School and parent stories

[Kosmik]

So feeling a bit annoyed at a number of items over the years across two schools and it feels that since Covid, things have gotten worse.

Don't get me wrong, I understand teachers have difficult jobs as well as buerocracy at schools etc but I think let's have a space to share stories and vent and , with peers, are we rightly annoyed or over-reacting?

So feel free to vent or reach out for a opinion and let's keep it civil.

 

[Kosmik]

I'll start with today's bug bear.

So , my youngest , 10yro, grade 4, is currently wrapping up thier term. They are currently also doing a school play, from 6pm to 8pm at night for the last few days.

Now I don't begrudge the play as it's part of the children growing up and school but at the same time, the play has segments of different classes and grades and for a child where they have a 5minute part... to stay for the whole two hours when they are "done" after 30 mins and never come back on stage again for the night is excessive.

The terms tests/assessments were also completed around the 16th, fine that's great but since then the kids were practicing but have also been watching movies the whole day. Now, I'm not talking educational movies or documentaries maybe around material or anything: it's all animated movies and typical kids fair and cartoons. And kids are taking sleeping bags and snacks to school to quite literally lounge around.

Now for me that's a issue because like most, we work full time amd pay over hard earned money for our children to have a education. Sure when I was a kid we had the odd video day etc however normally this was also in line with whatever we were learning as well ie: a medieval story when we were learning history on the dark ages. Good example we watched "Name of the Rose" covering that time.

But this has been going on since the 16th. And today we are also told, oh sorry, reports are going to be delayed till next term as well.

Am I wrong in being a little pissed that I'm paying the same school fees as normal , kids are not learning, reports are delayed and a few other issues. Pretty sure for most parents a BIG part of monthly costs is school fees and while fun for the kids, I'm not sending them to daycare, they are being sent to school.

Let's not mention the rigamoral of kids are sick or maybe you need to travel on a Friday for a weekend break once year...

Vent done.

 

[Analog Revenant]

my kid is Gr4 next year, I'll compare the above experience then and see if they also loaf around

 

[Analog Revenant]

btw - since my SO is a teacher, I'm interested in knowing @Kosmik - your kid/s in a private or public school?

 

[SauRoNZA]

Must say in my case with concerts and things they are very well orchestrated with that stuff and you get informed the moments the kids are done and you can collect them, unless you are attending the show yourself of course.

Also helps massively with human and car traffic not all happening at once.

As for the learning in class ours go into a non-curriculum actively phase in this last week before holidays. Would also prefer they just plan better overall to make the fullest use of the term, but in my case at least it’s not movies all day.

 

[Kosmik]

btw - since my SO is a teacher, I'm interested in knowing @Kosmik - your kid/s in a private or public school?

One in private , other public, this current vent occurred in the public. Private had less concerns I think because it costs nearly double and the staff/school is a lot more aware of fee/money value.

 

[Kosmik]

Must say in my case with concerts and things they are very well orchestrated with that stuff and you get informed the moments the kids are done and you can collect them, unless you are attending the show yourself of course.

Also helps massively with human and car traffic not all happening at once.

As for the learning in class ours go into a non-curriculum actively phase in this last week before holidays. Would also prefer they just plan better overall to make the fullest use of the term, but in my case at least it’s not movies all day.

Yeah, the last week of term is normally a wind down and that's not normally a issue but as I said, this has been from the 16th. Counting up to breakup day this week that will be 3 weeks.

I mean if the kids are going to be shown movies etc have it part of the curriculum stuff , unless the entire grade are all a+ students breaking 90% accross rhe board., I find it difficult to believe they shouldn't be doing some basic revision or prep for nearly a month.

 

[SauRoNZA]

Yeah, the last week of term is normally a wind down and that's not normally a issue but as I said, this has been from the 16th. Counting up to breakup day this week that will be 3 weeks.

