EGADS! He's gone from protesting our church to protesting his school!

[Lisa loves Pooh]

ALso, it sounds like they had to fit DEAR in somewhere and that was the logical place.

But the whole point is the "DROP EVERYTHING" and read....from what I understand--the whole school would be doing this at the same time. Doing it during a study hall isn't dropping everything. The school is missing the whole point behind the idea. It makes reading seem a fun alternative and easy to take time out of your day to squeeze in a few minutes of reading.

Instead--it has made reading a chore, to have it during only one set class (STUDY HALL) and noone is really dropping anything to read...they come to the class just to read!

The school is missing the point as they don't wish to sacrifice precious class time...instead they have taken precious study time away. Nice example the administration is setting! We will have you drop what you think is important, but we won't drop anything...and that is how we will get you to read.

 

[6_Time_Momma]

Is the DEAR program every day? Is it for the entire period or just for 20 to 30 minutes? Can they read anything they want?

I've had experience with DEAR at 3 different schools. One school had it once a week and another had it for 5 days in a row once a quarter. It was only 20 to 30 minutes long. The students could read anything they wanted, including newspapers, magazines and textbooks. I'm not sure if all the schools technically allowed textbooks, but I always did. What are your son's interests? Could you help him find a book that he likes?

I do think it's cool though that he has started a petition.

It's every day, for 1- 1/4 hours. My son actually loves reading. However, the inital reason for AH was for students to have a time to talk with counsellors, talk with teachers about extra help they need, work on projects, read for classes if they need to, go to the library for stuff they need to. It worked well. Now, the kids don't have that opportunity.

Anyway, whether I agree with his (and the other kids') feelings is a moot point, IMO. I am glad he has the cajones to stand up and speak about something he believes in, rather than sitting back and just accepting it at face value.

 

[swilphil]

Lisa--I thought of that too. My schools always did it at the same time. It's possible that the hour 6 Momma's son is doing it just happens to be his study hall. I also worked in one school with block scheduling where all the students had seminar the same period of the day (actually every other day). Seminar is basically the same thing as study hall, except that students can go get help from other teachers. That's when we had DEAR. The teachers, administrators, secretaries, and custodians all were supposed to read during that time.

 

[ReneeA]

Good for your son, OP! I always did really well in school - graduated 4th in my class - and I never took any homework home. I used the time on the bus in the morning and at night and my STUDY HALL. That's what they were for. Oh, and if I didn't have schoolwork then I would usually be reading a book.

I"m assuming that you are talking about your oldest son, and at 15, they should be allowed to make their own decisions about what to read/study in study hall. In my opinion, that is about the age where they learn about priorities and using one's time wisely.

 

[Disney Doll]

Well, it's been a while since I was in high school, but as I recall, not a lot of studying got done in study hall. I also always thought it was a thing put in place to make the schedule easier to do. "Let's see, we don't have enough teachers to keep the kids busy all day, so we'll rotate everyone through basically one "free" period where all we need is a monitor, not a teacher, and then it makes scheduling a whole lot simpler".

I think it's almost time for the "choose your battles" lesson!!!!

 

[Wishing on a star]

I agree with the kid.

If I had 4 pages of Math homework to do, why in the heck should I not be allowed to do it during Study Hall!!!!

PS: the fact that some other students may consider study hall as just a 'free period' has NO bearing in this disagreement. It is up to the school to see that study hall is not abused.

This is definately 'forced reading'. And, it is not what the students signed up for when they put this on their schedule.

If the school wants to mandate an entire extra reading class, then let it go thru the school board and be approved and presented as such.

Otherwise, whoever has taken it upon themselves to define 'Study Hall' in such a narrow, and almost punitive, way is SO over the line.

 

[Maleficent13]

Well, if the students are misusing study hall, then address the misuse. Don't punish the ones who are actually using to study.

I am amazed at all the people who said kids use study hall to socialize, etc. When I was in high school, we were not permitted to speak in study hall. Kids caught talking were given detention. And this was in a room the size of about 8 classrooms...there were probably 300 kids in study hall each period. And they managed to keep us in line and totally silent...no socializing. Have things really gotten this out of hand?

 

[swilphil]

It's every day, for 1- 1/4 hours. My son actually loves reading. However, the inital reason for AH was for students to have a time to talk with counsellors, talk with teachers about extra help they need, work on projects, read for classes if they need to, go to the library for stuff they need to. It worked well. Now, the kids don't have that opportunity.

So they have to read for the entire 75 minute period, EVERY DAY for the WHOLE semester?? I imagine he will get some teachers to sign his petition. Teachers really like having that time for students to come in for extra help or make up a test.

 

[6_Time_Momma]

So they have to read for the entire 75 minute period, EVERY DAY for the WHOLE semester?? I imagine he will get some teachers to sign his petition. Teachers really like having that time for students to come in for extra help or make up a test.

He actually did have a teacher who considered signing it. She opted not to as she told him it probably wouldn't do any good. She's probably right, but at least the students are letting their voices be heard on the subject.

He has 76 signatures right now.

 

[Sparx]

We have DEAR at my school. I voilently dislike it. Honestly, more power to him.

 

[wvjules]

Ummm, it is called "drop everything and read' isn't it?????

 

[Lisa loves Pooh]

Ummm, it is called "drop everything and read' isn't it?????

But if it is only during study hall time--then they need to rename the class...better yet rename the program as they are not dropping "everything" to read.....just squeezing it in at a time that is convenient for the school.

 

[6_Time_Momma]

Ummm, it is called "drop everything and read' isn't it?????

Well, yeah, that's the name of the campaign. Even if they called it TAMOOYDAR (take a moment out of your day and read), I still don't think my son or his friends would approve of their Achievement Hour being only for this campaign.

 

[Lil_Tink]

Lol, There are some girls in my school trying to protest against the school...It is quite funny because I asked them what they were protesting about and they said "Everything"...

 

[CherCrazy]

WTG for your son for standing up for what he believes in.

When one of my kids was in elementary school, the lunch aides came up with the stupid idea of a "silent lunch". No child was allowed to speak. Here's hundreds of kids, when they need to blow off a little steam from being in a classroom all day, unable to do so. It was done because the aides couldn't control the kids.

Needless to say, the parents freaked out about it.

 

[Sparx]

Lol, There are some girls in my school trying to protest against the school...It is quite funny because I asked them what they were protesting about and they said "Everything"...

Lol. sounds like some girl and her bf organized a sit in against the dress code. Made the morning news and everything.

 

[6_Time_Momma]

WTG for your son for standing up for what he believes in.

When one of my kids was in elementary school, the lunch aides came up with the stupid idea of a "silent lunch". No child was allowed to speak. Here's hundreds of kids, when they need to blow off a little steam from being in a classroom all day, unable to do so. It was done because the aides couldn't control the kids.

Needless to say, the parents freaked out about it.

Wow. Now that's crazy!