Schools allocating "family" homework

On the subject of more affluent parents hiring or buying costumes for their children, we used to have a halloween "dress up" night at the library I managed. One of the staff would read out ghost stories (not too scarry) and we had a series of suitable books on hand for the kids to borrow. There were prizes for the best boy and girl but we never chose ones that were obviously hired or custom bought. We chose the home made outfits that had some thought put into them. All the kids got a small token gift just for participating.

My father was an excellent mathematician who tried very hard to help me to understand maths. But he would never have done the homework for me. When I had to do a piece of writing, my mum often gave me an idea for a story, but I had to write it - fortunately I was better at English than at Maths. One admission - not as a parent, but as a big sister, I used to 'help' my sister with her Latin homework. I'm sure the teacher recognised my work. When she had to do a Latin exam, she got a very good mark all by herself. As a parent, I don't recall any occasion when I had to 'do homework' for my sons and they managed to pull through on their own. What I had in common with my parents was that I encouraged the boys to read and there were always books in our house. Parents could and should open up learning opportunities to their children.

I spent hours as a young mum helping my children with homework they couldn’t possibly have done on their own. I resented every minute that it took out of family time where I could choose what we did together. I still feel the same resentment when I see some of the homework my grandchildren are set.
To my mind all homework should be banned. It reduces quality time with the family. It exposes the ignorance of parents. If it is worth doing it should be done under the supervision of the person who set it as they know what they are expecting. It emphasises inequality as some parents are better at helping than others, from both an educational and financial point of view (some projects are done better if money is spent on materials). Also schools should not be dictating how I spend my limited free time.
As you can probably tell homework has long been a bugbear of mine. Thanks for the opportunity to rant.

TerriBull
Well put.
I’m not convinced that dressing up as a character motivates other children to read the books anyway.
Bring a Book to Share day has been more successful for us in promoting reading than loads of Harry Potter, Katniss Everdeen, or Matilda costumes.

But why do they need a 'day' for dressing up anyway? It's school. The children shouldn't be constantly be told what to wear. I'm not a uniform fan, but if the rationale is that no dress code is bad for those who can't afford fashion, why have a 'mufti' day at all? Even utilising pyjamas or 'old clothes' for costumes only works if they are presentable and if the intention wasn't to pass them down to a younger child or put them on eBay.

World Book Day should be about books. Maybe set homework that asks them to discuss their favourite, have a trip to the library, watch a relevant film, run a story competition - dressing up seems like an easy way to mark what is now more about marketing than anything. The work is pushed onto the parents, the teachers don't need to do anything, and the children won't necessarily learn from it either. It feels like so many impositions - those who make money push it (often card-producers, but in this case the costume sellers) and anyone who objects is written off as 'can't be bothered'.

Re World Book Day, to avoid the expense/hassle of ‘costumes’ some schools apparently told children to come in their pyjamas.

But I still read protests, probably on MN - what about children who didn’t have any presentable pyjamas to go in? The schools can’t win - unless they make it an ordinary uniform or ‘mufti’ day, and I dare say some parents would still complain.

I agree about World Book Day losing its way, now parents have to go to the trouble of hiring a costume, and if they can't afford to do that, how will the child feel when its peers are all in character. In any event does all this give children the impetus to read more books, or just relate to the movie. Good grief previous generations read books all through childhood without such gimmickery, fewer distractions maybe.

I found it a pain being asked to dress my children up as Tudor children for the day. Back then I don't think many went to the trouble of hiring an outfit and why should you anyway, although there were a couple of youngish looking Ann Boleyns in the playground so some must have done some hiring. I'm certainly useless when it comes to sewing, I can't remember how we got around that one. It was slightly easier to do the Victorian day. I'm not sure how beneficial any of these dressing up days are in relation to imbuing the pupil in the subject matter, but I don't think that they should impact on the parents' purse or time in trying to cobble together some impossible outfit.

