End Homework
Why are we as a nation so obsessed with homework, we send our children to school at an earlier age than any other country and our school day is longer, we have shorter holidays and our children have more homework than other country. The results of all this are we getting better educated children, no, higher result than others, no.
I would never suggest we should not help our children at home, help them to read and write and if they ask help with maths or what ever subject they need. How many of us can honestly say we have never been tempted to over support to get homework out the way, we hear of families devoting weekend to taking children to places for their school project and hundreds of teachers can tell you how easily they can pick out the work done by parents but cannot prove it.
Until children reach the last year of primary school I believe there should be no homework except reading to children and encouraging them to write but this should be informal not regulated. If when they reach secondary education they cannot pass an examination after five full school days over a 12 week term and four terms a year then so be it. I believe and I know there are a significant number of parents agree children arrive home hungry and tired and an hours homework is not acceptable, neither should every weekend be ruined by the continual nag of have you done your homework. Setting home work in school holidays totally defeats the reason for the break to let the children re-charge their batteries.
If there needs to be an extra prep class after school then I suggest we look at the curriculum time and or teaching. Children go to school to learn they should not bring the classroom home with them, it is bad for them and for family life.
(5 votes, average: 4.00 out of 5)
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Many a true word spoken. One of the main issues with homework is the inconsistencies on the amount and frequency from teacher to teacher; let alone from one school to another. At my daughter’s school I notice that ‘homework’ has been redefined as ‘home learning’ – do they really think that parents will not see it is the same thing? I, for one will be interested to see the results from the recent decision by one of my local schools, the Tiffin School, to stop homework.
Let our children learn from having a life outside of school – not just one continuous set of ‘learning’ tasks to complete.
Juliet
Kingston, Surrey
Family time – however that might look – is precious. with more and more children having two working parents homeworke really cuts into the little clear time we have with our children. And that is before you take into account the time for playing with friends and other activities such as sports which many children also like to take part in.
Our children already grow up too quickly, less homework and more time to relax, play and spend time with their family can only make their lives richer.
Lucy, Kent
All we seem to do is homework I have three children 12, 10 and 8. All we do each evening is spellings times tables reading and my 12 year daughter does about 2 – 3 hours each evening also saturdays and sundays. To be honest it is getting to much for all of us.
Perhaps kids could do a lot less homework and time during school hours could be a lot more productive if teachers were a bit more enthusiastic about doing the job the are employed to do. Ie not winding down in the last week of term and having half days etc. Not to mention closing schools at the drop of a hat because it snows or the boilers aren’t working.
“we send our children to school at an earlier age than any other country and our school day is longer, we have shorter holidays and our children have more homework than other country”
I take it you haven’t researched the Japanese education system then…
“Perhaps kids could do a lot less homework and time during school hours could be a lot more productive if teachers were a bit more enthusiastic about doing the job the are employed to do”
That makes no sense. If I was trying to save time I would not set homework. Sometimes it only takes me ten minutes to chose a relivent homework but it takes at least an hour to mark it, make corrections and record results.
We migrated from the UK to Queensland, Australia 2 years ago and I can assure you the children here work longer terms (4 per year, totalling 40 weeks per year), have shorter holidays and no halfterm breaks. They are also expected to do homework. My child is 10 and has 2 more years at primary before going to high school
All the kids I know are involved in extra-curricular activities but homework is still regarded as a very important part of the learning process by parents and they are encouraged to help in terms of overseeing and reviewing homework. Last year my child’s teacher decided to drop homework – there was an outcry from parents because working out of the school environment is seen as an important step in learning self-motivation.
My husband and I both work but we still find we have plenty of family time to go out cycling, walking and many other activities. Maybe it’s an attitude. The ethic here is work hard and play hard, support the teachers instead of knocking them and recognise that for a child to realise their potential, not only do they need support from parents and teachers, they have to show committment too and that means homework.
