Dear Teacher,
I am trying to appreciate your "real world" approach to my child as far as homework is concerned. Your "argument" being "I accept no late homework" using the excuse that the "real world" doesn't allow for late homework. I have a few concerns regarding your reasoning behind the rule of no late homework.
First, are we living in a matrix? As far as I understand, this *IS* the real world, and therefore, if you allow for late homework, then the real world actually WOULD have an allowance for late homework.
Secondly, assuming that this matrix in which we live where we attend school where teachers are under the illusion that the real world doesn't accept late homework, can you please provide an occupation wherein the employer would send an employee home with "homework" practicing what they did over and over and over during the day to reinforce your work skills. For example, if you had a job at a bank, would you have your "employee" go home & answer the phone "Thank you for calling Bank of the Matrix, this is Heidi, how may I direct your call?" Only to return the next day with a signed affidavit from those who heard you answer the phone saying that you did such.
Finally - wouldn't it then be applicable that in the REAL world, having done your "homework" and return it timely, you would then be rewarded with a paycheck? If we're going to play real world, I think my child should get a paycheck. You can't pay the mortgage on letter grades...because "in the real world" a letter "B" doesn't buy the milk and eggs. How 'bout making it simple...just come up with an occupation wherein homework would be applicable so when my child finishes school, she can determine which "real job" she wants to have.
To make things easy - we live in a real world. You make up the rules for which is acceptable in your little teaching relm of "real world." Do you see how wonderful this is? YOU are actually IN CHARGE of the REAL WORLD! How about keep school work at the school. You send work home? You think you OWN my child? Do I send my child to school with a worksheet with various questions pertaining to the "human" skills in which I'm required as a responsible parent to instill? Do I take her away from your learning time to make her fill out essays from home with questions such as "You wanted a piece of gum from your mother, she said no, you took it anyway. When she confronts you, how do you tell her why you did what you did without lying? What should you have done? Write at least 5 sentences supporting your answer."
Haven't you ever heard the phrase "keep your work at work" we don't want to raise work-a-holics. Focus on the family. We need a separation of family life and school life. Do you realize that "in the real world" people get paid overtime for working past the set number of hours. What incentive do my children have to "work overtime" when an "A" doesn't buy the bread?
Tell you what? I'll teach my child not to steal, cheat and lie, I'll teach her hygiene, I'll teach her respect and responsibility in her home life, I'll teach her religion, I'll even teach her how to cook and be independent. And I won't make her do the dishes while she's at school if you don't make her do math when she's supposed to do the dishes. I won't pick her up from school because she didn't make her bed, if you don't make her write a report on the weather when she should be making her bed. I won't pull her in from recess to practice honesty if you don't keep her from playing with her friends after school to write a book report.
Deal?
Sincerely,
The mom.
