3rd grade homework - would this bother you?

[GrumpyOne]

Would you people get this bent out of shape if your children were asked to keep a food journal?

Keep a journal? No. Turn a journal in? Also none of the teacher's business.

 

[luvmy3]

[Quote:
Originally Posted by jrmasm
They do. Every year. During the nutrition unit in health class.

Not my kids

Fill out the form and move on. It's not a big deal. Unless Junior's screen time is getting in the way of his homework than who cares?

More than half the people on this thread


Your kids have never had a lesson about nutrition? That's pretty sad.

I think more than half the people on this thread are making a mountain out of a molehill.




What do you think the school is going to do if Junior went over the recommended time? Call child welfare?

Did it not occur to anyone that the teacher thought it might be interesting for kids to see in black and white how much tv they watch? That they might be surprised? That the exercise is about promoting a discussion?

I still do not get what the issue is .

Sorry you don't get it but many posters have explained what the issue is (for them personally). Just because you don't see the issue doesn't mean there isn't one.

 

[NikitaZee]

Thanks, PollyannaMom, that's exactly what we did last night. Jrmasm, I understand the point you're trying to make. However, it's the principle of the thing that bothers me. There are many things I object to in life - not necessarily because they are a big, huge deal - but because it just doesn't sit right with me. I'm not worried about child welfare being called, and there are certainly more important issues to think about than a school reading log, but I see thesse things creeping into my life little by little - TV logs, BMI testing for 6 year olds, food journals - where does it stop? I think it's important to concern myself with issues concerning my personal privacy - and my children's - who else will if I don't? Maybe when I ask the teacher about it at back to school night, she'll say don't worry about it - not a big deal - and it'll end like that.

 

[luvsJack]

We've opted out of lots of assignments.

A few examples... We don't do any family tree or assignments where kids are expected to bring in baby pictures. These assignments are really bad news for many adopted or foster kids, and can be bad for kids from non-traditional families. Thanks, but no thanks.

Last year, my 3rd grader had an horrible assignment involving writing a persuasive letter about something she dearly wanted. The parents were supposed to write a sealed letter to the child to be opened and read aloud to the entire class. No, my kid doesn't need to be in tears in front of the class.

We opt out of the D.A.R.E. program in its entirety. It has been shown by every independently funded peer reviewed study to be at best completely ineffective in preventing kids from using drugs.

The public school as employment is not an analogy that carries any weight with me. We have compulsory education and a public school system funded by taxpayers in this country. If your employer wants you to do something you don't want to do, you can in some instances negotiate, and in any event, employment at a particular company is not compulsory so that if you don't like your job find a different one.

The family tree, I can understand if a child is adopted or a foster child and that is not addressed by the teacher. But, the whole purpose of such an assignment is wasted if those things are not addressed. When I worked in the school system as an assistant and when I did this with my 4 year old class, we had ways of doing family trees that worked around these things. Like using the family they are living with at the time (and we didn't ask for baby pictures but had the kids draw pictures instead), for foster kids. We taught them that families come in all sizes, shapes and styles and the people around them, that take care of them and love them are their family.

Writing the persuasive letter I can understand, the letter from the parent giving an answer doesn't make sense, but maybe the teacher had her reasons. Personally, I would have had dd write the persuasive letter; I would have then written a letter for her to read in class but let her read it before hand knowing that it is simple to fill the assignment not a real answer to the thing she wants. Assignment completed as assigned, but no hurt feelings from my child.

The last one, I don't get. Why opt out? So its not effective, what would it hurt to participate? I think some of more dramatic things they do are effective even if only on one or two kids. Don't know what your school does, but we do things like every body wears red one day. Some of the activities teach kids that they are special and are meant to help their self esteem. What is the point of going against the grain on that?

Of course, all of this would be my choice in how to handle things and you would make your choice. I just don't see the point in getting all bent out of shape over some of this stuff. But, then everyone has to pick their own battles.

My point in comparing a school assignment to a job assignment is this. Completing things as they are assigned is a lesson in of it self. It teaches good work habits. If you do not complete the task you are assigned in school, you could fail. If you do not complete the tasks you are assigned at work, you could be fired. Would I complete a task in my job that I found to be morally or ethically wrong? No. But then I would be looking for other employment when the task was assigned. Do I expect my child to complete an assignment that is morally or ethically wrong? No. And I would go with my child to the administration and to the school board to fight a bad grade on the morally and ethically questionable assignment.

But NONE of these things that anyone has mentioned are morally or ethically wrong.