I don’t remember ever doing any projects at home with our children, though I do remember getting my brother to send leaflets from London Transport when one son was doing a class project on travel, and I have given my grandchildren various things for class ‘topics’.
It is one of my ( many) bugbears that at work I used to hear parents complaining about how long they had spent on their child’s homework or project, and elaborate lengths they went to to make an item. How did the child benefit from that? And what about the wee soul who maybe has a chaotic home life whose parents can’t help?
World Book Day is another thing which, to me, has lost its way, and become a competition. There are usually so many, obviously bought or even hired, costumes, which more often than not are of film characters, so not doing anything to encourage reading.
Sorry, I’ve kind of digressed from homework.

Thinking back, we didn't do projects but helping with spelling and table tests just came with the territory.

We used to recite tables in the car as I drove them to school and I would also test them on their spelling.

RosiesMaw

^However now there is (apparently) a trend for schools to allocate homework to primary kids with which parents are expected/required to help. For example making models, doing a reporting project, and so on^

I read a thread on Mumsnet where some posters deeply resented this intrusion into busy family time as it inevitably fell on the woman. Others argued that education does not stop at the school gates and that they took an interest in their children's homework and enjoyed helping out
With all due respect OP, I don’t see the relevance and this is surely a second or third hand account as by your own admission without children or grandchildren, it doesn’t apply you.
I have never experienced “ family homework” .when any of our three daughters were at school or heard of it in the context of 5 of my six grandchildren. The Sixth still being pre-school.

If I wanted to discuss threads on Mumsnet I would subscribe to it.

Did any of you help your children or grandchildren with these projects? If so, how did you feel about it?

I don't think she's asking us to comment on what we think those on MN think about it.

She's asking us about our experiences and how we feel about it.

Reading, spelling, dont mind.
Occasional projects dont mind.

Too much other homework, occasionally said we were not doing it, if it got too much.

biglouis

I can recall doing one secondary school course on the Inuits (then called Eskimos) and being required to do a project on their lifestyle. My grandmother showed me how to use papier mâché to make an igloo. First I had to tear dozens of copies of the "Liverpool Echo" into tiny bits to make the mash and then mould it over a pudding bowl. Getting it off the bowl in one piece was a real challenge. Then I had to paint it white.

Its amazing what you can do with papier mâché.

Oh, you're correct.

I remember papier mache projects. Thank you for prompting memories!

Many years ago, I tried to instigate talking homework with secondary pupils where they had a topic once a month to discuss at home. This was because many pupils didn't know how to talk about such matters with their family. There was no finished product apart from encouraging pupils and their parents to chat. We sent home a letter explaining the idea and giving a letter if they wanted to opt out. We also sent a list of topics such as:First week at secondary memories, Halloween activities etc. It was well received.

I was always able to manage listening to reading, spelling, Bible verses, I assume everyone else did the same. We never had many big projects, nor do I hear of our GC/GGC doing much apart from that which we did with ours.

My children don't have but dumb phones for themselves and their children, perhaps reflecting in their time available?

As a child whose parents never, ever helped with any homework, I find it so annoying that parents don't just help their children, but actually do it for them. How unfair!

I can recall doing one secondary school course on the Inuits (then called Eskimos) and being required to do a project on their lifestyle. My grandmother showed me how to use papier mâché to make an igloo. First I had to tear dozens of copies of the "Liverpool Echo" into tiny bits to make the mash and then mould it over a pudding bowl. Getting it off the bowl in one piece was a real challenge. Then I had to paint it white.

Its amazing what you can do with papier mâché.

This reminds me of when coursework counted for a high proportion of GCSE exam marks.

One teacher friend remarked "You can always tell when children have been helped by parents and those whose parents did the coursework for them."

Does it help them in the long-term?

Mine refused to allow me to help except for perhaps answering the odd query.

