Anonymous wrote:OP here. First of all, I haven't been posting, so ya'll have been busy casting aspersions at others, FWIW. (Not that I expected anything different on good old DCUMs, lol.
Second, in terms of what and how much homework there is, in addition to the daily worksheets (which, as I've said, are done in aftercare) and reading (which I fully support and always find time to do), there is: making and using spelling word flash cards; making and using math flash cards; doing music homework on-line; doing math homework on-line; doing almost-daily writing assignments; finding and reading specific books at home; and doing monthly family projects, such as making diaramas, creating a piece of art regarding math or a holiday, making a book, etc.
I really would like to have a more constructive dialog about how to handle this overload. Between working full-time, doing the cooking, cleaning, laundry and other house stuff, and trying to do some fun family activities on weekends, I really don't have time to do all this, and my kids are too young to take it on themselves. Plus, one of them has started to really dislike school because it is just too much.

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Anonymous wrote:As the years go by, I find myself more often "opting out" of doing special projects and homework assignments that are just plain busywork, meaning work that my kids have already done and mastered. I realize that once they hit the higher grades (perhaps by 3rd), they'll have to be responsible for doing whatever is assigned to them. But for now, I resent the expectation that I should spend my weekends (I work full-time) running out to buy supplies and then supervising and doing projects that aren't going to benefit my kids. I believe that teachers of early elementary grades should be fine with this decision, and should accept that parents know what is best for their family life and for their kids (some kids thrive doing extra work, while others need to play after a long school day). Is anyone else doing this? I've had some teachers who are accepting and some hostile, but I think it is best for my kids and family.

this old canard. really tiresome. No we do all the homework that is assigned and if I don't think enough has been assigned, we assign our own.

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Anonymous wrote:I totally look down on the parents on here who are bitching about some homework in the elementary years. If you don't want to help your kid or check it over, so be it. If you want to bitch about it, though, you're clearly passing that attitude (overtly or covertly) to your kids. What a shame.

I'm not bitching about it, I just don't require my kid to do it. But, since I'm just horrified that you (someone whose opinion I value so highly) look down upon me, I'll immediately change my ways! I do so want to earn your respect!

Rather than take your precious time to respond to posts on this site, why not go and help your kids? Your attitude on homework is directly beig passed on to your kids. Maybe if you did something constructive with them, that will pass to them too. Signed - a working, professional mother, with no childcare, who does her kids' homework with them daily.

Aren't you just special. Where would you like your blue ribbon delivered?

I'm not the one seeking approval for her methods. You're the one seeking approval for shirking responsibilities. I only signed it that way so that you didn't retort saying you didn't have time because you work or don't have childcare, etc. If you have time to be on DCUM, you have time to help your kids with their homework whether YOU think it is necessary or not.

What makes you think I'm seeking approval? If I felt it was important to make sure my kids did busywork, I'd make time for it. But, I don't.

I am interested, though, how a working, 'professional' mother gets by with no childcare? You either have a flexible schedule, a SAHD, extended family or only a part time job. School is only 6 hours a day.

I am an attorney who does contract litigation work, however all cases which don't settle are handled by arbitration (in front of a retired judge). A handful of cases don't settle each year. I work my tush off during the day and am often working for countless hours after the kids are asleep. My husband is a professional as well but doesn't have the flexibility that I have, as I have a small practice of 4 attorneys. I still think you're seeking approval - and I'm not giving it. You're (mis)classifying homework as 'busywork.' You tell yourself that, your kids will know that is what you think about it. Busywork or not - it is assigned by the school and my kid will do it. Just like when my kid brought home an optional journal to work on this trip, we are lugging it to our trip to the Hoover Dam/Grand Canyon and my kid will be writing in it daily. It isn't a punishment and he isn't at all upset about it. (It is largely how you portray it, I believe - and regardless, my kid wouldn't have a choice even if he kicked and screamed over it). It went from backpack to my carry on. Oh and last xmas when we went to Arizona for 10 days, we got about 50 math sheets to do with the instructions to pick any 15 we wanted. My kid did everyone, not because it was a punishment but because if they all reinforce different concepts how can you pick out which ones to do? Was my kid soooo miserable and did she (the younger one) miss out because she had some homework daily? What do you think?

Anonymous wrote:As the years go by, I find myself more often "opting out" of doing special projects and homework assignments that are just plain busywork, meaning work that my kids have already done and mastered. I realize that once they hit the higher grades (perhaps by 3rd), they'll have to be responsible for doing whatever is assigned to them. But for now, I resent the expectation that I should spend my weekends (I work full-time) running out to buy supplies and then supervising and doing projects that aren't going to benefit my kids. I believe that teachers of early elementary grades should be fine with this decision, and should accept that parents know what is best for their family life and for their kids (some kids thrive doing extra work, while others need to play after a long school day). Is anyone else doing this? I've had some teachers who are accepting and some hostile, but I think it is best for my kids and family.

