To Do or Not Do Homework…That is the Question

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For more homework information, listen to Show #14As a parent, have you given any thought as to why homework is assigned? We all hated it as kids, thought it was stupid and wanted to play with our friends rather than sit at the table to finish the work. But now that we are older (and wiser?), how do you feel about your kids doing homework?

There seem to be a few different ideas regarding the use of homework. One side thinks the work is more busy work than useful and that once kids are at home they should be allowed to relax, read for pleasure, play with friends and spend more quality time with the family. These believers also think that by doing homework the child’s innate desire to learn is being eroded.

Others think that the states are “dumbing down” their standardized tests and the kids in the US are not as advanced as kids in some foreign countries, therefore we must push our kids harder to meet elevated standards. In order to meet these standards, kids must do lots of homework every night so the teachers can move through the material faster. Some teachers assume that parents are willing and/or able to continue teaching thier kids each night if they send home material that was not taught in class.

Somewhere in the middle is the group of parents who feel that some nightly homework can be beneficial to students as a review of what was taught in class. Students who are stuggling in a certain subject can also use this homework time to practice or review whatever is causing them problems. If parents want to take an active role in their children’s education, this is a good time to show the parents what kind of work they are doing in class.

No matter what group you fall into, if your child is encountering problems with homework - either with the length of time it takes to complete or the level of difficulty - your child’s teacher should be the first person you speak to with your concerns. The teacher will know if other children are struggling with homework and can possibly adjust his/her homework plans.