Do you think it is fair that my son is being given homework that........?

Question

he cannot possibly do by himself?

He is 9 and has been given a project to do on any country in the World - he has chosen Japan, but is not able to find out the information by himself so I'm having to do it for him.....how can this possibly be classed as HIS project if I'm the one who's doing it.

Parents have better things to do than trawl the internet and go through books looking stuff up for their offspring.

Shouldn't children be given age-appropriate homework?

I'm so sick of his school giving him stuff that is obviously designed so that the parents have to do most of it.

I have a three year old to look after, housework to do and I also work. I don't mind helping him with homework, but this is ridiculous.

There is no school library. It's a primary school.

Answer 1

I dont think homework should be given until secondary school

Answer 2

I did projects similar to that when i was your sons age and had no problems. You should simply take your son to a library, let him pick out a book on japan and make him do the research himself - he is certainly old enough, and could even use the internet for research with a little help.

Your son is just being lazy by saying he cant do his homework, as he knows you will do most of the work for him. Simply refuse to do the research for him (i mean by all means supervise and assist him), and tell him if he doesnt do his homework by himself then he can explain to the teacher why he hasnt got his homework done.

Answer 3

Yeah my son is also 9 and he has homework spelling is one that is approximately 40 words per week...I am also a stay at home mom, full time student and I have to spend hours every night working with him to figure out his homework just to get a note from the teacher that says we should study more...HAHA if she only knew...I was there once I never had that much or complex work...it was age appropriate and I did just fine in school...I actually have a 3.8 now and almost graduated from college!!! I think that the curriculum now days is just way to much for kids and they wonder why kids drop out and give up so much more easier now than when we were kids...they are giving adult work and expecting the kids to do it!!! He could find a book about Japan in the library in his school but who is to say that even at age 9 that he is going to know what to write about...that is just absurd!!!

Answer 4

There is no such thing as 'having to do it for him'.
Take him to the library or let him use his school library and he will find ample information he can use.
It seems to me you want him to do exceptionally well so are actually enjoying helping. However if you do you are encouraging him to be lazy..... Make him do it all and if he gets great marks you can praise him for the work....
If he gets a poor mark at least you will know he did his best and maybe then you can devote some time to helping him improve any subjects he is down on.
The reason for simple homework for children of this age is to make them use gods gift (a brain) as oppossed to sitting either infront of the telly all afternoon evening or playing various console games.
You should be commending the school for attempting to stretch his imagination, not seeing them as an inconvenience to your 'other importtant things.
If you feel so strongly about the school you need to firstly talk to them and if still not satisfied with the high levels they expect from your son... .Move him to an easier paced school where he can play with sand all day and plasticine and do the simple things that children enjoy.
Sadly having children is a commitment until they are in there twenties and not when its a convenience.
So yes I think the homework is fair, however 'NO' i think his choice of country is misguided and he should have been steered down a more applicable and easier route in his choice.

Answer 5

I know what you mean. My little sister is at the same age as your son and receives homework like that. At the moment she is doing an 8 page [or thereabouts] 'essay' on Henry VIII. She's had to do a ridiculous amount of work and my mum has been doing it with her ever since she got the piece 1/2 weeks ago. It isn't right giving children homework like that until at least year 6. There is no way they can complete it themselves, and it is pointless as the parents end up doing the homework for them.

Answer 6

I know, it's a joke isn't it! When I was at primary school the only homework was 10 spellings and one set of times tables every week. The real homework came at secondary school and I wish they would go back to that method now because it seems to be stretching children too far too soon and they are not getting the basics down to a tee before they go on to more complicated stuff.

Answer 7

The idea of giving children of this age a project to do as homework is to help them to gain vital skills in research and knowledge of where to look for the information.
You shouldn't be doing it all for him but helping him discover where to find the information himself.
If you can't help him yourself then the teacher needs to know that there is a problem. I work in a school where we set one project as homework during the year (we do not expect pages and pages, just a bit of interesting information on an area that interests them.) If the children can't get help at home then I would help them myself at play or lunchtime and I know that other adults in the school would do the same.
It is only wrong if you have explained your problems to the teacher and they refuse to listen or refuse to help. The actual project is really useful in giving them skills they will need when given homework when they get older and all throughout life.

Answer 8

I remember being given homework that was to hard for me, sometimes it hadn't been explained to us in class and I couldn't figure it out so I couldn't do it and I would get into trouble. That isn't right.

Projects are different, I enjoyed doing projects, looking things up etc. Your child should be able to do a project by himself, with a little bit of help from you.
Take him to the libruary and help him choose some books and let him do as much himself as he can.
He sounds like he needs a bit of encouragement to do this project himself.
Good luck.

Answer 9

His teacher is not expecting a 8 page report in MLA format. She's expecting something from a 9 year old. Stop doing it for him!!! If he can't be taught to surf the web himself to look up info, make sure he gets to the library so HE can talk to the librarian about which books to look at. This is a learning process for both of you.... support him, but make a few ground rules like....It is my job to guide and proof his studies and NOT not my job as a parent to write anything down for him, or it is not may job as a parent to type anything or maybe I will not look at a computer screen for him... and it may ease the pressure off you some.
Good luck.

Also, Please, I beg of you, don't complain about contributing to the education of your son in front of him. Or question the schools methods or teachers. There is a time and a place for this, Of course!!
But I fear, if you do it in front of him, when he's a teen he'll probably drop out and you will claim clueless as to why his education is not important to him.

Answer 10

Why are you looking things up for him? If there aren't any resources in the school library, take him to the local public library & get him to ask the librarian for help. That way he'll get something out of the experience.

I do agree that the school ought to start him off when it comes to the internet. There are child-friendly internet sites and portals out there - ask the school for suggestions.

If they aren't helpful, try http://www.atschool.co.uk/. Your son can type a search word in and get a list of links to sites that are suitable for children. It would be a good way for him to start learning how to find things online.

Answer 11

Err...rather than whingeing about it on here...maybe you should be talking to the school and asking them what they're playing at...and, if necessary, just tell them that, from now on, your son won't be doing any homework if you consider it to be 'not age-appropriate'.

Remember the law says that you, as his parent, have the ultimate responsibility (and, therefore, authority) for his education, not the school (whatever they might like to think...or would like parents to think!)

We don't 'do' school (can't you tell?! lol!) so our learning and education is different to what goes on at school but I'm pretty sure my 6 yr old brother could handle researching another country.