Something I don't understand.

151949 · ‎03-09-2010

My great nephew plays ice hockey all winter and in the summer roller hockey. He is 9 and just finishing up 4th grade. He has school until 3PM and gets off the bus at home shortly after that. He has to be at hockey practice every day from 6 to 8 PM. So they have to leave for practice by 5:30. So he has 2 hours from school until leaving for practice - every day - he has to finish his homework and eat his dinner in that amount of time. His Mom was saying his homework seems to hard and is taking him too long every day and his grades are dropping. she thinks this hockey is extremely important because she thinks he will get a college scholarship from it. She went to the teacher and said she wanted him excused from homework for the remainder of the year so he can concentrate on hockey. This was a few weeks ago. So now it is finals week and he is way behind. Don't parents place any value on their kid's education anymore ? What good does getting a scholarship do anyway if he doesn't get the grades to go to top college? This child attends a private school, if she doesn't value his education - why bother? She is doing the same thing now with his first grade brother now only for him it is football.

Can anyone enlighten me as to why these sports are so all important these days?

NoelSeven · ‎03-09-2010

You've only talked about the mother, is there a father in the picture?

A Thrill Of Hope The Weary World Rejoices

151949 · ‎03-09-2010

The father is even worse than the Mother - he is one of the volunteer coaches!

The Mom is my niece and I dearly love her but I just disagree with her and her DH about this. However, I do keep my opinions to myself. My SIL agrees with me (these are her grandkids) but she too is not saying a lot as I think it is a very touchy subject.

Sidonie · ‎06-06-2014

She is a very poor excuse for a mother imo.

SydneyH · ‎03-10-2010

No teacher is going to 'excuse' a pupil from homework. If he's in 4th grade, he should have no more than 40 to 50 minutes of work per day. He needs to either do his work in the morning, or start skipping practice imo.

NoelSeven · ‎03-09-2010

On 6/7/2014 happy housewife said:
The father is even worse than the Mother - he is one of the volunteer coaches!

Then why are you putting the blame on her, at least in the opening post? We've come further than that, and if he's the coach he may be calling all the shots.

A Thrill Of Hope The Weary World Rejoices

pattypeep · ‎06-06-2011

IMO, I feel that it's sad that kids can't just be kids. They should have rules and restrictions, a few chores, and be expected to give school their best effort. To push children at such an early age for excellence for something that may or may not even be a possibility seems sad. I think it's good to keep them busy so that they hopefully stay out of trouble, but there should be a balance.

Women and cats will do as they please, and men and dogs should relax and get used to the idea-Robert A. Heinlein

sophiamarie · ‎08-08-2013

What kind of teacher listens to the mom and excuses a kid from homework, for the sake of hockey? Wouldn't that reflect badly on her/him as a teacher?

151949 · ‎03-09-2010

On 6/7/2014 SydneyH said:
No teacher is going to 'excuse' a pupil from homework. If he's in 4th grade, he should have no more than 40 to 50 minutes of work per day. He needs to either do his work in the morning, or start skipping practice imo.

The teacher did say no but my niece told her son he doesn't have to do it anymore this year, which is true since there is only one week to go and it is all testing every day. From what I understand kids in private schools must meet certain standards each year for the school to stay accredited so they have a lot of tests at the end of the year. At least that is what my SIL told me.

Rooney1 · ‎06-23-2010

I will say that in my 30 some-odd years of teaching - this is not an uncommon thing. I will also add that sports is not the only thing that takes precedent over learning. Not to mention the expectation of not giving them anything too hard/difficult/challenging, having due dates, or expectations. I am not sure how we are suppose to prepare these young people for life - when expectations are so warped and kids are so pampered.

I could tell you all stories almost on a daily basis that you all just wouldn't believe. But, I won't.

What I will say is that I feel sorry for this kid as he is getting, based on the information given, IMO - a false sense of life and how it works. But, again JMO.