Poll: Homework Elimination: yea or nay?

[Anonymous]

There is definitely a LOT of wasted time in school, even in elementary school. I'm not talking about kids having fun and doing interesting, non-academic activities, I'm talking about a lot of time spent sitting, waiting, and standing in line, waiting their turn, or waiting for kids to be quiet so the teacher can teach.

If you don't believe me, take a day off of work and go shadow your child in school for the entire day, to see exactly how much of their time is being wasted. It's unbelievable.

[Anonymous]

23:33 ITA. This why homeschooling can be done in half the time.

I believe homework in elementary should be limited to reading, reading, reading, 30 minutes a night - either to self or part-self, part read-aloud, plus 5 minutes of math facts, 5 minutes of spelling review, and maybe a very occasional project with parental oversight to help with organizational skills while the kids are still willing to listen to the parent.

[Anonymous]

8:33 Five minutes? Students will never learn their multiplication tables.

I agree that there's too much homework in the early ES years but barely any homework through what grade, five? Nah. Let's find something in the middle.

[Anonymous]

There is definitely a LOT of wasted time in school, even in elementary school. I'm not talking about kids having fun and doing interesting, non-academic activities, I'm talking about a lot of time spent sitting, waiting, and standing in line, waiting their turn, or waiting for kids to be quiet so the teacher can teach.

If you don't believe me, take a day off of work and go shadow your child in school for the entire day, to see exactly how much of their time is being wasted. It's unbelievable.

Welcome to Life.

And to the OP: Like most people here, you seem to think that because you went to school, you are qualified to give bold recommendations on what is worthy or not worthy homework.

That's fine, I guess, as long as you don't point your accusing finger at your DC's school or teacher when your kid scores on the low end of those standardized tests you count on to judge how awesome your school is.

[Anonymous]

Hate hate hate homework. Rarely appropriate for elementary school children. Zero evidence supporting a link between homework, learning or later success. Doing a lot of homework makes kids good at doing a lot of homework. It does not make them smarter, richer, nicer, more creative or more successful. I'd ban it in a flash.

[Anonymous]

I would drive an extra hour every morning in exchange for a homework-free school.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

There is definitely a LOT of wasted time in school, even in elementary school. I'm not talking about kids having fun and doing interesting, non-academic activities, I'm talking about a lot of time spent sitting, waiting, and standing in line, waiting their turn, or waiting for kids to be quiet so the teacher can teach.

If you don't believe me, take a day off of work and go shadow your child in school for the entire day, to see exactly how much of their time is being wasted. It's unbelievable.

Welcome to Life.

And to the OP: Like most people here, you seem to think that because you went to school, you are qualified to give bold recommendations on what is worthy or not worthy homework.

That's fine, I guess, as long as you don't point your accusing finger at your DC's school or teacher when your kid scores on the low end of those standardized tests you count on to judge how awesome your school is.

"Welcome to life?" Do you have to wait for everyone else in your office to be doing something just so in order for you to be productive?" Life is NOWHERE near as controlling as nor as inefficient as a school environment. Well, except maybe gov't jobs. Ask any tutor. They will tell you that they can teach most kids something in one hour that the class spent a week learning.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

There is definitely a LOT of wasted time in school, even in elementary school. I'm not talking about kids having fun and doing interesting, non-academic activities, I'm talking about a lot of time spent sitting, waiting, and standing in line, waiting their turn, or waiting for kids to be quiet so the teacher can teach.

If you don't believe me, take a day off of work and go shadow your child in school for the entire day, to see exactly how much of their time is being wasted. It's unbelievable.

Welcome to Life.

You think?

My life isn't like that, anymore, except when I appear for jury duty or am otherwise in a situation where people value my time not at all, and have all the power.

My life in elementary school WAS like that, and in junior high as well -- once I got to high school (and in the honors classes) things improved somewhat .

[Anonymous]

At least 60% of the time children spend in school is spent on non-educational activities: to go inside, putting stuff away, waiting for other kids to arrive, waiting for other kids to finish, waiting for other kids to be quiet, waiting for other kids to finish work, waiting to talk to the teacher, waiting to go to the bathroom, waiting to eat, eating, waiting to go outside, playing outside, waiting to go inside, putting stuff away, waiting for others to put stuff away, waiting for other kids to sit and be quiet, repeat, repeat, repeat.

Which is why teachers assign homework, because with all the waiting around kids do, there really isn't much time for learning at school. Also, one reason why smaller classes and smaller schools are generally more effective. Fewer kids=less waiting.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:23:33 ITA. This why homeschooling can be done in half the time.

I believe homework in elementary should be limited to reading, reading, reading, 30 minutes a night - either to self or part-self, part read-aloud, plus 5 minutes of math facts, 5 minutes of spelling review, and maybe a very occasional project with parental oversight to help with organizational skills while the kids are still willing to listen to the parent.

THIS!

[Anonymous]

I don't understand parents who find that something does not work for their kid and so want to abolish it for all kids . . .if your kid is getting too much homework, talk to his/her teacher, but the idea that your personal experience is transferable to everyone else is absurd.

p.s. I just moved to NW DC and I am seeing a lot of this . ."my kid needs X, so I want the principal to provide X for all kids" . .it still blows my mind

[Anonymous]

I don't understand parents who find that something does not work for their kid and so want to impose it for all kids . . .if your kid is getting too little homework, talk to his/her teacher and have them assign some more for your homework loving kid, but the idea that your personal experience is transferable to everyone else is absurd.

[Anonymous]

The same is true for parents who want zero homework. This debate has been going on for a decade.

14:43 I disagree, if your child wants more homework, do outside enrichment, do not burden the teacher with your entitled requests!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Brush up on your writing skills before you take your idea to the streets.

Is that really necessary? Do you want to deter people from asking questions or voicing their opinions because they're afraid they'll be called out by an anal grammar-freak?

I agree. The lady was looking for feedback on her subject, not to have someone inform them that their writing skills are not to par.

[Anonymous]

I don't have a beef with homework, although my 2nd grader hates it. And as a WOHM single mom of her and a toddler, homework does not add any joy to MY life, either.

I think that if a child is achieving certain grade levels, and the parents want to waive homework, that should be OK. A child who is struggling with the material may need the extra practice. Isn't that what homework is supposed to be? Extra practice and reinforcement of skills learned in school?

I think that having to be responsible for homework also teaches the kids about staying organized and being responsible for things - and the consequences of failing to complete an assignment. All of which are valuable skills in adult life.

So, all things in moderation, I guess. Including homework.