Parents Complaining About Too Much Homework

[wpgflamesfan]

Originally Posted by ken0042

Yes, but to this day I remember learning about square footage- thanks to a video (or likely a film back in the day) of pigs and their magic rope. Each was given 8 metres, and this rope would create 4 walls that were wolf-proof by only setting up 2 sides. Basically it showed that with the same 8 metres of perimeter, you could get different square footages.

As for doing math problems, why should this be done at home? Why not in the classroom? You've already said there is no point in going on and on about the thoery in class, so why not let the kids work in class.

In every single math class i've ever been in teachers allow students some time to do their work at the end of class. Kids just choose to talk instead. This could be part of the problem.

As for the "practice" stuff. You're not supposed to do it all. Are these people stupid. Pick and choose your battles.

[J pold]

Originally Posted by McMack

I have a child in Kindergarten, and she gets homework sent home with her at least once per week. I remember my Kindergarten well and I don't recall ever having to do homework at that age.

This is NUTS to me, honestly what do you have for homework finger-painting? Coloring inside the lines? A kindergartner with homework…awful

[fatso]

it's not the amount of busy work that bothers me, it's the nature of the work.

Rather than getting kids to love learning, encouraging them to question the world, and develop their identity, it's all about cramming information down their throat. While I think much of that information is useful, the form is less than palatable.

So, for example, I think the school should be able to assign all the homework it wants (within reason). What would be nice to see was simultaneous teaching of the kids that it's up to them if they want to do it. If they do it, great! If not, they will suffer. Teach them to be responsible for their actions and embolden them to make choices. That's what my folks did with me. That's a way more valuable life lesson than checking to see if you did your math problems.

The only reasoning I can come up with is that it is implicitly about training kids to be good little worker bees, rather than independent spirits and trailblazers.

[WhiteTom]

Originally Posted by ken0042

As for doing math problems, why should this be done at home? Why not in the classroom? You've already said there is no point in going on and on about the thoery in class, so why not let the kids work in class.

Sorry, I think I may have mis-represented my case a little bit.

The theory, for most people, has to be explained in the classroom. For most people, especially at that age, they have to be taught the various pieces of mathematical theory, or else they won't get it. I know I sure didn't have the patience to learn from a book in Junior High. With that in mind, I think that it would be better if we could let the children do most of their problems in the classroom, allowing them to ask questions as they go about it, but it is almost impossible with the curriculum that is set out these days to both allow people the time they need to explain the theory and let the children do their problems. I think that there may be so much material to be covered with an appropriate amount of time for reiteration, questions and the teacher doing examples that there isn't any significant amount of time to do problems in the classroom.

[wpgflamesfan]

Originally Posted by fatso

The only reasoning I can come up with is that it is implicitly about training kids to be good little worker bees, rather than independent spirits and trailblazers.

I'm not sure not doing your homework qualifies you as an independent spirt or a trailblazer.

[Kipper is King]

Originally Posted by Boblobla

Or do his teachers just need to communicate better so they can coordinate homework.

Wow. You obviosly have no idea how impossible that would be. You want teachers to get together and discuss what HW is being given out every single day? There are so many teachers in schools, and they all have so much marking to do, that your suggestion is unrealistic.

[Azure]

Well I've seen teachers intentionally waste time in class, and then give kids homework right when the bell went.

So these parents might have a point.

[Boblobla]

Originally Posted by fotze

Good point. The best prof I had in University was Dr. Bos, he would walk in wearing his 15 year old tattered sweater, nothing in his hands, pick up the chalk and just do problem after problem on the blackboard wih a little theory sprinkled in. He made it look so easy and it was, I didn't have to do any homework the whole time (which is something to say about those AMAT courses) and I got an A or A-, can't remember. He got to the meat right away without all the filler that seems to take a disproportionate amount of time in classes. Teachers always have seemed to spend 75 percent of teaching time on 25% of the content then 25% of time on the other 75%, it never made sense.

That is fantastic that you had an instructor that taught they way you learned. I bet the people who needed the 75% theory had a terrible time in the class. I am the same as you btw, theory puts me to sleep, give me practical applications and let me work with it but there are tons of people who learn differently.

[liamenator]

I think things are getting ridiculous in this area and it definitely needs to be addressed. My niece is in grade 5 and has homework every night, amounting to hours of homework per week. I cannot, for the life of me, remember ever having to do daily homework in elementary school... And in Jr. High, the amount was negligible. Big projects, yes, of course some of the workload needed to be covered at home, but the day-to-day practice for subjects such as Math or French were always completed primarily in the classroom, where the teacher is on hand to answer questions and help guide kids through it.

