A long-standing practice in the school system, which continues to exist today, is homework. As the pressure increases for higher levels of learning with higher standards and new testing from the state, the concept of homework continues to be part of the school system. Our family structures have changed and yet homework is structured in the same manner as it has been for the last 100 years.
In the past, homework was given to students who arrived home to mom for an after school snack, a conversation about their day and ready to complete their homework. Today many students’ head to after school care or an empty home without the needed supplies to complete homework. Because of the additional pressure of increased accountability in schools from …show more content…
They argued that homework shouldn't be required after the required 180-day school year is over. Milwaukee County Circuit Court Judge Richard Sankovitz was not amused. He called the lawsuit frivolous and said the family should be directing his homework angst to the school board. A former Marine and his wife filed a federal lawsuit against a Maryland school district for forcing their daughter to complete homework assignments that allegedly endorsed Islam over all other religions. Louisiana Governor Bobby Jindal sued the U.S. Department of Education in opposition to the Common Core, he pointed to his son's math homework as the last straw. This kind of clash is not unique to U.S. public schools. In 2009, a Calgary, Alberta, a couple sued over the amount of homework their children received. The family prevailed, signing a settlement with their Catholic school. The Dad stated that with two children in school, there was just an inordinate amount of homework coming home and most of it was busy work. The agreement allowed their son and daughter to be graded only on work done in the classroom. In most cases I reviewed, the lawsuits were thrown out due to local control or the case is …show more content…
I very rarely see this structure implemented and the only time the policy is reviewed is when we have a parent calling to complain about the amount of time it is taking for their child to complete homework. I reviewed other district homework policies and schools districts either do not have a policy in place or if there is a policy it is vague in nature stating homework may be given without many parameters.
The topic of homework is not going away and it is time for districts to start having the conversation with parents, teachers, students and their community. We need to review the research that exists regarding homework at various grade levels, review current practices in schools and open ourselves up to other theories to improve our practices in our schools. Because homework is a long tradition, making a change in homework practice will require a great deal of facilitation and communication work ahead of time. The decisions make by a task force would go to school boards and could potentially change policy and hopefully then change practice.
Now, don’t even get me started on weekly spelling
In the past, homework was given to students who arrived home to mom for an after school snack, a conversation about their day and ready to complete their homework. Today many students’ head to after school care or an empty home without the needed supplies to complete homework. Because of the additional pressure of increased accountability in schools from …show more content…
They argued that homework shouldn't be required after the required 180-day school year is over. Milwaukee County Circuit Court Judge Richard Sankovitz was not amused. He called the lawsuit frivolous and said the family should be directing his homework angst to the school board. A former Marine and his wife filed a federal lawsuit against a Maryland school district for forcing their daughter to complete homework assignments that allegedly endorsed Islam over all other religions. Louisiana Governor Bobby Jindal sued the U.S. Department of Education in opposition to the Common Core, he pointed to his son's math homework as the last straw. This kind of clash is not unique to U.S. public schools. In 2009, a Calgary, Alberta, a couple sued over the amount of homework their children received. The family prevailed, signing a settlement with their Catholic school. The Dad stated that with two children in school, there was just an inordinate amount of homework coming home and most of it was busy work. The agreement allowed their son and daughter to be graded only on work done in the classroom. In most cases I reviewed, the lawsuits were thrown out due to local control or the case is …show more content…
I very rarely see this structure implemented and the only time the policy is reviewed is when we have a parent calling to complain about the amount of time it is taking for their child to complete homework. I reviewed other district homework policies and schools districts either do not have a policy in place or if there is a policy it is vague in nature stating homework may be given without many parameters.
The topic of homework is not going away and it is time for districts to start having the conversation with parents, teachers, students and their community. We need to review the research that exists regarding homework at various grade levels, review current practices in schools and open ourselves up to other theories to improve our practices in our schools. Because homework is a long tradition, making a change in homework practice will require a great deal of facilitation and communication work ahead of time. The decisions make by a task force would go to school boards and could potentially change policy and hopefully then change practice.
Now, don’t even get me started on weekly spelling