Homework unnecessary evil

[Anonymous]

I agree that practice is important for some things. Esp. math. But some kids need more practice than others, e.g. some people just never learn to spell and others are great at it and it has nothing to do with practice. In any case, school is the place to practice these skills. Cut down on pointless learning content (stem-and-leaf plots? really? misguided algebra lessons in 4th grade? at least please teach it correctly!) and leave time to focus on essential skills. What I witnessed last year was the school leaving to the the parents to teach the multiplication tables. The teacher literally said "they can work on that at home...just make some flash cards."

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I can't wait for a study claiming that the amount of time spent practicing piano has no correlation with the mastery of the instrument.

There is no sound pedagogical evidence that learning a kinesthetic skill (e.g., an instrument, most sports, etc), is in any way equivalent to gaining mastery of concepts (e.g., what children do in school).

Kinesthetic skills require drilling to develop the necessary physical response. Mental learning does not.

Learning may or may not require practice. Like you said - there is proof that it does not. But even if we assume that it does not, so much of what kids learn at that age is really more a skill than an undersanding. Handwriting is a skill, arithmetics is a skill, reading is a skill, spelling is a skill, analyzing problems is a skill. That's at least 50% of all the learning in elementary school. Skip the homework and you may get people who understand the concept of multiplication, but can't multiply 5x6 without a calculator.

1. Why waste time memorizing multiplication tables or memorizing the spelling of words? Those skills are better learned in context, i.e., learn how to spell by reading and writing something engaging; learn math by doing empirical science experiments.

2. You have got to be kidding me if you think analyzing problems is a "skill" you can drill people to improve at. Analysis is a complex conceptual process and is best learned through experiential learning, NOT through drilling. Do you even have a degree in education, or are you just making things up?

[Anonymous]

That is correct.

If you talk to those graduate students in top schools, you will find out how important homework is.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Calm down. It is just a psychological gig.

What does that mean? Are you saying it isn't legit because it came from psychologists?

[Anonymous]

You can talk to me to find out just how important homework is. I'm the OP and was a graduate student in a top school. You will find that academics are probably the least concerned about their kids doing homework or being in the top schools. It's because that level of learning/research is very different than what you do in elem and HS.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:[2. You have got to be kidding me if you think analyzing problems is a "skill" you can drill people to improve at. Analysis is a complex conceptual process and is best learned through experiential learning, NOT through drilling. Do you even have a degree in education, or are you just making things up?

Pray describe the difference between "experiential learning" and "drilling" as applied to analyzing problems. You learn to analyze problems by (gasp!) analyzing problems. The more you analyze the better you are at it. Same with just about everything else.

[Anonymous]

OP here. I personally think practice problems are important for math and some other things, esp. preparing for tests. I am not against homework in HS, but it should be meaningful, and attention should be paid so that kids aren't doing hours of homework a night. There is more to life.

[Anonymous]

So, you are saying that "ES and MS" are too easy and consequently, it is meaningless to have too much homework.

Academics are probably the least concerned.... Is this assertion? with statistics support?

Anonymous wrote:You can talk to me to find out just how important homework is. I'm the OP and was a graduate student in a top school. You will find that academics are probably the least concerned about their kids doing homework or being in the top schools. It's because that level of learning/research is very different than what you do in elem and HS.

[Anonymous]

There is no sound pedagogical evidence that learning a kinesthetic skill (e.g., an instrument, most sports, etc), is in any way equivalent to gaining mastery of concepts (e.g., what children do in school).

Kinesthetic skills require drilling to develop the necessary physical response. Mental learning does not.

[Report Post]

Sounds like an empty drum full of hot air.

Data please? Pattern recognition? Neuronal stimulation and connections? What are the underlying mechanisms?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:So, you are saying that "ES and MS" are too easy and consequently, it is meaningless to have too much homework.

Academics are probably the least concerned.... Is this assertion? with statistics support?

Not sure what you mean here. ES and MS are not too easy. Those are precious years of learning...but it should be whole child learning. 6 hrs of school per day is enough for those grades. Some HW in middle school is fine, if it's meaningful. But not enough to cause stress, not enough to overload backpacks. None of that is healthy.

Academics: just personal experience from the people I hang out with. Not scientific. The point is the way subjects are taught and drilled often has little to do with how work in those fields is actually conducted. Creativity, curiosity, ingenuity...those are some of the things that drive success in academia and other fields...not things that can be taught by endless homework assignments, though they can be destroyed by excessive work demands that harm a love of learning. I'm not against any homework after 5th or 6th grade, but personally I think excessive amounts are pointless and harmful.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:You can talk to me to find out just how important homework is. I'm the OP and was a graduate student in a top school. You will find that academics are probably the least concerned about their kids doing homework or being in the top schools. It's because that level of learning/research is very different than what you do in elem and HS.

+1000

signed,

a mom with a PhD

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:You can talk to me to find out just how important homework is. I'm the OP and was a graduate student in a top school. You will find that academics are probably the least concerned about their kids doing homework or being in the top schools. It's because that level of learning/research is very different than what you do in elem and HS.

+1000

signed,

a mom with a PhD

Bullshit.

Signed,

A dad with a MD/PhD

[Anonymous]

Mr. Doctor Doctor Dad, I know you did not have as much homework in ES and MS as your children currently do. So do you think you had the right amount to get you where you are, or do you think your kids with their heavy packs have the right amount?

[Anonymous]

I'm 12:53. I think there is marginally more homework now than when I was a kid, but I don't trust my memory that far back too much. I think the amount now is heavy, but the challenge more comes from the repetitiveness rather than the volume. If it was more creative and diverse, it wouldn't be so onerous.

The comment that really ticked me off was the PP who said that academics cared the least about their kids doing homework. Couldn't be farther from the truth, at least in our house and amongst our friends/colleagues.

I firmly believe that academic/professional success is more dependent on work ethic and perseverance rather than any "natural" gifts or special innate talents. More than anything else, I think hard work got me where I am. A good work ethic is one quality that I most deeply hope that I instill in my kids. Completing every homework assignment, on time, and as well as it can be done is non-negotiable in our house.

[Anonymous]

They learn a good work ethic in school though. At least they should. Today's families are very different from our generation. Parents work outside the home and kids are in aftercare. Let them unwind or engage in family time in the evenings instead of piling homework on.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:That is correct.

If you talk to those graduate students in top schools, you will find out how important homework is.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Calm down. It is just a psychological gig.

What does that mean? Are you saying it isn't legit because it came from psychologists?

But, we are not in Korea. Or India. The best and brightest at top US schools, the people who will set the world afire are emphatically NOT homework / cram school / memorizing drones. Quite the opposite.

Where we're you born and reared, just curious?