Too Much Homework!
My mother used to say to me when I complained about my homework that, "Homework never killed anybody." To which I always replied, "Yes, but I don't want to be the first."
Lily, our five year old, is in Kindergarten and she gets about 45 minutes to one hour worth of homework every day. It's insane. And on top of that, she has a spelling test every Friday! Our first grade friend Imelia gets about 90 minutes of homework a day and is assigned the most complex, intricate, advanced projects which her full-time working mother (a teacher as well!) usually winds up completing because they're just too difficult. Come on people. It doesn't matter how much information is shoved down our kids' throats, SAT scores have steadily been decreasing ever since the 80's. So guess what?! The endless hours of homework and the ridiculous expectations placed on our children are obviously not working. I'm not a slacker mom either I'm a realistic mom.
I volunteer in the art program at Lily's school once a week. I assist the teacher in handing out supplies, wrangling the trouble makers and generally just offering words of encouragement to the kids. This past Monday, the teacher chose an assignment that I remember completing when I was in primary school. She read William Steig's DR. DeSOTO to a second grade class. She then asked them to come up with a new cover for the book. She never showed the students the actual cover because her intention was to get the kids to come up with their own idea. Do you know that out of 17 students only 1 could come up with an original idea?! All the other students elected to just draw the picture from the first page of the book.
The teacher informed me that over the past 15 years she's witnessed a general decline in her students' imaginations and a lack of enthusiasm when they're told they can draw whatever they want. She says when they're given a choice to draw what they wish they usually spend 10 minutes begging her to tell them what to draw or asking each other what to draw. I remember drawing all sorts of naughty things and bad words without the permission of the teacher. I remember behaving like a kid when I was a kid.
And this isn't the only time this group of children has demonstrated their lack of imagination. But it's no shock to me. (Just to let you know, her school is one of the top three in Brooklyn and is comprised of mostly middle class, well fed kids.) Their days are comprised of six hours in school where they're told what to think, do, and with no recess (no down time), then they go home watch a video or play on the computer and then they spend hours doing homework. I think it's safe to say that the current educational curriculum (and way of life) is not encouraging independent thinking nor the use of ones' imagination. Our kids aren't like kids anymore.
According to the article, TOO MUCH HOMEWORK CAN BE COUNTER PRODUCTIVE, (I'm cutting and pasting this for you): researchers analyzed data from the Third International Study of Mathematics and Sciences (TIMSS), which in 1994 collected a large amount of data from schools in 41 nations across the fourth, eighth and 12th grades.
Their findings indicated a frequent lack of positive correlation between the average amount of homework assigned in a nation and corresponding level of academic achievement. For example, many countries with the highest scoring students, such as Japan, the Czech Republic and Denmark, have teachers who give little homework. "At the other end of the spectrum, countries with very low average scores -- Thailand, Greece, Iran -- have teachers who assign a great deal of homework," Baker noted.
"The United States is among the most homework-intensive countries in the world for seventh- and eighth-grade math classes. U.S. math teachers on average assigned more than two hours of mathematics homework per week in 1994-95," said LeTendre. "Contrary to our expectations, one of the lowest levels was recorded in Japan -- about one hour a week. These figures challenge previous stereotypes about the lackadaisical American teenager and his diligent peer in Japan."
What do you think? Are your kids struggling with an overload of homework? Is the constant drone of the educational drill of homework really reinforcing what they learned in school? Do you find it's working? How are you coping?
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My beef with homework isn't just the volume -- it's also the nature of the work itself. In our school system, several teachers assign elaborate projects that seem designed to further the teachers' quest for world domination rather than their students' education. Take, for example, a "travel brochure" for a trip to Egypt which required students to use a particular kind of expensive software some families didn't own. Or the same teacher assigning students to bring expensive food items and make a particular costume for Medieval and Renaissance Day. I ask you -- how many eighth grade boys can sew their own William the Conqueror outfit? How many moms can, for that matter? Assignments such as these encourage students to be dependent on their parents, who in the 21st century have better things to do with their time and their money than drive around town searching for a Pope costume and a particular color of apple.