Comment from DCSF
Turning to your point about homework, every school will consider how much time is appropriate for pupils at each stage, according to their aptitude. The Department’s recommended time allocation, based on current good practice, is set out in Homework: Guidelines for Primary Schools and Secondary Schools, as follows;
Years 1&2
1 hour per week
Reading, spelling, other literacy work and number work
Years 3&4
1.5 hours per week
Literacy and numeracy as for years 1 and 2, with occasional assignments in other subjects
Years 5&6
30 minutes per day
Regular weekly schedule with continued emphasis on literacy and numeracy, but also ranging widely over the curriculum
At secondary level, the Department recommends that the time spent on homework or GCSE coursework should fall within the following ranges:
Years 7 & 8
45 to 90 minutes per day
Year 9
1 to 2 hours per day
Years 10 & 11
1.5 to 2.5 hours per day
In Years 12 and 13 the amount will depend on the students’ individual programmes. However, both students and parents will need guidance on what has to be achieved and how much time it might take to achieve the required standard. Most schools set out course requirements in manuals at the beginning of the courses, with flow charts indicating what has to be submitted and when
Public Communications Unit
http://www.dcsf.gov.uk
http://www.alfiekohn.org/books/hm.htm
Homework is only necessary due to the highly ineffective methods of teaching we are still subjecting our young people to.
The human brain was built as the premier learning tool in the universe and compulsory schooling is a long long way from engaging fully with the potential of the brain.
Time for a new way of learning
Nonsense.
People like Kieran who demand “new ways of learning” and make staunch, unnecessary complaints about the schooling system clearly have no idea what they’re talking about. I left school with GCSEs (lowest grade being a B), A and AS levels (all As) and then went onto University where I gained a Masters degree in Acoustics and am well into my second year of a three year PhD.
At risk of sounding arrogant, I would like to make the comment that there is absolutely nothing wrong with the educational system where I am concerned, and Homework (self study and assigned study) was a very large part of my schooling, right from the final years of primary school.
I see no reason why any parent would want their child to not take part in a homework activity. I see it as an excellent way for the parent and child to bond whilst ensuring the child succeeds in his or her schooling. I am of the opinion that the the hours I spent with my mother and father discussing science, language, numbers, history and geography set me in excellent stead for the classes I was taking, resulting in better exam grades and two exceptionally proud parents.
Needless to say, when my child comes home with a stack of books, the dining room table will be cleared and work will be done. Education will be encouraged at all times, especially in this age where information is in gross abundance. The Internet, books, Television, Libraries and museums all offer excellent opportunities for children to grasp their education by both hands and take it to unforseen heights. it saddens me to see exam grades dropping year after year as information becomes more readily and freely available.
I do not think the problem lies with the school, the education system or the child, but the parent and their attitude toward their child’s schooling.
If I can do as well as I did in school, why can’t everyone else?
More family time can be obtained by doing homework together (helping them learn, not doing the work for them).
Homework can keep kids off the streets.
When I was in school a student was expected to be assigned thirty minutes of homework per evening per class (3.5 hours a day). Now kids are to receive thirty minutes per class per fortnight. I came out of education with an overall mark of 91%. I worked very hard for this. Kids today are perfectly satisfied with 60%. In my day that would have not only been a fail, but an embarrassment.
Beyond this the teachers are not failing these children, the government is. The government want statistics to show that the they are doing a good job – so they force schools to report statistics and the schools are forced to harm teaching in the process. E.g. lowering exclusions and seclusions – so schools are forced to keep disruptive and abusive students in the classroom – teachers can’t teach the 28 well behaved students because they are spending all of there time on the 2 badly behaved ones.
I wish that every parent would call their MP and complain about this – it is so very sad that the ‘human rights’ of 28 students are cast aside because of these 2 poorly behaved ones.