And for everyone that keeps saying its none of the teacher's business; you keep missing one thing. She probably doesn't give a rat's behind how much your child really watches tv. It is, more than likely, a suggested assignment that is part of a program or curriculum that is supposed to teach good reading habits. I cannot imagine a teacher really looking at one of these things and saying "ooohhhh, Johnny, you have a bad mother! she lets you watch too much tv." She is probably not even going to look at the darned thing! IMHO, there is just WAAAAAYYYY too much being read into this assignment.

 

[luvmy3]

And for everyone that keeps saying its none of the teacher's business; you keep missing one thing. She probably doesn't give a rat's behind how much your child really watches tv. It is, more than likely, a suggested assignment that is part of a program or curriculum that is supposed to teach good reading habits. I cannot imagine a teacher really looking at one of these things and saying "ooohhhh, Johnny, you have a bad mother! she lets you watch too much tv." She is probably not even going to look at the darned thing! IMHO, there is just WAAAAAYYYY too much being read into this assignment.

Either she is going to discuss it in front of the class, i.e comparing the differences in the kid's records, which I'm sure would do great things for those kids who watch more than they are *supposed to according to the teacher*. Or she is going to discuss it in private, which means she thinks what you do in your home regarding your child's reading habbits is her business. Or she is just going to slap a grade on it at the end of the month or throw it in the trash, both of which make the goal of the assignment pointless.

OP, I hope you will come back after the first month and let us know what happened with the logs. I'm curious to see what the teacher is planning.

 

[FergieTCat]

Personally, I use a food journal to increase my own awareness of what I eat. Maybe the teacher is using the journal so the students can become aware of the time they spend reading vs. the time they spent watching TV or paying video games.

Just a thought.

 

[Pigeon]

The last one, I don't get. Why opt out? So its not effective, what would it hurt to participate? I think some of more dramatic things they do are effective even if only on one or two kids. Don't know what your school does, but we do things like every body wears red one day. Some of the activities teach kids that they are special and are meant to help their self esteem. What is the point of going against the grain on that?

Of course, all of this would be my choice in how to handle things and you would make your choice. I just don't see the point in getting all bent out of shape over some of this stuff. But, then everyone has to pick their own battles.

My point in comparing a school assignment to a job assignment is this. Completing things as they are assigned is a lesson in of it self. It teaches good work habits. If you do not complete the task you are assigned in school, you could fail. If you do not complete the tasks you are assigned at work, you could be fired. Would I complete a task in my job that I found to be morally or ethically wrong? No. But then I would be looking for other employment when the task was assigned. Do I expect my child to complete an assignment that is morally or ethically wrong? No. And I would go with my child to the administration and to the school board to fight a bad grade on the morally and ethically questionable assignment.

But NONE of these things that anyone has mentioned are morally or ethically wrong.

And for everyone that keeps saying its none of the teacher's business; you keep missing one thing. She probably doesn't give a rat's behind how much your child really watches tv. It is, more than likely, a suggested assignment that is part of a program or curriculum that is supposed to teach good reading habits. I cannot imagine a teacher really looking at one of these things and saying "ooohhhh, Johnny, you have a bad mother! she lets you watch too much tv." She is probably not even going to look at the darned thing! IMHO, there is just WAAAAAYYYY too much being read into this assignment.

I object to these things, in part, because I believe All Teachers Can Learn. I also think that given enough push back, All Administrators Can Learn, but it's a little harder for them.

The DARE program is a colossal waste of my child's time, and her time is better used reading a library book or working on some of her excessive homework.

I object to the fact that as a taxpayer, I'm paying the salary of a highly educated, state certified teacher to do nothing but sit in the classroom at the same time that I'm paying the salary of a policeman, who is not an educator, to carryout nonsensical exercises (no, there's no benefit whatsoever to my kid having to wear red) that don't do a thing to keep kids from using drugs. There is also the opportunity cost of not having that policeman actually doing something productive with his time to make the community a safer place.

The school is happy to tell the parents over and over about how important contact time is. We get mutiple letters throughout the semester telling us not to schedule medical appointments during school hours, not to take family vacations during school, etc. If it's so important, why should I not push back when the school is willing to waste hours of instructional time on something that has a demonstrated track record of not working?

Our school district also likes to sprinkle the phrase "evidence-based practices" throughout its PR literature. If that were really the case, there is no justification whatsoever for DARE. Would it be perfectly OK with you if your school selected a math curriculum that had been shown repeatedly to not teach children a lick of math? BTW, I've given the principal copies of the studies that show the completely ineffectiveness of the program, so she knows.

If the teacher doesn't give a rat's behind about the TV logs, it's pretty simple. She shouldn't assign them. Kids are overloaded enough with poorly thought out homework.

My kid wouldn't be turning in a food journal, either.

BTW, dh and I are both educators.

