No Homework for the Kids

[Dead_And_Gone]

This year, they have done away with homework for our school district.
I don't know if it is just the elementary schools, but that policy is there.
(Since my boy goes there) They claim studies show that most homework
does not help the students. Whomever "They" are.

Some have voiced displeasure that THEIR school district still gives out
homework. Here is my take on it, but then I'm old school so to speak. lol

*********************
I was NOT happy when they took homework out of the schools here.
Just seems like they are still trying to make it easier for the students,
when I think they should be pushing them. I haven't met any other
parents that felt the same way though from casual meetings.

My take: Honor the over-achievers. People DO fail, don't sugar coat it.
They are trying to make everyone "Look" the same, but they are NOT
the same. You have winners and losers in life, don't screw them up now,
and society will pay for it later. At least they haven't gone to the report
cards of either "Pass" or "Fail" like some school districts I've heard of.

Make them earn their wings. We will have the smart kids dumbed down,
because they get NOTHING by being the best. The under-achievers are
patted on the back and told they are super, then find out in college or in
the work force that being lazy or dumb gets them nowhere but a kick in
the butt as they are shown the door.

[Apache Warrior]

Homework also teaches children how to think and motivation. It teaches them discipline and to reason problems out on their own without someone giving them the answers.
Apache

[ViTO]

No homework is simply RIDICULOUS !!!

Brandon would stay after school all the time to do his homework in study hall, but we make him come home to do it,
simply because we didn't know what he was having trouble with.

Its important for kids to have some work at home for this reason.
To many parents find it a chore to review their kids school performance.

Those parents suck !!

[Dead_And_Gone]

I think it is a bonding thing with parents/kids to do homework together.

Give me math problems, physics, history, ... and I'm Pretty dang good.
I've been relegated to "Just dad" now that he doesn't NEED me anymore.

[lady-MGS]

Wow.. Thats odd.. Definatley not like that around here. My 3rd graders teacher doesn't believe in homework but she works then like no other in class. There is one paper (50 in 1) that if they don't finish, they are supposed to bring home and do but thats it.

However, my 1st grader gets bombarded w/ homework. He's dyslexic and since it would take us 3-4 hrs to get it all done, I told the teacher I would decide what I felt was most important and do those. I try to pick at least one paper from each subject. Still that takes us awhile but I give him little breaks in between.

I admit that I like it when there is no homework but I don't mind it when they get it. I like to see what they are doing and really challenge them.

[Minerva]

Homework also teaches children how to think and motivation. It teaches them discipline and to reason problems out on their own without someone giving them the answers.
Apache

wise words.

[Thrashdragon]

Wow...usually the "homework problem" you hear about is too much homework, not none at all. There were times when I was in school that I'd get 1-2 hours worth of homework from 6 different teachers. That's a bit much...and it was one of the factors that led to my eventually dropping out of school (and it was 10 years before I went back).

I do think there should be some homework, but not every night, and not so much that kids don't have time to be kids.

[GeneralSnake]

Even though I never did any homework when I was in highschool, except for the last two years, I find this insane.
That is disgusting. NO HOMEWORK?! WTF is that?
What are they replacing it with? Those kids better have an 8 hour school day with NO breaks if they dont have homework. That is the only way I see to balance it.

[killa_zn]

wow alot of concerned parents, but thats natural of course.

now lets see this from the kids point of view... "YAAAYY!!"

[thedeadlyassassin]

I hated homework, and nowadays, it's still there to my students, but most the books have the answers in the back, and are required to give them the assignments (also in the same book).

It's hardly any real thing anymore, mostly just taken as a joke.

[freak93]

they should definetly bring back homework. The kids that have trouble can bring their grades up with homework by working for it. Smart kids can bring their grade down by being lazy. That seems like a good system to me, of course who am i to say whats right.

Look at the no child left behind bush gave us. Now the kids with mental disabilities can take the same standardized tests as the normal kids with the same time limit and no help from aids.

homework must be brought back. i never liked it, don't right now, and never will. but at least i understand that it is NECESSARY

[Tails_Kitsune]

Homework also teaches children how to think and motivation. It teaches them discipline and to reason problems out on their own without someone giving them the answers.
Apache

wise words.

+1. Now, I'm by no means a genius, but I made all 'A's throughout high school, challenged myself by taking the hardest classes available, and still had plenty of "social time" to spend with friends and family. I won't lie, there were days when I wished my homework would disappear, as I felt I had more important things to do. However, looking back, I realize homework is what made me strive to succeed.

I would definitely say my church, parents, chores, and homework is what pushed me to do my best and be my all. (there's one more here, but I don't want to throw the topic off what it should be ) Without homework, I would've been a lazy student who could've cared less for school.

I hope these people realize that even those with the most willpower will find it difficult to appreciate and learn from school while they are left to do as they please without any outside, personal learning time. Homework wasn't some assignment passed out so the teacher could give a grade, it is a learning tool to help shape your knowledge and character.

As Dead and Gone has touched on, there were plenty of times when my grandparents, parents, and even teachers sat down with me one-on-one and helped me understand the assignment, and helped me out when I got stuck. If it hadn't of been for this, I would've found school just a waste of time, stifling my motivation, and leading me to become a fraction of what I am today (especially character-wise). To see anyone honestly saying that homework is not beneficial makes me sick.

