When Homework Gets too Much

[killersheep]

Did I say I dont? The kids better at anatomy or geography then you are,Im good at geography,and I think he knows more then me, I keep it loose for him,and if you do,you get amazing results from him. I was just feeling that theres a line between pushing a kid, and making it seem like being intelligent is a punishment all on its own

I am quite impressed that you know what my anatomy and geography skills are, seeing as how we haven't met. So far you have gone from saying the assignment is too hard, to saying that it's an issue because your son can't be the equivalent to Tony Robbins at speech. Then it's your teachers fault because it isn't fun. Then you go to saying his handwriting isn't good enough, then you insult me saying my geography and anatomy knowledge are less than a second graders. Then you go back to saying you kid is being pushed too hard, although you stated yourself he is capable of doing the assignment and that you have made it interesting.

They are all just excuses. And I will challenge you to any anatomy or geography competition you choose.

Well,all things considered,my wife has her degree in sports medicine from PSU,and he reminds her of stuff she's forgotten, it was a relatively safe roll of the dice last year he got interested in anatomy,and we ended up having to get him college level books just to keep up with him.
The year before that it was geography,we ended up having to stash our gazateers or hed be dragging them all over the house.
And as far as insulting you,I did also point out,that he knows more about human anatomy then I do. Now you can be "insulted that I said he has a better knowledge of anatomy then you do" of course that would entail me being insulted by myself.
I didnt say he was your every day 2nd grader,when he decides he's interested in something he becomes lazer focused and will learn everything he can about a subject.He prpbably knows more about Total Drama Island then either of us,but just as my encyclopedic knowlege of Looney Tunes didnt help me in later life,I doubt that knowledge comes up on a job interview when he's 21. Hell when I was in 2nd grade,I probably knew more about Mako Sharks then any adult around me,they just fascinated me,he's just fascinated by different things then I am.
I have absolutely no idea whatsoever what made him get fascinated in those two subjects at an age when I was fascinated in knowing the exact amount of homeruns Hank Aaron hit,but there it is.He's not particullarly interested in sports so it frees up his time for other activities,something I envy of him,because I could probably have done more with the knowledge he's interested in,then knowing Ken Reitz was a 3rd baseman the Cardinals acquired from the Giants who ended up getting blackballed from major league baseball and ended up playing for the Bees. Or that David Bowie changed his name from David Jones to avoid confusion with Monkee Davey Jones. Its these little factoids Im convinced filled the space in my brain where algebra could have taken root.
But back to point,you cant say Kenyan food and customs arent too difficult a task for a second grader, and then say you should be offended that the same second grader was capable about knowing more about human anatomy then yourself. And you cant go back to the saw that his handwriting is bad,so is most doctors,my handwriting is atrocious, when Im working on buisness I make my wife take notes,so that way we'll be able to read it later.
If he had to give a handwritten oral presentation on anatomy,I wouldnt worry, but food is not his forte. Food as far as he's concerned consists of the cereal/poptart group the spaghettio/hotdog on a bun with a wavy line group, and the turn up his nose at whatever I made for his dinner group

I still didn't see the part where you explain why this assignment is too much. You didn't mention anything about customs before other than the food they eat. Certainly you can slag me and change the topic all you want, but you still haven't given a good argument to substantiate your initial point.

Reasons you have alleged
1. The topic is too advanced for him.
You then stated he is capable of doing the assignment
2. The topic is punitive to him.
You then stated you were capable of making it interesting to him
3. His handwriting is not good enough to read by himself during his presentation
You cannot make me believe, that he will be unable to read basic food products.
4. Kenyan foods are too advanced for a second grader
This is much more basic than you make it sound, simply what food they eat is the topic you initially claimed. By second grade and his upbringing with the foods you prepare he cannot possibly be unfamiliar with basic food staples like corn and potatoes.

I don't see where your lack of confidence in your son comes from, are you just gonna say "if you don't like it, don't do it". Your teacher obviously feels you son is not only capable of this assignment, but also that your son should be pushed to excel.