The wearing of Kumon medals in school should not be allowed!

[grants1000]

It's an out of school activity, nothing to do with school. Its nothing other than boasting and one upmanship.

If parents want to do it, great, but it is unrelated to any school work/reward system. Wear it at home and in non school time.

DS2 upset he had no medal, he does not need to do kumon. He can't understand why he does not have one to wear in school, he's 6, and I have explained that some of his friends do something separate outside school, now he wants to do it! £55 a month for being talk the same as school, no!

So I will have him upset again tonight as there was a lot of medal boasting in the playground this morning!!

shall I talk to the teacher?

[Retropear]

Just advertises the foolish parents for all to see.

To be honest kids are allowed to take in ballet trophies,music certificates a lot can't afford,can't see the difference.

[CurlyhairedAssassin]

Don't see what's wrong with taking it on for a show and tell type scenario and then it goes back in their tray till the end of the day. Wearing it all day would be wrong.

[grants1000]

Yes I totally agree for show and tell, anything goes, but all day long, no

[Periwinkle007]

yep I would say show and tell is fair enough but I don't think they should be wearing them. Actually having the medal is no different to swimming/ballet/drama/football and so on but only for showing them and then putting them away.

[ReallyTired]

I see it as no difference to dd getting a 5 metre swimming badge or a child passing grade 1 piano or a child passing a belt in judo or karate. I think its reasonable for children take pride in their achievements outside school. There is a difference between being proud of an achievement and being a show off. My four year old daughter is really proud of being able to swim 5 metres and that she has moved up a swimming class. She is lucky to have swimming lessons, but she has worked really hard.

Does your child do any extra curricular activites? There are lots of worthy things that cost a lot less than Kumon.

[Jenny70]

I wouldn't be happy either, sets up lots of angst for children not in kumon or those in kumon not yet at that stage (I guess medals are stagerelated). Chat to teacher about rules for personal items, mention medals if you like, otherwise can johnnie bring in cars, lego, teddies etc?

[AbbyR1973]

At the school DS's go to, all out of school achievements are celebrated as part of the weekly sharing assembly. There hasn't to my knowledge been any kumon badges given out but there have been all sorts of things from awards for music and dance events, medals for taking part in sponsored events, cups for sporting achievement out of school, badges and certificates for taking part in the library reading scheme over the summer etc etc. Personally I think it is lovely that the school recognises endeavours that children have made out of school and indeed this, I believe, contributes to their education. I wouldn't be a bit bothered if someone brought in a kumon medal, and if DS wanted to do it because of that and I felt it was unnecessary/ inappropriate I would explain my reasoning to him. Perhaps there is some other activity your DS does out of school that he would like to share- could you explain it that way? Or is there something inexpensive he could be interested in taking up??
Actually I think it does encourage children to think about after school activities, some of which, such as the library reading are free. DS asked to start violin lessons after seeing 2 older girls playing. I also think it is generally good for DC's self esteem, particularly if a wide variety of activities are shared in this way it can show children that there are many different avenues in which they can be successful (perhaps important if some DC's are find academic achievement more challenging) and that hard work/ effort is recognised and rewarded.

[Periwinkle007]

I don't think the OP was complaining about people bringing them in for something like show and tell and to be proud of their achievements it was more (as I understand it) about them wearing them in school all day. surely noone wears their swimming badges on their school jumper or wears a ballet medal?

[flootshoot]

WTF is Kumon? Off to google...

[Iamnotminterested]

Well I'm just wondering why several six year old kids are doing Kumon in year1? 2?

Is it a crap school?

[Sparklingbrook]

There are medals?

[mrz]

There are bronze silver and gold medals according to Kumon Sparklingbrook
I don't see they are any different to awards for any other out of school activity much as I disagree with the Kumon circus.

[FormaLurka]

When I was at school we wore bronze/silver/good swimming medals. Frankly I can't see the difference.

[FormaLurka]

..gold

[grants1000]

The school is an awesome state primary school that has great results, I have no idea why they feel the need to do it. If anyone is struggling they really help at school.

[grants1000]

I think two Mum's decided to do it and about 4 others felt like that meant that they should! Baa Baa Baa!

[saintlyjimjams]

People wore life saving swimming badges at school, in my distant memory I vaguely remember wearing a library good readers circle badge (had to read so many books to get it) I don't really see the difference (nb none of my kids have ever done kimon)

[marriedinwhiteisback]

We did it and found it very helpful. We never took the medals or badges or certificates into school though and our dc were jealous of the other dc who weren't made to do 10 minutes of extra number work a day.

Not everyone gets a badge for everything; what are you going to do if your lad isn't picked for class rep or house captain, etc?

[SatinSandals]

It is just another out of school activity. It isn't one that I would consider. Does he do any other activities? I would tell him that everyone does different things and some get badges and he is bound to get one sometime.

[Ziggyzoom]

Whilst I don't see the need for the children to wear them all day and I have no connection to Kumon I think you are letting this affect you too much. At 6, your child is old enough to accept that other children get opportunities that they don't get. I'd tell my child why we don't do it - ie waste of money, too expensive, too much too young etc and leave it at that.

[RawCoconutMacaroon]

Kumon has medals? Is that a new thing or were my kids really crap a Kumon (circa 2005) ?

[Hulababy]

Would it bother you if it was a badge for swimming or gymnastics? Maybe a dance or drama one? How about one of the badges given for the summer library challenge? Or one of the Children's University ones?