I mean if the kids are going to be shown movies etc have it part of the curriculum stuff , unless the entire grade are all a+ students breaking 90% accross rhe board., I find it difficult to believe they shouldn't be doing some basic revision or prep for nearly a month.

Agreed. All those early morning of extra lessons and such could be catered to now for the kids who really need it.

Best thing I did was send my daughter to extra maths for the last holidays. Only amounted to 10 hours in total but made a huge difference.

 

[Sepeng]

I hear you about the 3 weeks of messing around at school. Look some down time is good, this seems excessive. Happens with my nephew - I'll ask him how school was, he reckons they don't do anything the whole day; they'll play cards in the back of the class or something. I mean I remember having odd days like that back in the day during exams or whatever but it was just that - the odd day.

Also what seems to happen in some instances is despite school only closing the 15th of the month say, the school will ask children not to come in from a week earlier as they're done with their syllabus. Which is all well and good but can be tricky for parents that are working that hadn't planned on the children being around for that period.
They could have like a holiday club type thing, have kids bring their bikes, pool fun days, book dress up days, whatever.

The concert thing though, I'd say it's cool if all kids and parents stay for the whole thing; reckon it's just good camaraderie and all that. Whatever team my kid is selected for, I'm always encouraging them to make sure they support the team below and above them.

At our previous school, what irked was the amount of energy spent on all the fundraising things. OK not so amount the energy, but more how they focus their energy. If they sent as many messages about the next English test as they did on the upcoming school teacher show, everyone would be getting 105%. Do you have a ticket, have you bought a ticket, tickets selling fast, how can you not want a ticket? And then in the class you can tell it's mentioned as your daughter is like have we bought a ticket yet, we have to go see the teacher's put on a play.
Or you son is in the choir and so is performing in some event, cool, he gets in free, but parents have to pay at R300 a pop.

Also I reckon the ANC got nothing on schools when it comes to nepotism. Class mum's daughter in the relay team when they're like the 16th fastest in that stroke. The school photographer (cos you have to pay for your child's pics) being the spouse of a teacher. The company they push for gum guards run by the HOD's brother, or the "optional" and costly eye test done by someone's cousin.
It's funny.

My experience across basically 4 schools with my children has been really good; its the parent and whole political landscape that is fascinating to me.

 

[SauRoNZA]

Also what seems to happen in some instances is despite school only closing the 15th of the month say, the school will ask children not to come in from a week earlier as they're done with their syllabus. Which is all well and good but can be tricky for parents that are working that hadn't planned on the children being around for that period.
They could have like a holiday club type thing, have kids bring their bikes, pool fun days, book dress up days, whatever.

We do have a holiday program exactly like that which you pay through your arse for but does well with activities and variety.

Kids used to beg to go to it but now that they are older and after our au pair departed we actually made the deal with them they would go to aftercare instead, but skip holiday care so that they can have their own proper time to relax.

Works well enough and with sports and extra murals the aftercare is more overflow than anything else really.

 

[bwana]

Exams are the biggest time waster once your kids hit high school. Kids basically lose a month of prime learning time twice a year, spending more time at home than they do at school.

 

[EmmanuelGoldstein]

I'll start with today's bug bear.

So , my youngest , 10yro, grade 4, is currently wrapping up thier term. They are currently also doing a school play, from 6pm to 8pm at night for the last few days.

Now I don't begrudge the play as it's part of the children growing up and school but at the same time, the play has segments of different classes and grades and for a child where they have a 5minute part... to stay for the whole two hours when they are "done" after 30 mins and never come back on stage again for the night is excessive.

The terms tests/assessments were also completed around the 16th, fine that's great but since then the kids were practicing but have also been watching movies the whole day. Now, I'm not talking educational movies or documentaries maybe around material or anything: it's all animated movies and typical kids fair and cartoons. And kids are taking sleeping bags and snacks to school to quite literally lounge around.

