Homework and Kids - The Homework Myth

I listened to that entire discussion yesterday and almost called in lol. I have several opinions on this issue, from different viewpoints.

As a pupil:

I loved homework in primary school. It was interesting, fun and I had a thirst for learning. Even at age 4 yrs, off school with measles, I wanted to do activites/worksheets because I loved doing them. In high school, I was glad to have some homework because in lesson time, the teachers usually spent 90% of the lesson disciplining unruly and disruptive kids, so very little learning took place. I hated high school because I was also bullied, and the teachers did nothing about it. After changing schools I was so far behind because the last school had such a behaviour problem to deal with that the curriculum was often the least priority. Then I had tons of homework to catch up on what I had missed. That school then taught us the wrong curriculum in 3 subjects so by the time exams came around (in those days, little coursework was counted - it was mostly down to a final exam), we lost marks. In college and University, we had plenty of homework, naturally. Nothing that I couldn't cope with, although I typically left everything to the last minute (Procrastination Queen), yet still got good grades because I work well under short term pressure.

As a future parent:

I would be seriously worried about the amount of homework that teenagers have to do today. My sister's adopted 15 yr old daughter is a Grade A pupil in high school, yet she spends almost 6 hours a night on homework to get those grades. The recommended amount is apparently 3 hours per night. She is already suffering from migraines and stress at age 15. The curriculum has a high percentage of coursework which contribues to their final GCSE grades. They do homework assignments during the year, and the final exam carries less of a % on their final grade. This is good for those who panic in exams, as they have an opportunity to show what they really know in a less pressured situation throughout the year. However, those who complete coursework in Autumn may have forgotten all that they learned by the time summer comes around. For instance - I did a crash course in Spanish for 6 weeks in Autumn - we all did the simple exam/ oral test, yet 6 months later that Certificate I gained was useless as I had forgotten it all.

As a former infant teacher:

I can't speak for high school teachers but as a Primary teacher I can tell you that the pressure on teachers to provide homework comes from education bosses. As a teacher, I was (with all the teachers in the school) told to develop homework provision - I taught 4 and 5 year olds. We even had to have a homework target on our own personal Performance Management list of objectives. We as teachers had to differentiate the homework to match it to the children's individual needs. Not only were we slaving over lesson planning/preparation for most nights and all weekend, but we then had to plan and prepare homework for extra hours outside the school day. Then we had to find time to mark it all and set new targets for the children. How many hours a day do these education bosses think that teachers have? Hello! We have a life too! LOL!

Aside from the pressure to provide homework, we as teachers know that much of it is against our personal philosophy of how children learn best and against what we believe children need to grow - emotionally and intellectually. I agree that some children will simply head straight for the PS2/ PC etc and play video games all night. But if those children did homework every night and then had to go to school the next day, having had little time to relax and unwind, they will be less enthusiastic in class and their motivation will decrease over time.

Every child that started school in my class came to school with a positive attitude, a bright spark, a thirst for learning. What happens to them over time? In classes each year, they are drip-fed stickers, gold stars, merit points for the slightest thing. Yes, their self esteem receives a boost now and then when they receive praise but if you dripfeed it they become immune - it has no effect, no meaning. I give praise when it's due, and helpful, constructive criticism when appropriate. It seems that children do schoolwork and homework for the short term sticker that smells of bananas or the ticket that gives them 15 mins extra on the computer, and not for their overall personal growth and development.

Reinforcement is necessary for deep, long term learning. Sometimes homework is valid and necessary, and has a place in that child's free time after a school day. However, the best examples of learning that I can personally vouch for are related to emotion, the WOW factor. That will stay with the child far longer than any amount of worksheets - Death By Worksheet is all too common.

I feel that the time after the school day should be a time when parents can spend quality time with their children, and children can interact with their peers. Life isn't that rosy though, and I know that many children won't get that input from their parents, who may be working late or simply want their own personal free time to chill out from a stressful job. Interaction with peers can also bring its problems - maybe there would be peer pressure to do certain things (e.g. smoking, drugs, underage sex, joyriding, becoming part of a gang, bullying and competing to be thin).

Homework shouldn't just be something to keep children 'occupied' - it should be meaningful, well planned, relevant and achievable in a certain length of time. The issue of 'occupation of time' in relation to peer/family issues is another matter for debate. The impact of excessive homework has negative consequences that will really impact children and their desire to continue in education after high school, not to mention the health issues - migraines, stress etc.

Children are not really children these days - they grow up with the internet and mobile phones from an early age. They are fashion and weight conscious as young as 7 years old (I have seen this). They are restricted as to where they can play outdoors (cotton wool effect - protection from sexual predators etc). I could go on and on lol. I know, LET'S GIVE THEM A TON OF HOMEWORK!

Would you want to be a kid today?

 

I think that some homework can be useful in enforcing what the teacher has already taught. If I didn't understand something in the homework I'd go to the teacher, with just me there the teacher would have more time and patience to go over the lesson with me, helping me to understand the material.
Maybe not assigning as MUCH homework should be a priority. Kids shouldn't come home from 7 hours at school and have to put in another four or five hours into homework, even work isn't that grueling. This is also interesting because even the teachers say that you should only be spending 2-2 1/2 hours on homework total but then go on to assign you an hours worth of homework for one class, I had 8 a day (not all of them assigned this much, and our school required you to have at least one study period a day, but you get my drift). I just came out of the high school scene about two years ago and I remember working until the late hours of the night trying to complete homework assignments.
I think that homework can still have some benefits, but not five hours of homework.

I haven't had a chance to listen to this yet because I'm at work and my computer here lacks speakers, but when I get home I will most certainly be listening to this.