This is just WRONG! Big vent

[Doctor P]

I think the summer reading program is an excellent idea. DD has to read a book for high school each summer and is tested in the first week of English class each year. We just bought the book for this summer last week. They are classic books (for the most part) that kids wouldn't read otherwise (generally), so I think it is a great idea to assign a book, have discussions, and keep the kids minds working year round. For kids that don't have English till January, retention of the book can be an issue, though, LOL. As a parent, I would be glad, rather than angry, if my school district put in such a requirement and see the positive side of keeping my child's mind at work and sharp year round. Doesn't mean the child can't relax or have free time, too.

 

[momrek06]

To the OP: It seems to me that IF this was in the PTA minutes, they (PTA) despite all the discussion they may have had at the meeting that you were unable to attend...that they (PTA) will still NEED approval from the local school board in your town..am I right on that? OR is this a DONE deal? I have sat on many school boards elementary board (public) elementary board (private) and high school music board (public) in all of these boards, there were many many times TOPICS discussed needed further approval beyond OUR actual board.

ALSO OP: If this is NOT a done deal, if I were you I would speak to a board member or school principal and suggest that there be a summer reading program in place for students with any disabilities. Maybe their requirements would not be as strict. Just an idea. They could have a plan better structured for ADD students. Just a thought.

 

[aprilgail2]

Don't your kids get homework to do over Christmas vacation and Easter/Spring vacations? What is the difference if it is one week off of school or 2 months?

Not all schools give homework over breaks...my daughters school does not give homework on breaks. I would not be thrilled with large amounts over the summer...she has one summer reading project, she has to read one short book and fill out a form which is no big deal since she reads in the summer anyway on her own....but as far as workbooks to do every day I would not like that...she goes to camp at 730am and doesn't come home until after 4pm....then she has karate,dinner, we go in the pool or to the park, then a bath, a book and bed....I am off 3 weeks in the summer and we go away for those three weeks..I would hate to have to squeeze in worksheets along with all that!!

 

[Lisa loves Pooh]

Well, there's the thing. DS has inattentive ADD. He can sit and stare at the same page for a good 20 minutes and not retain a single word. If I read something to him he doesn't always comprehend that, either, because he is twisting in his chair, looking at the ceiling, whatever. He has had nights where ONE math problem took 45 minutes.

The reading describes me to a "t"...but I was a whiz kid at math.

unfortunately whether they do it over the summer or during the year will not change his probelm and he will have to read some time.

I understand part of your reasoning--but not really the others.

It's like on one hand you are basically saying--you will not listen no matter what the school requires.

then on the other hand--they should make exceptions for those who aren't even around-but show up later.


And on the other---it is my time..blah blah blah..but then he has the problem during the year anyway.


You need to find your RATIONAL and valid points and use those---the whole REFUSING b/c it is your break and your sons difficulties durign the school year just aren't adequate. B/c your sons difficutlies--as well as other students'--is one of the reasons they think it is a good idea. Not necessarily ADD--but those who are poor at reading b/c they dont' read enough...basically every excuse under the rainbow-could be used--and then we wonder why schools perform substandard at times.

It is simple. How can a volunteer (though you said paid--which confuses me)--PTA--mandate curriculum when that is neither their purpose--nor are they really certified to be doing such a thing. It isn't their job (at least so I thought). That is your selling point. Look up your educational laws for you state--whose job is it to come up with curriculum and how far can a school go to require an exercise outside of school hours and outside the school year if it is not a county-wide effort.

You want to win the argument and succesfully defend your opinion--you cannot come across as whining that "It's not fair" b/c we are going to Disney world and we these plans and those plans and little Johny had enough homework this year. The school doesn't care really. KWIM?

 

[Feralpeg]

The kids in DD's high school are required to read three books over the summer from a list of books put together by the school. The have to do a book report on each to be turned in the first day of school. These are not easy books to read.

