Comments on: Homework is no myth

By: SuperSub

SuperSub — Sat, 02 Sep 2006 17:05:50 +0000

Indigo -
Just remember that talented kids are the exception, not the rule. They should have differentiated instruction and assignments, but one cannot apply the same methods to the other 98% of the population. Similarly, those at the bottom end of the spectrum would also receive something different.

By: Indigo Warrior

Indigo Warrior — Sat, 02 Sep 2006 16:48:28 +0000

Not everyone needs more homework. Talented kids, for example, do not; they need more self-directed projects. To them, 90% of school activities are just repetitive busy work with a political agenda.

By: SuperSub

SuperSub — Sat, 02 Sep 2006 13:17:37 +0000

Allen - “If kids have 50% of the responsibility for being educated then we’ll just split the payroll neatly between the two parties. In the interests of fairness, of course.”

And here I thought that knowledge had some value. Wait, I forgot the society we are living in today…

Another issue has arisen - the type of homework. Previously I spoke in support of homework to reinforce lessons - math problems, short writing assignments, etc. Many of today’s homework assignments are actual lessons onto themselves (especially in the lower grades). The educational community has recently been in search of the “Holy Grails” of student-centered teaching - complex activities that depend largely on the student and only expect the teacher to be a “facilitator.” Quite frankly, especially in the lower grades (10th and down :-P), teachers need to do more than be a facilitator, they need to be actively controlling the students’ learning process because many students haven’t got a clue.

By: Hube

Hube — Sat, 02 Sep 2006 11:38:15 +0000

Oh yeah, back when the profession garnered some well-earned respect for not being so clearly money-driven. Funny about that, hey?

It’s only “funny” to those who already “know” somehow that ALL teachers are akin to the union bigwigs. Get a grip.

I could care less how much work I bring home, nor do I wish to be paid more for it. Or didn’t you notice you notice the little “;-)” at the end of my response. (Y’see, it was a tongue-in-cheek response to another’s comment.)

Any teacher should feel the same about taking work home. You knew what you were getting into when you chose the profession.

By: allen

allen — Sat, 02 Sep 2006 11:27:43 +0000

Hube wrote:

So that means — in particular — teachers should expect one of those, eh?

Whaddya mean “should”? Has there ever been a time when the three “C”s - commitment, compassion, caring - hasn’t been presented as a reason for more money? Oh yeah, back when the profession garnered some well-earned respect for not being so clearly money-driven. Funny about that, hey?

Cripes, can you imagine how much Mother Teresa must have been making?

trotsky wrote:

Some argue that children play a role in what they learn.

The difference being that children are compelled to be present and the professionals who’ve been hired to do the educating are there voluntarily and expect to be paid for merely being present.

If the kids have any responsibility in the education process maybe they ought to be on the payroll as well.

And let’s make the pay proportional while we’re at it.

If kids have 50% of the responsibility for being educated then we’ll just split the payroll neatly between the two parties. In the interests of fairness, of course.

By: trotsky

trotsky — Fri, 01 Sep 2006 16:42:07 +0000

From upthread:

… our schools should accomplish their mission without having to rely on the children …

Some argue that children play a role in what they learn.

By: Hube

Hube — Fri, 01 Sep 2006 13:39:14 +0000

If your boss casually expected you to take work home, you would expect 1) more pay or 2) a new boss.

So that means — in particular — teachers should expect one of those, eh?

By: roryslife

roryslife — Fri, 01 Sep 2006 12:08:38 +0000

While I normally agree with you Joanne, on this subject I don�t. I have four kids in elementary and middle school and the homework is ridiculous. First of all I have two 3rd graders in two different classes. One of them has close to two hour of homework a night while the other one has around 30 minutes, yet they are both learning the curriculum at the same pace. I can understand homework at the HS and middle school level because students of this age are usually capable of performing the work independently, but in elementary school, too often the homework assigned requires the parents to micromanage it. My proposed solution, besides to extend the school day, would be to limit homework to 10 minutes per grade and to use it to reinforce the basics that require repetitiveness, i.e. spelling and math.

By: SuperSub

SuperSub — Fri, 01 Sep 2006 11:36:47 +0000

You can’t compare work to school… even the most strict schools are relaxed compared to most workplaces.
A focused curriculum might be able to work without homework, but by “focusing” I mean getting rid of half of the content. Plain and simple, without 30-40 minutes of math problems each night, few children will excel in math because math is as much about repetition as it is about conceptual learning.
Children have plenty of time to play during and after school. I’d say that 1.7 hour averagee is on reasonable, considering the time for snack, drink, or other breaks that many students take as they work on their homework.

By: Fatherofyoungones

Fatherofyoungones — Fri, 01 Sep 2006 10:19:43 +0000

Our children go to school for close to 8 hours a day. With a focused curriculum that truly targets language and math, our schools should accomplish their mission without having to rely on the children and their families.

Look at how much energy adults use to fight any attempt to lengthen the work day or take work home. If your boss casually expected you to take work home, you would expect 1) more pay or 2) a new boss.