This is just WRONG! Big vent

[jackskellingtonsgirl]

I think the posters who have said it is the SCHOOL who wants the program and the PTA who is providing the money are probably correct. But it bothers me that I get the minutes from every meeting and I have NEVER seen any reference to a summer program being voted on. Back in September or so that one mom proposed a summer reading program of some sort, and the next thing I hear is that the workbooks have been ordered and the work is mandatory. I don't think they went through the proper channels to authorize it, but maybe they did.

The e-mail I got last night assured me that DS will be able to apply all modifications that he typically has, and that no harsh penalties will be assessed for not completing the assignments. They just don't want the kids to go the entire summer without reading or doing a math problem. Valid concerns. I am sure some of the students at our school DON'T read a single book over the summer, and I suppose telling the parents the work is "optional" pretty much guarantees that nobody who would truly benefit would bother. DH ended up taking DS this morning so I will either talk to the teacher next week or wait until the workbooks arrive and schedule a conference to go over the expectations.

I don't have a problem having DS read over the summer, and in the past I have purchased workbooks for him to do in the afternoons when he is at work with me. If the school sent home a workbook and SUGGESTED that the kids work on it occasionally over the summer I probably would have encouraged DS to do it without a second thought. Not having any choice is what has my feathers ruffled.

 

[DaisyD]

Thankfully our shool doesn't have that! I wouldn't allow DD to do it even if it did. Sorry but summer is for PLAY. My DD feels obligated now to join every little reading thing going on in school. Currently she is on 4 different reading for fun programs in school and she is only in first grade! I look forward to the dumbing down of my child in the summer! LOL! We pretty much travel the entire summer and would have no time to do anything that is mandatory. We do go to the library every week when we can but I would NEVER make her write a report.

 

[Tigger&Belle]

Summer reading requirements are pretty much standard, at least here in Georgia.

I'm not quite sure why a parent would be upset that a child would have to.... gasp.... READ over the summer. No biggie. Books are fun.

I totally agree, but a certain book(s) and then do a workbook?

I think that children should be encouraged to read in summer, but it should be fun. Around their reading level (above or below, depending on the child is fine, as long as they are reading). The key thing is developing that love of reading.

 

[kdibattista]

Thankfully our shool doesn't have that! I wouldn't allow DD to do it even if it did. Sorry but summer is for PLAY. My DD feels obligated now to join every little reading thing going on in school. Currently she is on 4 different reading for fun programs in school and she is only in first grade! I look forward to the dumbing down of my child in the summer! LOL! We pretty much travel the entire summer and would have no time to do anything that is mandatory. We do go to the library every week when we can but I would NEVER make her write a report.

Honestly, not trying to be disrespectful or start a debate but what is that teaching your daughter? Again, I don't have children yet so take my comments with that in mind but I think undermining the school's requirements is setting a bad example.

 

[auntpolly]

I think the kids will follow the parents' lead with this. It the parent is making a big stink about it, the kids won't like the reading program either.

One of my biggest philosphies when DD was little was "let's make the best of a bad situation". I would find some way to make even the workbook fun instead of taking the risk of putting a bad spin on learning in the summer.

There were plenty of times I disagreed with the school on stuff, and DD hardly ever knew how I felt, because I felt like it was my job to help her see the positive side and work through things (then behind her back I'd work to try to change what I didn't like!!! At least when she was in grade school.).

 

[DaisyD]

Besides..if you're not on vacation, what else are the kids supposed to do all day anyway?

TOV

Are you serious? How about traveling, visiting the aquarium, the Science Center, the zoo, playing with friends, visiting relatives, swimming, and just plain hanging out. We travel most every week in the summer. This summer it is 2 weeks at WDW, 3 weeks at the ocean, 1 week camping at a cabin in a park, and 1 week traveling up north. We would have no time for mandatory school work nor would we find time to do it.

 

[DaisyD]

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?
.

My kids never get school work over vacations. They don't even get it most of the time on weekends unless they are older and have a major report due that they had a week to work on. I can tell you that this mandatory reading wouldn't fly in our school anyway as the PTA has no authority over anything.

 

[wilderness01]

TOV wrote:

Besides..if you're not on vacation, what else are the kids supposed to do all day anyway?

