Why does our society applaud the amount of homework given to our children?

Question

I have a son in eighth grade who gets mounds of homework.

Answer 1

Many view homework as a sign that education is being taken seriously. "You have a lot of homework? Good! You must be learning a lot. Your teacher must really value your education to be assigning such a heavy workload for you."

It's ridiculous that children are at school for the majority of their waking hours and then are expected to do more school work at home. It's a waste of time that they could be using to help around the home. Kids could come home and learn to cook, keep their room picked up, care for pets, and socialize with their family. Instead, parents' time is wasted helping with homework, family time is interrupted by homework, and teachers have more work later in grading it and entering it into their grade book.

Answer 2

Unfortunately this is coming too late, but current pedogogical ideas are swinging the pendulum in the other direction - that homework is actually detrimental. As a HS English teacher, I too agree that home time should be for home activities (although I do make homework a requirement of those who do not finish in classs). May I suggest printing off some Educational Research material and presenting it to an official at your son's school - offending teacher(s), principal, superintendent or school board.

Here are a couple of great links:
http://stophomework.com/palo-alto-high-school-teacher-refuses-to-assign-homework/56

http://www.alfiekohn.org/index.html - refer to his book "The Homework Myth" **Alfie is WELL known in the Educational World.

http://cbs2chicago.com/topstories/topstories_story_058220730.html

Let's keep this Grass Roots campaign going - talk to educators and to school boards (they make the final classroom/district decisions regarding homework).

Answer 3

It is too much, my daughter gets alot too (4th grade) but, my other daughter (same grade) does not get as much because they have time to work on it in school. Maybe try to find out if your son does have time to work on it at school or maybe he is slacking off a bit OR if that's not the case - speak with his teacher(s) and find out why there is so much. Sometimes it is so ridiculous...hardly seems like there is even time for them to sit down and have a nice dinner! Good luck!

Answer 4

Im a freshmen and hw is designed to teach and build a person for their future carrears. Another reason because other countries like taiwan have kids that are learning algebra in 6 grade and beciming more anvanced than ours.

Answer 5

I think homework should be abolished and I'm not even in school anymore. If teachers can't accomplish their goals in the school day, they should develop some different strategies. Kids should be able to come home and relax, not be burdened with more school work. I am going to homeschool my children and when the school day is over that's it. We won't think about it again until the next day. I think it is much more healthier for kids to be able to relieve stress after school with other activities and not have to worry about homework.

Answer 6

particular, i think of we do. In such a good number of families, the mothers and dads act like childern and the youngsters ought to assume older accountability. Our society right here, i think relies around pop lifestyle. this form of lot of human beings are letting their standards lax, and only common do no longer care approximately our starting to be era.

Answer 7

I am also in eight grade. I get tons and TONS of homework and tests. I think it is so that highschool, will be easier, and so that wewould get used to the amount of work and tests, becuase highschool is what determines wich college you go to.

Answer 8

I haven't heard any applause--personally I think, either the teacher or the student is a bit lazy.

Answer 9

Because, inspite of what you may have heard, EVERYBODY likes to see the little buggers suffer!

Answer 10

homework is dumb