This is just WRONG! Big vent

[Wishing on a star]

Yes, it is amazing how many are villifying the OP, like she is some kind of lame dead-beat parent who never wants her kid to read. What she has a problem with is, in effect, mandatory 'homeschooling'.

You know, I am sitting here looking at a huge glaring double standard here as well.

I can remember a thread, not so long ago, where a parent with a child with a serious learning disability was asking that her child's teachers read some info regarding the disability, and how to effectively address this in the classroom. (seems this is a lesser known disability, which most teachers know very little, if anything, about) Ask a teacher to do some reading, which is actually important in helping a child, and many simply refused. Yep, refused...

 

[wvrevy]

Wow...kids being forced to read...What's next? Math homework? Summer should be a time when kids don't have to learn anything or do anything of value!

Sorry, but I'm with the school on this one. Reading program at the library or no (and the value of these is only in attempting to get kids to enjoy reading, not to teach them anything) I see no problem at all with schools having "summer reading lists". It is not a new phenomenon, as I had summer reading all through junior high and high school way back in the 80's Sorry, but I think education is a bit more important than playstation time. There will still be plenty of time for that, as these assignments never account for more than an hour or so per weekday.

JMHO...but I just can't see complaining because the school is trying harder to educate my child.

 

[carone0318]

I admit I didn't read all of the responses, but just wanted to add that my dd has always had summer work.

This past summer she had to do 2 book reports, read a third book and design a poster. In addition, she had a fairly thick math packet to do. Oh, I didn't mention that she was heading into 4th grade.

This year my ds is heading to the same school for K and I got a letter home saying that the school will be mailing his summer packet home for him to work on. It's not hard work, just a little time consuming, but think of it as teaching your child to prioritize. My dd may not have school in the summer but she does still go to camp because both dh and I work in addition to being at the gym 4 nights a week for gymnastics. She has to prioritize when she will get everything done - and she does it all. It is character building.

I am actually shocked when I hear of school systems that don't have summer learning, I think it is pretty normal these days.

 

[golfgal]

No one is complaining about reading. The OP does the summer reading program at the library. Some people think that kids should get the chance to choose what they read rather than being told what to read, and filling out workbook pages. Shame on you for not paying attention to all of the facts.

The workbook pages are there for reinforcement of what they read. It doesn't do anyone any good to read a book and not know what they read. There are MANY, MANY parent that will SAY their child read the 100 books for the library reading program but how many actually did 1-2% maybe. Parent lie for their kids all the time so their kids and they look better. The school is simply asking for "proof" that the work was done, big deal! I am NOT saying that the OP does this but the school has to take into consideration ALL the families in the school and can't pick and choose that family A will read the book and doesn't need the workbook, where family B won't read the book so we better make sure they did the workbook.

 

[DaisyD]

I never judged anyone

Oh I didn't mean it that way! Sorry for the bad choice in wording! I guess I mean that you shouldn't disagree with something unless you have kids and can experience it. I apologize if you thought I mean judge in the bad sort of way!

 

[airhead]

the OP is mad because her kid has to read a book(that he already read) and do a workbook. Instead of complaining about it(of course not infront of the kid...)She should present it as good review! Tell your kid how lucky he is,because he already will know the answers to the workbook questions.
C'mon,ya got 10 weeks of vacation time! I'm not getting why the OP is so ticked off. I see this as another example of parents thinking that educating children is not their job. Sorry,no sympathy for you or your kids on this one.

 

[DaisyD]

oh so if you don't have kids you shouldn't have an opinion?
because those without children have never been to school themselves or *gasp* work in education?

You can have all the opinions you want. I just don't place a value on those opinions that have no personal experience to back it up. The other poster was rather nasty and seemed to think they knew it all about kids and I just wanted her to share her own personal experience with her own kids. I would value that kind but no other.

 

[Tigger&Belle]

I see no problem at all with schools having "summer reading lists". It is not a new phenomenon, as I had summer reading all through junior high and high school way back in the 80's

That are having the kids read a specific book, not choose from a list, as I understand it. What if the book is too easy or too hard?

I agree with choosing from a list of books, based on the reading level of that particular reader.

 

[C.Ann]

The workbook pages are there for reinforcement of what they read. It doesn't do anyone any good to read a book and not know what they read. There are MANY, MANY parent that will SAY their child read the 100 books for the library reading program but how many actually did 1-2% maybe. Parent lie for their kids all the time so their kids and they look better. The school is simply asking for "proof" that the work was done, big deal! I am NOT saying that the OP does this but the school has to take into consideration ALL the families in the school and can't pick and choose that family A will read the book and doesn't need the workbook, where family B won't read the book so we better make sure they did the workbook.

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So why not allow the parent and child to pick an appropriate book (or books) and have the child write a book report? I absolutely LOVE to read - but there a few types of books that even as an adult, I couldn't FORCE myself to read.. Why make a summer learning project unenjoyable when it could be a pleasant experience instead?

 

[disney junky]

Yes, it is amazing how many are villifying the OP, like she is some kind of lame dead-beat parent who never wants her kid to read. What she has a problem with is, in effect, mandatory 'homeschooling'.

You know, I am sitting here looking at a huge glaring double standard here as well.

I can remember a thread, not so long ago, where a parent with a child with a serious learning disability was asking that her child's teachers read some info regarding the disability, and how to effectively address this in the classroom. (seems this is a lesser known disability, which most teachers know very little, if anything, about) Ask a teacher to do some reading, which is actually important in helping a child, and many simply refused. Yep, refused...