Give me a break. Kids play all summer, that is what they do. They swim, ride bikes, climb trees, play baseball, soccer, tag, run through sprinklers, go on picnics, etc. They have fun, that is what they do. Most of the time TOV, I really question if you just type away with a response and do not give any thought to it? Like your last response to the OP. It was downright mean and uncalled for. But then again, I have seen you do that before. And then when you get called on it, like other posters have, you go away and don't respond anymore. In my opinion, you owe the OP an apology for your rude personal attack. Back to the subject, you will see when your son grows up, what summer is for. Just like you will see the joy on his face when he trick or treats and receives candy, not rocks like you said you gave out last year to the kids, in his treat bag. Maybe you thought the rocks were a great idea, and probably to some boys it would have been cool. But I bet you made some little girls upset and if I remember correctly, you were all happy with yourself, laughing, at what you had given out. Then when someone called you on it and said you were mean, you went on to say you didn't have the $ for extra candy and that your husband hadn't went to the store to get the candy, etc. How about just not answering your door to the trick or treaters? That would have been a solution. Just like, how about you didn't put those smilie icons with your last response to the OP? If you had nothing constructive to add, then don't. You will understand more when your son gets older and experiences disappointment or frustration. You will see when he looks forward to the holidays, or just breaks from school, one of which is summer break. Maybe you had to do summer work, maybe not. But it is always more of a sting when it bothers your child than when it happened to you as a kid. Kids have a way of "bringing you to your knees" and the OP already sounds like she feels bad about the strain of school work on her child during the school year and wants what is best for him during the summer. If for that child, it is a break from structured learning, then that is what I would make sure he got. As for you TOV, maybe now it sounds like I am being mean to you. I am not. I am suggesting that you keep it nice, that way you won't have to wonder why on so many threads in the last few years, you have gotten slammed or people write sarcastic responses back to you.

To the OP: I feel your pain. My kids all get mandatory math and reading assignments with a packet of questions to answer from K on. They are all readers so the reading I don't really have a problem with but the silly questions that they have to answer and then get tested on really bug me. For example: what color shirt did Bobby have on when he was fishing, etc. It doesn't really matter what color shirt he had on as I have read the book, and it is just an added fact that if taken away would not affect the outcome of the story at all. My kids usually do not start reading the book or this packet until a few weeks before school because if done earlier in the summer, they would forget all the stupid little details that they would be tested on. No they wouldn't forget the meaning of the book, just what little Bobby or Susie were wearing, etc. I feel the worst for you that your child has learning difficulties and this is causing extra stress on you. Talk with your special education team and try to work something out for your family that will be a win win situation for all. It already sounds like you have a good handle on his work during the summer, so maybe you can present that to your team and that will be enough for them. Good luck to you.

 

[allison443]

I think the kids will follow the parents' lead with this. It the parent is making a big stink about it, the kids won't like the reading program either.

One of my biggest philosphies when DD was little was "let's make the best of a bad situation". I would find some way to make even the workbook fun instead of taking the risk of putting a bad spin on learning in the summer.

There were plenty of times I disagreed with the school on stuff, and DD hardly ever knew how I felt, because I felt like it was my job to help her see the positive side and work through things (then behind her back I'd work to try to change what I didn't like!!! At least when she was in grade school.).

I agree with this!

 

[allison443]

We travel most every week in the summer. This summer it is 2 weeks at WDW, 3 weeks at the ocean, 1 week camping at a cabin in a park, and 1 week traveling up north. We would have no time for mandatory school work nor would we find time to do it.

I think if you look at the other thread about how much people are paying for summer day camp/day care you will see that hardly anyone seems to take seven weeks vacation traveling away from home in the summer...this seems pretty rare to me.

 

[jackskellingtonsgirl]

Tigger&Belle -
I think you are understanding the situation PERFECTLY! The frustration stems precisely from having all that stress during the year, thinking the summer will be a time to relax and gear up for the next year, then we get hit with mandatory summer work.

auntpolly -
Not to worry - I haven't said a word to DS. DH and I are both strongly opposed to this program, but we haven't discussed it with DS (or in front of him). That's why I have been on the DIS for HOURS hashing this out - I want to work through my anger issues before I approach this with DS!

 

[DaisyD]

Honestly, not trying to be disrespectful or start a debate but what is that teaching your daughter? Again, I don't have children yet so take my comments with that in mind but I think undermining the school's requirements is setting a bad example.