Anonymous wrote:

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Anonymous wrote:I totally look down on the parents on here who are bitching about some homework in the elementary years. If you don't want to help your kid or check it over, so be it. If you want to bitch about it, though, you're clearly passing that attitude (overtly or covertly) to your kids. What a shame.

I'm not bitching about it, I just don't require my kid to do it. But, since I'm just horrified that you (someone whose opinion I value so highly) look down upon me, I'll immediately change my ways! I do so want to earn your respect!

Rather than take your precious time to respond to posts on this site, why not go and help your kids? Your attitude on homework is directly beig passed on to your kids. Maybe if you did something constructive with them, that will pass to them too. Signed - a working, professional mother, with no childcare, who does her kids' homework with them daily.

Aren't you just special. Where would you like your blue ribbon delivered?

I'm not the one seeking approval for her methods. You're the one seeking approval for shirking responsibilities. I only signed it that way so that you didn't retort saying you didn't have time because you work or don't have childcare, etc. If you have time to be on DCUM, you have time to help your kids with their homework whether YOU think it is necessary or not.

What makes you think I'm seeking approval? If I felt it was important to make sure my kids did busywork, I'd make time for it. But, I don't.

I am interested, though, how a working, 'professional' mother gets by with no childcare? You either have a flexible schedule, a SAHD, extended family or only a part time job. School is only 6 hours a day.

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Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I totally look down on the parents on here who are bitching about some homework in the elementary years. If you don't want to help your kid or check it over, so be it. If you want to bitch about it, though, you're clearly passing that attitude (overtly or covertly) to your kids. What a shame.

I'm not bitching about it, I just don't require my kid to do it. But, since I'm just horrified that you (someone whose opinion I value so highly) look down upon me, I'll immediately change my ways! I do so want to earn your respect!

Rather than take your precious time to respond to posts on this site, why not go and help your kids? Your attitude on homework is directly beig passed on to your kids. Maybe if you did something constructive with them, that will pass to them too. Signed - a working, professional mother, with no childcare, who does her kids' homework with them daily.

Aren't you just special. Where would you like your blue ribbon delivered?

I'm not the one seeking approval for her methods. You're the one seeking approval for shirking responsibilities. I only signed it that way so that you didn't retort saying you didn't have time because you work or don't have childcare, etc. If you have time to be on DCUM, you have time to help your kids with their homework whether YOU think it is necessary or not.

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Anonymous wrote:I totally look down on the parents on here who are bitching about some homework in the elementary years. If you don't want to help your kid or check it over, so be it. If you want to bitch about it, though, you're clearly passing that attitude (overtly or covertly) to your kids. What a shame.

Go ahead and look down on me. My kid will be your kid's boss some day, because your child will be so busy internalizing lessons about boredom, paperwork, and compliance with authority that he will not learn the skills of creativity, executive function, and expression that are essential for success in today's economy.

We shall see, won't we? That's quite some statement, about which you have no knowledge. I'm looking down on parents who pass the attitude onto their kids (about homework the parents feel is stupid).

It's called critical thinking ... Mindless respect for authority is very 19th century.

This. Nobody wants to raise mindless automatons. Maybe some PPs don't think homework is worth the battle. Fine. But some of us think it's useless at best. And at times, harmful. I can and will say no when appropriate for my kid.

And some think your reasoning is ridiculous. Making a child do some homework that is assigned is not going to create a mindless automaton. I'm not sure where you're getting this black and white. I believe it IS worth a battle (though my kids don't fight it but even if they did it would be worth it) because it is assigned by a teacher. Enuf' said. That doesn't mean that I may not think it is worthwhile, but regardless of what I believe, my kids are doing it and will know there is no choice about it. Harmful? Doubtful. Unpleasant? Maybe. Such is life.

Amen. So glad my mom raised me this way.

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Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I totally look down on the parents on here who are bitching about some homework in the elementary years. If you don't want to help your kid or check it over, so be it. If you want to bitch about it, though, you're clearly passing that attitude (overtly or covertly) to your kids. What a shame.

Go ahead and look down on me. My kid will be your kid's boss some day, because your child will be so busy internalizing lessons about boredom, paperwork, and compliance with authority that he will not learn the skills of creativity, executive function, and expression that are essential for success in today's economy.

We shall see, won't we? That's quite some statement, about which you have no knowledge. I'm looking down on parents who pass the attitude onto their kids (about homework the parents feel is stupid).

It's called critical thinking ... Mindless respect for authority is very 19th century.

Sorry, I'm not living in the 19th century and pretty much do expect my kids to have respect for authority. (Whether it is mindless or not is not really my concern). The only exception would be if an adult authority figure atttempt to touch inappropriately...other than that - you respect another adult's rules when on a playdate in his/her home, you respect the school's rules while in school (and out, if outside work is assigned), and you respect your parents' rules. Unbelievable.