Homework blog - extra credit

12/11/2008
Orson Scott Card Blog

I absolutely loved this article. After having 5 children go through the public school system, I couldn’t help almost cheering out loud as I read it! Homework is highly overrated. My children certainly weren’t dummies and were recommended for gifted programs and accelerated classes. I declined unless it was at a high school level and them I left the decision up to them. Likewise my sister pulled her kids from the accelerated programs at the high school. Why? Because the curriculum was exactly the same as for the regular class – there was just more homework. Instead of 4 essays, the kids were required to write 8. Instead of 3 books to read, they had to read double that. What did accomplish for the student but to say he / she was in accelerated English or Math – with no life?

I also concur with the author that kids need time to play, to be creative, to find out that spontaneous projects, not as part of a school curriculum, are more rewarding than watching TV. There are moms in my area that do 3-4 hours of homework with their elementary and middle school children. The kids hate school and it has affected the relationship with their parents. They are unhappy and depressed – and so are the moms. One mom, in disgust, said that the school had her children for 6-8 hours a day which should be plenty of time to teach them whatever was necessary and that they better not interfere with the time she had with them. Her children are brilliant! This mom does crazy projects and activities with her 5 boys often. They excel scholastically. She is not just trying to get out of doing extra work with her kids but understands there is more to life than hitting the books 24-7. It is difficult to foster creativity in an overly structured world and creativity is the frosting on the cake of life!!!!

Other thoughts about this article that I agree with:
Homework doesn’t keep kids off the streets. It makes them want to rebel.
It is an incredible strain on families. The reward is not worth the cost.
Teachers need a life outside of school as well.
Loved the child labor analogy.
Kids need time to be kids!

Homework does have its place – if well thought out, meaningful and sparse! These rules should be posted in every school in America!

Homework Rules
Here are the homework rules that ought to be the target in every school district in America.
1. No homework before middle school. Ever. Period. Childhood is too precious to waste.
2. No homework over vacations, holidays, or weekends. Children need more time to rest and recuperate than adults, not less.
3. No tests on Monday or the day after a holiday or vacation. See above.
4. No empty homework. All assignments have to have a specific, immediate educational purpose within the subject matter of the class.
5. No assignments for parents. All assignments should be fully within the capability of all the children in the class, without parental involvement of any kind except to cooperate in scheduling time.
6. No excess repetition. Five examples should be sufficient to identify any problems a child might be having. Three are usually enough.
7. No makeup homework for sick days. The kid is still recuperating. Don't double his load.