tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2707703066300530859.post633674881868618579..comments2024-03-15T02:09:23.712-06:00Comments on for the love of learning: The Homework RevolutionAnonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15047405950514440042noreply@blogger.comBlogger6125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2707703066300530859.post-10927662685836317902011-10-07T07:07:08.989-06:002011-10-07T07:07:08.989-06:00Homework – Education’s Biggest Scam
Homework is po...Homework – Education’s Biggest Scam<br />Homework is possibly one of education’s most contentious subjects. Before we ask the purpose of homework we must first look at education.<br />Q) Why do children/students attend school? A) To learn<br />Learning is most effective when done in a relaxed and happy atmosphere: the school must provide a place where the students want to be. Then, and only then, will the students’ learning be maximised. This is our goal and we must start with a clean slate and put strategies in place which promote this. Anything which hinders this must be scrapped. This seems common sense.<br />The above (providing a place where students want to be) is a prerequisite for effective learning.<br />Now, let’s consider the purpose of homework. In early years of education there is no reason for homework. If young children in primary school cannot learn all they need to during school hours, there is something wrong with the education system.<br />In secondary school the purpose of homework is for students to consolidate what they find difficult. After a lesson each student will have different needs as to what work needs consolidation. Only each individual student knows his/her ‘homework needs’ and so only each individual student knows what homework he/she needs to be doing. The logical conclusion to this is that each student chooses his/her homework: the idea of the teacher setting all students the same homework is senseless. If a student chooses his/her own homework he/she is more likely to do it and more importantly, learn from doing it.<br />The homework pundits will argue that some/many will not do homework. We must ask if homework is appropriate for all students. (In secondary modern schools years ago homework was not set and the students learned appropriate skills to prepare them for life). At the moment, students who do not hand in homework have detention and are often made to complete the homework at school in the presence of a teacher. The student may complete the homework but there is no learning taking place under these conditions. What does happen is that the student’s relationship with one or more teachers deteriorates, resulting in less learning taking place in lessons. I believe that forcing a student to do homework results in less learning overall because of their ‘anti school/teacher’ attitude.<br />Efficiency is output/input. From this definition, homework, as conventionally set in schools with the resulting sanctions and marking must be one of the most inefficient tasks of the education system.<br />There is a wealth of literature exposing the fallacy that ‘homework as conventionally done improves performance’: it does not.<br />The reason homework is done is because parents/guardians expect it. Schools are often judged by how much homework is set. (If parents believe homework improves performance then they too should be set homework each night by their employer).<br />Parents, governors and governments need to be educated in what really improves students’ learning.<br />On a final note, teachers nowadays have no time to focus on what really improves learning as they are too busy doing all the unnecessary tasks (such as all the hours spent on homework issues) imposed by constant changing government strategies.<br />Jim Baker 06/10/2011Jim bakerhttp://www.jimbakersonlinelearning.co.uknoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2707703066300530859.post-66558261524931842762010-12-09T18:11:28.625-07:002010-12-09T18:11:28.625-07:00I hate homework too and I'm the teacher. Ever...I hate homework too and I'm the teacher. Everytime I get an assignment back I have to grade it times 20. Some teachers throw homework assignments away when they become overwhelming. Parents probably believe those past assignments get lost in elephant size, overweight backpacks. I believe if I assigned it, I should have to review it. That way I don't assign busy work. Our district madates homework but at a reasonable level. 10 minutes for each grade level on weeknights, no weekends. I assign 20 to 30 minutes of self selected reading and sometimes a practice worksheet covering something I have covered in class. This really is beneficial in math. I do expect students to hand homework in because I am trying to prepare students for expecations that they will encounter later in life. They are always excused if they bring a note from a parent for any reason.<br /><br />As much as some of us try, we are powerless in this NCLB educational climate to change things. I encourage parents to protest loud and clear so that education can go back to real learning, that is enjoyable, before I retire.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2707703066300530859.post-73577510522704941132010-12-06T13:33:53.775-07:002010-12-06T13:33:53.775-07:00........and we wonder why parents have no time to ...........and we wonder why parents have no time to spend with their children...........we are raising up work-a-holics that take their work home with them..........Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2707703066300530859.post-23889279048855890062010-12-02T09:29:02.384-07:002010-12-02T09:29:02.384-07:00I have just been introduced to your blog, but find...I have just been introduced to your blog, but find myself agreeing with everything that you write. Like you, I don't agree with homework. I have a yearly battle with parents who believe that homework is something that is needed for their children to succeed. I have even had parents go out and buy those curricular guide books from education stores to "help" their children as I don't assign homework.<br />Kids need to be kids. They need time to do what kids do best, have fun! So many of them are in sports, art classes, etc... that they no longer have free time. On the odd day that I send something home, I make certain to tell my students that if it takes them more than 15-30 minutes, they don't get it so stop what they are doing. I have also encouraged them to email me questions at home so that I can be prepared to help them in the morning.<br />This year I am teaching a combined class where some of my students leave for another class for Math, Science and Social Studies. It pains me to hear from the parents of those children that they are receiving too much homework, sometimes up to 3 hours a night! Kids are meant to be kids, so lets let them be that.Janicehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08692746889828268306noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2707703066300530859.post-20038363624939421372010-12-01T13:16:37.369-07:002010-12-01T13:16:37.369-07:00I presented the "25 myths of homework" t...I presented the "25 myths of homework" to a room full of academics & skeptics. When I announced at the beginning of my presentation that "I don't believe that the evidence supports the use of homework," the entire room cheered. Seriously, they cheered.<br /><br />People get this. You will have support for this from many people in your community, this will not be a fight with the majority of parents. There will be a small and vocal minority which will resist the changes, but I believe most parents have the same beliefs about homework we have.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2707703066300530859.post-45133782910802865732010-12-01T09:41:44.687-07:002010-12-01T09:41:44.687-07:00The educational philosophy of the school will dete...The educational philosophy of the school will determine what role ' homework ' plays. If learning is about learning facts and acquiring skills it makes sense to want to reinforce what was learnt in the classroom at home<br /><br />The same policy is also responsible for widening the educational gap , as certain parents have the resources and others don't to provide a second shift of school at home .<br /><br />I have done plenty of homework , book reports etc for my kids which reminds me <br /><br />Teacher : Did your Mom help you with your homework ?<br /><br />David: No , she did it all herself !Allanhttp://allankatz-parentingislearning.blogspot.comnoreply@blogger.com