The GCSE and A-Levels need to be more difficult and more challenging. Personally I wouldn’t have faith in any student with GCSEs to be employed at my company. The levels are so low and their education so spoon fed that these kids have pathetic skills… half of them can hardly spell.
I feel education in the UK is poor and getting worse. I also feel that this is 100% the government’s fault. If they would stop trying to cover their hind-sides and actually create policies that help students, teachers, and schools then the UK would have a chance in this world. I do not see things getting better with this current government. They should:
Allow and encourage exclusion and seclusion.
Have more teacher assessment in all levels.
Have no toleration of poor behaviour in classrooms.
Encourage more parental involvement in education.
Modify requirements so that work is not dumbed-down – expect more not less.
Please, if you have any concerns about the state of education in this country – be heard. Call or write your MP AND call or write the Department for Schools, Children, and Families (http://www.dcsf.gov.uk/) – encourage a positive change so that we produce the best students we are able to.
Please.
I completely agree that there is too much homework in the early years at primary school. My children much prefer to do sports, play with friends or relax a little. I find it very important that they get into a good sports routine. This is, to us, just as important as schooling. Playing with friends trains their eq, they also quite often challenge eachother with difficult sums, complicated building structures etc. All in a fun, non-structured environment.
I looked at the recommended homework durations. my son is in yr 2, last week he got a book (100+ pages), 15 words to prepare for a spelling test, an a4 with maths and an a4 with literacy assignments, and on top of that they were stimulated to visit the new library… How on earth is a 7 year old supposed to do that in 1 hour?? Suffice to say that I complained (again). The only answer I get is that they are required to give homework, but don’t value it very highly???
I would be happy with a book and some words for a spelling test, or some maths. In yrs 5, 6 and onwards it can be more. They can also do it more independantly,with help from parents when needed.
have to say I agree with some of the comments above. It sounds like the attitude of the parents is more at fault here. Here in northern ireland we (so far) have an excellent education system, homework is seen as a vital part of that. it connects home and school and by necessity gets parents involved in what their kids are doing. its all about committment really, a few hours of my week spent encouraging/helping my daughter seems a small price to a pay. We actually enjoy it to be honest.
teachers can going go so far in creating an atmosphere where learning is valued, parents have a responsibility to do what they can at home. In todays world time is always an issue for parents and maybe thats where a lot of the disatisfaction comes from. Tired overstressed, overworked parents. Maybe its our have it all culture thats really to blame.
There should be a distinction between Primary school and Secondary school with regard to homework.
The only homework I was given in primary was spellings in top infants along with times tables, perhaps some reading and occassional ‘finding out about’. All ‘sums’ and writing work was accomplished in school.
Primary schools today seem, to be trying too hard to be ‘fun’ including cheerleading, steel pan drumming, etc in the lesson time and pushing the reading, writing and maths onto the parents at home.
Also if behaviour was sorted then a learning environment would be better created at school and there would be no need to encroach on pupils own time with too much homework.
I am a grandmother and my grandson gets so much homework he comes to me on a saturday and instead of being able to go out and enjoy some time together he must do his homework my daughter is a lone parent and has to work so what time they get together is spent doing homework and he gets so upset sometimes .
Parents have a responsibility to do what they can at home. In todays world time is always an issue for parents and maybe thats where a lot of the disatisfaction comes from. Tired overstressed, overworked parents. Maybe its our have it all culture thats really to blame.” – Could not agree with this more.
I wager the posters above are simply failing to fit their children in to their already busy lives. Finish work at 5pm, drive home 6pm, make dinner, eat dinner, relax in front of Eastenders until 8pm. Now try to fit in some quality time with the children, but wait; they have homework, COMPLAIN!
Now I do understand that some lone parents will have to work long hours to feed their families, however it is not teachers who create this situation.
My child does do homework. What she doesn’t do is schoolwork at home. We wrote to the headteacher and explained our viewpoint which, essentially, is that it is none of the school’s business what our child does when the child is not at school. It was accepted. End of problem. I daresay some HTs are not so accommodating. Perhaps it helps that both parents are Oxford graduates and neither did any schoolwork at home at primary school level.
