I’m writing this letter to (hopefully) facilitate change to our schools’ expectations. I was a 5th grade “secular studies” teacher in Lakewood for many years and I NEVER gave homework. The school pressured me to do so, but I simply refused (“you have the right to fire me”).
I can’t tell you how many parents THANKED me profusely every PTA meeting throughout the years! These young boys sit in classes longer than any goy their age. They’re expected to absorb a few hours of L’mudei Kodesh, and then a another couple of hours of L’mudei Chol. When they finally return home exhausted (but happy, if they’re lucky), we expect them to spend their precious 2-3 hours busy doing ‘home’ work?? It’s complete insanity! Either shorten their school day, or stop giving homework. They’re not robots. (I understand if the select few are able to handle it; I’m referring to the vast majority of boys.)
Regards,
Former Teacher; Current Parent
(TLS welcomes your letters by submitting them to letters@thelakewoodscoop.com)
Thank you for your loving Avodas Hashem! We need more Moros and Rebbeim that have this same ‘understanding’ of learning!
Kol Hakavod!!!!!
Kudos to you! I wish I would have had you as a teacher!!!
I hope many teachers follow in your ways!!
I think there is a diffrance between a 2-3 hour homework and no homework .
As a parent I’m as well frustrated when me and my wife have to spend hours with our kids doing homework ( and the kids are as well) but when my kid say no-homework (on a regular Tuesday) I think ‘ why? You didn’t learn anything today?’
I believe it important to know where your kid is holding and they should know your involved in their education and it isn’t just a school thing. ‘We want you to grow and learn’ is the silent message when you do homework .
I thank those teachers who have the 10-15 min rule . If it takes more the 10-15 min ‘ stop and check off done. It makes it a pleasant experience. I think that is the way to go
i am all with you!!!!
I have been seeing articles and things going around.
Then someone get up and get the schools to stop it together.
Hey, Teacher you didn’t teach my child and I would complain against you and it totally wrong what you did. I find children learn much better to know what teacher taught. Homework make children better educated for their future.
Enough already with the homework discussion!
Homework is a reinforcement of what the child learned in school. Period. If the child is following in the classroom, parents should not have to assist him/her. If the parent has to assist him, then that should send up a red flag to all involved with his education that further help is required.
I think that those parents that say that they would like homework to be abolished so that they can spend more quality time with their children, would have no problem with the school day being longer so that the child can do his homework in school (resulting in less time with their children). Additionally, I would venture to guess that abolishing homework would just give the parents more time to do what THEY would LIKE to do (talk on the phone, go out, etc.) rather than spend the time with their children. Parents want the easy way out, and try to accomplish it by stating that it is not in the best interest of the child to have the homework, when, in reality, it is not in the best interest of the PARENT for the child to have homework. Children pick up on the parent’s attitude. If the parent sees homework as an unnecessary, unwelcome chore, then so will the child.
Agree 100% – Although I do agree that homework should not be more then a few minutes long, Thank You for speaking the truth that unfortunately so many people want to run away from
The best ranked schools systems in the world (Finland, Denmark, japan) Give no homework and almost no tests. Interestingly these successful systems were created here in the USA but for some odd reason were never implemented here.
The point being, this ridiculous overload has been proven repeatedly not to work yet with all the evidence to the contrary we still use it at the expense of our children.
While we are on this topic,
Spelling tests have been proven to be ineffective in teaching spelling. As anyone that has gotten a masters in education.
Anyone abolishing that?
Just btw, I do believe in hmwk! What else are high school girls going to do????
Agree home should be a place to not be stressed and when they come home with homework it’s stresses everyone
i totally disagree. i have elemntary age kids both in girls and boys school and the fact that they have no home work is crazy. there is nothing wrong with giving them 5 – 10 min of home work so they repeat what they learnt and also learn dicipline and sit down by themselves and complete something neat and organized. this will not have an impact on the rest of their day.
There are other ways that can be implemented for reviewing and for parents to have information about children’s progress. Homework is not necessary and only increases stress in the home, decreases important down time for children and negatively impacts parent-child relationships in a majority of homes. In fact, it is likely that many of the most challenged students who need the review the most are suffering the most from stressed out home situations where the solution of homework is LEAST beneficial and MOST harmful. Cost/benefits analysis: down side of homework significantly outweighs any possible gains. Again, other solutions can be implemented. Any ideas out there?
1. More frequent contact between teachers and parents
2. Slow down the curriculum to allow for review in class
3. Special review groups last hour in school, perhaps divided by level of assistance needed.
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@#6 ELM – You missed the boat on this. If you stop making it about the parents and start making it about the children then you will see the real point. Yes no doubt homework is a pain and heavy burden on the parents (especially those families with multiple children having homework) but the real issue is that we are stealing the childhood away from our children. If you want your kid(s) to have homework then why can’t YOU decide on something for them to do? Why must it come from the teacher? Nobody stops you from having your children Chazer, read, do math problems, learn an extra Ramban or anything. If as a parent you want your child to do more work at home so get them to do it. Then it becomes a personal issue just in your home and if your kid(s) will love or resent you for it.
For those concerned about not knowing where your kids are holding in class. HA. Find out!!! Maybe the new method of homework should be that each day the Rebbi/Teacher send home a note to be signed by you the concerned parent listing what was accomplished and what would be a good idea to review if you can.
For those saying 10-15 minutes is enough. That means accumulative. Not 10-15 minutes from each Rebbi, Morah, Teacher on each subject. Perhaps if the schools can get the classroom teachers for the entire day to coordinate then it can work.
Also, dear friends, do we CV need another Malky Klein A”H tragedy to realize the unimaginable pressure on children who struggle – which today is more than 80% of the children in school????? The reality is we are stuffing our kids with too much information and most of it not age appropriate. That is why so many are struggling. If we would take a step back and focus on the child more then the curriculum then that 80% struggling would fall all the way down to maybe 20%. TMI – Too much information!
The biggest proof I am right is that it is impossible for any teacher, Rebbi or Mora to use the same sheets year after year. That clearly is a sign of NOT chanoch al pi darko. Every year is different kids on different levels capable of different expectations therefore if an educator was focused on the children the sheets would have to be different each year because they would have to be tailored to the current class. However if curriculum is the focus then of course it makes sense the same sheets year after year because it is about finishing a certain amount required and not about how the children are doing.