Maybe I'm an uneducated mama on this front, but this is the first summer The Rabbit has homework. Which of course means I have homework.
Forgive me, but didn't summer used to mean orange yogurt pop-ups dripping down your arm, sun burns, and riding your bicycle with your friends and trying not to hear mom call you in for dinner? Didn't it mean hours at the beach ferreting sand crabs, itching mosquito bites and sleepovers with chocolate pop-overs for breakfast?
The Rabbit's assignment this summer is a "fun activity" to run a scavenger hunt through the city, collect 13 "artifacts" (a subway map, local newspaper, etc...) and then write 5 stories about them.
She's 6.
This is absolutely meant without the slightest disrespect for any of her teachers (who, to date, I have adored)....but this is truly inane, some administrative Grinch-move that comes from focusing excessively on test results.
To me, summer is meant as a time to unwind. To not have to roll out of bed every weekday morning, wolf down a sleepy breakfast, and push through hours of "expected work." Sure, there's recess. Yes, The Rabbit giggles throughout her day. But in the summer she can spend 3 hours building a paper house for her ponies. Or play with the neighbors in her pajamas at 2 pm. Or spend all day on a sculpture from rick-rack, toothpicks, masking tape and string. It's when time disappears. And frankly, I think we all need a little bit more summer in our lives.
As for The Rabbit and her assignments? She'll do it. In between rides on her scooter and quite a few orange pop-ups.
Forgive me, but didn't summer used to mean orange yogurt pop-ups dripping down your arm, sun burns, and riding your bicycle with your friends and trying not to hear mom call you in for dinner? Didn't it mean hours at the beach ferreting sand crabs, itching mosquito bites and sleepovers with chocolate pop-overs for breakfast?
The Rabbit's assignment this summer is a "fun activity" to run a scavenger hunt through the city, collect 13 "artifacts" (a subway map, local newspaper, etc...) and then write 5 stories about them.
She's 6.
This is absolutely meant without the slightest disrespect for any of her teachers (who, to date, I have adored)....but this is truly inane, some administrative Grinch-move that comes from focusing excessively on test results.
To me, summer is meant as a time to unwind. To not have to roll out of bed every weekday morning, wolf down a sleepy breakfast, and push through hours of "expected work." Sure, there's recess. Yes, The Rabbit giggles throughout her day. But in the summer she can spend 3 hours building a paper house for her ponies. Or play with the neighbors in her pajamas at 2 pm. Or spend all day on a sculpture from rick-rack, toothpicks, masking tape and string. It's when time disappears. And frankly, I think we all need a little bit more summer in our lives.
As for The Rabbit and her assignments? She'll do it. In between rides on her scooter and quite a few orange pop-ups.
Comments
I abhor homework, even during the school year because it does end up being parent work, too, as you say. (Especially when your not-yet-reading 6-year-old has to give 3 speeches in kindergarten.)
So I must cheerfully hide my disdain from Baby Girl, who is also 6, so as not to taint her love of school.
I'm hearing more and more of this summer-homework phenomenon ...and dreading its descent upon our home here in PA.
It makes my skin crawl. HA.
Oh, and also no disrespect meant to teachers from me either. All love and big thanks. It isn't your fault that homework is the bane of my existence.
I would LOVE to hear from some teachers and principals with concrete examples of homework turning into better school work.
My opinion (and concern) is that this is HURTING school time. And turning students into autobots — and not creative thinkers or true problem solvers.