Do you think the schools are expecting to much from our kids?

Question

My twins are in kindergarden. They bring home homework every day, it's hard for them. I don't remember having to learn the ABC's until 1st grade. They are teaching them to read already, didn't kindergarden used to be for socailizing? Are they expecting to much from such young people?

Answer 1

you're kidding right? kids are way to sheltered pampered and lazy these days...sad...

Answer 2

It is truly sad how the emphasis in education has become on the academic component, letting other areas (social, physical, cultural, etc. slide). We are too worried about competing with other countries, forgetting the fact that good employees and leaders need to have a well-rounded education. I am not saying that children should not learn academic skills early. My oldest daughter was reading on a 4th-5th grade level in 1st grade and was about 1/2 year-1 year advanced in several other areas. My middle daughter was able to identify letters/numbers/shapes/colors and count to 15 at age 2 1/2 and started spelling words at 3. My kids are not "advanced," but have had a lot of exposure to pre-acadmic skills and love the activities I do with them. However, it does not matter how well a child can perform "the 3 r's" if they can not demonstrate positive social skills and maintain good self-esteem. The children who are now struggling the most are those in the middle- not your top "A" student, but not qualifying for special education. These are the kids who develop poor self-esteem due to frustration with the higher demands/school standards, then develop behavior problems due to low self-esteem. Of course, then the schools do not want anything to do with them and try to ship them off to private schools to address their "behavior problems." Here they tend to neglect the academic component, so when the child is "fixed" and sent back to public school, the cycle starts all over again. As a teacher/child development specialist and a parent of 3, I am sad to say that most schools have forgotten that to truly teach a child well, you need to teach the "whole" child. All components of a child's development are intertwined, and if one is left out the others suffer. I understand that teachers and schools have regulations to meet, but I don't think the issues should be brushed aside with "We have to do this." I hope you continue to point out your concerns to others. Maybe if enough people become more vocal, the education system will take notice of the damage we are doing to our children.

Answer 3

No the abc's are definately learned in Kindergarten and i believe starting to learn to read is kindergarten also. If you read to your children EVERY night, i GUARANTEE they will do better at homework. I know everyone says it and it seems like a cliche, but it is so true. My mother used to read with me all the time and thats why i love to read now, plus i can memorize anything very quickly and i tend to learn faster. Make homework fun for them...Just whatever you do, dont let on to them that you think they have too much homework, cuz then when they get older and start struggling in high school they will think its the schools fault that school is hard.

Answer 4

Okay, first off, if you think your kid has got it hard send them to Japan or China to learn, that's discipline. They go to school ALL the time. And I don't think you all should be so judging of what our schools are teaching, especially the teachers. They have a curriculum to follow, so they can only do so much, and it's not always the school either, they're higher powers, some aren't even in the state of where the school is located. You should point a finger at Bush who has caused a lot of uproar from schools and teachers, because he doesn't know what the hell he is talking about. If you really want to know who's deciding what for what your children learn, ask the school to get you a contact number or address, it's not in the hands of the teachers at all and hardly the school itself, they do what they are required and told to do. No I am not a teacher.

Answer 5

No, public schools do not expect enough from our kids.

Kindergarten is more than just socializing, it is prep time for reading for instance. I think that kids should know their abc's before even entering kindergarten, if possible. They should have a desire to read, fostered by loving parents who read to them regularly.

I currently have a kindergartner as well as older children. All of my children have not only known their abc's, but have been reading before they began kindergarten. I did not push any of them to do so. I did read to them daily, and they saw both of their parents reading. We also took weekly trips to the library. They did not attend preschool or day care.

What kind of homework do your twins have? My kindergartner has to read or be read to for 20 minutes daily, and once last week had to finish a pattern that she had not finished in class. Leaf, apple, umbrella, leaf, apple, etc. It took her all of five minutes to finish gluing the pictures that she had already colored.

If more parents spent a few minutes a day with their children doing homework, the children would value learning.

I am more often worried that what my children learn in school is not challenging enough. For instance, spelling words are a joke. I have one child who can get all of her spelling words correct without ever studying or looking at her list. That tells me that the word list is too easy for her, but she is held back in her learning because they want to keep the class together in words.

Answer 6

I believe that the school system is corrupt in many ways. First of all, they should stop worrying about petty nonsense. For Example, my neighbors child is attending Middle School. At his Middle School, they are required to "Tuck In" their shirt tails.