I agree – no homework until Secondary school. I have a degree and post grad qualification and never had homework until the top two years of middle school (ie age 10 and up) and even then it was occasional rather than every week.
I support my children with homework if they want to do it in KS1 but refuse to sign the home school agreement because I want my children to enjoy school…not be pushed into spending time doing homework when they get home and are tired.
With three children, even reading can take an hour a day, so this is what we focus on. In my school if the kids don’t read to me 4 times a week they end up in book club at lunchtime on Friday ie they get punished for something that I cannot do sometimes with after school clubs and other things that are necessary for family life.
Education is about more than school!
I totally disagree with your somewhat unfounded comments. Children in school have a valuable learning experience that they have to independently follow up at home. It is no surprise to me that the children who fail to complete homework are the children who show no sign of independence from their parents. They expect everything to be done for them. I’m sure other teachers out there know the children we are on about. If we want children to only learn in school we would have to extend the school day to at least 5pm everyday to fit everything in that we are expected to teach.
This website seems like it is just an excuse to have a whinge by parents who have no idea about how schools work day in, day out. How about doing something about it and volunteer in school or even better try to qualify as a teacher and then see how much hard work it is to engage, motivate, inspire and delight the young children of this age for 6 hours a day without just giving them a tv or psp or x-box to play on.
???
Homework stresses me out and i have asked loads of my friends about what they thought of homework and they also said “Homework stresses me and my family out. Also we don’t get hardly ANY free time! It’s not right.”
When I get home after school, i feel like crying and i usually do let my tears out, it’s hard to control because of the stress of homework and tests. Then it just turns out to be a huge stress and completely unsettles me.
There is no point in homework at all because it is meant to extend our learning; but it really does not help AT ALL, it just causes stress. We have enough work and tests to do as it is. And i have honestly learnt a lot; but not from homework. I know this because everybody, including me says that with homework, we just get given it and think oh great homework. So then people just take it as a thing that is annoying and doesn’t help with anything and people just have to do it and give it in. They don’t concentrate on it properly, they just want to give it in, and even some people don’t even bother to do it or give it in on time.
Also, we would have a lot more free time and time to socialise with people, and that is a key thing, it is good for us, instaed of being under stress.
Please take this under an account.
Thanks.
I strongly believe that homework is unjustifiable for the reason I quote below. I’m constantly talking to people and reading forum posts etc which show that there is a large minority or even a majority that feel the same, but no one seems to want to rock the school boat. We need to change peoples consciousness so that homework becomes as anti-social as smoking is these days. Somehow those of us who feel this strongly need to urgently start speaking collectively, write to mps, high profile people, schools, headteachers etc and start making our voice heard. Each year we have gone into school and reminded them that homework is not compulsory, home school agreements do not legally have to be signed and that while I will support my child if they wish to do set homework, I do not expect them to face punishment if it is not done. I urge everyone who feels like this to do similar. In addition, there is an e-petition at http://epetitions.direct.gov.uk/petitions/17055 which I urge you to sign – At the very least it may eventually indicate how many people feel this way.
Homework Issues
I feel strongly about the setting of homework in schools. I’m aware that this issue is contentious, so I’ve indicated just a few reasons why I believe so strongly that homework is wrong, to indicate that this isn’t just a knee jerk reaction. It appears that I am not the only one – Teachers appear to be concerned, as indeed do many parents who do not push the point, as they are scared to push against the status quo.
Sends the wrong message re: Work/Life balance
- Most are concerned that this country prioritises work above all other aspects of life – Work/life balance misadjustment is costing us in both money and quality of life.
- Yet right from the age of 5, we are telling our children that not only is it acceptable to take work home, it is mandatory. It removes the segregation between work and pleasure
- It makes many feel guilty about not taking work home, and perpetuates the spiral of work taking full precedence over personal and family life.
