school related, what would you do???

[fortheluvofpooh]

here is what I did also.

okay DS is in 6th grade, he had vocabulary homework last night. Part of his homework was to and I quote "tell an embarrassing story about yourself using the list words".
what I did...
told my ds to make up a casual story along the lines of I tripped and fell and rambled away. basic, not too bad
then I wrote a letter to the teacher explaining why I had ds just do this, I tole Mr K that in no uncertain terms will I allow my son to put in print an embarrassing story about himself. Adolecsense is challenging enough with out adding fuel to the fire, what if the paper fell and it ended up being seen by someone not so nice? then what? I also stated that if he gave my child another topic to do then he will gladly do it, I suggested that he use his words in a positive way about how important his family is to him, or how well he can ride a bike, or what was his favorite vacation.

I am waiting for a note to be brought home today.
would you have let your child write something embarrasing about himself? Would you have sent a note?
or would you have just let it go?

 

[frtchr]

Did it have to be a true story? It's hard to tell by the assignment, but I guess I wouldn't have assumed it had to be true. After all, how would the teacher know?

 

[Pixie Dust for Me!]

I would have done exactly as you did. Teachers are human and make mistakes. He/she likely did not think this through.

 

[averysmom]

I teach sixth grade and I've done embarrassing stories before.

We actually have a game that we play once a month, where everyone writes down something about themselves and we have to guess who it is and one of the categories of one of the months is "most embarrassing moment".

It's not like the kids are going to write down anything TRULY awful - like getting their periods in class, etc., but it's just a cute getting to know you activity. I usually get a lot of barf and fart stories

I think because your ds was uncomfortable revealing something personal about himself, then getting him to make up a story and sending what, I'm hoping, was a nicely worded note letting them know that your ds was uncomfortable with the assignement to the teacher is very appropriate.

 

[mnasmom3]

I wouldn't like the assignment, either. I probably would have done just what you did....have him write a story instead of a person experience.

 

[BeckityBobbidyBoo!]

My daughter (7th grade) has had this assignment numerous times the last few years. She never reveals anything that probably hasn't happened to any other kid. No one ever taunts or teases because of it. One of the embarrasing events my daughter wrote about was forgetting a line during a girl scout ceremony.

 

[disykat]

He wasn't forcing them to give intimate details or tell anything they were uncomfortable with. Stories with spelling words have to be made up to become a story using specific words - that's the nature of those stories. By 6th grade, I would think that would be pretty clear. I don't see where he was saying it had be true?

I would've encouraged my son to make up a silly story. No, I wouldn't have sent a note.

 

[daisyduck123]

I would've just had my child write an embarrassing story, but about something that everyone has gone thru before...like forgetting their lunch money at home, or missing the bus...something along those lines.

**No, I wouldn't have written a note.
I'm saving that for something REALLY BIG one day, because I'm sure that day will eventually come (and with a 4th grader & a 9th grader, it hasn't yet).

 

[MSSANDRA]

I would have just kept it much lighter. Kids do fine left to their own accords. He might have come up with something really crazy , maybe sort of a half truth. she wants to see their writting skills, not hear their life story. I agree that I save the notes for really big stuff. It could be a fun assignment.

 

[Mom2JoeyandBen]

I'm a teacher but for Elem. School. I understand the assignment from the teachers view. I don't think he meant any harm. It can be a fun assignment depending on how it is taught. I would have had my son make up a story if he was uncomfortable with telling a true story and not send a note. I agree notes are for the big stuff.

 

[Snow Shoe]

I guess times have changed, I taught 6th grade back in the early 70's, and I would have never asked a student for an embarrassing story about themselves. Why would you want to embarrass one of your students?

 

[dfarner]

I would have just kept it much lighter. Kids do fine left to their own accords. He might have come up with something really crazy , maybe sort of a half truth. she wants to see their writting skills, not hear their life story. I agree that I save the notes for really big stuff. It could be a fun assignment.

I agree with this post. IMO sending a note was a bit much.

 

[JackJack08]

I would have just kept it much lighter. Kids do fine left to their own accords. He might have come up with something really crazy , maybe sort of a half truth. she wants to see their writting skills, not hear their life story. I agree that I save the notes for really big stuff. It could be a fun assignment.

I agree. I think that kids feel the pressure to always be "on". Letting them come up with something silly, even if it was something kind of embarassing that has happened to them, lets them find humour in everyday life. It would have probably been a great time for the two of you, to do some bonding and tell him some stories, that have made you blush over the years. We have ALL had embarassing moments and kids are no exception. Letting them know that it is o.k. and the world isn't going to screech to a hault, is a positive lesson. Probably you sending the note is maybe a little embarassing....he is in grade six.

 

[Luv Bunnies]

I wouldn't have minded the assignment for one of my boys. I think I would have asked him what he was going to write about to make sure it wasn't too embarassing in case someone saw it besides the teacher. If his idea was appropriate, I'd let him write about it.

 

[Teacher03]

I think if the teacher explained to the kids that it should be something funny/embarrassing, there was nothing wrong with it. I doubt if she meant them to write anything life shattering. We all have funny stories to share, especially kids.

 

[PrincessKell]

I think it depends on the child as well. Some children (like my dd) is extremely sensitive and in no way would have done that on her own. My cousin's boy however, would have taken and run with it! He would have loved it.

I would have asked dd if she wanted to do it or not. more then likely she would not want to do it. and not because she "didn't want to" because it would have been extremely hard for her socially. Its hard enough for her to fit in already.

I also think that maybe if the teacher had a question about the homework and how he did it, would be ok with a note. Otherwise, I might not have written a note for the way he did his homework. Unless you have great communication with the teacher. A lot of Parents do not, so they wouldn't think of writing a note either.