Helping kids with homework
By Judy Evans
@JudyEv (339930)
Rockingham, Australia
September 1, 2021 9:18pm CST
MyLotter rakski (@rakski) wrote about helping her children with their homework. I know many parents do this but when I was young, you were expected to do your homework without help. Some parents would help if you got stuck but most were too busy. I know nowadays some parents go to a lot of trouble to help their children which is great in many ways as long as they're 'helping' and not actually 'doing' it.
But I was reminded of Vince telling us that, in his school days, one of his classmates read out an composition in class and the teacher said ‘Tell your mother she did a very good job of your assignment’ whereupon the student snapped back indignantly ‘Mum didn’t do it. Dad did.’
The photo is of a grass tree getting a helping hand to stay upright.
30 people like this
31 responses
@rakski (122951)
• Philippines
2 Sep 21
I am one of those who do the work by myself. I learn to do my own project by myself because my sisters will just give me the idea and the materials and let me do it. Both my parents were working then. Kids nowadays are really lucky to have parents who help them with their work.
And true though we help them, we should allow them to work on their own and be independent. As for my son, I have to help him more. I am now more like a shadow teacher for him. Have to call his attention when his attention falls short.
6 people like this
@Juliaacv (51193)
• Canada
2 Sep 21
That is so true.
My parents were both very busy and could not afford the time to 'do' my homework nor that of my 3 brothers.
I do remember my mother sitting with me on 1 occasion and helping me with my neatness in my math book, I disliked math and it was evident in my sloppy entries. She taught me alot about pride in my work, even if it may not be correct, to always have it look its best is the very least that I could do for my teacher as well as for myself.
5 people like this
@marguicha (223001)
• Chile
2 Sep 21
My parents explained when I did not understand but never did my homework. They did motivate me to learn that way.
4 people like this
@kaylachan (69682)
• Daytona Beach, Florida
2 Sep 21
When I got older, my parents didn't seem to have any faith in me, and wouldn't allow me to do my own research papers or anything. I felt guilty when it came to an easy I had to write for school. Because , while I physically typed it, my mother basically wrote it. Needless to say, things like that, plus stuff going on at home I couldn't graduate fast enough.
3 people like this
@kaylachan (69682)
• Daytona Beach, Florida
2 Sep 21
@JudyEv No. I know. Telling me what to say, while I typed it on a computer, isn't the same as me doing it myself.
1 person likes this
@allknowing (136405)
• India
2 Sep 21
In my case it was stitching. My sister would do it for me as I just hated stitching and I hate it even now. (lol)
2 people like this
@allknowing (136405)
• India
3 Sep 21
@JudyEv When I got engaged my mother told me to go for stitching classes. My husband bought me a sewing machine but when the truth was slowly out He used the machine and not I
1 person likes this
@JudyEv (339930)
• Rockingham, Australia
3 Sep 21
@allknowing I made children's clothes for our sons but that was as far as I got. 
1 person likes this
@toniganzon (72281)
• Philippines
2 Sep 21
Oh yes, when we were young we didn’t get help with our homework too. We must do it on our own. And i don’t remember helping my son with his as he prefers to do it on his own.
2 people like this
@toniganzon (72281)
• Philippines
6 Sep 21
My son finds it annoying if i would try to help. He find it intrusive. He’s a good student and a smart one. He would usually help his cousins. @JudyEv
1 person likes this
@LadyDuck (471500)
• Switzerland
3 Sep 21
@JudyEv I am pretty sure that the lass told her parents, he did not seem particularly "bright".
I still hate maths, but now I regret that I did not take more time to study Latin more in depth. I think we were too young to study Latin when I went to school.
I still hate maths, but now I regret that I did not take more time to study Latin more in depth. I think we were too young to study Latin when I went to school.1 person likes this
@DaddyEvil (137257)
• United States
2 Sep 21
Mom told me it was my homework and I needed to figure it out myself. I did help Pretty if she got stuck but I had to go to her teacher and ask her to show me how to do the "New Math"... What was wrong with the math we learned in school? That "New Math" sucked! It made no sense!
I liked Vince's story! 
I liked Vince's story! 2 people like this
@DaddyEvil (137257)
• United States
3 Sep 21
@JudyEv I don't know about reading. Pretty didn't need help with that.
1 person likes this
@wolfgirl569 (106263)
• Marion, Ohio
2 Sep 21
Thats a great way to tell on yourself I helped the boys figure things out if they needed help but made them do it. Except for with math. They came up with common core math and it made no sense at all.
I helped the boys figure things out if they needed help but made them do it. Except for with math. They came up with common core math and it made no sense at all.3 people like this
@LindaOHio (178568)
• United States
2 Sep 21
Cute story. I was on my own with my homework. If you needed help, you had to stay after school and get special help from the teacher. They usually didn't want to be there and weren't much help.
2 people like this
@JudyEv (339930)
• Rockingham, Australia
4 Sep 21
@LindaOHio Once, teachers were treated with respect. I wouldn't want to be one now either.
1 person likes this
@LindaOHio (178568)
• United States
3 Sep 21
@JudyEv They still get summers off and a lot of other holidays. I wouldn't mind being a teacher except for unruly students.
1 person likes this
@DocAndersen (54402)
• United States
2 Sep 21
i remember those days. I used to judge the school science fair (5th and 6th grade) and I was accused of being the hardest judge.
I marked down every project that was clearly done by the parents!
1 person likes this
@JudyEv (339930)
• Rockingham, Australia
3 Sep 21
@DocAndersen And was the poor 11-year old mortified or had he imbibed the parent's attitude? Win at all costs.
1 person likes this
@DocAndersen (54402)
• United States
3 Sep 21
@JudyEv i had a parent stand there yelling at me, because his child didn't win. I explained nicely three times that it was very clear an 11 year old did not build the electronic device demonstrated in the exhibit.
he kept saying, I built it, but my kid pushed the button.
wow, a grand career opportunity there
1 person likes this
@allen0187 (58582)
• Philippines
2 Sep 21
Helping children with their homework is fine but parents should know their limits.
1 person likes this
@allen0187 (58582)
• Philippines
2 Sep 21
@JudyEv they are not helping their child/children if that is the case.
1 person likes this
@JudyEv (339930)
• Rockingham, Australia
3 Sep 21
@allen0187 Exactly. The kids will only find it much harder later when the parents aren't there.
1 person likes this
@Bullshark (3477)
• Netherlands
3 Sep 21
What a terrible misjudgement from the teacher. He/she surely must have felt embarrassed when the student told him/her off...
1 person likes this