Disruption of Family and Personal Time
- It dictates how we should spend our time with our children and as a family
- It reduces the spontaneity of spending time as a family.
- It reduces the time available for children to pursue those interests that they want to discover.
- It reduces time to learn for themselves outside of a pre-determined curriculum, and for us as a family to determine a learning agenda.
- It leads to stress, fear and unhappiness if homework either wasn’t done or couldn’t be
- That unhappiness leads to friction within families
- Can lead to sleep deprivation, either due to actually doing homework or worrying about it.
- Can reduce the activity levels of children, preventing them from more active activities when doing homework.
- Increases stress levels in children
- Result in drained, tired children – everyone needs time to refresh themselves – That time is the time that they are not at school or work.
Dissuades Children from Learning for fun
- A 2006 Scholastic/Yankelovich study found that reading for pleasure is a better indicator of test scores than homework, but that reading for pleasure decreases sharply after the age of eight. The study found that the largest reason for this was due to homework.
Rude, Inconsiderate and impolite
- I consider the presumption that a school can take up my family’s time outside of the hours prescribed to it as plain rudeness.
- I think it unlikely that the school would take kindly to my setting my children things to do during lessons.
- Yet that is exactly what homework does to time outside of school. If a school believes that it can determine what my family does in its own time, then why shouldn’t I specify what my children do for a period of time in each lesson? Because, as I would agree, it would be impolite and inconsiderate!
Most studies show limited or no use in primary schools and only some use in secondary
- 2006 Synthesis of research – Found no correlation between homework and achievement in Primary, limited in Secondary (but only up to a period of 1 hour)
- US Cross Cultural analysis found that low-homework setting countries such as Japan, consistently achieve better than higher homework setting countries such as UK and US.
- Some schools are eliminating homework completely (e.g. Nottingham East Academy). Tiffin School – “Something’s not right when a boy can’t watch a nature documentary because he’s busy doing maths”.
- School provides a standardised place for formal learning – Home does not – Home life can be noisy, distracting, unsettling etc.
- Often homework is given because “parents expect it”. As Peter Stanford from the Independent says “Teachers set homework in the belief that it pleases parents. Parents don’t disabuse them of this, even when it is exhausting their child, because they don’t want him or her to be singled out or seen as failing.”
— Richard Rowe, head of Holy Trinity School at Guildford, Surrey, said he would happily vote to abolish homework but had been unable to persuade parents.”I genuinely think that if children of primary age are taught well and do a good day’s work, there should be no need for homework,” he said. “They should be allowed to have a childhood.” (Times educational Supplement 14/3/2008)
—-Margaret Morrissey, of the National Confederation for Parent Teacher Associations, said: “Schools need to explain to parents that they want their pupils to be fresh and excited in class.
“Younger children go to school quite early and, if their parents work, don’t get home till 6pm. To have homework on top of that just risks burnout.” (Times educational Supplement 14/3/2008)
- Even teachers and their union dispute the use of homework – . Professor Dylan Wiliam of the Institute of Education in London, “Research shows homework does not make much of a difference”
— ATL (Association of Teachers and Lecturers) in 2008 called for an outright ban on primary school homework saying that it was “counter-productive” (+ strict limits on secondary school homework).
I am in total agreement that home learning as it’s called now is totally ridiculous for primary school children. Competitive parents don’t help matters with children bringing in huge projects + spectacular show + tell! I feel that reading books during the school week are useful but not the endless spelling sheets, comprehension sheets + extra projects during school ”breaks” only add to family pressures + children’s unhappiness at school. I firmly believe it can have a detrimental effect on a child’s capacity to enjoy learning + school. Makes me desperately sad to see my daughter so unhappy aged 6yrs old at school especially as I loved primary school immensely. I am at the stage where I feel action must be taken!
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