining I saw no educational benefit to that at the age of 4-7. Thankfully she's only there 2 days per week

Our school encourages students to share their aspirations. Nothing wrong with that at any age.

I shamed my mum as a 4 y.o. by responding to
"And what does your father do?" With
"He makes sugar cubes"

He is actually a computer engineer but I had been impressed with his home made bunk bed mattresses that had giant foam cubes cut out of them...