<p>It’s a virtual bulletin board, Opie.</p>
<p>Opie, I agree with a heck of a lot of what you say. And the “Inherit the Wind” assignment was between you and your D, not with the teacher. Do you really think you would have had as good a discussion if you had been required to watch the movie? There’s nothing in the article or what I’ve read that leads me to believe that this type of assignment, where it’s posted to the teacher, not the student, results in better communications between parent and child.</p>
<p>“It’s a virtual bulletin board, Opie.”</p>
<p>so he could use names like opie and garland… no? </p>
<p>Please does anyone know if he uses parents names? Could it be set up like here?</p>
<p>“Opie, I agree with a heck of a lot of what you say. And the “Inherit the Wind” assignment was between you and your D, not with the teacher. Do you really think you would have had as good a discussion if you had been required to watch the movie?”</p>
<p>Have you seen the movie? 
it’s excellent. And yes, I would have been fine becuase given the option to opt out or stay. I would have made a choice. I might have a problem if it was an absolute as I understand families have different schedules and people can’t always be somewhere at sometime. Again, though as a parent there’s an option. Should he have added a maybe? It seems yes or no covers most of the spectrum. I guess that is why I am prochoice, as I support the right to make a decision. If this were you, you certainly could say no couldn’t you? So where do you see the problem? If you say no, would you have a problem with another parent saying yes? I don’t get it, if you don’t want to, does it mean I can’t? </p>
<p>" There’s nothing in the article or what I’ve read that leads me to believe that this type of assignment, where it’s posted to the teacher, not the student, results in better communications between parent and child."</p>
<p>Did you need a percentage and a national study? I’ve related my experience while not exact, it is similar to what’s being attempted. I can see what he’s going for. </p>
<p>Maybe at the same time you could point out the 5% of my advertising that works so I don’t have to spend money on the other 95%…:)</p>
<p>Sometimes ya just gotta have a little faith.</p>
<p>Opie …
The way I read the article, the parents have to read the homework readings and then write responses on a blog that is like a bulletin board. I don’t know if they use their real names or not. Obviously each has a name of some sort and likely an “identity”. One parent who wasn’t fluent in English preferred to send the response in email and if their names were not known, what would it matter. So, their names may indeed be posted but I imagine are easy to figure out if not, given the numbers of families involved. </p>
<p>I am all for involving parents. I am not for someone else telling a parent the type of involvement and when with this kind of required specificity and the need for the parents to actually do the assignments. There are lots of ways to know what is going on in the classroom and what your kids are working on…I always kept abreast of that but I wouldn’t want to have to do the readings or writing myself. </p>
<p>If the teacher wants the parents involved…this blog could be set up for anyone interested in commenting. Then, perhaps every few weeks, a newsletter with details of what they are studying and a description of the assignments (informative in nature) could be sent home and the teacher write some individulized comments and ask the parent to sign it and strongly invite some comments back about how it is going for their kid. I am not saying that is necessary in high school but is a way to keep the communication open, without requiring parents to do the actual assignments. Then a parent can pick what level of involvement and what type of involvement. I know I would not pick to do the readings or do the writings. But I would be communicating with my kid about what she had for homework and taking an interest. If she wanted me to look at her essay, I certainly would and comment on it, etc. I want that choice to be mine. I don’t want to have to read the book and do the assignments myself. I have never missed a parent conference in my life. Yes, I know you were not talking about parents like us who are already involved. You are only concerned about those that need to be involved. But the problem is, this teacher’s requirement is for ALL parents, even those who are more than adequately involved in their kids lives, as an added directive or task. And the parents who need to be more involved…there are lots of ways and doing the reading and writing is not the only or even the best way but surely could be one suggestion given for those who want to do it. Frequent progress reports requiring signatures, online grading that parents can check, asking a parent to write comments back on progress reports, having meetings with parents whose kids need more intervention, etc. all can be tried. </p>
<p>I think basically mandating homework for parents, like this teacher is doing, is just too much. Are they mandating every parent gives their kid breakfast before school? Are they checking? Lots of kids don’t get breakfast at home and it is important too. Many schools provide it. Perhaps for kids at risk with low parental involvement, there are tutors set up for free through school. I just don’t know where you draw the line as to what is required vs. what is suggested and encouraged.</p>
<p>Opie, yes, I’ve seen “Inherit the Wind” (the Spencer Tracy-Fredric March version), and it is one of my favorites of all time! And yes, I’ve watched film assignments with my d, because they were often movies I was interested in anyway, or I just wanted to spend time with her. But I still think it’s different. When I was just out of college, I re-read some books I was assigned in high school and hated. Some of them I enjoyed; I just hated it when it was assigned! Don’t think this would be much different.</p>
<p>I guess you have more faith in this teacher than I do. I don’t see the potential in his techniques to do what he and you say he’s doing. And in a community with (mostly) already-involved parents, it seems unnecessary.</p>
<p>“I guess you have more faith in this teacher than I do”</p>
<p>I’m a half empty/half full person…</p>
<p>I think it’s the coach in me in how I see situations. Can it be improved? can it be tweaked? is the idea good but the execution poor? </p>
<p>I did not have the luxury of throwaway players. I had to improve my players so I learned to look at a situation differently. Do I crush the person? What about the next play or next game? I was not blessed with great players, I had average players who played well, above their ability. Ya teach and they learn and improve. </p>
<p>I do look at situations differently. I try to walk a bit in their shoes to see from their eyes. I see the guy’s goal, he needs some adjustment. It’s not such a bad idea it needs to be thrown out, just refined. Sooz has offered good suggestions. </p>
<p>And yea, it was the Tracy March version… it captured my attientions for sure. One of the best movies I’ve ever seen. But, you know he’s no han solo…;)</p>