My evenings were filled with activities no less important than homework (and arguably more important): playing on sports teams, making friends and hanging out with kids around the neighbourhood, or helping out my parents and siblings around the house. You can be the smartest scholastic kid on the planet, but if you have not had the proper opportunity to develop social skills, you'll be hampered for life. We have probably all met these types of people - they are brilliant in terms of book smarts, but cannot seem to grasp simple concepts of social interaction. This negatively affects both their career potential, and, you could argue, their overall quality of life.

These kids have their whole lives ahead of them to learn information... What needs to be taught is how to learn. Obviously the foundations need to be set at a young age, but piling on homework does nothing to better prepare them for adulthood. Senior year in High School and University, in my view, should be the period of one's life in which they take these foundations they have been taught in the classroom and use them to develop good study habits, with the goal of recognizing both their primary interests, along with their strengths/weaknesses, in order to develop the skills and intellect needed for their field of choice.

I find that it is by and large a reflection of the way the world works in NA these days... Everyone is so focused on the finish line - how to get there as quickly as possible, with as much stuff as possible - that we are grooming a generation of robots that can feed the machination of the corporate world with the least amount of complaints as possible. I know parents who are pressuring (albeit not consciously) their Jr. High-aged children to "start thinking about what you want to do when you grow up"... I mean, come on! They are kids! Most people don't have a clue what they want to do even half-way through University!

The danger of this system is that these kids will burn-out and start to resent academics - some when they reach university, some far later in life - but the burnout will happen, and then everyone will continue to look with wonderment at skyrocketing divorce rates and depression.

The bottom line, to me, is that there is more to life than scholastics and work. We should be encouraging kids to enjoy learning, rather than force-feeding it to them. Along with this, we should not be teaching them from childhood to feel guilt about having a life outside of school/work.

[Boblobla]

Originally Posted by fotze

I know, but I think the vast majority of teaching is done the other way. I do feel teaching is geared to the lowest common denominator. There are people that just don't get math, never will and it shouldn't be foisted on them. The problem is society is always looking at improving people's weaknesses instead of accepting the weaknesses and improving on and honing their strengths.

Fair enough, but say you have a lecture of 250 people. Lets say only 1/2 of them need the 75% theory lecture and they get the 25% theory lecture. They leave the class not knowing WTF is going on and can probably will head to Dr. Bos's office to get it explained, or they will just not learn it.

Look at the flip side, the 75% theory lecture that leads to the other 1/2 of the class of people who learn like me and you being a little bit bored because there is too much instruction but all 250 people leave the class understanding what was taught. That is more successful education/instruction imo.

[Eastern Girl]

Originally Posted by Azure

Well I've seen teachers intentionally waste time in class, and then give kids homework right when the bell went.

So these parents might have a point.

When I went through high school, my teachers did this a lot. We would get a page of math problems (or some other work or distraction) to work on during class, and then the bell would ring and they would give us stuff to do for the next day. I remember many times not completing my homework, because I would go right from school, to work, and I just didn't have the time. Other times, I didn't do it as I thought it was pointless busy work. I had many an argument with teachers about the pointless busy work. It gets handed out all too often.

[WhiteTom]

liamenator, I think you've hit on all the right points in this discussion.

I personally believe that homework can be a valuable tool in pushing children to learn and to learn how to learn and hopefully they will get something out of it, but if your 5 year old niece is coming out of school having to do homework I think it is time something changes.

School should be about all types of learning, and not just learning how to add and read Shakespeare.

I hope this doesn't seem like I'm back tracking from my original comments. I wasn't commenting on the amount of work before, only that I believe that homework is an important part of pushing kids how to learn. I also believe, being a socially stunted individual myself (through outside factors), that what liam and a few others are saying is correct as well that there needs to be time for other things such as learning to socialize and be creative.

[gottabekd]

Homework != learning, but it's a start. I don't think any teacher ever explained "learning" to me, and what we should try to get out of school. Late in high school I realized that the most important thing that you learn in school is "how to learn". Seems pretty obvious now, but never really thought about school that way while I was in it. And that is where homework comes in. It forces kids to buckle down and work, like they'll need to do in their working life. But that only works if kids do the homework, and most don't.

