School Stops Giving Homework So Kids Can Play Instead

[KamaAina]

https://www.yahoo.com/parenting/school-stops-giving-homework-so-kids-can-play-112805337137.html

After a year of analyzing studies about the effectiveness of homework, one New York City public school decided that all those math worksheets and essay assignments they were giving out were actually a total waste of time.

So in February, P.S. 116 Principal Jane Hsu informed parents of the Pre-K through fifth grade students that teachers would no longer be giving kids any traditional homework.

“The negative effects of homework have been well established,” Hsu wrote in a note to parents, according to the New York local news website DNAInfo. “They include: children’s frustration and exhaustion, lack of time for other activities and family time and, sadly for many, loss of interest in learning.” Hsu declined Yahoo Parenting’s request for comment.

Parents were encouraged in the letter to let kids spend their freed up time reading, playing outside or doing whatever activities they enjoy — which Hsu referred to as “newly-designed homework options” — with the recommendation that parents limit time spent watching TV and playing computer or video games.

[Kalidurga]

1. finally they get it

homework should only be given when someone is having trouble with learning the lesson and then it should be a tutoring tool rather than something the child does alone and gets graded on.

[NV Whino]

2. Yay!

Let's hope this spreads nationwide.

When I first heard preschoolers and the lower grades were getting homework assignments, I was appalled. Kids need time to play and be kids.

[MANative]

3. There's a HUGE difference between "busywork" and reinforcing lessons.

Most homework is the former, from what I've observed. Learning reinforcement can happen in "applied mechanics" methods and is FAR more effective for long-term retention and comprehension than regurgitating or repeating the same material over and over again.