3rd grade homework - would this bother you?

[NikitaZee]

My son has a reading log called 'Read Across Massachusetts'. Part of his nightly homework is to do 20 minutes of reading. Along with that, he has to record how many minutes of 'screen time', or non-educational TV viewing or video game playing he does per day (he is not supposed to have more screen time than reading time). This bothers me. I have no problem limiting his TV time, and he's not allowed to play video games during the school week, but I don't like having to account for it to his teacher or the school. The thought of my kids TV time being monitored by anyone but myself and my husband bothers me. Any thought on this?

 

[JESW]

I would ask the teacher why the information would be necessary.

Jill

 

[Cindy B]

Thats easy... just "guesstimate" it. No one is going over those records with a fine tooth comb, so just get a number in your head and go with it.

 

[Kath2003]

My son has a reading log called 'Read Across Massachusetts'. Part of his nightly homework is to do 20 minutes of reading. Along with that, he has to record how many minutes of 'screen time', or non-educational TV viewing or video game playing he does per day (he is not supposed to have more screen time than reading time). This bothers me. I have no problem limiting his TV time, and he's not allowed to play video games during the school week, but I don't like having to account for it to his teacher or the school. The thought of my kids TV time being monitored by anyone but myself and my husband bothers me. Any thought on this?

What is this information being used for? I could see it being used for a maths project (graphs etc.) or for a discussion in social studies or something.

If it's being recorded simply for the teacher to know 'what goes on at home', I wouldn't be filling it out.

 

[aprilgail2]

I would record my childs reading time and a big NONE OF YOUR BUSINESS in the other spot!

 

[JEmaryland]

I agree with you. As long as there is no abuse going on and homework is completed, I don't think it's his teacher's or school's business what happens at home.

 

[Keli]

I would tell them I was uncomfortable with the school intruding so much into our home life and that I would not be providing that information.

 

[SharpMomOfTwo]

I would record my childs reading time and a big NONE OF YOUR BUSINESS in the other spot!

ITA. As someone else said, unless they are using it as a graph or something for math class, its way to intrusive for me.

 

[GJM]

I agree "None of her business" -

My DS is in school all day, comes home does his homework & reading. When that is done that is his time, sometimes he will watch TV, play with friends, video games - whatever. Other days he has karate, cub scouts and guitar lessons.

 

[The Mystery Machine]

Yes, I would be irritated and I would not provide that info. What are the consequences, did she say?

I would just put zero and tell her that my child only watches and plays with educational material.

 

[BeachGirlFLA]

I would not provide the info.

 

[MiniGirl]

Nope, I wouldn't be turning that in. I also did not turn in the reading log that was sent home for my girls when they were in K and 1st grade. We read together every night, but I figured keeping a log was actually homework for ME, and in the end, all the school needed to know was that we were reading. What we were reading wasn't important.

 

[DeluxePrincess]

I'm with the "none of your business" group. If you are FORCED to give out this info for a grade, then I'd be making it up with what they want to see. I'm thinking that this section is part of the "Read Across Mass" program and the teacher is forced to ask for the info.

 

[kidzmom3]

its part of a bigger program created last year. read across america

 

[NikitaZee]

I'm not sure what the consequences would be if we didn't fill it out. I imagine nothing really, besides maybe mentioning it to my son or writing a note home to me. I agree that it's probably a statewide thing and the teacher is required to ask. I like my son's teacher and don't want to get off on the wrong foot, so I'm leaning towards just not putting anything in the 'screen time' box and seeing what happens. My son is a conscientious student and a rule follower, and he wants to do what he's been instructed to do. Thanks for everyone's input

 

[EthansMom]

My kids read nightly and watch mostly educational t.v. programs (PBS). I'd have a HUGE problem with someone trying to tell me how much t.v. my kids can/should watch. It's none of the teacher's/school's/state's business if my kid reads for 20 minutes and watches t.v. for an hour (or more).

I agree with the others. I'd fill in the reading time and leave the t.v. time blank, with a note saying that I don't feel that I need guidance regarding my child's t.v. viewing.

In a similar vein, our school has "TV Turnoff Week" one week a year where kids and parents are encouraged to turn off the t.v. for the entire week. Last year, someone scheduled "TV Turnoff Week" for the same week as Spring Break.... yeah, the kids have no school, sports, or homework for several rainy days in April so lets tell them they can't watch t.v. on top of it.

 

[diznygirl]

Yeah, that would bother me. Heaven forbid the baseball game go into extra innings - that would look terrible on the paper!

I might play nice and ask why it's needed. But I really can't think of any answer that would make me actually give them the info. If it was absolutely required, they would get "10 minutes" written each and every day until school gets out.

 

[AshleyW]

I guess I don't see what the big deal is.. I'd fill in the log because it seems like it would create an opportunity to talk w/the kid about the importance of reading. We had to do the same thing for gym in high school - record how much TV we watched at home vs. how much physical activity time we did at home. Then in class they talked to us about how if we just removed 1 hour of TV time and replaced it w/activity, what the health benefits would be, etc.

 

[mamacatnv]

I would record my childs reading time and a big NONE OF YOUR BUSINESS in the other spot!

That is exactly what I was thinking - I would leave it blank

 

[kirbsam]

i would do it. i dont see this as part of some grand conspiracy to take over your childs life. they record what they eat, how much they exercise, etc. and no one thinks to ask what are they using that information for. i dont see the big deal in recording how much tv is being watched. i bet it would be pretty eye opening for some.