Parents upset when elementary school stops giving kids homework

[Quixote1818]

Last edited Sat Mar 7, 2015, 01:12 PM - Edit history (1)

KIPS BAY, New York — Parents of students enrolled in a New York elementary school are outraged, after their kids were told to forget homework — and play instead.

DNAinfo reports that teachers at P.S. 116 have quit assigning homework and are instead telling their students to read and spend time with their family.

In a letter written to parents, the school principal said “the negative effects of homework have been well-established.” She added that homework can cause kids to be frustrated and lose interest in learning, and they can miss out on activities with family and friends.

Several parents disapprove of the new idea and have threatened to pull their kids from the school, saying homework instills discipline and gives children something to work toward.

More:: http://fox8.com/2015/03/06/download-parents-upset-when-elementary-school-stops-giving-kids-homework/

Then of course there is Finland which has the best schools in the world and gives out almost no homework: http://9gag.com/gag/6698591/there-s-no-homework-in-finland


Take the time to do the poll on homework at the Fox website.


On edit, I wanted to include this TYT video about Finland:

[ChazII]

1. Took the poll and 79.something

say yes, to no more homework.

[prayin4rain]

2. My kid's PRESCHOOL gives homework. He's there ten

hours a day as it is! I think it is ridiculous.

[Quixote1818]

3. Maybe give them all the research?

I know in Finland they don't even have preschool. But then socialist countries do a lot better job allowing parents to be home with their kids.

[Mariana]

4. Some people don't like children and want them to be miserable.

You see that with adults who think bullying in school is just dandy and the victims should suck it up, and you see it with parents who insist that their children be given lots of homework just for the sake of giving them homework. "It instills discipline." Gods forbid the kids have time to just be kids.

[surrealAmerican]

5. lazy parents

If parents think it's so important for their children to do academic work at home, a parent could assign the work.

[LWolf]

6. If high-stakes testing

for graduation and high-stakes competition for jobs weren't on the table, parents could relax and let the kids play. And so could teachers.

Finland doesn't engage in high-stakes testing.

[Quixote1818]

7. Finland does test at the end of HS and wipes the floor with us because they don't test constantly

What testing does is cause kids who are struggling to lose all interest in school. It creates this constant climate where kids are comparing themselves to everyone else. It's extremely destructive. Teachers can tell when a kid is behind if there is enough teachers. They don't need a test to figure out the obvious.

[LWolf]

8. Yes, they test.

Those tests aren't the high-stakes that they are here in the U.S. They aren't weapons used against students, teachers, and the system in the effort to privatize public education.