Now for me that's a issue because like most, we work full time amd pay over hard earned money for our children to have a education. Sure when I was a kid we had the odd video day etc however normally this was also in line with whatever we were learning as well ie: a medieval story when we were learning history on the dark ages. Good example we watched "Name of the Rose" covering that time.

But this has been going on since the 16th. And today we are also told, oh sorry, reports are going to be delayed till next term as well.

Am I wrong in being a little pissed that I'm paying the same school fees as normal , kids are not learning, reports are delayed and a few other issues. Pretty sure for most parents a BIG part of monthly costs is school fees and while fun for the kids, I'm not sending them to daycare, they are being sent to school.

Let's not mention the rigamoral of kids are sick or maybe you need to travel on a Friday for a weekend break once year...

Vent done.

I understand this all too well. I opted for homeschooling because this BS became excessive at one point and at the time I was really under pressure at work so I changed things. Not going to elaborate much further as it is likely to cause an argument

 

[Kosmik]

The concert thing though, I'd say it's cool if all kids and parents stay for the whole thing; reckon it's just good camaraderie and all that. Whatever team my kid is selected for, I'm always encouraging them to make sure they support the team below and above them.

I wouldnt mind if all the kids stayed together and then came on at the end in some grand finale but literally, the kids go back to their individual classrooms after their piece and just watch movies or nap until the parents fetch them after.

 

[Sepeng]

I wouldnt mind if all the kids stayed together and then came on at the end in some grand finale but literally, the kids go back to their individual classrooms after their piece and just watch movies or nap until the parents fetch them after.

Ah I get you.
But it's like inter school events now, like swimming say; my daughter will be in two races, first one is at 9, next race at 4 in the afternoon or whatever. Man that gets me. But ag, I signed up for it, I'll deal.

 

[Sideshow Bob]

At curro, last week before term end is winding down period and I understand from teacher's point of view. Only one movie is shown and rest is split between some fun activities but not necessarily planned ones. So far, every class teacher has been exceptional. Kids are given homework for the holidays as well but it is optional and hardly anyone does it as far as I know.

Hardly anyone turns up in last 2 days before term end so they put grade 2,3,4 in one classroom - at least for movies.

1 week after term start is generally waste as well. Considering there are 4 terms, it does seem like waste of money. I have seen some parents (that have 2+ kids) give 1 month's notice in October and then they homeschool for December & January and then reapply in February. It sounds crazy but saves them about 15K per child for 2 months.

Reports at Curro are always uploaded on time. We got Term 3 results yesterday and it was last day of term 3.

 

[Sideshow Bob]

Ah I get you.
But it's like inter school events now, like swimming say; my daughter will be in two races, first one is at 9, next race at 4 in the afternoon or whatever. Man that gets me. But ag, I signed up for it, I'll deal.

Eish - this is going to be my story once my son learns all the 4 strokes.

 

[Sideshow Bob]

Is cursive writing a mandatory thing in your schools ? My son's handwriting was 6 (out of 7) in grade 2 and now because of mandatory cursive in grade 3, he dropped to 4 (out of 7) which is "adequate" apparently.

Thankfully, next year, they can ditch cursive if they want.

 

[bwana]

Is cursive writing a mandatory thing in your schools ? My son's handwriting was 6 (out of 7) in grade 2 and now because of mandatory cursive in grade 3, he dropped to 4 (out of 7) which is "adequate" apparently.

Thankfully, next year, they can ditch cursive if they want.

No - but it should be. My kids' penmanship is atrocious.

 

[Sideshow Bob]

One negative about Curro is that apart from cricket (and hockey for girls), sports culture is non-existent. Even if you come up with some idea (or some request to promote sports), no one bothers.

 

[bwana]

Ah I get you.
But it's like inter school events now, like swimming say; my daughter will be in two races, first one is at 9, next race at 4 in the afternoon or whatever. Man that gets me. But ag, I signed up for it, I'll deal.

What gets me is when they cancel swimming because it's raining.