I remember being insulted in junior high when teachers would "check" our homework. We should be mature enough to do what is assigned. I remember thinking the same thing in high school. Then in university, it might be really insulting that professors assign such things as online quizzes that must be completed every couple of weeks. But...it works. It helps you learn. It is pointless to sit in class, learning the theory, and then not apply what you've learned until the test.

Kids don't need/won't do/can't do 2 hours of homework a night. Kids DO need to do a bit of homework, say 2 or 3 nights of the week. Each of these nights, spend 20-30 minutes on one subject, then 20-30 minutes on another. 20 minutes of math, twice a week, would be incredibly helpful for kids. Same with reading.

[Shazam]

Homework is part of learning. Too much homework becomes busywork.

Considering the vast number of dum-dums I've had to deal with in the workplace, I don't think there's much that can be done that will help the situation.

Also, it keeps my consulting rate high.

[STeeLy]

Having spent grades 1 - 4 in Hong Kong. I had a taste of what "a lot" of homework was. Throughout grades 1 - 4, I had anywhere between 2 - 6 hours of homework. I've moved to Canada for nearly 10 years now, so I have no idea if that changed in Hong Kong. I come here starting grade 5 and boy was I in for a surprise. I finish homework in about 20 minutes every night from grade 5 - 9 and from 10 - 12 it took about 45 mins - 1 hour to finish. So by these standards, if the parents are calling this a lot? what would they call the amount homework in Hong Kong or many of the Asian countries who really pushes their students?

And plus, if the kids/parents know how to manage their time well enough, even if you have 2 hours of homework, you could still do extra-curricular activities I'm sure.

They have a right to complain... I'd take in their concern, but I think it isn't too bad until they have to do 2+ hours of homework per night. But thats just me.

[WhiteTom]

Originally Posted by STeeLy

So by these standards, if the parents are calling this a lot? what would they call the amount homework in Hong Kong or many of the Asian countries who really pushes their students?

Insurmountable? Mountainous?

I am a little curious as to how much homework constitutes "a lot" to the parents that began this movement. Mostly in this thread are reports of kindergarten children having to do hours of homework a week.

[8 Ball]

Originally Posted by J pold

This is NUTS to me, honestly what do you have for homework finger-painting? Coloring inside the lines? A kindergartner with homework…awful

My daughter also has homework in kindergarten at least twice a week and an hour or two on week ends. Some schools are teaching kindergarten classes to read and print.

[REDVAN]

I've made it through kindergarden, 12 years of grade school, and now going into my 6th year of post secondary where I will be finishing my second undergrad degree.

I consider myself to be a student, and I would like to think I know what I am talking about. I am also considering becoming a teacher, and so I do have an opinion about this.

That being said, I do the minimal amount of homework possible. I am smart enough, knock on wood, to learn what I need to learn in class and do the assignment in my assigned lab periods. When I was in grade school, teachers would give class time to work on assignments. The only reason I ever had to do homework to finish something was because I slacked during class and talked.

I think kids should not get homework (more than say, 30min a night) until jr. high, and then even in high school they should not get more than 1-2 hrs worth. If I were a teacher, I would probably assign about 1-2 hrs of homework for my class every week at the MAX.

[OutOfTheCube]

I very rarely did homework, unless it was a major assignment that there was no class time for. I didn't study for tests either, and I still got excellent marks. I also got into SAIT in the program I wanted, and while there is a bit more homework, it isn't noticeably excessive. I do well there too.

However, I'm part of the chosen few who don't have to do piles of work and practice to succeed at something. Hurrah! Parents should just back off and let their kids live their own lives. If they think they don't need to study or do homework, well, it's their life, not their parents'.

[kermitology]

Originally Posted by Boblobla

Fair enough, but say you have a lecture of 250 people. Lets say only 1/2 of them need the 75% theory lecture and they get the 25% theory lecture. They leave the class not knowing WTF is going on and can probably will head to Dr. Bos's office to get it explained, or they will just not learn it.

Look at the flip side, the 75% theory lecture that leads to the other 1/2 of the class of people who learn like me and you being a little bit bored because there is too much instruction but all 250 people leave the class understanding what was taught. That is more successful education/instruction imo.

No one struggles in Bos' class. He wouldn't even look at the board when he wrote on it. He would wander throughout the university with his hand in is pocket, full of chalk, and I figure he could actually see time.

But seriously, I don't think I ever heard someone who couldn't learn from Bos. His method just worked.