Why is school so different now than it used to be?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:OP,

You are correct to notice this, one of the biggest changes is parents' obsession with school. Many of us grew up with laissez faire parents who didn't monitor each and every assignment and test. It's as if we're compensating with overi-involvement. Also, there's an unhealthy obsession with getting into the right college. My son just started high school, I'm hoping not to get sucked into it. The pendulum does swing back and forth ... perhaps the testing craze with have died down by the time your child starts K.

Well I can safely say that there are some things that create great obsessions with parents unique to the DC area. Special academic programs for free in public schools plus Blair/TJ [private school at public price] plus the DC/VA cost advantage of private at public price [UVA, W & M].

People in NY get this with Stuyvesant and some with Cooper Un ion. But overall there isn't the frenzy for a supersale on top of the normal hysteria.

[Anonymous]

I am aware of an almost 3 year old who is getting homework from his preschool (tracing, for ex.). Kindergardeners are getting homework now. Again I don't understand what the point of this is and am not aware of any research that supports it, are you? I am only aware of research that suggests it's not good (yet it seems to be so prevalent).

Are you serious?? It is called practice. Not everyone learns a concept the first time it is taught...that is also why we encourage kids to study.

[Anonymous]

I am aware of an almost 3 year old who is getting homework from his preschool (tracing, for ex.). Kindergardeners are getting homework now. Again I don't understand what the point of this is and am not aware of any research that supports it, are you? I am only aware of research that suggests it's not good (yet it seems to be so prevalent).

Are you serious?? It is called practice. Not everyone learns a concept the first time it is taught..

See, you sound like exactly the kind of frantic, over-invested mom that the OP is talking about.

1. Why does a 3 year old need to be taught any academic skills at all, in the first place? An enormous body of research tells us that play is the way 3 year olds learn BEST.

2. Why does a 3 year old need to practice -anything- except for self-help stuff like zipping a coat? Please explain coherently why a 3 yr old -- three -- needs to "practice" academic skills.

3. Why does a 3 year old need to "learn" the "concept" of tracing? Other than to do better than expected on the WPPSI, I mean. What inherent good is there in tracing? Do you and your DH trace during the day at your jobs? No?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

I am aware of an almost 3 year old who is getting homework from his preschool (tracing, for ex.). Kindergardeners are getting homework now. Again I don't understand what the point of this is and am not aware of any research that supports it, are you? I am only aware of research that suggests it's not good (yet it seems to be so prevalent).

Are you serious?? It is called practice. Not everyone learns a concept the first time it is taught..

See, you sound like exactly the kind of frantic, over-invested mom that the OP is talking about.

1. Why does a 3 year old need to be taught any academic skills at all, in the first place? An enormous body of research tells us that play is the way 3 year olds learn BEST.

2. Why does a 3 year old need to practice -anything- except for self-help stuff like zipping a coat? Please explain coherently why a 3 yr old -- three -- needs to "practice" academic skills.

3. Why does a 3 year old need to "learn" the "concept" of tracing? Other than to do better than expected on the WPPSI, I mean. What inherent good is there in tracing? Do you and your DH trace during the day at your jobs? No?

Well, I also don't stack blocks at work, or play dress-up (although I can admit, there are jobs where one might do that), or run around on the playground, or take a nap (ok, I have done that, but it's not exactly sanctioned).

I recall my DD tracing her letters so she learned now to write them correctly. And I do, in fact, actually write with a pen and paper almost every day. So I think that is of value, as much of value as the playing activities.

I really don't see all the kerfuffle about homework for young kids. No one is saying that a 3 year old is reading Anna Karenina and writing a research paper on it. If a kid is learning to read, write, add, subtract, they do, in fact, need to practice these skills.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

I am aware of an almost 3 year old who is getting homework from his preschool (tracing, for ex.). Kindergardeners are getting homework now. Again I don't understand what the point of this is and am not aware of any research that supports it, are you? I am only aware of research that suggests it's not good (yet it seems to be so prevalent).

Are you serious?? It is called practice. Not everyone learns a concept the first time it is taught...that is also why we encourage kids to study.

Yes, very serious. Would you want your two-year-old to be given tracing homework? This is an all-day preschool. Like the next poster said, I think that kids that age learn best through PLAY and as far as I know, research supports that. Imaginative play, manipulative play (playdoh etc), being read to, all seem more important and useful to me than school-led homework directives for a TODDLER (he's still TWO, nearly three). Practice is fine, but there are plenty of opportunities to learn how to trace, including, I assume, at this preschool (given the homework). As that Post article points out, being read to is far more important at that age.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

I am aware of an almost 3 year old who is getting homework from his preschool (tracing, for ex.). Kindergardeners are getting homework now. Again I don't understand what the point of this is and am not aware of any research that supports it, are you? I am only aware of research that suggests it's not good (yet it seems to be so prevalent).

Are you serious?? It is called practice. Not everyone learns a concept the first time it is taught...that is also why we encourage kids to study.

Tracing??????

[Anonymous]

All humans learn by practise and repetition no matter their chronological stage in life (3 month-old, 3-year-old or 30-year-old)

[Anonymous]

if pre-school sends home homework,you can do it or not. Up to you. Not like it'll stay on the kid's transcript or anything.
This whole issue of homework being bad for three year olds is a red herring.

[Anonymous]

I was not talking about homework for 3 year olds. I was talking about the value of homework for k and up.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I am the opposite. I am surprised how little work my K dd is doing (she is half day). She went to preschool full day, so she has already learned the curriculum. She also has a teacher who doesn't believe in homework. I think it is good to have a couple of simple pages come home so that I can work with her. She will be able to have alone time with mommy, and learn the importance of education. It also sets in good habits for when she starts doing "real" homework. I wish my child went to the schools you are talking about.

Oh, brother!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I am the opposite. I am surprised how little work my K dd is doing (she is half day). She went to preschool full day, so she has already learned the curriculum. She also has a teacher who doesn't believe in homework. I think it is good to have a couple of simple pages come home so that I can work with her. She will be able to have alone time with mommy, and learn the importance of education. It also sets in good habits for when she starts doing "real" homework. I wish my child went to the schools you are talking about.

Oh, brother!

So everyone who doesn't believe in a "progressive" education, and who wants to be involved in their child's learning, gets an "oh brother"? Newsflash, there are those of us out there who DO think that our children should be making academic progress, even in K, and who enjoy knowing what's going on in the child's classroom.

[Anonymous]

11:07 I think you are exaggerating this. In any event, parents are school obsessed in metropolitan areas all over the country. Boston, NY, Chicago, LA. One of my friends taught at the top private in San Francisco, she'd taught at several top privates here, and she said they were worse than DC parents! IN NYC parents were shut out of neighborhood schools!

[Anonymous]

P.S. All I will say OP is enjoy the pre-homework years. The drag of introducing homework so early is it often means adult attention. Also, enjoy the pre-science-fair years. OMG they drove me nuts!

[Anonymous]

IN NYC parents were shut out of neighborhood schools!

Don't mislead. That's because they're overcrowded (due in huge part to the tanking economy and its effect in finance families) AND NYC can't get the space it needs for add'tl Gen Ed schools AND because the boundary lines sorely need to be tweaked in the upper middle class areas. whew.

[Anonymous]

16:33 How am I misleading? It happened. Covered in depth by the NY Times. It's because of a baby boom and fewer families moving to the suburbs as well as the economy.