3rd grade homework - would this bother you?

[FireDancer]

my concern is that the state of Massachusetts is infringing on my privacy little by little, and I resent it. I want to push back, but I don't know yet how far I'm willing to go. It's a fine line I think, and I'm grateful for the debate and opinions I'm getting here. Thanks.

Amen to that though I would substitute government in general for state of Massachusetts but I feel you pain.

 

[3boymthr]

To OP I find this very interesting as I think it is more your school system or your teacher, not Massachusetts.

I also live in MA and so far no reading logs have come home and I have received no notices saying that my kids are going to be measured for BMI.

But yesterday was the first day of school.

and while we got huge lists of upcoming activities yesterday I'm sure we're not done.

If this changes I will let you know.

 

[NikitaZee]

To OP I find this very interesting as I think it is more your school system or your teacher, not Massachusetts.

I also live in MA and so far no reading logs have come home and I have received no notices saying that my kids are going to be measured for BMI.

But yesterday was the first day of school.

and while we got huge lists of upcoming activities yesterday I'm sure we're not done.

If this changes I will let you know.

Hello there - has your school district sent home the BMI notice? I feel that 'looming ahead' for my kindergarten daughter. My son is lean, but my girl has a bigger frame and hovers around the 75th percentile of weight. According to our pediatrician, she's fine, not overweight - but I dread having a number assigned to her at school that may or may not be bigger than her friends. I'm sure that the closer I get to that, the more irritated I will get.

 

[disney1990]

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

Actually, this program was started 8 years ago.

What is NEA’s Read Across America?
A program of the National Education Association (NEA) now in its eighth year.

I would not lie and just put done any number, but I agree it is none of the schools business how much time your child spends watching television. I would simply put a N/A in that spot.

 

[DWGal210]

i have never had a list we had to write the books down we were asked to write down about how many a week the teacher had a little book worm going around the class with the total number read from all the kids....last school year they did the bmi testing(never told the parents). they handed the papers to the kids to give to the parents and had to get them signed to be handed back in. I recieved a phone call from the school nurse yelling at me for my daughter not eating lunch and not signing the paper. i had no clue what she was talking about when i found out this was thursday they gave the papers on monday my dd read it and was upset so she stopped eating b-fast and lunch (my mom had her in the mornings and dd told her ate at home) well when she got home i had a chat and she said all the people that had "at risk for becoming overweight" had one yellow paper the "normal" had white and "overweight" had another color so everyone knew who had what i flipped she also told me when she rec. hers some of the "normal"girls were teasing everyone else saying they shouldn't be allowed to eat. needless to say all the parents rec. a letter saying they were sorry the way that the testing was handled and from now on it will be sent to the childs house in the mail.

Oh my lord - I would have been spitting nails!!! Did the administrators honestly think that by making the results more or less public, the kids wouldn't tease each other?! Did they forget what it was like to be in school?! Someone forgot to put on their thinking cap when THAT decision was made. And your poor DD....

 

[3boymthr]

Hello there - has your school district sent home the BMI notice? I feel that 'looming ahead' for my kindergarten daughter. My son is lean, but my girl has a bigger frame and hovers around the 75th percentile of weight. According to our pediatrician, she's fine, not overweight - but I dread having a number assigned to her at school that may or may not be bigger than her friends. I'm sure that the closer I get to that, the more irritated I will get.

Still no notice about a reading program for the school system.

Didn't get the BMI screenings notice for the younger kids but I did get it for the oldest today. They are in the same yet different school systems (town elementary school, regional High school). According to the letter he actually doesn't have to have it as he is already past the ages for the screening (good news too because he's definitely on the pleasantly plump side). But the good news is you can opt out of the screening. You have to notify the school in writing that you don't want it done and notification to the school must be done during the first week of school in the year the screening is to be done. They are also screening for vision hearing and scoliosis.

 

[cybrkitn]

I think a lot of people are reacting on the defensive on this. I'll admit, I do the same thing with DS7's school at times when I first read something. I get upset. If I'm not sure of something though, I'll contact the teacher to get more information. Usually, I'm reading more into it than it really is and get myself upset over nothing.

The best thing to do is just to contact the teacher and simply ask what the information is for. As others have said, if it's for a graph they are doing, fine. If not, then politely tell the teacher that you do not feel comfortable giving that information. Better to ask for clarification now than letting it escalate into something bigger later.

 

[shortbun]

I'd tell my son NOT to do that part of the assignment and I'd write the teacher a note in the log area saying that I was in charge of my son's 'screen time' and if she/he had any questions, ask me. Then I'd draw a little smiley face. lol!

 

[luvsJack]

I am curious. Why do any of you care if your child's school knows how much they watch tv? I just don't understand the problem with doing the assignment. I do get the issues with the BMI stuff but not because I care if they ask what my child eats, but I don't think any child should be made to feel like there is something wrong with them.


