My 14 Year Old Has Just Received His Latest Homework.

[royfromaus]

Miss_____ has shared this year's 500 words competition with the English department and the focus this year is BLM.
Use your creativity to express your views on this vital movement. From the work we have seen so far, we know that you are more than capable of airing your views diplomatically, sensitively and with extreme empathy and compassion. In fact, some of your work so far has had us all in tears.



He doesn't have any views on it...shall I do the homework for him?

[Gromit]

// shall I do the homework for him? //

That is probably not a good plan.

If you don’t have an opinion, the best thing to do is work out what the question setter wants to hear, and give them that. It does not need to be truthful, or what you really think. The point is to get the question right, not give an honest answer.

[Mamyalynne]

It isn't really a right/wrong answer that is being asked for but a piece of creative writing from the viewpoint of the pupil who as it turns out has no opinion on the topic.

[AZardoz]

That is a loaded question, or assignment.
Of course there's an agenda & an expected response.

https://postimg.cc/CdfZK3bk

[Gromit]

Mamya,
It is a leading question so they obviously don’t want to hear that BLM is a crock of sh/t as royfromaus would tell them.

[royfromaus]

It isn't really a right/wrong answer that is being asked for




I'm sure you have heard of a loaded question, Mamya?

I don't indoctrinate my children and I won't allow lefty vegan teachers to indoctrinate them.

[ToraToraTora]

no, it's lefty trap.

[Gromit]

The point is to get the answer right even if it is a crrap question. Just tell them what they want to hear, get full marks and pass your course.

[Mamyalynne]

Of course it's loaded, I expressed myself poorly - I mean it isn't a right/wrong as in a mathematical equation.

When you first posted this I considered what the reaction of my daughters would have been at that age.

One would have challenged the Teacher about the wording then written why she thought the question was unfair.

The other would have done what she felt was needed of her simply to appease and get the homework done.

They are now both Mothers of children older than 14 and am sure they would approach it differently (in one case) now.

[AZardoz]

Good point Gromit.
They don't want students challenging the orthodoxy at universities, let alone high-school.
Go with the flow.

[ToraToraTora]

very irresponsible to even post such an assignment. Nothing positive can come from it.

[Gromit]

TTT
Except a pass mark.

[Mamyalynne]

It may be a fair topic for a class discussion but should certainly not form part of written course work.

[royfromaus]

TTT, she has nicked the assignment from https://inews.co.uk/culture/500-words-black-lives-matter-competition-blm-story-chris-evans-virgin-radio-how-apply-winner-460621 (lazy?)

[tomus42]

It's a trap isn't it. If he says the wrong thing he'll labelled as a racist and never forgiven.

[Gromit]

Tomus42
That’s why royfromaus should not answer the question, and the 14 year old should.
It is not even a proper assignment it is based on a Radio promotion. Just spend as little time as possible on it, and move on.

[webbo3]

send it back and tell them you want a meeting.

[tomus42]

//Just spend as little time as possible on it, and move on.//

I agree.

[Gromit]

Webbo3

// tell them you want a meeting. //

Yeah. The 14 year old won’t be at all embarrassed when his dad goes in to argue that BLM is lefty propaganda.

[calmck]

Having listened to the 500 word finals previously I think that the child is meant to write a story using BLM as a theme, not to state why black lives matter but maybe a story about friendship, bullying, or something like The Ugly Duckling. Somebody feeling different because of their race or something. Not political though

[ToraToraTora]

no need to talk about BLM at all just tell the teacher it's a very silly thing to ask a 14 year old kid to write about. No need to offer an opinion. Personally I'd be straiight up the school if this was my kid.