How would you feel? Insp. by PTA and books

[kimmikayb]

I agree the PTA shouldn't give any assignments. I don't disagree with teachers handing out assignments, in fact I have volunteered for my son to have assignments over the summer otherwise he falls severly behind and spends the first part of next year making up. However, in the first thread I sure could relate to the OP views...school work is a huge struggle for her son and they were both looking forward to a little break. That was probably very frustrating for her.

 

[Lisa loves Pooh]

If someone doesn't want a school telling them what to do--they have other options--a different school, homeschool, whatever.

But when you subscribe to an insitution--yes, you will have to do things you don't like to do. Don't like it--seek to improve it or seek an alternate situation.


However--a bunch of moms and dads getting together dictating a curriculum decision--if that is indeed what transpired--someone needs to look into what the purpose of the PTA is--I didnt' think that it was an honorary education degree for people to dictate what will go into MY child's education. You wish to dictate an education, you can homeschool your own child if you like.


As far as the books--they are for expanding the mind--not learning to cross stitch. There are times where experiential (sp?) learning is better...and other times where simply reading something to provoke thought is best.

Reading Charlotte's Web can teach a lot. You want to learn how to weave--then yes-go get a loom and have at it. But that is not the purpose of Charlotte's web (as an example)


And FTR I love museums and historical sites much better than reading a history text book. But "living" books---are an asset to education.

 

[In a hurry]

I do think a lot of kids are going to be in for a rude awakening come college time and come the time when they are out in the "real world" because they're going to have to suck it up and do things they don't want to do. As tedious and unfair as it is, it's part of life and the quicker they get used to it the better. It's only one book and a project after all - not a dissertation on 19th century literature.

You have a very good point, although, in my opinion, there is plenty of time in Jr. High and High School for teaching them to suck it up! You only get a few years to run free and be a kid in life, and so I believe in making the most of it!

 

[andromedaslove]

There's nothing wrong with those things, but shouldn't there primary focus be helping the school do its job in educating the students?

I have no problem helping the school do it's job in educating the students, when it is the appropriate time for them to be educating the students. During the school year, not over summer break. I wouldn't even mind so much over Spring or Christmas break. Summer break however is, truly time off from school, not just a holiday break for a week. Summer break starts when the school year is "OVER", and ends when school starts back. During that period of time I would really like it if the school would get their claws away from my kids, and let us have our summers just for us without their involvement.

 

[C.Ann]

I don't think the PTA should be assigning school work. That's the job of the school and/or the school board. It's not fair to the students, it takes away from the authority of the school, and it's not fair to expect the teacher to grade assignments they didn't assign.

I do think a lot of kids are going to be in for a rude awakening come college time and come the time when they are out in the "real world" because they're going to have to suck it up and do things they don't want to do. As tedious and unfair as it is, it's part of life and the quicker they get used to it the better. It's only one book and a project after all - not a dissertation on 19th century literature.

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I was under the impression that we were talking about elementary students here.. When they get to junior high and high school, obviously the situations are different.. I don't think it makes much sense to be throwing college into the mix before the kids are even old enough to leave the neighborhood on their own..

 

[Crankyshank]

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My granddaughter is a perfect example.. She's an only child and therefore spends the majority of her time with adults.. When she entered Kindergarten the teacher was amazed by the vast knowledge she had in a wide range of topics.. She acquired that knowledge by "experiencing" things, developing an interest in them and then asking the adults around her to find books that she could read on those topics - or have read to her if they were beyond her reading level.. (Yes - she was already reading by the time she entered Kindergarten..) I don't know that she would have had the same interest if the "topics" and/or books were chosen for her and she had never "experienced" anything to spark that interest..

I was an only child until I was 5, could read at 3, and my curiosity about things was my driving force. I had a vast knowledge of things that surpassed what my peers knew of the subject because I spent a majority of my time with adults and I wanted to learn about things they were interested in.

I can tell you honestly that my great love of classic literature would not be there if I wasn't "forced" to read books that I normally wouldn't choose on my own. Trust me I have no experience with being poor in the English countryside or a displaced noble living in Paris in the 18th and 19th century
Sometimes you need to be lead down a road you don't have interest in going in order to open up a whole new world that upon retrospect you can't imagine not experiencing.

 

[C.Ann]

I was an only child until I was 5, could read at 3, and my curiosity about things was my driving force. I had a vast knowledge of things that surpassed what my peers knew of the subject because I spent a majority of my time with adults and I wanted to learn about things they were interested in.

