Dear Mrs Teacher,
I write on a very serious matter regarding my son, David. He appears to have
contracted the highly debilitating condition known as HARS (Homework Allergic
Reaction Syndrome). This condition
manifests itself, as I’m sure you’re aware, in extreme behaviours when
presented with homework. David is
willing to do almost anything to avoid doing homework; with the exception of
other work I have noticed – I kindly offered to write him a note if he agreed
to tidy up the garden but this treatment programme did not appeal and was
unsuccessful (and the garden is still a mess).
David is, as you know, a very lazy hard-working boy
so I, naturally, believe his statements regarding the palpitations, sweaty
palms and extreme psychic shock that he suffers when presented with
homework. I have, indeed, observed the
local contact dermatitis which makes him unable to sit still whilst working on
his homework.
I would therefore request that you assist me in employing a
highly intensive form of aversion therapy; I would like you to make sure that
he is completely overwhelmed with homework, every day. Our counsellor (also known as his Mum) thinks
that five hours per day should be sufficient to make the treatment effective.
Yours sincerely,
David’s Dad