Do you believe it's stupid to make a 7th grader carry around a 3-inch binder?

Question

My son's Science teacher requires that they always have a 3-inch binder with them. That thing is huge!!! When he has to bring it home (because the teacher says he has to keep everything in it), it doesn't even fit in his backpack, and it's a pretty big backpack. Wouldn't it be more logical to either organize things differently or just find an alternative to the 3-inch binder? What do you think about that?

Also, the same teacher gives them tons of work every day (which I totally agree with), but he never checks anything but to see if the students wrote anything down. He doesn't check each student's work to see if they got the questions right...he just puts an OK on all of the papers that are turned in, as long as they have writing on them. I'm wondering how he's ever going to learn what the true definition of "element" is when the definition he writes down isn't checked by anyone.

By the way, I do know that organizational skills are important, and I agree with that also, but as someone already said, the students should have a choice of how they can organize their work best. My son told me that other students are complaining about having to carry around a 3-inch binder, too, so I will probably talk to the teacher.

And another thing: that binder isn't the only thing he has to carry. He does have textbooks, also, and another binder where he keeps his papers from other classes. A few days ago, he had Math, and Social Studies homework, and he was required to organize his 3-inch binder. He did manage to bring his standard zipper binder and the two textbooks with him in his backpack, but he had to carry the 3-inch (not 3-ring) Science binder in his hands. I don't think that's reasonable!

Answer 1

I do think that a 3 inch binder may be a little large. However, teaching organizational skills is something that your son will take with him for a lifetime. I am an 8th grade science teacher and have been teaching for 15 years. I recommend talking with your son's teacher. Maybe something can be substituted for the individual chapters or units, meaning when the chapter or unit is completed, he organizes everything into the binder. Asking and trying to come up with an alternative would not hurt. Remember, there are no dumb questions, only those un-asked.

Answer 2

Okay, a three-ring binder is nothing. Try having your son carry FOUR text books to class for an entire school year ALONG with your backpack. He can't complain THAT much... even I got used to carrying around those books after the first week or so. They don't even feel like anything anymore, so I'm sure your son can handle a stupid 3-ring binder, okay?

Going to the teacher to ask for an alternative would be best if you cared that much... but in the end, he HAS the option of using his locker. If he opts to NOT use it and to carry around the binder to every class, then that's his choice. I don't have to carry around my books to every single class because I've got a locker; I choose to, though. So, it's not as if he doesn't have another choice! If he's too lazy to use it, well, so be it. He can complain all he wants, but... it seems stupid to me to complain about a single binder. I have three in my backpack, and one of them IS that huge zipper binder.

Answer 3

When I was in 7th grade, I had to do the same thing. It made sense but it in no way HAD to be 3-inches. By the end of the year I didn't have THAT much stuff. To be honest, I think teachers should allow students to choose how they want to organize their things. My math teacher in 10th and 12th grade required us to have a 3 ringed binder, when for me, a plan folder would have been fine, but every quarter we were getting graded on if we had a 3 ringed binder. It's not fair and I feel it's a burden on parents to have to buy new, pointless things every year.

Answer 4

I know a 7th grader that had to get a 3 inch binder when he was in 5th grade! And even though he is in 7th grade he could use a 1 and a half binder instead of 3 inches!!!!!!!!!!

Answer 5

i agree with you. When I was in high school, we were required to carry a binder for each of our classes; however, 3-inches for one class is a little much. You can't really do anything in all reality other than speaking to the teacher about it. Maybe suggest to him/her to break it up into sections. For example, we had to keep everything from the previous 9 weeks, but after that, we were allowed to take it out.

Good luck!

Answer 6

I had the same problem when I was in 7th grade. What I did was get the binder, but write all of my notes in a small, spiral notebook, and I had a folder for assignments. Then I left the binder somewhere (lockers, or with a teacher who let me) and just carried the spiral. When there were "notebook checks" I shoved everthing into the binder. Normally they check if you have everything. The don't really care if it looks good or bad.

Answer 7

The point of the binder is to instill a sense of organization. I, personally, never actually carried the binder with me. I suggest leaving it in your son's locker and only taking the pages/information he needs with him to complete a certain assignment. I'm sure he doesn't necessarily need to bring information from the first semester home for material being covered in the second. Basically, take out what's needed, and replace it the next day. Grab a folder to store what he's taking out, so he can transport it without ruining it to and from school.

Answer 8

Not really. :/ Being a 7th grader myself it seems like a good idea. Teachers just want to have everthing they need with them. A 3-inch-binder isn't really that huge once you look at it. I think you need a different backpack. A roller one. So it doesn't hurt your back

Answer 9

my son need a big binder 3 1/2 and i couldn't find one no where so i got him a smaller binder like a 3". there are alots of stuff they make them get and they don't have room in their backpack for it. and some classes they can't take their backpack into the room so they have to carry their books in their hands and they have alots of books to carry. so i know what you are talking about.

Answer 10

Because they're 12, they're silly, and just figuring out more adult concepts. For many kids 8-13, all they have been exposed to regarding the human body, nudity, cursing and intimacy between people has probably been presented to them with with the typical puritanical attitude in our society. It's funny and cool because it's forbidden and hush-hush. It's this big bad secret that they're being let in on. They haven't had the sense of fun and silliness sucked out of them yet.