Besides, don't you think telling your child that you are not going to complete the assignment or allow him to complete it, is sending him the wrong message?

 

[BeachGirlFLA]

I am curious. Why do any of you care if your child's school knows how much they watch tv? I just don't understand the problem with doing the assignment. I do get the issues with the BMI stuff but not because I care if they ask what my child eats, but I don't think any child should be made to feel like there is something wrong with them.


Besides, don't you think telling your child that you are not going to complete the assignment or allow him to complete it, is sending him the wrong message?

Because the teachers have told them that their "screen" time should not be more than their reading time. That is judgmental (they are going to judge the parents of the children whose "screen" time is more than the reading time) and it's not the teachers' business to make that judgment.

 

[luvsJack]

Because the teachers have told them that their "screen" time should not be more than their reading time. That is judgmental (they are going to judge the parents of the children whose "screen" time is more than the reading time) and it's not the teachers' business to make that judgment.

Really? I would simply tell dd, "yep, your reading time should be more than your screen time". Because reading is 100% better for any child than watching tv or playing videos. Hey, I would be happy for her to read ALL the time and NEVER watch TV. As for assuming the teacher is going to "judge" the parents, I just don't believe that to be true. They are trying to teach their students good reading/TV habits, not judge the parents for the choices they make.

 

[BeachGirlFLA]

Really? I would simply tell dd, "yep, your reading time should be more than your screen time". Because reading is 100% better for any child than watching tv or playing videos. Hey, I would be happy for her to read ALL the time and NEVER watch TV. As for assuming the teacher is going to "judge" the parents, I just don't believe that to be true. They are trying to teach their students good reading/TV habits, not judge the parents for the choices they make.

Well, I had a limit of two hours each day on the weekend and one on weekdays of TV time as a young kid - until about age 14 (the only time that didn't count was for football games.) Computer time also counts in "screen" time and I spent a lot of time on my computer as a kid - probably almost as much as I spent reading. To me, it matters what the TV and computer are used for. If the TV is used to watch educational shows or a computer is being used for research (either on a school subject or on a subject that a child is personally interested in) or to learn to build web sites, then that specific "screen" time is just as educational as reading a book. But that "screen" time is still going to look the same to the teachers as any other "screen" time.

 

[FireDancer]

Besides, don't you think telling your child that you are not going to complete the assignment or allow him to complete it, is sending him the wrong message?

It sends the message that critical thinking is needed before deciding if everything an authority figure tells you to do should be blindly followed. Just because someone in authority wants you to do something doesn't mean you should do it regardless of you age. There are boundaries that need not be crossed.

This same critical thinking is what can help a child recognize an abusive relationship and know what possible dangers are out there so they can avoid them. Teachers, policemen, priests, these all have roles and authority that comes with those roles but none should be blindly followed if that authority extends outside of their role or their authority is abused.

Abuse is a more pressing issue than doing an assignment you feel goes against you judgment but the ability to apply critical thinking is the same.

 

[PollyannaMom]

Also from MA.

We had reading logs last year for an incentive program, too (longer than a week, but I don't remember exactly.) They just listed the book and author, though, nothing about other activities. So maybe it's different by school?

I am, however, dreading the BMI one if it comes up, because DS is an absolute twig (and I say that in a cute way, not a mean one.) But we already went through all sorts of tests when he was a toddler, and the ped finally said he's just built that way. I really don't want to be bombarded with worry messages all over again.

And I'm sure DS would be upset, as well. - They used their weight on a piece of math homework the other day, and he was already scared some other student would see it in the homework bin. (I asked him why. - He said he was afraid the kids would try to pick him up!)

 

[NikitaZee]

Last night, our son spent 35 minutes reading. He did his homework, we went out to dinner, and he went on the computer for 30 minutes. He wanted to write that 30 minutes in the screen time box, so he did. Before bed, he and his sister watched an episode of Phineas and Ferb (30 minutes). He wanted to get out of bed and 'correct' his box to 60 minutes. This is where I have trouble. He does not have to account for all of his 'screen time' activities to anyone but my husband and myself, and I told him that. I told him not to worry about the extra tv time, his homework was done and in his backpack and to just enjoy his show. Why should he worry about this? If I think that he needs to spend more time reading than watching tv, playing video games, etc, fine. But it's not the school's place to pressure him - however subtley - in this manner. I agree with FireDancer about critical thinking - there's a difference between hard fast rules that must be obeyed and the gray area of life. Of course I wouldn't prevent him from doing his assignment - but I will absolutely guide the way that he does it. This is my home, and my family's routine is being looked at and influenced. Keeping that within my control is important to me.

