Comments on: Will Homework Ban Ease Student Stress?

San Francisco Bay Area Schools Move Toward Limiting Homework Assignments

[maiingan]

Aside from my opinion that the formal educational experience should be self-contained in the school except for student-initiated outside learning, there is a problem with homework time analogous to hours of work for employees. When you add up the 'expected' homework time to time spent in school, ask, is this numerically equivalent to part-time work? Full-time work? Overtime without extra pay? There ought to be laws about how much time per day may be required of students as such, especially for the younger ones. Even for FT college students, 40 hrs./week should be the maximum total required.

[shrink1964]

Homework is a crazy concept in lower elementary school! I understand the need to practice basic math facts or a short list of simple spelling words but 30-45 minutes worth of homework in 1st grade leaves me wondering what my son's teacher is doing all day long if we have to continue his academics in the evening too.
Also, sending home work for kids who do not have supportive and interactive parents isn't fair to them. They just continue to fall further behind because of the lack of support for their education that they receive from their parents.

[love2bmom1]

Hooray for David Ackerman. My husband and I just had a meeting with the principal at Scott Ave. Elementary about homework. Its ridiculous and it destroying our children. Califonia needs to wake up and start listening to our children. The homework and the work load are TOO HEAVY for our elementary school children. They have school burn out by the time they reach middle school. Yeah, last time I checked California is way off base when it comes to school ciriculum.

[yoopermom]

I think Middle & High school students need homework. It also teaches them about responsability. But, when kids in 1st & 2nd grade are bringing home hours worth of homework, they teachers are going over board,

[gunownerdan]

***The*** ***dumbing***-***down*** ***of*** ***America*** ***is*** ***nearly*** ***complete***!
***Now*** ***that*** ***there*** ***is*** ***no*** ***more*** ***homework***, ***school*** ***kids*** ***can*** ***have*** ***more*** ***time*** ***to*** ***learn*** ***about*** ***what***'***s*** ***really*** ***important***. ***They*** ***will*** ***have*** ***much*** ***more*** ***time*** ***to*** ***watch*** &***quot***;***Entertainment*** ***Tonight***&***quot***; ***and*** &***quot***;***Access*** ***Hollywood***&***quot***;! ***We*** ***sure*** ***are*** ***going*** ***to*** ***have*** ***a*** ***bright*** ***future***.......

[gunownerdan]

***The*** ***dumbing***-***down*** ***of*** ***America*** ***is*** ***nearly*** ***complete***!
***Now*** ***that*** ***there*** ***is*** ***no*** ***more*** ***homework***, ***school*** ***kids*** ***can*** ***have*** ***more*** ***time*** ***to*** ***learn*** ***about*** ***what***'***s*** ***really*** ***important***. ***They*** ***will*** ***have*** ***much*** ***more*** ***time*** ***to*** ***watch*** &***quot***;***Entertainment*** ***Tonight***&***quot***; ***and*** &***quot***;***Access*** ***Hollywood***&***quot***;! ***We*** ***sure*** ***are*** ***going*** ***to*** ***have*** ***a*** ***bright*** ***future***.......

[gunownerdan]

***The*** ***dumbing***-***down*** ***of*** ***America*** ***is*** ***almost*** ***complete***!
***Now*** ***that*** ***we*** ***have*** ***banned*** ***homework***, ***school*** ***kids*** ***can*** ***have*** ***more*** ***time*** ***to*** ***learn*** ***about*** ***what***'***s*** ***really*** ***important***. ***They*** ***will*** ***have*** ***much*** ***more*** ***time*** ***to*** ***watch*** &***quot***;***Entertainment*** ***Tonight***&***quot***; ***and*** &***quot***;***Access*** ***Hollywood***&***quot***;!