There is no school requirment. The OP said it was the PTA that has this. I would simply tell my DD that we are not doing something simply because the PTA decided it was good for them. If the school itself would require it I would try to get it changed. If not then it would be time to homeschool DD as there is no way the school or anyone else is going to interfere with my child's down time. As it is our school does have a volunteer math and reading proram over the summer. DD joined both as she loves the prizes that come with it. But that is just it. Her choice. That makes it fun for her. She is in 1st grade reading on 4th grade level and math at 3rd grade level. She is a chronic overachiever. Everything that goes on in school now, even on a volunteer level, this kid joins! I put a stop to mandatory anything from a public school in the summer.

 

[DaisyD]

I think if you look at the other thread about how much people are paying for summer day camp/day care you will see that hardly anyone seems to take seven weeks vacation traveling away from home in the summer...this seems pretty rare to me.[/QUOTE

What does paying for summer camp have to do with reading in the summer? Kids need to be kids and not have mandatory anything in the summer. It shouldn't matter if they just stay at home and play in the sprinkler or with their friends. If I worked I'd hate to take a vacation only to be told that I had to do some work too.

 

[suzannen]

Maybe you should go look at the workbook when it becomes available. Maybe it won't be as onerous as you think. When my DD started being assigned summer reading before 4th grade - 3 specifically assigned books - and required to turn in a 2-3 page book report on each, I was dismayed at first. But, the books that the school selected were ones she ended up enjoying reading. She wrote her reports fairly fast, and loved drawing pretty cover pages for them. It's no longer something we dread. She voluntarily read a minimum 30 minutes each day and finished all books and reports by the 2nd week of July and had the rest of the summer off. She's really loved some of the books. It may not be so bad. It certainly has helped increase both my DD's reading speed and creative writing skills.

 

[auntpolly]

Tigger&Belle -

auntpolly -
Not to worry - I haven't said a word to DS. DH and I are both strongly opposed to this program, but we haven't discussed it with DS (or in front of him). That's why I have been on the DIS for HOURS hashing this out - I want to work through my anger issues before I approach this with DS!

Oh trust me I remember those days. Stewing silently at home about one "genius" idea or another they'd come up with. I can't wait until fall -- I hope I'm around to hear what happens. THe first year DD's school did this literally none of the kids showed up even having read the book! Just don't stress too much about it.

 

[allison443]

Not to worry - I haven't said a word to DS. DH and I are both strongly opposed to this program, but we haven't discussed it with DS (or in front of him). That's why I have been on the DIS for HOURS hashing this out - I want to work through my anger issues before I approach this with DS!

I give you credit for handling it this way, and best of luck to you in working out the best situation for your son!

 

[Wishing on a star]

We are with you JackSkellingtonsGirl!!!

Do not be apologetic for your views!!!

You know, It just amazes me how some of the parents here actually welcome and defend the schools right to make demands like this. As far as I see it, once my child has completed the normal school calendar year, and the necessary number of days per year, as required by State Law, then, that is it. That is enough.

Why in the heck would any parent ASK FOR this kind of thing????? Why would we want to give up our precious free time and our rights????? What about our childrens well being and need for that down-time.

Just where are the limits???

 

[CheshireVal]

We are with you JackSkellingtonsGirl!!!

Do not be apologetic for your views!!!

You know, It just amazes me how some of the parents here actually welcome and defend the schools right to make demands like this. As far as I see it, once my child has completed the normal school calendar year, and the necessary number of days per year, as required by State Law, then, that is it. That is enough.

Why in the heck would any parent ASK FOR this kind of thing????? Why would we want to give up our precious free time and our rights?????

Just where are the limits???

Oh, you are just loving this thread aren't you?

This kind of thing absolutely makes my blood boil.

 

[CathrynRose]

This is my thing....

You have to work 40 (+) hours a week for YEARS until you retire, once youre our of school.

Although yes, I think reading is great - but quite frankly the hoardes my homework my kids get, along with summer assignments, ticks me off. Let them BE kids - let them have care free summers, let that first day back at school come with dread (summer is over?!?!) and excitement (I havent seen so & so in months!) Not filled with "gee my homework is due!"

I dont think summer homework, assignments, whatever is cool.... at all.

It's bad enough I had to change my *on call* status when I go on vacation because I was scheduled! Let kids be KIDS! (and we wonder why they grow up so fast!)

 

[In a hurry]

What I don't understand is why you WOULDN'T want your child to read in the summer.

Her child is involved with reading over the summer.