jlo Posted October 10, 2008 Share Posted October 10, 2008 Here's one for all the teachers out there... DS is in Year 9. When he started at secondary school, he had a homework diary that I looked at occasionally; signed occasionally and was occasionally signed by his form teacher. He does his homework regularly and has had great reports. DD has just started at the same school. She has left out her homework diary for me to sign and I have not done so on a couple of occasions. I check she is doing her homework and she is doing fine and coming back with well dones slips for it. However, she has informed me that she is to get a detention because I have not signed her homework diary. I wrote a note in it stating that it had been left out and that it was down to me that it was not signed and when did they want me to come in and do the detention! I have not had a reply back but she has not had to do the detention. I am all for her getting a detention if she does not do her homework but think that it is ridiculous that she is to get one for my omission! I don't know if the current year 7 teachers have had some strict orders about this. It has certainly not been an issue before. Do your schools do the same thing? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cinnamon Posted October 10, 2008 Share Posted October 10, 2008 Hi, My girls are both in secondary school, one in year 9, one in year 11, 7 they both have a homework planner which needs to be signed each week. However, one girls tutor is not bothered about it, & ones is very strict about it Cleo, my youngest, go a detention last week for not handing in some work. She had the lesson first period & they were told to print off some work & get it back to the teacher by end of lunch.But she had to go home at break time to have some teeth removed,so couldn't do it.She still got the detention despite my letter to the teacher - she said not being in school was not a good enough excuse Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Karen & co. Posted October 10, 2008 Share Posted October 10, 2008 My YD is still at primary and they have a homework diary that we sign each week YS has his signed each week as his yr 8 tutor checks regularly and ED in yr 10 had hers signed for the first time this term on Friday ES had his signed when he remembered with no punishment. YD came home yesterday saying that a little girl who had gone to high school this September, who always did everything well and loved school has been given a detention for not having her homework diary signed Sarah was upset for her as this little girl never put a foot wrong at primary school Seems rather harsh to me Karen x Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cordelia Posted October 10, 2008 Share Posted October 10, 2008 I have to say its sounds like madness to me too...and totally unfair, my two girls will join secondary school in the next year... I dont believe in parents complaining about everything that their child doesnt like, however, the lack of a signature from a parent in a homework book causing detention...is somehting I would complain about... I'm sure some teachers live on an entirely different planet... (my father was one...but seemed fairly nomral and taught tech drawing? metalwork and woodwork....and spent long hours marking exam papers each summer...and several other female family members are teachers.....although mainly they seem pretty sane, although they do have "teacher speak" ..an affliction, where even those educated to degree level, are unable to understand them.... ) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mrs Frugal Posted October 10, 2008 Share Posted October 10, 2008 Do your schools do the same thing? My son got a detention because I forgot to sign his homework diary and I was furious about it but they insisted that it was his duty to ensure that the diary was signed so therefore it was his fault . Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Egluntyne Posted October 10, 2008 Share Posted October 10, 2008 Do your schools do the same thing? My son got a detention because I forgot to sign his homework diary and I was furious about it but they insisted that it was his duty to ensure that the diary was signed so therefore it was his fault . I have had similar. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chickencam Posted October 10, 2008 Share Posted October 10, 2008 My ED now yr 10 had hers signed every week in year 7 but since then the form tutors haven't bothered with it. My DS now yr 8 is supposed to get his signed weekly and both of his form tutors so far have been reasonably strict with it, if he doesn't offer it I don't sign it and he gets a warning then gets me to sign it. Detentions are only given to persistent offenders who don't complete home work and don't have planners signed after a warning. We check up on DS much more than we do ED because he tends to leave things to the last minute then forgets them, or only does the bare minimum, he is however much better this year. If used correctly they should be a useful tool for home school communication. A detention without warning for not getting a signature seems a little harsh to me. I just hope that the schools are as rigorous at enforcing other rules and making the children take responsibility for themselves in other ways. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jlo Posted October 10, 2008 Author Share Posted October 10, 2008 I dont believe in parents complaining about everything that their child doesnt like, however, the lack of a signature from a parent in a homework book causing detention...is somehting I would complain about... I agree completely and most of the time when I get the inevitable cries of "It's unfair," I just tell my two to get over it. I suppose part of it is harking back to my school days when, as far as I know, homeword diaries did not exist. My mum would ask, "have you done your homework," and I would say yes (whether I had or not! ) I guess that it is an innovation to make sure that parents do take an active part in a child's school work and probably is a good idea for those children who may need a push to do homework. I am sure that there are children around who won't even get it out of their bags unless pushed to do so. It just seems very unfair on my daughter, who has been nagging me to sign it, that when I plain forget on one occasion, she gets the punishment. There is a parents' evening next week where I will confess my misdemeanours and hope for forgiveness! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gooner.girl Posted October 10, 2008 Share Posted October 10, 2008 Just spent 15 min this morning signing all my classes homework diary's. Its thrilling stuff i tell you! They get a house point if they remember to get it signed. If they haven't i gently remind them for next time. A detention seems a bit excessive! Haven't had an issue where an kid never remembers to get their diary signed yet (i have a year 6 class) but if it happens would just mention it to the parent that they need to remind kid that they have to sign it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted October 10, 2008 Share Posted October 10, 2008 We have much the same system at my daughters' secondary school. It is their responsibility to make sure their daiaries are signed, not mine. Therefore if it's not done, it is their fault. Sorry, it's a harsh world out there, not always fair and in general our young people need to feel more responsible, not less. In Cinnamon's case however I would be furious. Firstly, it is unreasonable to set work to be completed at lunchtime. Even teachers are entitled to a break! Secondly, being legitimately otherwise occupied is a valid reason. I would not have allowed my daughter to go to the detention. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cordelia Posted October 10, 2008 Share Posted October 10, 2008 Jlo..good luck at parents evening.... I have homework diaries to come to next year (year 7??) how I hate this americanised new system...why cant it be First Year Seniors??? I can never remember the year my two are in....top (fourth) and third year juniors to those of a certain age amongst us... I have parents evening next week...one year I even forgot to turn up to that....ooops . I did phone when I realised (I was still at work) re-edited in the vain hope of correcting spelling mistakes Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bronze Posted October 10, 2008 Share Posted October 10, 2008 We had the same when I was at school. She needs to become better at forging your signature Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jlo Posted October 10, 2008 Author Share Posted October 10, 2008 I am so naive - I never even considered that! Just to answer Ginette's point. I agree that children have to be responsible and also that it is a harsh life out there. The reason that I am miffed is the inconsistency. DS's planner has been marked on and off by me and by the teacher with no complaints (and like I said earlier there is no problem with either of the children actually doing the work) That is my excuse for why I didn't take DD seriously when she was insisting that I had to sign it. That is my responsibiltiy rather than hers which is why it is unjust that she receives the punishment. It is an injustice that can be remedied by the application of common sense IMHO! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
keyhole kate Posted October 10, 2008 Share Posted October 10, 2008 My YD year 11 (5th Year ) has had a homework diary since year 7(1st Y) as did my other 3 if they forgot to get me to sign they tell me they forged it I occasionally see YD diary tbh she is bod so never need chasing re schoolwork she absoututly insisted in going to school every day with 2 broken wrists in plaster Mumbles dosen't get it from me I can tell you I guess the form tutors soon get to know which pupils need monitoring I am not aware that a detention has ever been handed out in this respect Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gooner.girl Posted October 10, 2008 Share Posted October 10, 2008 She needs to become better at forging your signature Hahaha! You mentioning that has reminded me i did exactly that in my homework diary often when i was at school. Had totally forgotten! Though... i would be well cross with the kids if i found out they were doing that in my class! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bellekatz Posted October 10, 2008 Share Posted October 10, 2008 DD has her homework diary signed by me and her tutor every week - if it's forgotten there is a note written in it. DS is at a different secondary school - I have been signing his planner regularly for over 2 years now and I dont think it has once been signed by any of the form tutors he has had! If htey expect the children to use it, and parents to sign it then why can't the staff sign it? Otherwise he might just as well right his homework down on a s"Ooops, word censored!" of paper. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cooks Posted October 10, 2008 Share Posted October 10, 2008 last year my eldest (now in year brought home his diary with a red ring around where I had forgotten to sign it the week before, I thought oops and signed it, well the next week the teacher forgot to sign her part so I red ringed her's Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Janty Posted October 10, 2008 Share Posted October 10, 2008 I am Head of Year and I expect each teacher within my team to sign the diaries each week. I also expect the parents to sign the diaries too. Both the teachers and the children know that I do spot checks each week. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Phonix Posted October 10, 2008 Share Posted October 10, 2008 I had a homework diary at school that I had to sign and my parents and my tutor. Got detention for not having it signed despite having done all the homework and my mum complained...why should i get detention after having 4 years (they were only introduced in year 8 and then id had 2 years with tutors who didn't care) of being at the same school with not ever having not done my homework or forgetting to hand it in when there are plenty of kids whose backs they could be on for not doing the homework never mind getting the diary signed. My mum told them that after 6 years not having to check that id done my homework she wasn't going to start now and then promptly told me I had her permission to forge the signature lol xXx Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Scramble Posted October 10, 2008 Share Posted October 10, 2008 Hi,My girls are both in secondary school, one in year 9, one in year 11, 7 they both have a homework planner which needs to be signed each week. However, one girls tutor is not bothered about it, & ones is very strict about it Cleo, my youngest, go a detention last week for not handing in some work. She had the lesson first period & they were told to print off some work & get it back to the teacher by end of lunch.But she had to go home at break time to have some teeth removed,so couldn't do it.She still got the detention despite my letter to the teacher - she said not being in school was not a good enough excuse Ooh creepy I'm on Year 9 and my sis is in year 11. I think that it's really unfair that she got detetion for not doing work even when she isn't in. I have missed out on work when I've been off ill but I've never got a detention for it, or a red mark. Personally I don't get my planner signed every week like we are supposed to but mostly it is done and even if it isn't when the teacher signs it they don't give us detetion. Or is my school just more laid back? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Geoid Posted October 10, 2008 Share Posted October 10, 2008 Your school laid back! Mine is really laid back then, they don't care, no diary oh well, don't even check if its signed! But if you miss out on homework you get 1 hour detention. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chicken Licken Posted October 10, 2008 Share Posted October 10, 2008 Planners - I hate them. I have spent the past 3 weeks trying to get my year 11 tutor group to write in their homework timetable (not helped by the fact the wretched thing keeps being amended over a 2 week timetable!!). My boss expects them then to write in on each day what homework subjects they are due to be set between now and Christmas (this is in their opinions - and now mine a complete waste of time!). I have to check and award merits on a weekly basis in theory recording whether they are for effort, behaviour,achievement or attendance. Give out attendance %s and recod them and of course check they have been signed and sign them myself. I think by the time students are in year 11 we should be giving them a bit more credit for being able to plan their time. I have never given detentions for planners not signed by parents - It is not the kids faults -although I know I work with teachers who do this. As far as I'm concerned I can only do what I can do, and I do my best. But life is too short!! Aaaaaggh. I am all for supporting students in their personal organiseation, but the planner debacle is a source of needless conflict and they feel as if I am on their case all the time - certainly not what I became a teacher to do!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jlo Posted October 10, 2008 Author Share Posted October 10, 2008 Planners - I hate them. I have spent the past 3 weeks trying to get my year 11 tutor group to write in their homework timetable (not helped by the fact the wretched thing keeps being amended over a 2 week timetable!!). My boss expects them then to write in on each day what homework subjects they are due to be set between now and Christmas (this is in their opinions - and now mine a complete waste of time!). I have to check and award merits on a weekly basis in theory recording whether they are for effort, behaviour,achievement or attendance. Give out attendance %s and recod them and of course check they have been signed and sign them myself. I think by the time students are in year 11 we should be giving them a bit more credit for being able to plan their time. I have never given detentions for planners not signed by parents - It is not the kids faults -although I know I work with teachers who do this. As far as I'm concerned I can only do what I can do, and I do my best. But life is too short!! Aaaaaggh. I am all for supporting students in their personal organiseation, but the planner debacle is a source of needless conflict and they feel as if I am on their case all the time - certainly not what I became a teacher to do!! Oh dear - it puts my little rant into perspective. You teachers have my endless admiration. I could NEVER do it! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ms Marple Posted October 14, 2008 Share Posted October 14, 2008 Hear hear Chicken Licken I'm with you!!! Planners drive me round the twist at times. I expect the boys in my year (11) to get organised, but a detention is hardly a constructive use of their time. Unfortunately the world is full of intractable people entrenched in their views that conformity is the only way forward. I say individuality makes for a far more interesting conversation Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kitbag Posted October 15, 2008 Share Posted October 15, 2008 I am in year 11, and I am proud to say I have never had a detention!! Even if i never actually get my homework diary signed!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
