Class parties-what's your opinion??

[djmeredith]

I am a former elementary teacher, and I have a different point of view than many of the previous posters. Children go to school to learn. It is great when learning and fun can be combined, but the emphasis at school should remain on learning.

School parties cause huge disruptions to the class flow, in fact, you basically lose the whole instructional day. The kids are "wild" all day with anticipation so it is very hard to keep them focused on learning activities prior to the start of the party. Then, the well-meaning parents come in to throw the party with stimulating "fun" games, activities, and snacks. (I've seen schools where the parents try to "out do" each other by throwing very elaborate parties.)

Children today have more "fun" outside of school than any other generation (trampolines, multiple Disney trips, electric scooters, cell phones, i-pods, Ninetndo DS, Wii, extravagant birthday parties, etc). But at the same time, teachers today are faced with the enormous task of sticking to a strict curriculum, which is usually based around state testing standards.

In many states, school funding, and even teacher compensation, is based on the students' performance on standardized tests. Therefore, teachers are under constant pressure to make sure all students achieve at the highest levels. So every minute of instructional time is valuable.

I'm not against having school parties, but I think limiting the parties is a good idea. I can tell by reading the posts that you parents provide lots of fun for your kids outside the school day (otherwise you wouldn't be Disers ), so don't worry that your kids are missing out on something if they don't have a party for every holiday at school.

 

[K and K's Mommy]

Our schools only do a Holiday Party in December and a Valentine's party. Last week we got a paper explaining why all other parties are banned. The reason for no Thanksgiving Feasts - They are not culturally relevant or historically accurate. Oh please... My DD's first grade class has been studying Pilgrims, and I have learned new facts every day. (She was very upset because her Pilgrim managed to make it through the first winter but then died in the spring, so she wasn't at the First Thanksgiving.) But, her class cannot do any sort of party!

One of the big reasons I like parties is because it gives me a chance to get to know other parents. When my kids were in preschool and kindergarten, I knew all the parents from the parties!

 

[mjantz]

Another teacher here. I'm OK with parties but honestly they're not my favorite. As a preschool teacher they are a huge disruption to the school day, especially since we're required to do a nap time. So, the parents come & there's a big party & then the parents leave & then a bunch of kids who are upset because Mommy came so that means its time to go & why the heck am I still here have to take a nap.
I want to state that I am very pro parents in the classroom. But even with early elementary schoolers parties can be a stressful time.
My kids school does Thanksgiving, Winter, Valentines & the end of the school year. They also do lots of little special days throughout the year where they can wear a silly hat or not wear their uniform or whatever. I really think these special days mean more to my kids than a party.

 

[PrincessTiffany]

I am a former elementary teacher, and I have a different point of view than many of the previous posters. Children go to school to learn. It is great when learning and fun can be combined, but the emphasis at school should remain on learning.

School parties cause huge disruptions to the class flow, in fact, you basically lose the whole instructional day. The kids are "wild" all day with anticipation so it is very hard to keep them focused on learning activities prior to the start of the party. Then, the well-meaning parents come in to throw the party with stimulating "fun" games, activities, and snacks. (I've seen schools where the parents try to "out do" each other by throwing very elaborate parties.)

Children today have more "fun" outside of school than any other generation (trampolines, multiple Disney trips, electric scooters, cell phones, i-pods, Ninetndo DS, Wii, extravagant birthday parties, etc). But at the same time, teachers today are faced with the enormous task of sticking to a strict curriculum, which is usually based around state testing standards.

In many states, school funding, and even teacher compensation, is based on the students' performance on standardized tests. Therefore, teachers are under constant pressure to make sure all students achieve at the highest levels. So every minute of instructional time is valuable.

I'm not against having school parties, but I think limiting the parties is a good idea. I can tell by reading the posts that you parents provide lots of fun for your kids outside the school day (otherwise you wouldn't be Disers ), so don't worry that your kids are missing out on something if they don't have a party for every holiday at school.

Not trying to be argumentative, but I don't think taking 4 days out of the entire school year for a few little parties is taking the emphasis off of learning.

