Friday, November 6, 2009

Inquiring Minds Want to Know

If your child called you from school to say that they had forgotten their homework and they wanted you to bring it to them what would you do? And what is the reasoning behind your decision to either take the homework to your child or not.

And for any teachers that may read this a question especially for you. What would you want the parents to do? Bring the homework to the child or not?

20 comments:

Kristina P. said...

The first question I have is was this a one time occurance? If so, I would take the homework. Once.

If it continued to happen, I would not, and let natural consequences take their course.

Funky Kim said...

My general answer would be to tell the child "Bummer" and go on about my day. Natural consequences need to happen.

BUT I'm all about life is never fair, and therefore I don't have to be consistent. If the morning was awful because we all overslept and everything was a scramble and chaos to get out the door, overlooked homework might possibly get delivered to school. Then again, if everything was prepared and put in backpacks before bed the night before like I asked them to do a million times, even in a scrambled morning nothing would be forgotten.

Are you sorry you asked?

Amander said...

If the child is usually responsible, I'd say yes, bring it to them once.

If you want them to have consequences but still get their homework you could say, "I will bring it to you, but if I do, then you will have to do X when you get home."

If it's a habit, I wouldn't do it.

Tyran, the Yeti Yogi said...

Sorry Charlie, arrange with your teacher for you to turn it in after school.

The only except would be some huge project that had been worked on for an extended period of time—term paper comes to mind—and the project was being handed in on time or early. If the project was already late, no dice.

Tyran, the Yeti Yogi said...

Oh, forgot the why of it . . . . Better to learn the consequence of not being responsible with homework than on the job.

My thinking on the big project, if it's on time or early, then the child was responsible enough to do the work and everyone needs a break now and then.

gurrbonzo said...

Growing up I saw way too many friends treat their SAHMs like hired help. "I forgot my lunch, I'll have my mom bring it," or "I forgot my paper, I'll have my mom bring it." Like the butler or something.

Was it the mom's assignment? Nope. Then it's not the mom's problem. Consequences are king. I learned this lesson early thanks to a smart mom and now I'm not a pansy :)

the fowlers said...

Obviously I'm not quite in this situation yet, but I'd say it's a case-by-case basis.

I think it depends on whether or not it was an honest mistake, along with the importance of the homework. If I knew my child worked his/her butt off on the homework and really just forgot to take it, I'd probably do anything to get it there.

I'm all about choosing battles wisely. I'm sure there will be times when lessons need to be learned and responsibility taught, but I think it's also to important to remember that they are just kids.

Barbaloot said...

Hmmm--I have no children. But as a former child, I can say that I would definitely WANT the parent to bring the homework:)

AW Cake! said...

I have to agree with Kristina P. I would do it if it was a one time thing and IF they had a crazy morning and just forgot. IF they were having a temper tantrum morning I'd have to pass and just tell them to suck it up.

That Girl said...

My mom's rule was one "freebie": a year. Same with missing the bus. Otherwise, we had to deal with the consequences. (In the case of missing the bus, that meant staying in our rooms all day and having an unexcused absence. Oh, and if she had plans that day, WE had to pay a baby-sitter to watch us while we sat in time out all day. Really!)

Jillybean said...

My oldest son had the most awesome teacher in third grade, she told them,
"No you can't call your mom to have her bring your homework! She is busy and has better things to do than drop whatever she's doing to bring it to you."
I loved her.
For the most part, I won't bring their homework to them. I had one of my other kid's teacher kind of irritated that I wouldn't bring the forgotten homework, however, she made it miserable enough for this child that they rarely forgot the homework any more.
If the assignment was something really important, I will take it to the school, however, the child would need to make it up to me when they got home.
(extra chores, anyone?)

Emmy said...

Definitely depends on if this is the first time or a regular thing.
Regular thing, then they definitely need to learn a lesson; first time and I would bring it to them.

Brooke said...

Honestly, in my case if my child actually took the initiative to realize that he forgot his work and decided to turn it in rather than just letting it go, I'd take it to him any time. We haven't gotten to that point yet, dangit.

Wendyburd1 said...

If my kid DID their homework and forgot it, I would SO bring it. Even more so if this was not something that happened very often. I mean, if you have the time, and your kid DID the work, why wouldn't you bring it to them? They don't want to be in trouble. And if they DO, and you know they did it on purpose THEN you can say no. Otherwise, is it their fault that much if they are flaky?

Anonymous said...

well...if he called and it was like something that rarely happened then yea i would take it...but there has been times that i have seen the homework sitting at the table and forgotten .....ummm yea no phone call and no i didnt take it to them ...

Teachinfourth said...

As an educator I'd say this: if it happens only occasionally, save them. If it happens as a regular thing, then they need to learn the 'hard way' that there are consequences.

After all, don't we all forget things every once and awhile?

mCat said...

Holy cow! The fact that my kid DID his homework and WANTED to turn it in? I'd be there with it before the office secretary could blink

Anonymous said...

MCat is making me LOL

I'm in the middle here. iepends on teh child, the number of occurences, etc.

I have one child that I would take it to the school and another that I would not. I'm with the "life's not fair" group.

Omgirl said...

H to the ELL to the No. Well, unless they were a usually stellar student, uber responsible, and had put a ton of time and effort into the assignment and it was going to ruin their A+ grade average if it got in late.

But other than that, no. I don't believe in babying, rescuing, aiding and abetting, or in any other way enabling kids when they make poor decisions (or forgetful decisions). The only way they learn is the hard way. I know that sounds heartless, but the most accomplished responsible people I know are all people who grew up in the school of Hard Knocks. Myself included.

tiburon said...

We are Parenting with Love and Logic parents and I wouldn't take it to them. Bummer.

However that being said - I did recently rescue Ethan when he forgot his trumpet - but mostly because that was my fault and not his.