Comments for Parents' Forum

Comment on The book bag-should it be defended? by amanda

amanda — Fri, 18 Jun 2010 12:43:35 +0000

what’s a BOOK BAG?

Comment on The book bag-should it be defended? by Sallym

Sallym — Thu, 29 Apr 2010 11:36:26 +0000

I help in our school and if the parent hasn’t signed in the book then I have to read the book again with the child. Its not “proving” to the teacher that you have read so much as saying “Yes my child can read this book, lets have the next one”. Its a way of making sure the child is getting read with. Some children never get read with at home and so they need to read with an adult more often in school than those who get read with every night at home so its simple logistics to use the parents signature as a measure of who is who. That said now my children are off the basic books and onto chapter books they read it to themselves and I just initial it to say I saw them with the book in their hand. Every now and again I will random test to make sure they are really reading it and not just flicking the pages but by and large I really don’t need to actually listen to them. So overall I’m fine with having the reading policed by parental signature, it isn’t for proving you have read, its to make sure your child can read that book before they get given harder ones.

Comment on The book bag-should it be defended? by Leyla Hayati

Leyla Hayati — Wed, 10 Mar 2010 12:36:06 +0000

What is your problem? Is it so difficult to imagine that some parents may not have the ability or the time or the inclination to read to their children, yet alone the ‘more interesting’ books that you are able to identify and read. The book reading record just gives the teacher a means of evaluating each child’s progress and assessing their needs. Parental input is only one element in all this and it may shock you as a well-read middle class parent that lots and lots of children come to primary school not having seen books (or read books in English). This is not about authority. Why is it so difficult to read anything you want in addition to what the school sends or just say ‘look, these are too easy, we’ve done them already and this is what we’ve read instead’. I cannot think of one teacher who’d object to it. Ours does not. She’s very pleased that we are reading more than the recommended. To me, it seems like you’ve got too much time on your hands and busy theorising about an imaginary authoritarianism. I’m sure your school would appreciate you giving some of that time to read to ‘disadvantaged’ or ‘immigrant’ children whose parents are, for one reason or another, not able to provide that sort of support. It would also help you answer your own question.

Comment on The book bag-should it be defended? by Bo K

Bo K — Wed, 10 Mar 2010 11:59:40 +0000

Well, I think the book bag concept is useful if the teacher wants the children to discuss and talk about the books after reading them.

Not sure that is the main point of the system, though, but it’s one rather obvious “defense”.

I have no personal experience of the book bag. My kids are too small for school, and I don’t know of any similar system here in Sweden.

Comment on Do we need a Parents’ Liberation Movement? by Fouppyscory

Fouppyscory — Thu, 04 Mar 2010 05:10:12 +0000

Hi guys,

I know this might be a bit off topic but seeing that a bunch of you own websites, where would the best place be to host. Someone recommended I use Blue Host for $6.95 a month which seems like a great deal. Anyone here on http://www.parentswithattitude.com using them?

Comment on Parenting-the theme for the general election? by political humorist

political humorist — Sat, 27 Feb 2010 04:16:56 +0000

I usually don’t leave comments!!! Trust me! Nonetheless I enjoyed your web site…especially this post! I have a Political News Blog site

Comment on Brown’s inadequate parenting advice by delray beach plumber

delray beach plumber — Thu, 25 Feb 2010 18:11:22 +0000

it’s part of the British system that a new leader of the party takes over if the prime minister steps down for some reason (Jim Callahan took over when Harold Wilson resigned, John Major took over when Margaret Thatcher got pushed out). Many people say that it was a mistake for the Labor Party not to have a leadership election when Blair stepped down, but Brown and Blair had a deal, which everyone in the party and the country knew about. And the truth is, although Brown is not an inspiring leader, there are no obvious alternatives inside the party. There are lots of people who’d like the job, but none of them have strong support–except perhaps as apostles of Brown or Blair.

Comment on There’s more to human character than sharing toys by Diaper Cake

Diaper Cake — Tue, 02 Feb 2010 23:07:09 +0000

This is a great site, I love the theme you are using. I Stumbled it for you and bookmarked it on Digg.

Comment on Is it “okay” to Lie about Santa? (Yes!) by Tom Burkard

Tom Burkard — Thu, 17 Dec 2009 17:00:20 +0000

My mum never lied to me about anything, and especially not Santa. It didn’t do me any harm, but as soon as my own son was old enough to talk I lied to him about all sorts of things. When he asked why it rained, I made up stories about a giant who lived in the clouds who had a big hosepipe–it was a lot easier than trying to explain elementary physics to a 4-year-old. Needless to say, he never believed a word of it, but he loved it. That’s why he always asked me questions, and seldom asked his mum, who usually tried to answer questions seriously.

For heaven’s sake, parents ought to lighten up. So long as you love your kids and enjoy being with them, it doesn’t make a damn bit of difference what you do. Tho it is a lot easier if you make up your mind at the beginning that you are the boss.

Comment on The ban on parents’ smoking by Sue

Sue — Mon, 14 Dec 2009 15:19:11 +0000

Here’s the link to the incredible Telegraph article:
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/newstopics/politics/6803981/Parents-face-ban-on-smoking-in-front-of-children.html