However now there is (apparently) a trend for schools to allocate homework to primary kids with which parents are expected/required to help. For example making models, doing a reporting project, and so on

I read a thread on Mumsnet where some posters deeply resented this intrusion into busy family time as it inevitably fell on the woman. Others argued that education does not stop at the school gates and that they took an interest in their children's homework and enjoyed helping out
With all due respect OP, I don’t see the relevance and this is surely a second or third hand account as by your own admission without children or grandchildren, it doesn’t apply you.
I have never experienced “ family homework” .when any of our three daughters were at school or heard of it in the context of 5 of my six grandchildren. The Sixth still being pre-school.

If I wanted to discuss threads on Mumsnet I would subscribe to it.

Although not exclusively a problem for single parents, it can be hard on them if they are working full time - have to collect other children from school, nursery, etc, and manage the whole show themselves.

I only had one child as a single parent - but was working as a 'temp' which sometimes meant extensive travelling to bookings far away from where I lived, travelling by public transport. I then had to collect my son from the lady who picked him up from school and cared for him until I arrived, often having to shop, too.

I always managed to help him with homework, but there were times - because I was also studying - when I really could have done without the hassle, especially if it was a subject in which I was not particularly 'fluent'. This was in the days before the world-wide-web.

I didn't lead a chaotic lifestyle, but I'm not sure the educational authorities really understand that family life can be, and that we don't all live in a semi-detached with mother working part-time (or even SAH), living an ordered life centred around our children. I had no family nearby and everything that involved our family-life was down to me, including repairs of failed equipment and that sort of stuff normally undertaken by the other-half.

But, at least, I was permanently employed on a good wage, with secure work and no need to try to find extra work to toggle on to existing zero-hour contracts. So from that angle, and it was one I am now eternally thankful for, there was no stress; no interviews with Job Centres or social services, or tedious forms to keep filling out. And, I had secure accommodation with a reasonable rent. So from that perspective I was relaxed enough to be able to focus my attention on my son's education, because I didn't have all the extra stressors that so many appear to suffer today, which makes helping with homework sometimes appear just like another added stress.

I didn’t like sending that sort of homework, but I well remember my siblings using The British Trades Alphabet to get help and free samples for homework projects we were expected to do when I was at school. The cocoa one was great, as was the wool one.

I can remember making an amoeba with gelatine and a grape with DD ! My GC seem to just get on with their homework it’s all beyond me anyway nowadays. Only one is still in Primary now and he only seems to get tables spelling and reading all of which DD does religiously with a very reluctant GS! When my DC were primary age we once or twice took them out of school for an extra week at half term so they could have time with my parents on a joint holiday. The very astute Head said they could go but they had to do a daily record of what they had done or seen , just a little paragraph with a drawing each day. I really enjoyed doing it with them and have kept them to remind me of precious times with us all. Parents today often both work full time and as “RosiesMaw” says talking with their children is the most important thing parents can do from toddlers to teens .

Elusivebutterfly

I was happy to help with homework and listen to reading when required but hated being asked for input into making things or thinking of what to make, as I am useless at this and never saw the need for it.
My lack of ability to draw or create odd items has had no impact on my adult life. I can cook and sew. These skills are much more useful.

I can’t cook (bake) or sew and I’ve managed okay in life.

NannaRose - I think you've raised some relevant matters, as you say, investment into such schemes would be beneficial to support those who need it.

I could do with some plumbing skills!

Learning support is an excellent idea, I agree.

MissAdventure

I hope colleges won't follow suit.

I'm useless with U bends and ballcocks.

maybe your plumbing will improve!

I genuinely think there are some things that can help - and yes - they require public investment.
One is to provide sessions for those parents who would like to improve their English / maths / in some cases learn to read etc. I have worked in areas where, sensitively & flexibly done, it can give the whole family a great boost.
The other is to provide a homework space. I have lived in areas where schools and libraries did this, and it gives good support, especially for families who have little time or space.
On the whole, I diagree with 'homework' for younger children, but general support with learning is helpful.