Yes, I have to agree. It does seem like the homework is geared mostly for parent "participation". My eight-year-old is in grade three & "we" are currently working on her latest project for social studies----an Eiffel Tower. It's a good thing we ordered that new washing machine because without all that extra foam packing I was beginning to think this project was a much larger undertaking than I wanted to participate in! I also agree with the amount of homework in which our children are bringing home---it is no wonder they are overwhelmed & frustrated. It leaves little time for extra-curricular activites & social outings.
I think the whole curriculum has been butchered & we would do well to go back to the old ways of Reading, writing & arithmatic. There is far too much emphasis on technology & we really do need to get back to the basics.
I totally agree with everything you said. My 5th grader generally has almost 2 hours worth of homework every night. And it's not helping her grades. The homework leave little time for studying for the spelling test she has on Thursday and the vocabulary test she has on Friday.
The problem is not the amount of homework but the quality (or lack thereof) in both homework and school work. Standardized tests are used to measure effectiveness and end up stymieing the great teachers and allowing the bad ones to further camouflage their ineffectiveness and/or laziness. Our kids are being hand-fed data and facts that they are required to memorize (and then promptly forget), rather than actually learning how to think for themselves and to be original (as evidenced by the book cover example cited in the article). The true difference between many US schools and those of the foreign countries listed is, in reality, the quality of the education the children are getting in school rather than amount of homework they are assigned.
The problem is not the amount of homework but the quality (or lack thereof) in both homework and school work. Standardized tests are used to measure effectiveness and end up stymieing the great teachers and allowing the bad ones to further camouflage their ineffectiveness and/or laziness. Our kids are being hand-fed data and facts that they are required to memorize (and then promptly forget), rather than actually learning how to think for themselves and to be original (as evidenced by the book cover example cited in the article).
The true difference between many US schools and those of the foreign countries listed is, in reality, the quality of the education the children are getting in school rather than amount of homework they are assigned.
The problem is not the amount of homework but the quality (or lack thereof) in both homework and school work. Standardized tests are used to measure effectiveness and end up stymieing the great teachers and allowing the bad ones to further camouflage their ineffectiveness and/or laziness. Our kids are being hand-fed data and facts that they are required to memorize (and then promptly forget), rather than actually learning how to think for themselves and to be original (as evidenced by the book cover example cited in the article).
The true difference between many US schools and those of the foreign countries listed is, in reality, the quality of the education the children are getting in school rather than amount of homework they are assigned.
Whoops -- sorry about the 3 identical postings! The site kept saying that it didn't go through due to an internal error.
I agree that kids are given too much homework. My daughter in 3rd grade is supposed to receive 45 minutes of homework each night... but some of the assignments end up taking a lot more time than that.
She recently had to do a book report. The required list of questions that she had to answer were really advanced. So advanced that I ended up telling her what to write to answer them correctly. What is she learning from an assignment like that?
If she finishes a class assignment early and turns her paper over to draw on it I get a note sent home to me saying that she is daydreaming. Aren't kids supposed to daydream once in a while?
When are kids supposed to be kids?
I do not feel my 6th grader, 2nd grader or 9th grader is getting too much homework this year. We have had some tough years with homework. They do get homework each night but they are able to do it in about a half an hour and they don't seem to be overwhelmed by it. They don't really complain about having to do it, that is how I know it isn't too much. I do worry and hope that they are learning all that they should but at the same time they are in school all day I don't see why they should get a lot of homework. What good school year this has been for our family this year. I wish they were all this smooth.
I have a 6th grader and there have been nights when she has had to stay up until after 11:00 just to get 1 subject done and then had to skip her math because she was just too tired. I think that is just rediculous. One teacher assigning a "packet" of homework. What's the point-she was just doing it to get it done and today doesn't even remember what the assignment was about. Something has to change!
It doesnt get any better as they get older. I have a senior & a sophomore in high school. My youngest spends about 4 hours a night on homework. She either has elaborate projects / book reports or hours of tedious math, spanish, or vocabulary words to work on per night. My oldest, I can understand a bit more of the volume as she has about 5 or 6 hours of work but she is also taking chemistry, physics and english lit. I also have the problem with the ridiculous projects. I am so tired of having to do poster boards or sewing things or glueing sparkles to something... How can they do these projects when they have to do other work as well. Last night for instance, I had to review the Beowulf essay, help the other one with Macbeth questions, while helping with a power point presentation on Penicillin. All while folding the laundry and cooking dinner... This on a Sunday...