 

[Deb & Bill]

Another Devil's Advocate here. Could it be that the teachers wanted to do something like this, but did not have the funding, so the PTA decided to fund the project? They could have thought that this would keep the kids and their families from having to purchase a book to read over the summer, maybe not enough access to public libraries?? Again, just an idea.

 

[jackskellingtonsgirl]

The minutes were a little odd in that there apparently wasn't a vote. If I recall correctly, a motion must be made, for example, Susie motions that $10,000 be spent on the summer reading materials. They call for discussion, and after discussion they call for a second to the motion, then they vote. NONE of that was in the minutes. I don't know if I missed a memo somewhere or if this was never put to a vote. I attended the meeting where we voted to spend $70,000 on new playground equipment but I don't remember how it was worded in the minutes. It seem like they usually say who made the motion, who seconded, and how many were in favor and opposed. These minutes just said they had a quorum present.

I did try to phone one of the board members earlier but she wasn't home. I immediately e-mailed the PTA secretary when I got the minutes because I wanted her to confirm that I was understanding the minutes correctly, and she never said it was JUST a proposal or that it would require a vote. She just confirmed it is mandatory.

 

[TheOtherVillainess]

*looks at the OP*


*looks at the responses*

*looks at the responses from JSG*





TOV

 

[Wishing on a star]

I totally agree with you JackSkellingtonsGirl!!!

In many cases, our educational system is totally and completely out of control.

We literally have them throw demands at us and our kids 24/7, 12 months a year.
Just when is our family time???

If I wanted to be HOME SCHOOLING my child, then that is what I would be doing. This is in effect requiring us to homeschool and to do their job.

Sure, reading is a good thing. But, so is having a break!
Reading being a good thing is absolutely NO reason for these kinds of demands.

Nobody seems to realize that kids are KIDS anymore.
They develop and learn just as much during downtimes.
This is, in fact, very necessary.

Is your son on an IEP????
If so, I would play my IEP card in a heartbeat.

 

[Wishing on a star]

TOV,

That is a downright rude personal attack.

 

[jackskellingtonsgirl]

Another Devil's Advocate here. Could it be that the teachers wanted to do something like this, but did not have the funding, so the PTA decided to fund the project? They could have thought that this would keep the kids and their families from having to purchase a book to read over the summer, maybe not enough access to public libraries?? Again, just an idea.

Now there is an interesting thought. Because the original proposal came from a mom on the PTA it never occurred to me that the teachers may have been partly responsible for the way the program shaped up in the end. The mom who suggested it was really adamant that she wanted every child in each grade to have the same book so maybe she was leaning towards having some sort of accountability and the teachers just sort of helped her firm up the plan. That's entirely possible. And when I talk to DS's teacher tomorrow maybe she will shed some light on that.

Lisa loves Pooh -
The PTA requires annual dues. As paid members we receive the e-mails of the meeting minutes. I guess if you don't pay you can still attend meetings but I don't know if you have voting rights - I'm not sure how that works. Yes, my DS struggles all year with the same issues. So making him struggle all summer is a bit sadistic, IMO. I don't know exactly where the PTA's idea of a book for each child to read over the summer sprouted into a mandatory project with reading AND worksheets AND so forth. So perhaps Deb & Bill has hit it on the head that it is actually something the teachers wanted that the PTA agreed to fund.

 

[Nancy]

Not all schools give homework over breaks...my daughters school does not give homework on breaks. I would not be thrilled with large amounts over the summer...she has one summer reading project, she has to read one short book and fill out a form which is no big deal since she reads in the summer anyway on her own....but as far as workbooks to do every day I would not like that...she goes to camp at 730am and doesn't come home until after 4pm....then she has karate,dinner, we go in the pool or to the park, then a bath, a book and bed....I am off 3 weeks in the summer and we go away for those three weeks..I would hate to have to squeeze in worksheets along with all that!!

