freshpopcorn wrote: » I think there are a few factors here. Does the school do much PE? Are they doing the active flag,etc. How was the weather during these days? IE was it stuck in during a wet lunch time. I'm fairly sure we got shown videosbduring wet lunch times as well but we were free enough to talk and play games also. Were they allowed to do this or were they told they had to sit in silence and watch the video. Was it just teachers trying to be nice in the lead up to Christmas. Was it an reward that the children got for positive behaviour,etc. Could the kids be over dramatic about the amount of TV was shown.
Stateofyou wrote: » Thanks for the feedback. Occasionally they do games, but it's usually being made to stand or sit against a wall to watch t.v. I collect from school every day and I ask how the day was, what was done during lunch, etc. Most times I hear what was on the t.v on their breaks. I think tv should be rare, and young children should almost always be playing instead and getting the energy out. Weather was bad at these times so stuck inside and watching t.v., otherwise they go out if weather is good. Hall is big enough to do games and play inside... I did put it down to teachers being nice prior to Christmas and I could see on the last day or two before the break, but there was a solid week and a bit more where they seemed to be doing little else. No homework given either. Reward for positive behavior was a class pajama party before school was let out. I don't think I could put it down to being dramatic or over generalizing as I'm asking each day vs being told or complaining about "always watching" etc.
B.A._Baracus wrote: » You're worry about that Shi*e?
Stateofyou wrote: » Move along if you've nothing to add. Thanks.
NIMAN wrote: » I'd not be happy if it was my kids school OP.
Smashmouth wrote: » Surely the teachers can come up with a more physically or mentally stimulating way to pass the time than that. Sounds like pure carelessness and laziness on their part.
freshpopcorn wrote: » So by the sounds of it on dry days the kids are out and wet days they are inside in the hall. How many people can this hall accommodate and how many classes are in it at lunch time? I know when I was at primary school on wet days people ate there lunch in the hall and went back to there class room to play board games, etc.( I never really heard of a whole school playing, running inside unless it's a tiny school on a wet day). This was a large enough school and there was only a few teachers wondering around supervising. I doubt this would be allowed now and that's why they are all kept in the hall. Would the hall be safe to run around in. I know in most schools classes yards are generally separated but this would be hard to do in a school hall. Some would consider it dangerous having sixth class and junior infants in such an enclosed space playing. The Pyjama party was probally a reward but there's generally lots of other little one's given also. One thing I know from speaking to any teacher I know nothing is really done during the week of the holidays. They are generally bits and pieces happening around the school and nobody is really settled.
Nina Jealous Symbolism wrote: » This may sound a bit extreme, but have you talked to the school about it?
Stateofyou wrote: » Not sure how many the hall can accommodate. 130-150? It's a small but newly upgraded rural school this year. One of the reasons this is on my mind is because it sounds like there's a lot of messing around in the classrooms based off what my child is telling me and other parents as well. Wondering if a lack of opportunity to burn off some energy is partly to blame. I just clarified with my child that it's only ever the classroom they watch films in. Hall is for games only. All grades would be together at breaks outside, 2 grades would be together for PE in the hall. Mostly they watch films during both breaks vs playing games in the hall. This is all going to be adding up to ton of tv being watched in school due to poor weather. So, because it may be dangerous for all classes to play together in a hall, that's the reason they're stuck in the classrooms watching tv more often than not? Why can't the breaks be staggered then so classes closer to each other can mix better? It seems odd to me that an entire week + of learning is burned before the holidays before they're off for 2 whole weeks.
freshpopcorn wrote: » One thing to remember is remember is lots of halls can seat 150 but it wouldn't work with 150 all running around unless it's a very big hall. Class room behaviour is another issue. It may depend on of kids have needs, poor class room management from the teacher or your kid might be over dramatic about little incidents. Incidents are going to happen. This is something your going to have to talk to the class teacher about and go in with a level head. They'll probally remove the TV and just have sit down games on wet days. I doubt you'll get them to organise physical activity. I could never imagine staggered breaks working. It would be almost home time before some classes got a break. SNAs are shared between classes and take different breaks to teachers. Some teachers also are on supervision and lunch times and others aren't. I could see it working to be honest. Generally schools do very little in the week before the summer or Christmas holidays but the curriculum is generally covered. Teacher who do try and do much generally find they get no where.
freshpopcorn wrote: » PS when you mention grades are you from outside of Ireland?
LC2016 wrote: » Putting the whole school into the hall and allowing them to run riot sounds like a complete safety hazard. It’s normal for the teacher to put on some sort of movie or something if the children are being kept inside. I know of teachers who might put on children’s news or something educational or do a little movement break inside the classroom after lunch if the children don’t get out.Remember it’s the teacher’s break as well as the children’s break during lunchtime. Usually one or two teachers would be on yard duty or corridor duty if kept inside and expecting them to control hundreds of children running around in an enclosed area is a bit crazy. It sounds like your child’s teacher was just being nice and trying to keep them entertained during their break and I’m sure the rest of the school day is of educational benefit to your child.
Stateofyou wrote: » Thanks for all the insight, really appreciate that. Even organising some games or at least an educational video when they're stuck inside would be preferable alright.
Stateofyou wrote: » No, but my family and I spent a considerable time outside Ireland so some things have stuck, we're in a weird transition phase these past couple years
Stateofyou wrote: » I also just remembered that the youtube video in my kids classroom last week was Fortnight, and "only the lads" were interested and apparently the girls were all annoyed. We don't allow that game (yet) in our home so I was taken aback that they're watching the videos in school.
c.p.w.g.w wrote: » Fortnight is rated 12's...Are the kids in the class that age?
LC2016 wrote: » Is this bit definite? For the children to be watching YouTube videos during their break, it would require the teacher to stay inside the classroom and to be selecting different ones unless the children get free rein of the computer? Or else does the teacher play one long video? The only staggered break times I’ve come across is splitting up the infants and 1st-6th. The infants would go out earlier and be supervised by infants teachers. 1st-6th would be split up into different yards at the same break time supervised by different teachers. However, if it rains they would all stay inside the classroom.
Stateofyou wrote: » Just asked my kid about the youtube last week, and was told that the Fortnite video was chosen by a few of the boys in the class, and the "teacher's helper" was there in the classroom with them. It was on a computer which plays through a projector.
marto501 wrote: » Just a little curious op. You seem to take everything your child tells you as complete truth, but she is a very young child and they do tend to get a bit mixed up when it comes to details. Have you approached the school at all?