It doesnt get any better as they get older. I have a senior & a sophomore in high school. My youngest spends about 4 hours a night on homework. She either has elaborate projects / book reports or hours of tedious math, spanish, or vocabulary words to work on per night. My oldest, I can understand a bit more of the volume as she has about 5 or 6 hours of work but she is also taking chemistry, physics and english lit. I also have the problem with the ridiculous projects. I am so tired of having to do poster boards or sewing things or glueing sparkles to something... How can they do these projects when they have to do other work as well. Last night for instance, I had to review the Beowulf essay, help the other one with Macbeth questions, while helping with a power point presentation on Penicillin. All while folding the laundry and cooking dinner... This on a Sunday...
I cannot tell you how elated I am to see this issue being addressed, yet equally as disheartened that it is a very real issue! I have a 2nd grader (daughter) and a 4th grader (son)and have yet to find a school that I feel is providing a constructive learning environment. We even tried a private religious school. I was beginning to think I was imagining these problems.
When I was in school (wow I hate that I am even old enough to be making this comparison!) we had personal accountability. We had assignments of which the expectations were clearly explained, the materials needed to complete them always provided, and class time to clear up anything we didn't understand with the teacher. If we were to go home and have our parents coach us through or "help" us, it was considered cheating! If we didn't do our homework NEATLY and on time, there were consequences as well, such as a ) on unfinished work, re-writing messy papers, detention, not being able to go on field trips, missed recess, etc.
Between my two children, I find myself being their "teacher" for several hours each night. They have assignments they don't understand. They are not allowed to take home text books anymore. I don't even understand some of the work they are expected to do. My son is learning some new form of math where he is expected to learn how to "visualize" problems and solve them in his head and so they don't want him to use traditional math problems or show any work! What? How am I supposed to help him when I can't do compound math in my head either?
When I try to encourage them to find solutions or work through the directions, they are quick to point out that I HAVE to help them because of the new set of directions on every work sheet they have that says "Parents, do this or that or something else to help your child, because your child's teacher didn't take any time explaining this assignment." Or at least thats what it translates to, to me.
My grandfather that raised me was illiterate with less than a second grade education and couldn't have helped me with my school work even if he wanted to. Amazing thing is, I still got an awesome education and I actually did my own work! I can only imagine the education I would have, had I been in the school situation of today that is completely dependant on parent supplementation.
Ok so I have ranted a short novel on here, sorry! So what is a possible solution? Is the probability of my children's education being sufficient all riding on my shoulders? Don't get me wrong, I don't mind being involved, but I almost feel the level at which this is expected is so unrealistic that I might be better off trying home schooling! I have an infant daughter as well and I am not sure I can afford to stay at home and always be able to "help" with the ever increasing homework load. Is this really the teachers stepping down their work load? I have a lot more questions than I do answers.
As a mom and teacher (K) I try to assign no more than 20 minutes of homework for 5 nights. I also want to assign homework that is applicable to that week's assignments. If this is a real problem (kids not getting their sleep is a serious issue) have you tried talking to the teacher or bringing it up to PTA?
I am in agreement with the much overdue homework assigned. Kids have a life outside and they need to go to school learn and come home and study but not like a bookworm until late hours on projects, assignments. Come now, the time for activities with family and sports are just important and it is desperately needed. Sports for some start at 8 PM and end at 9:30 and we are headed home for a 1/2 hour ride and then they shower and take a snack and bed, Not so if we don't finish the assignments started before 6 PM before the game they are up til 12 am.. Not good no sleep. restless, no energy. Run down and sick.. Assignments one yr and projects so teachers knew the kids did the projects and not parents were all done on school time. Nice yr for me and them.. We actually had family time.. This way it was known to the teacher if the child understood the lesson, the directions, the time was spent with the teacher and they got to know each others limits. Each school should try it.. This teacher did know how to teach and learn from her students. And the long run the kid was happier and had family time and sports time and they were well rested.