This school punishes you more for breaking this rule, then not doing your homework.

I believe that the School System in America needs to take a step back, and realize what their doing. They sit and wonder why so many High School Students are dropping out before they graduate.

Its very simple. We are making our children start school at about 3, and keeping them there until their nearly 19! It's no wonder their not wanting to go to school.. THEY ARE WORN OUT!

3, 4, and 5 year old children shouldn't worry about getting up at 5:30 in the morning. And, keeping to a school-type schedule. Their bodies are still growing, and they do not need that type of stress.

Another thing is the whole "skipping school" thing. The schools should start getting involved, and find out exactly why the child isn't attending school. I know a kid that was bullied everyday. To the point where she would come home and cry, and do other things.

She was being sexually harrassed to the point where it was intolerable.

And, you know what the school did? They took her to court for not coming to school. And, her mother was sent to jail. When she tried to explain to them. All they could say was "You should have told a teacher"

And, the sick problem is... She told many teachers.. and other school staff members.. But nothing happened..


But.. I've written enough... Thanks for your time.

Answer 7

Well you dont want your kids to be challenged, that would be horrible. Dont you think that is what learing is, if you dont know something it may be hard to learn it but that doesnt mean they cant do it. I was being taught how to read before I was even in kindergarden. Socializing? I dont understand that, well I know that is important, I would worry about them being able to provide more for there future then socializing, other wise the only socializing they will be doing is to ask if someone wants frys with their burger, becuase they learned to socialize and not the ABC's

Answer 8

At 4 I could read and write fluently, do sums like 25 - x = 7, sing songs in perfect English (which is not an official language in my country, it's just that my mum teaches English and likes evergreens:), etc... Anyway, I'm from Eastern Europe. You have different criteria there, I guess. But young kids do have great potential for learning and that shouldn't be wasted. Encourage your children and help them if they are having difficulties at times.

Answer 9

they are expecting to much and too soon, it makes the kids dislike the school time they have to attend. homework at kindergarten and early grades is a shame. learning is supposed to be a positive experience and the teacher should make it interesting for them, they will be open to learning, when it is pushed down their throats and forced to study more than they are ready for , then kids learn to dislike school and then they become scared of failing and that is not good.

Answer 10

I am so passionate about this subject. I teach 11th grade American History and I find that many of my students come to class without the skills necessary for time management. They have no drive and no work ethic. What scares me is that these students are steps away from the real world and can't handle a deadline, can't mange their time or themselves, and whine over "too much work."

I truly believe that one of the primary goals of school--besides the obvious goal of an education--is to mold our young citizens to become productive members of society.

Let me ask you this. When you have a job and you have projects due or have to stay late to work do you just assume that the employer is giving you "too much work," and find a higher-up to complain to to lessen your workload? No! You may privately feel that it's "too much work," or that your boss is being "unfair" or "hard on you" and you may complain to your coworkers, but you suck it up and you do your work because that is YOUR JOB.

It is the JOB of our youth to be students. As part of their job, they will have homework. And yes, most teachers do give homework every night. And, yes, we do realize that our kids have lives outside of school, but any good teacher will do whatever they can to prepare their kids for the next step they take in life.

I'm sorry that you believe that kindergarten is just for "socializing." If that's the case, then why bother having a kindergarten at all? Why not just set up a series of play-dates or send your kids to daycare or nursery school? No, kindergarten is for learning. I can't believe that you would complain that the schools are taking the initiative to teach our children to read at an earlier age and that they are giving them homework at an earlier age. I commend your childrens' teacher. This is a teacher who is truly preparing these kids for the rest of their schooling career. This teacher is getting them ready to learn, giving them an advantage by getting them used to hard work and responsibility at an early age.

Schools are not expecting too much from our kids. If anything, they're not expecting enough. I've seen too many students given "do-overs" on tests if they weren't happy with the grade or unending deadlines for projects if they just can't seem to get it done. I've seen too many students get by on charm instead of on intellingence or merits. I've seen too many students not get in trouble when they deserve it because the schools say "kids will be kids."

No, our schools are certainly NOT expecting too much from our kids.

Answer 11

Actually, in many area of the U.S. your kids would be thought of as BEHIND the other kids! They should allready know their ABC's,numbers to 20 and colors. We don't expect enough of students academically, preferring to wasts a great deal of the day with fluff as well as things the parents should have taught them! (manners, dicipline, social skills)