Comments on: The book bag-should it be defended? http://www.parentswithattitude.com/parentsforum/the-book-bag-should-it-be-defended/ For parents who can think for themselves Fri, 06 Jan 2012 20:09:56 -0600 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.6 hourly 1 By: amanda http://www.parentswithattitude.com/parentsforum/the-book-bag-should-it-be-defended/#comment-3768 amanda Fri, 18 Jun 2010 12:43:35 +0000 http://www.parentswithattitude.com/parentsforum/?p=256#comment-3768 what's a BOOK BAG? what’s a BOOK BAG?

]]> By: Sallym http://www.parentswithattitude.com/parentsforum/the-book-bag-should-it-be-defended/#comment-2888 Sallym Thu, 29 Apr 2010 11:36:26 +0000 http://www.parentswithattitude.com/parentsforum/?p=256#comment-2888 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. 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.

]]> By: Leyla Hayati http://www.parentswithattitude.com/parentsforum/the-book-bag-should-it-be-defended/#comment-2145 Leyla Hayati Wed, 10 Mar 2010 12:36:06 +0000 http://www.parentswithattitude.com/parentsforum/?p=256#comment-2145 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. 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.

]]> By: Bo K http://www.parentswithattitude.com/parentsforum/the-book-bag-should-it-be-defended/#comment-2143 Bo K Wed, 10 Mar 2010 11:59:40 +0000 http://www.parentswithattitude.com/parentsforum/?p=256#comment-2143 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. 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.

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