Gifted Issues Discussion homepage Forums Learning Environments Homework

I have a question (or set of questions) about the amount of homework handed out in most or nearly all schools today:

Am I the only one who thinks that schools are going way overboard on the homework thing?

I mean, do seven-year-olds really need to do homework? Shouldn't they just be running around and having fun after school? Don't they need a chance to process what happened all day?

School is long and tiring and I don't see why kids need to keep working after they've already been sitting still and working for six or seven hours. What are they doing in school all day that they have to work more at home? If they were learning concepts properly and getting practice in class, should they really need extra work? Especially if classes were ability grouped?

It seems to me that placing crushingly huge homework loads on kids (or giving any at all in the lowest grades) deprives them of a chance to play, stifles creativity, and, in a way, turns them into small versions of workaholic adults. I also have concerns about the effects of too much work on brain development.

I realize that some homework is necessary in high school (but not the 2-3 hours/day stuff I hear about from friends). Maybe a little in 7th and 8th grades. Sometimes. Before that, I'm not convinced.

Val

Me neither.

GS10 is in the 5th grade. This is the first year he's had homework on any regular basis. It takes him 5 minutes, and he's done. His math teacher is assigning a paper and specifically tells the kids they can't do it at school.
I've heard complaints for the last 5 years from people who say their kids get too much homework from the same teacher/school.
At this point I am glad he has a teacher who is specifically assigning homework. GS needs to learn a little more responsibility for doing it, and turning it in on a consistant basis.

I do think if an elementary aged child has more than 15-30 minutes on a regular basis, talk to the teacher!

Gotta agree...I remember reading somewhere online where a group of parents actually led a rally against a school board concerning homework. They stated the exact same things as Val in their arguments and if I remember correctly, they actually made an impact and homework became something like optional or there was a huge decrease - I can't remember.

If DS7 did all his Gr1 homework it would take around 20 minutes each day, and DS5 only around 5 minutes (he only gets readers). It might not sound like a lot, but it really feels that way to small boys, and the busy mother who has to make time for it after work/school but before dinner.

I agree with you - I don't think it should be a regular burden for such young children. And it's so very repetitive - the teacher has explained that it's about "consolidation." I think it tends to reinforce the message that school is about uninspiring routine.

And I alway ignore the "homework" involving making beds, helping with chores etc. I find it an inappropriate intrusion into home life. It seems pretty common around here though.

What?! I'd really be raising a fuss with that! It is not the schools business to tell me what a child should or should not do to help the family.

Agreed.

Kids who are ability grouped and who are moving at an appropriate pace in school shouldn't need extra uninspiring work (unless we want to kill any love of learning that they have).

Val

I'd like to, but I'm trying not to let my reputation as a difficult parent get out of hand.

There's quite a book industry against homework - there's The Homework Myth by Kohn and then The Case Against Homework has draft letters to write and such to get things changed. Might be worth a try, anyone upset about this! DS5's school does not set (compulsory, written) homework by policy, for which we are very grateful.

I don't mind a little homework here and there, but I do mind the QUALITY of it. DS's teacher does give him challenging things - usually taking less than 15 minutes for him to complete. But, the other kids get coloring worksheets and whatnot. To me, giving homework just to give homework makes no sense. DS is only in K, so it's really not necessary at all yet.

BUT, I think homework is important for older kids because once they get into college, they will have to manage their time outside the classroom to get assignments completed.