 

[focusondisney]

Thanks, PollyannaMom, that's exactly what we did last night. Jrmasm, I understand the point you're trying to make. However, it's the principle of the thing that bothers me. There are many things I object to in life - not necessarily because they are a big, huge deal - but because it just doesn't sit right with me. I'm not worried about child welfare being called, and there are certainly more important issues to think about than a school reading log, but I see thesse things creeping into my life little by little - TV logs, BMI testing for 6 year olds, food journals - where does it stop? I think it's important to concern myself with issues concerning my personal privacy - and my children's - who else will if I don't? Maybe when I ask the teacher about it at back to school night, she'll say don't worry about it - not a big deal - and it'll end like that.

Hi! I agree you should speak to the teacher & let her know you will not be recording screen time. And reassure your son that he does not need to report or worry about this. This is YOUR home & family, NOT the teachers or the school administrators. They can do what they want in their own homes. But they can not tell you what to do in yours.

Tv watching/ screen time is not against the law! You are not abusing your son if he watches more TV than he reads. Therefore it is no one's business how much tv he watches.

My own kids are grown now, but more than once while they were growing up, I had to remind the school or sports coaches that this was MY child & I did not sign over my parental rights to them. I always had my child's best interest in mind & I would make the best decisions for them & our family, not some school administrator or coach.

Anyway, I think you should be more proactive if this assignment really bothers you. Do not give up your right to parent your child & make decisions for your family. If you stand up & take control of the situation, you will take the pressure off your son to comply. Yes, he needs to follow rules, but he also needs to see that we can't always go along just because someone else says we should.

Just my opinion! Hope it doesn't come off as harsh, not meant that way! Good Luck what ever you do!

 

[NikitaZee]

Hi! I agree you should speak to the teacher & let her know you will not be recording screen time. And reassure your son that he does not need to report or worry about this. This is YOUR home & family, NOT the teachers or the school administrators. They can do what they want in their own homes. But they can not tell you what to do in yours.

Tv watching/ screen time is not against the law! You are not abusing your son if he watches more TV than he reads. Therefore it is no one's business how much tv he watches.

My own kids are grown now, but more than once while they were growing up, I had to remind the school or sports coaches that this was MY child & I did not sign over my parental rights to them. I always had my child's best interest in mind & I would make the best decisions for them & our family, not some school administrator or coach.

Anyway, I think you should be more proactive if this assignment really bothers you. Do not give up your right to parent your child & make decisions for your family. If you stand up & take control of the situation, you will take the pressure off your son to comply. Yes, he needs to follow rules, but he also needs to see that we can't always go along just because someone else says we should.

Just my opinion! Hope it doesn't come off as harsh, not meant that way! Good Luck what ever you do!

Those are my thoughts exactly. Thanks for your input

 

[luvsJack]

I object to these things, in part, because I believe All Teachers Can Learn. I also think that given enough push back, All Administrators Can Learn, but it's a little harder for them.

The DARE program is a colossal waste of my child's time, and her time is better used reading a library book or working on some of her excessive homework.

I object to the fact that as a taxpayer, I'm paying the salary of a highly educated, state certified teacher to do nothing but sit in the classroom at the same time that I'm paying the salary of a policeman, who is not an educator, to carryout nonsensical exercises (no, there's no benefit whatsoever to my kid having to wear red) that don't do a thing to keep kids from using drugs. There is also the opportunity cost of not having that policeman actually doing something productive with his time to make the community a safer place.

The school is happy to tell the parents over and over about how important contact time is. We get mutiple letters throughout the semester telling us not to schedule medical appointments during school hours, not to take family vacations during school, etc. If it's so important, why should I not push back when the school is willing to waste hours of instructional time on something that has a demonstrated track record of not working?

Our school district also likes to sprinkle the phrase "evidence-based practices" throughout its PR literature. If that were really the case, there is no justification whatsoever for DARE. Would it be perfectly OK with you if your school selected a math curriculum that had been shown repeatedly to not teach children a lick of math? BTW, I've given the principal copies of the studies that show the completely ineffectiveness of the program, so she knows.

If the teacher doesn't give a rat's behind about the TV logs, it's pretty simple. She shouldn't assign them. Kids are overloaded enough with poorly thought out homework.

My kid wouldn't be turning in a food journal, either.

BTW, dh and I are both educators.

Wow. I am so glad that I actually respect and enjoy my chosen profession and work industry.

Do you also have the same opinion of school pep rallies? or other things that the kids enjoy doing?

I have been at school during the DARE activities and regardless of what your "studies" show, there are kids that get something out of these activities. And our police force has certain training officers that do these things, so they are not taking them from something else. If one activity keeps one kid from doing drugs--then it is worth every minute of it.

So, tell me this. When your students or your husbands students refuse to do an assignment, what grade do they get in your classroom?