No where are teachers even mentioned in the OP. There was an assumption that teachers may have been behind the program and you jumped on that in order to bash teachers again. Do you have any evidence that in the quoted post the teacher refused to read something. You say "many simply refused." Many? Where do you come up with this stuff? You commented about suicide. You were wrong. You speak in vague generalities about "all the teachers you've come in contact with." Who are these people? How many? Yet to read your posts, you have polled the world and know all there is about education. The title of this post is "This is just WRONG." Some people disagree. It's reading and a workbook. Not some educational plot to place children under the school's control. If a coach said, practice dribbling a basketball for 15 minutes every day, would there be a posting here? You can't have it both ways.

 

[DaisyD]

I guess I can't understand why anyone would object to a couple of hours of school work a week over the summer. My son is in middle school and has mandatory reading, but since kindergarten I have ensured that he read and *gasp* do regular math work over the summer. I told him, "I don't want your mind to go to mush," and he's never argued for a second.

I should also mention that he isn't fat and has plenty of time to play. Saying that kids shouldn't be forced to read over the summer because of the obesity epidemic is imo.

No one is saying to not let the kid read at all. I just don't think the public school has any right to get their nose my child's private time. As I said before my child reads all the time. I have trouble getting her to do other things. I certainly don't want my child mandated to read. She does very well on her own. I like her to have a choice of what to do on her vacation.

 

[C.Ann]

the OP is mad because her kid has to read a book(that he already read) and do a workbook. Instead of complaining about it(of course not infront of the kid...)She should present it as good review! Tell your kid how lucky he is,because he already will know the answers to the workbook questions.
C'mon,ya got 10 weeks of vacation time! I'm not getting why the OP is so ticked off. I see this as another example of parents thinking that educating children is not their job. Sorry,no sympathy for you or your kids on this one.

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Do you have a child with learning disabilities?

 

[golfgal]

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So why not allow the parent and child to pick an appropriate book (or books) and have the child write a book report? I absolutely LOVE to read - but there a few types of books that even as an adult, I couldn't FORCE myself to read.. Why make a summer learning project unenjoyable when it could be a pleasant experience instead?

I am sure that I will get slammed for this but it is much more reasonable for the teachers to have a book list of how ever many book and have corresponding worksheets then it is for kids to read say 10 books, write 10 book reports and the teacher, who has 25 kids in her class has to read through 250 book reports. Do you have any idea how LONG this would take especially on top of the rest of the work that needs to be done. Besides, it is MUCH less work for a child to fill out a workbook sheet, fill in what, maybe 10 answers on the sheet then write a book report. I know my kids would much rather fill out the workbook sheet then write a book report any day.

 

[wvrevy]

That are having the kids read a specific book, not choose from a list, as I understand it. What if the book is too easy or too hard?

I agree with choosing from a list of books, based on the reading level of that particular reader.

When I say "reading lists", I mean that I actually had a list of books to read, not choose from. "What if a book is too hard?" Then the kid needs to work on it more, and their parents need to work with them. "What if it is too easy?" Then it will take about a quarter of the time and won't be a big deal at all.

I just don't see the problem here.

 

[golfgal]

-----------------------------

Do you have a child with learning disabilities?

The op said in a post long ago that her sons modifications would be taken into consideration for this summer project. His LD should not be an issue at all, his modifications account for that already.


I have a son that doesn't have a learning disability but is just plain lazy and it takes him 3 hours to do 15 minutes worth of work, he doesn't have any modifications for that, so technically, HE would be more work then her son.

 

[In a hurry]

the OP is mad because her kid has to read a book(that he already read) and do a workbook. Instead of complaining about it(of course not infront of the kid...)She should present it as good review! Tell your kid how lucky he is,because he already will know the answers to the workbook questions.
C'mon,ya got 10 weeks of vacation time! I'm not getting why the OP is so ticked off. I see this as another example of parents thinking that educating children is not their job. Sorry,no sympathy for you or your kids on this one.

I see this as the PTA removing the function of parent as teacher.

The OP is educating her child using the public library. That way her child might actually find something of interest and develop a love of reading. A workbook page never increased the interest of any child I ever taught. It is only in finding a personal gain, whether that is entertainment or the gaining of knowledge on a subject, that a child learns to love reading. Busywork is a waste of everyone's time.

 

[Disney Doll]

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?

This is very good advice.

 

[C.Ann]

The OP is educating her child using the public library. That way her child might actually find something of interest and develop a love of reading. A workbook page never increased the interest of any child I ever taught. It is only in finding a personal gain, whether that is entertainment or the gaining of knowledge on a subject, that a child learns to love reading. Busywork is a waste of everyone's time.

----------------------------

Very well said!

 

[golfgal]

I see this as the PTA removing the function of parent as teacher.

The OP is educating her child using the public library. That way her child might actually find something of interest and develop a love of reading. A workbook page never increased the interest of any child I ever taught. It is only in finding a personal gain, whether that is entertainment or the gaining of knowledge on a subject, that a child learns to love reading. Busywork is a waste of everyone's time.

I don't see how they are removing the parent as teacher at all. They are simply asking the kids to read certain books. No one is saying that she can't go to the library as well.

How many books does the OP's child have to read anyway, 2, 5, 100?

 

[KirstenB]

OP, I agree with you. I'd be upset too. My child doesn't have ADD or anything, but definitely takes a llloooonnngg time to get through homework. Because of this, there is so much tension during the school year. I get as excited as she does (but I try to never say or show it around her) when summer/Christmas/Easter break comes. Our school doesn't have any summer homework. You can order the Reader Rabbit cd/workbook for the upcoming grade and the child can work on that, but it's completely optional. Our dd likes that, and does work on it a bit while we're in the car, etc.

Why doesn't your PTA make this for extra credit instead of mandatory? That way kids who enjoy school can work on it, and kids who need a break can get one.