I can tell you honestly that my great love of classic literature would not be there if I wasn't "forced" to read books that I normally wouldn't choose on my own. Trust me I have no experience with being poor in the English countryside or a displaced noble living in Paris in the 18th and 19th century
Sometimes you need to be lead down a road you don't have interest in going in order to open up a whole new world that upon retrospect you can't imagine not experiencing.

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And I have no objections to that whatsoever - during the traditional school year.. I think we disagree more on the "when" than the "how"..

 

[Crankyshank]

You have a very good point, although, in my opinion, there is plenty of time in Jr. High and High School for teaching them to suck it up! You only get a few years to run free and be a kid in life, and so I believe in making the most of it!

True but I'm of the opinion (not valid since I have no children I know ) that the more time you've had to get used to doing things you don't want to do - the less trauma you experience when you have to do it.

Plus so many times I have heard parents complain that their kids are whining about being bored come August. There's something to do right there

 

[Crankyshank]

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And I have no objections to that whatsoever - during the traditional school year.. I think we disagree more on the "when" than the "how"..

I suppose you're right. Honestly I've always has summer homework as have pretty much everyone else I know around here so I would imagine it's colored my opinion on the subject.

 

[Becky2005]

I think alot of people have a problem with change. The knee jerk reaction is to panic or get angry.

Some parents have speacial needs children & 1 more thing on your plate makes you feel like its going to break. The feelings are not always the reality..

Actually that is what I was thinking...I haven't read the other thread so have no idea what the expectations are. HOWEVER, my son is NOT reading on grade level and if it was a book they threw at me - said "here, read this and do this workbook" and expected my DS to do it to get to the next grade - he would still be in 1st grade (he is in 3rd right now)! He understand the material, just can't *read* at his grade level...so it would just be one more thing to add on top of all the other stuff we have to do through the summer with summer school, etc...

I actually have 2 kids that are in special ed and so it takes enough time doing all that in general.

However, getting a driver's licenses is different....there is no law saying you HAVE to do that, just that if you want to do it, here are the rules.

However, there IS a law saying your kid has to be in some sort of school between ages 6-16 (at least here). My nephew never wanted to get his driver's licenses (I'm not even sure if he ever went to get it or not and he's 23 now), however he sure did graduate.

 

[In a hurry]

True but I'm of the opinion (not valid since I have no children I know ) that the more time you've had to get used to doing things you don't want to do - the less trauma you experience when you have to do it.

Plus so many times I have heard parents complain that their kids are whining about being bored come August. There's something to do right there

Well, at least I don't have to listen to you!!

Our break is shorter than most...only about 7 weeks. So we are never bored!

We've always gone to the library each week with a large tote bag, and devoured it by the next week. My boys loved reading, and i hope my daughter and baby boy will also. I just believe that I am more knowledgeable about what would be good use of our time than the school system. Thus I don't impose myself on the parents of my students during the summer break, either.

 

[C.Ann]

True but I'm of the opinion (not valid since I have no children I know )

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WHAT?? You have NO kids? Then why am I even having this conversation with you??

Just kidding, of course.. In this case I don't see where having or not having a child would really make any difference because I assume we have ALL had to go through the educational system, right?

 

[disney junky]

Thanks for all of your input. Civil, I might add. I've been a parent for 22 years and a teacher for 23. BUT, I'm a dad. Where does that leave me?

 

[jackskellingtonsgirl]

Let me try to frame your example to contain the same feelings I am experiencing about being told DS has to work in a workbook for 10 weeks.

My teen wants a driver's license. The Dept. of Transportation comes to our house, gives him a car whether he likes it or not, and with complete disregard to whether or not we already have a car for him they tell him he MUST drive it a certain amount of time within a specified time frame because some other kids who live nearby don't have the option of driving their own cars. He must then take the driver's exam by the due date or incur a penalty, but nobody knows what the penalty is.

Requiring a teen to log a certain amount of time behind the wheel is no different than requiring pilots to log hours of flying. It's a smart thing to do. But as far as when the teen drives, and what sort of car, and all those other details, you still have choices.

A requirement isn't always an intrinsically horrible thing. Mandating that everyone use the exact same method to achieve the requirement is what makes me upset. Some requirements aren't apples to apples comparisons. I wouldn't want a surgeon slicing me open if they weren't board certified. I wouldn't want an attorney representing me if he hadn't passed the bar exam. I am mad at the school for issuing work over the summer that allows absolutely ZERO choice for the kids. But nobody will DIE if I don't make my DS do a worksheet. If he is an inexperienced driver in the car by himself the outcome could be far worse. I don't think the 2 are really comparable.