Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The homework for my second grader in MCPS usually consists of math equations and writing. I don't think it is a waste of time.

it should be done in school.

Homework is reinforcement of what's being done in school. It allows people to see what and how their kids are doing with what's being taught during the school day.

Or is it that you're just too lazy to ensure that your kids do the homework? You must be one of those parents who think that all parenting responsibilities should be provided by school staff between 9am and 3pm daily so that you can "enjoy" your evenings.

Anonymous wrote:The homework for my second grader in MCPS usually consists of math equations and writing. I don't think it is a waste of time.

it should be done in school.

Sorry completely off topic. One has nothing to do with the other. Listening to teachers and following directions is very different then listening to cops and obaying mindless laws.

Anonymous wrote:So you tell your kids they don't have to listen to teachers but they have to listen to the cops? What if they don't want to because they think the laws are pointless?

Focus, please. We're talking about homework -- particularly homework in the younger grades of elementary school.

So you tell your kids they don't have to listen to teachers but they have to listen to the cops? What if they don't want to because they think the laws are pointless?

Anonymous wrote:

18:23 that's a straw man argument

Not so sure. Teaching a child that he doesn't need to do his homework is disrespectful of the teachers.

Yes. That's what we're talking about -- homework, and teachers.

Here's what we're not talking about: the police.

The homework for my second grader in MCPS usually consists of math equations and writing. I don't think it is a waste of time.

18:23 that's a straw man argument

Not so sure. Teaching a child that he doesn't need to do his homework is disrespectful of the teachers.

18:23 that's a straw man argument

Not hadn't *done* in class.. I meant hadn't covered in class. If it was unfinished work sent home I had no problem with that.

I liked the odd worksheet to come home in early ES. I could see what ds was working on and how he was doing with it. He had reading every night, and worksheets every few nights. When something came home that made no sense (IE: work they hadn't done in class) I questioned it. After a couple of times of questioning it, those things stopped coming home.

Are these the same parents who teach their children not to respect police officers? I'm beginning to understand why we have a problem.

What teacher hands out mindless work?? What school are you in? The teachers in our school hasn't done this yet. The sheets that we get are work for my son. Maybe that's the main difference. The parents her that validate tossing out the homework are you saying that you let your kids ditch all of their homework in the early years??

My children are respectful and hard working in school. They know plenty about responsibility both there and at home. I'm confident that they will grow into wonderful adults. Right now, they're children. The argument that they need to do homework in the early grades or they will make lazy employees later is ridiculous. They do very well on their classwork and tests and they don't do much homework. I don't see any link between their performance and homework when they are young and you'll be hard pressed to find research supporting it's benefits.

We highly respect our children's teachers and teach our children to do the same. They must do what the teachers ask when in school. But when the bell rings, I'm responsible for deciding what is best for my child. Socializing, playing an instrument or playing a sport takes precedence over worksheets. We are raising psychologically healthy children.

I do feel it is different in the later grades when worksheets disappear and students are writing and using higher order skills. However, the debate here seems to be about early grades.

There is some value in developing habits. That is one skill the teacher may be fostering. I agree that if it takes hours, there is a problem, but fifteen minutes? Give me a break.