Uh-oh.

[velvetpage]

One of my parents wants to specifically discuss the small amount of homework their son is getting, and why.

I have a feeling my answer won't appeal to them, but here it is for your edification, at least:

1) The research shows that the traditional types of homework don't work - that is, they don't improve the student's learning or work habits as much as previous generations might have thought.
2) I can't mark work that goes home, because I can't tell for sure whose ideas are in it - the student's, or the parent's, or an older sibling's. So if it goes home before I've at least looked at a draft, I can't use it for marks. (I do occasionally ask students to finish almost-complete work at home, if I've looked at it and seen and that they're on the right track and their own ideas are sufficient.) I'll often ask a kid to do a good copy of a corrected draft at home for that reason.
3) Other types of learning should be taking place at home, and I'd rather not interfere extensively with those - karate, music, soccer, cooking with Mom, building things, and generally healthy play. As a corollary to that, I don't want either students or parents thinking that the things that are done in school can ONLY be assigned by a teacher, and are only valuable if a teacher sees them. If my kids come up with a story idea that doesn't fit the assignment I've given them, I tell them that I think they should write that story at home, and I'd be happy to look at it, because writing isn't something that should be limited to school. Ditto research ideas that we don't have the time for in school. Asking me to give more homework is a way of making sure all school-type activities are school-related, which is counter-productive. (I think this is the one they're most likely to see the point of.)
4) We're not into the part of the year when there will be lengthy projects. I have to teach them a lot more basics before we're ready for those. So for a couple more months, there will be a lot of little, mostly in-class assignments, and then we'll get projects that will involve an at-home component.

Comments

[hendrikboom.livejournal.com]

Hooray for you! Many years ago, when my children were at primary scool and I went to a meet-the-teacher early in September, one of the parents asked the teachers about homework. She replied that the only reason they assign homework is because the parents demand it. She said there was no reason everything they need to learn from school can't be learned during school.

But she did assign homework. You seem to have the courage that she didn't!

[redeem147.livejournal.com]

I remember my husband and I complaining to a teacher on interview night that our kids had too much homework. The teacher seemed confused, and told us most parents want the homework.

I suppose they enjoy their kids having nervous breakdowns too.

[kibbles.livejournal.com]

I wish my son's teacher wouldn't let him do homework in class. He really NEEDS even a token amount because of his processing problems and organizational problems -- to work independently I really need him to have some at home assignments. But he's just too damn FAST. Just need him to have to bring something home, do somethng with it, bring it back. He disconnects at some point, just like he can't copy off a board but has to do near point copying. Frustrating.

The only classes I got A's in were ones where I did homework. Not doing homework meants Bs and Cs. I needed that extra out of school reinforcement. K does hers during homeroom. I don't miss the hours of homework she used to get a night.

[viktor-haag.livejournal.com]

I will gleefully use those points as ammunition against those teachers of my children who think it's a great thing to load them up with homework... 8)

Thanks!

[althea_valara]

If I ever have kids, I'd want them to have teachers like you. I'm firmly in agreement that much of learning happens outside of school. It's one of the reasons I've been leaning towards more educational gifts for the kidlets.

[lovmelovmycats.livejournal.com]

Interesting post. I love my mother so much! We did so much literature and history at home just for fun.

[geonarcissa.livejournal.com]

People WANT their kids to have homework?

[velvetpage.livejournal.com]

Some of them do. I find it's usually the European parents, and sometimes the Pakistani ones, who expect more homework than Canadian classrooms usually give. They assume their kids aren't doing well unless they're working on school work an extra three hours a day.

[kisekileia.livejournal.com]

*applauds you* So many kids are so over-scheduled and overworked these days. I'm glad you're trying to enlighten parents about one aspect of that.

[girlydoll.livejournal.com]

I’m one of those parents, I asked my kids teacher this and I saw the cringe, now I understand what she was thinking. I only asked though because Gabe has NO homework,, ever! Turns out he does all his work in class, there is nothing for her to give him other than
read a book.

There has been some buzz among the parents though that someone somewhere in the school board is thinking of adopting the Dutch school system (Fridays off and all holiday breaks and no summer) This goes hand in hand with our 8:10 to 2:30 school days that I am now faced with (yuck but I can drop off the kids at school now before going to work)

I have to admit, I really hope we do adopt that school system, it would be better for the kids, not to mention the parents who work all year round, as many of us do.