Wow...I wish our schools gave no homework over the short breaks, we always get stuff to do. The girls always got work to do when I pulled them out for our trips to Disney too. Now that my kids are older they don't even start to read their books until about 2 weeks before school starts. You are way more busier over the summer than my family is....we do nothing (which always drove the kids nuts that we didn't go away)

 

[Lisa loves Pooh]

TOV,

That is a downright rude personal attack.

I think OP has a genuine and valid issue and I think is the last OP is trying to do.

OP is mad--for you, TOV to call her a doesn't help her situation and was completely uncalled for.

 

[BoyLovesBuzz]

Another Devil's Advocate here. Could it be that the teachers wanted to do something like this, but did not have the funding, so the PTA decided to fund the project? They could have thought that this would keep the kids and their families from having to purchase a book to read over the summer, maybe not enough access to public libraries?? Again, just an idea.

This is what I thought as well. I have seen schools where the PTA has a boat load of cash, and are always looking for ways to spend it. The first thing they do is ask the teachers.

 

[soccerchick]

What kids DO: run around outside, play tag, climb trees, ride their bikes, play in the dirt and get really dirty, go to the pool and learn to swim, run through the sprinklers, throw newly mown grass at each other, chase ducks..........

And people want to know why our kids are obese.

 

[mom23boys]

At our school once my oldest got into 3rd grade not only did they have a reading recommendation list but also a math packet for over the summer. Going into 6th grade last summer it was about 60 pages.

I really have no problem with it. I does about a 1/2 hour a day work.

I get the argument that summer is their time off, but I really do not see the big deal about doing summer work (math or reading).

 

[Lisa loves Pooh]

Lisa loves Pooh -
The PTA requires annual dues. As paid members we receive the e-mails of the meeting minutes.

I read paid as in they paid YOU to attend.

I get it now.




To this day all my reading material goes in one ear and out the other (actually I guess eye would be the more appropriate body part).

I hated pop quizzes--I could understand my material I was reading--but cannot remember it to save my life.

My grades were not poor enough to cause a red flag though. So I had to feel like a dummy for no reason.

I don't think they are trying to do anything sadistic with your son though.

Does it work when you read to him?

 

[Caradana]

The IEP is going to be your key here. You say he has accommodations, right? Go in and get exemption from this assignment written into his IEP. Done.

I personally think the summer assignment is a terrific idea because it provides some educational consistency, particularly valuable for kids with ADD. I don't agree that worksheets are busywork by definition. Can you define the major project? If it's something that he and Dad can work on together, is there any chance he can "slam it out of the ballpark" and have a great school-related experience, which it sounds like he could sorely use?

 

[Wishing on a star]

This is what I thought as well. I have seen schools where the PTA has a boat load of cash, and are always looking for ways to spend it. The first thing they do is ask the teachers.

That was my assumption as well.

Leave it to the teachers to use this as a chance to make more demands on parents, and to control our time outside of school. I mean, hey, it has to be 'academics' 24/7, right. And, us lowly parents are not capable of caring for our children and being busy with worthwhile activities during our precious time off.

 

[jackskellingtonsgirl]

Sorry - I meant to respond a page or so ago! No, DS does not have homework over Christmas or Spring Break. Not only that, but they do not assign any homework on Fridays. I think there was maybe one weekend that DS had a project to work on. I know specifically he had a project due while we were at Disney in October and his teacher had him turn it in before we left. The rest of the class would have had that weekend to complete it if they weren't already finished. That is really the only time I can recall them having something over the weekend, and I don't think he has ever had something assigned on a Friday that was due on Monday so it would HAVE to be completed on the weekend.

He has been going to school for 3 hours on Saturdays since December for tutoring - it isn't mandatory but strongly suggested so he will pass the TAKS on the first try. This Saturday SHOULD be the last one because the TAKS starts the week after Easter. You can probably see how he has had entirely enough school and is ready for a summer without mandatory assignments.