[Kenshin Himura]

Okay. If you had told me this about 12 years ago, I'd probably be screaming "YEEESSSSS!!" But, homework is necessary to learn what is required of students. That, or go to school for a few extra hours a day.

There's a lot of material that teachers have to cover, and in order to get through all or most of it, homework is just a mandatory part of school. Does anyone really like it? Of course not, but it's just a necessity in order to fully understand the subject.

I certainly don't despise and loathe every minute I spend doing homework, but it's obviously not something I eagerly anticipate. But, I realize the importance of it and take it quite seriously. As Apache mentioned, it teaches students to take up responsibility and do something beneficial for themselves. You'll never succeed in life if you simply stand by and let someone else do all the work for you, you've got to make an honest effort and take some responsibility for yourself and your actions.

It may not be the most enjoyable thing in the world, but it's necessary for students. Both in knowledge and for character.

[GeneralSnake]

Homework also teaches children how to think and motivation. It teaches them discipline and to reason problems out on their own without someone giving them the answers.
Apache

wise words.

+1. Now, I'm by no means a genius, but I made all 'A's throughout high school, challenged myself by taking the hardest classes available, and still had plenty of "social time" to spend with friends and family. I won't lie, there were days when I wished my homework would disappear, as I felt I had more important things to do. However, looking back, I realize homework is what made me strive to succeed.

I would definitely say my church, parents, chores, and homework is what pushed me to do my best and be my all. (there's one more here, but I don't want to throw the topic off what it should be ) Without homework, I would've been a lazy student who could've cared less for school.

I hope these people realize that even those with the most willpower will find it difficult to appreciate and learn from school while they are left to do as they please without any outside, personal learning time. Homework wasn't some assignment passed out so the teacher could give a grade, it is a learning tool to help shape your knowledge and character.

As Dead and Gone has touched on, there were plenty of times when my grandparents, parents, and even teachers sat down with me one-on-one and helped me understand the assignment, and helped me out when I got stuck. If it hadn't of been for this, I would've found school just a waste of time, stifling my motivation, and leading me to become a fraction of what I am today (especially character-wise). To see anyone honestly saying that homework is not beneficial makes me sick.

Do you mean if homework was abolished, like in the case being discussed, or if you just didnt do it?
Because I hated homework and didnt do it for the longest time, but I am by no means lazy. And I am not getting offended, I know it kind of sounds like it, I am just wondering what you meant. So please dont take offense to my comment Tails.

[Tails_Kitsune]

+1. Now, I'm by no means a genius, but I made all 'A's throughout high school, challenged myself by taking the hardest classes available, and still had plenty of "social time" to spend with friends and family. I won't lie, there were days when I wished my homework would disappear, as I felt I had more important things to do. However, looking back, I realize homework is what made me strive to succeed.

I would definitely say my church, parents, chores, and homework is what pushed me to do my best and be my all. (there's one more here, but I don't want to throw the topic off what it should be ) Without homework, I would've been a lazy student who could've cared less for school.

I hope these people realize that even those with the most willpower will find it difficult to appreciate and learn from school while they are left to do as they please without any outside, personal learning time. Homework wasn't some assignment passed out so the teacher could give a grade, it is a learning tool to help shape your knowledge and character.

As Dead and Gone has touched on, there were plenty of times when my grandparents, parents, and even teachers sat down with me one-on-one and helped me understand the assignment, and helped me out when I got stuck. If it hadn't of been for this, I would've found school just a waste of time, stifling my motivation, and leading me to become a fraction of what I am today (especially character-wise). To see anyone honestly saying that homework is not beneficial makes me sick.

Do you mean if homework was abolished, like in the case being discussed, or if you just didnt do it?

Because I hated homework and didnt do it for the longest time, but I am by no means lazy. And I am not getting offended, I know it kind of sounds like it, I am just wondering what you meant. So please dont take offense to my comment Tails.

Oh, I did all my homework. It wore too much on my conscious if I didn't.

I was mostly speaking for myself when I said I would've been lazy if it weren't for homework. I guess 'lazy' wasn't such a good choice of words... I wasn't trying to say that people who didn't do their homework were lazy, just that I would've become a very lazy person had it not been for the amount of homework I was given (and for the people in my life who urged me to complete it).

I think I sort of generalized when I posted, and took things solely from my perspective. After re-reading, I can see where it sounds like I'm saying, "If you didn't do homework you were a lazy bum that didn't care for school."

So, in repose, I suppose I should have stressed more that I, personally, would've become extremely unmotivated without homework and the guidance of parents, grandparents, and teachers. I've always been the "nerd" at school who loved math, computers, and anything that makes you a social dipstick, but you've got to admit that sometimes it is easy to try to brush away responsibilities for fun. And, generally, I think most younger students (Grades 1 - 5, especially) need a set amount time at home set aside for education in order to keep them energized and motivated about school. Those were the years that really shaped my character.

I see where you think I may have been calling you lazy for not doing your homework, and I apologize for that. No offense taken, Snake.