 

[3boymthr]

to OP still no tracking of reading nor of TV time.

I have issues with the whole screen time thing. Seriously, I have a child who has problems reading. It's a long tedious, tiresome process for him so he only does what's required, not any more. Some kids are just like that.

Also, a couple times a month, sometimes more, I have to go out to an appointment and leave the teenager in charge for a period of time until DH gets home or I get back - usually an hour or less. Whenever this happens the TV goes on with a movie to help keep peace in the house while I and DH are gone. So of course, some days this would way exceed reading time for the child with the reading issues. This would lead to lectures of him and me and really, I don't need that and he doesn't need that as he already has enough esteem issues with his learning disabilities.

 

[luvsJack]

Well, I had a limit of two hours each day on the weekend and one on weekdays of TV time as a young kid - until about age 14 (the only time that didn't count was for football games.) Computer time also counts in "screen" time and I spent a lot of time on my computer as a kid - probably almost as much as I spent reading. To me, it matters what the TV and computer are used for. If the TV is used to watch educational shows or a computer is being used for research (either on a school subject or on a subject that a child is personally interested in) or to learn to build web sites, then that specific "screen" time is just as educational as reading a book. But that "screen" time is still going to look the same to the teachers as any other "screen" time.

There are at least a hundred reasons why reading a book is more educational, but thats really not the point. The teacher is not going to judge anyone, she is just trying to teach good habits. Some kids spend hours upon hours in front of the TV or playing video games. Those kids need better habits. They need to read a book. Besides, didn't the thing say that educational tv didn't count as "screen time"?

Did she say that she was going to grade them by how much TV they watched compared to how many books they read or just that the assignment should be completed? I would bet the latter.

Assuming that the teacher or the school is going to start judging kids, parents or families or that they are trying to take over a person's parenting is just paranoia. Its a simple little assignment that will hopefully instill good habits in at least a few kids; no more, no less.

 

[BeachGirlFLA]

There are at least a hundred reasons why reading a book is more educational, but thats really not the point. The teacher is not going to judge anyone, she is just trying to teach good habits. Some kids spend hours upon hours in front of the TV or playing video games. Those kids need better habits. They need to read a book. Besides, didn't the thing say that educational tv didn't count as "screen time"?

Did she say that she was going to grade them by how much TV they watched compared to how many books they read or just that the assignment should be completed? I would bet the latter.

Assuming that the teacher or the school is going to start judging kids, parents or families or that they are trying to take over a person's parenting is just paranoia. Its a simple little assignment that will hopefully instill good habits in at least a few kids; no more, no less.

You know what...you're right. It did say non-educational TV viewing...I think I'd still do the assignment but be very creative about what was educational. Let's see...sports teach math skills, movies based on fairy tales or famous books teach Classical Literature, some shows I can think of from my childhood (The Waltons, Little House on The Prairie, etc.) teach American History.

 

[luvsJack]

It sends the message that critical thinking is needed before deciding if everything an authority figure tells you to do should be blindly followed. Just because someone in authority wants you to do something doesn't mean you should do it regardless of you age. There are boundaries that need not be crossed.

This same critical thinking is what can help a child recognize an abusive relationship and know what possible dangers are out there so they can avoid them. Teachers, policemen, priests, these all have roles and authority that comes with those roles but none should be blindly followed if that authority extends outside of their role or their authority is abused.

Abuse is a more pressing issue than doing an assignment you feel goes against you judgment but the ability to apply critical thinking is the same.

Of course abuse is a more pressing issue than doing an assignment but this is not an abuse situation.

While this child is in school he/she cannot just decide what assignments should or should not be done. Not doing an assignment can lead to receiving a 0 which can cause the child to fail. Just not agreeing with the assignment does not excuse the child from doing it. Allowing him/her not to do an assignment now can certainly lead to the child assuming that it is ok later on to just not do one. That's not a good lesson to teach.

 

[Scurvy]

Of course abuse is a more pressing issue than doing an assignment but this is not an abuse situation.

While this child is in school he/she cannot just decide what assignments should or should not be done. Not doing an assignment can lead to receiving a 0 which can cause the child to fail. Just not agreeing with the assignment does not excuse the child from doing it. Allowing him/her not to do an assignment now can certainly lead to the child assuming that it is ok later on to just not do one. That's not a good lesson to teach.

I don't know - sometimes I think it is good to allow children to question assignments. I don't think that we need to teach our children to blindly follow assignments no matter what. As an example - when I was in school, we dissected frogs, cats, pigs, and several other things. There were a couple of students who never participated because they didn't agree with the dissections on moral grounds.

Certainly that is more extreme that this situation, but if a family truly feels that their time outside of school isn't the school's business than I think it makes sense for them to allow their child to question the assignment in the OP.