Also, you are right, my children do get to do plenty of fun holiday themed things through out the year. In fact, I'm known as the "party queen" among our circle of friends, because I personally throw many holiday themed parties in our home. But our children attend public school and there are many children from all different socio-economic situations and some of those underprivileged children do not get to experience special holiday celebrations in their own homes. One little girl that was in my oldest daughter's third grade class shared with me how happy she was to get to help decorate the Christmas tree in Mrs. Kelly's room because her family had never had a Christmas tree before. There is also a little boy that I remember from my son's class last year that was so excited about decorating pumpkin cookies during the Halloween party because his Mommy had never made homemade cookies before. I know that those parties will hold special memories for those children and many others.

Oh, and I almost forgot, my children do not have a trampoline, electric scooters, cell phones, i-pods, Ninetndo DS, or a Wii.

 

[SLK1]

I'm with OP...they ARE phasing them out, at least in Orange County, FL. We are allowed a "holday" party (God forbid you say Christmas) and an end-of-the-year party. No Halloween, no Valentine's, no teacher birthday. If you want to send in cupcakes for your kid's birthday, you can, but you have to leave them at the front office and they have to be store-bought. They have really sucked the fun right out of being a kid these days, all in the name of being politically correct and standardized tests (all these parties apparently take away from learning time devoted strictly to figuring out how to pass a standardized test.

 

[EthansMom]

I agree a bit with djmeredith.

Our school still does holiday parties for Halloween, Winter Holiday, Valentine's Day, and the End of the Year. Add in a couple of Field Trips each year, a school-wide enrichment program (puppet show, visiting author, etc..) about once a month, treats for each child's birthday, and Spring and Winter Choir Shows that are held mid-day and it's hard to figure out when these kids are actually learning.

That said, in the past our PTO sponsored a school-wide Thanksgiving Feast where all of the students and teachers ate a traditional Thanksgiving lunch at our local firehouse. It was a great event, but was cancelled this year to save $$$.

 

[Stephres]

We get two parties a year here too, so that means nothing for Thanksgiving. But I noticed as I subbed this week the teachers had a lot of fun Thanksgiving activities and books for them, so it's not as if they are ignoring the holiday but fitting it into their lesson plans.

I know it's not the same as a party, but it made me feel better my first grader was learning about Thanksgiving and having fun even though there wasn't an official party.

 

[jellybeans0607]

I can't ever remember having a party for thanksgiving.

I must live in my own little world. I always hear others talking about how everything must be PC, and no more merry xmas's. I personally have only seen this made into a big deal on the internet. My daughters school had a halloween party, she will have a holiday party for xmas, but thats because its easier to call it that than a christmaschunnikahnewyears party. Or whatever other party you want to include in that. My town has a center that is decorated with xmas trees, minorahs and stables. Santa and baby jesus are there. I go to the grocery stores and they are decked out in xmas decorations. Santa is in the mall.
I just have no idea what everyone is always complaining about?

 

[TotalSnowWhite]

My pre-k-ers are having a Thanksgiving party...we're watching Charlie Brown Thanksgiving, eating popcorn and making handprint turkeys during the movie (when they start getting the wiggles from sitting too long ). Fun for them in a half hour. I'm a big fan of little ways the kiddos just have fun.

 

[monorailsilver]

My oldest (2nd grade) doesn't have a party.

My middle (K) does. But they make bread-corn & pumpkin & churn butter & have that for their party. So they learn & celebrate at the same time.

When my kids were in preschool they had a Thanksgiving feast but it was popcorn, cranberry's, etc...

 

[Mouse House Mama]

I have to say that I find it ridiculous with the whole party thing now. Why can't kids have a celebration? Is it really going to stop the whole learning process? Also, why do they always have to do some craft during the party? Why can't they just socialize? THAT is learning! You can craft like Marthe Stewart but if you have no social skills then what? I don't think kids need a lesson plan 24/7. A few school parties are not going to be the decline in education that sends our country to ruins. I know I sound fired up but to be honest I kind of am. I am so sick and tired of the schools taking all the fun things out and trying to make kids "work" like adults. Even workplaces have parties.