[anopinion1]

***Posted*** ***by*** ***intn1*** ***at*** ***08***:***05*** ***PM*** : ***Feb*** ***27***, ***2007***

***Unless*** ***you*** ***are*** ***going*** ***for*** ***valedictiorian*** ***or*** ***you*** ***really*** ***think*** ***your*** ***high*** ***school*** ***will*** ***give*** ***you*** ***a*** ***few*** ***scholarships*** ***they*** ***you*** ***are*** ***wasting*** ***your*** ***time***.
***I*** ***also*** ***took*** ***the*** ***AP*** ***classes*** ***in*** ***HS*** ***to*** ***and*** ***they*** ***were*** ***just*** ***a*** ***waste*** ***of*** ***time*** ***and*** ***the*** ***college*** ***credit***, ***whoopedy*** ***do*** ***you*** ***still*** ***have*** ***to*** ***take*** ***the*** ***exact*** ***same*** ***classes*** ***in*** ***college***. ***ENJOY*** ***YOUR*** ***LAST*** ***YEAR*** ***IN*** ***HIGH*** ***SCHOOL*** ***ALREADY*** ***WITH*** ***THE*** ***FRIENDS*** ***YOU*** ***HAVE*** ***HAD*** ***YOUR*** ***WHOLE*** ***LIFE***. ***You*** ***should*** ***have*** ***taken*** ***a*** ***schedule*** ***to*** ***allow*** ***you*** ***to*** ***do*** ***this***. ***College*** ***will*** ***be*** ***their*** ***sill*** ***I*** ***assure*** ***you*** ***that***. ***Don***'***t*** ***stress*** ***about*** ***the*** ***ACT*** ***you*** ***will*** ***get*** ***into*** ***basically*** ***any*** ***college*** ***you*** ***want*** ***as*** ***long*** ***as*** ***you*** ***have*** ***the*** ***money***.
***Here*** ***is*** ***a*** ***TIP*** ***for*** ***anyone*** ***wanting*** ***to*** ***do*** ***better*** ***on*** ***the*** ***ACT***, ***just*** ***do*** ***lots*** ***of*** ***reading***. ***reading*** ***books*** ***whatever***. ***All*** ***75***% ***of*** ***that*** ***test*** ***is***, ***is*** ***how*** ***fast*** ***you*** ***can*** ***read***. ***the*** ***other*** ***25***% ***is*** ***just*** ***simple*** ***math*** ***skills***.

[cathaleen]

The problem isn't the homework, it is what is not being taught during the school day. The kids are graduating with minimal reading skills and bad math ability. The public schools are giving bad
A's out. When these so called A students get into college, they are reading at a 8th grade level and writing at a 6th grade level. So instead of blaming it on the homework, they should focus on the what is being taught in the classroom daily and really get back to the basics.

[anopinion1]

***What*** ***the*** ***hell*** ***does*** ***a*** ***middle*** ***or*** ***high*** ***school*** ***kid*** ***have*** ***for*** ***stress*** ***anyway***!!!!!!!!!!!
***what*** ***they*** ***are*** ***going*** ***to*** ***ware*** ***tomorrow***??***does*** ***this*** ***match***??***does*** ***he*** / ***she*** ***like*** ***me*** ***hate*** ***me***??

***if*** ***they*** ***are*** ***stressed*** ***in*** ***middle*** ***or*** ***high*** ***school*** ***then*** ***they*** ***need*** ***psychiatric*** ***help*** ***nowwwww***. ***and*** ***extra*** ***homework*** ***is*** ***definately*** ***not*** ***the*** ***problem***.

[formrusmcsgt]

***Countris*** ***such*** ***as*** ***China*** ***and*** ***areas*** ***in*** ***Japan*** ***rarely*** ***give*** ***homework***, ***and*** ***guess*** ***what***, ***they*** ***are*** ***one*** ***of*** ***the*** ***most*** ***highest*** ***acedemic*** ***contries***.


***Posted*** ***by*** ***tvnewsguy42*** ***at*** ***09***:***58*** ***PM*** : ***Feb*** ***27***, ***2007***

***I*** ***can*** ***not*** ***comment*** ***on*** ***China***, ***but*** ***after*** ***having*** ***lived*** ***in*** ***Japan*** ***for*** ***three*** ***years***, ***I*** ***will*** ***point*** ***out*** ***that*** ***Japanese*** ***children*** ***go*** ***to*** ***school*** ***11*** ***months*** ***out*** ***of*** ***the*** ***year*** ***and*** ***tutors*** ***are*** ***very*** ***common*** ***as*** ***well***.

[logan1549]

I think that exorbitant amounts of homework can be counterproductive. At times, the completion of homework becomes the sole purpose of the assignment rather than the synthesis of information found in the assignment. Many instructors in high-achieving schools assign homework as if they teach the only subject offered in the school. It is ridiculous! I think that schools should have committees that monitor the amount of time being spent by students on homework. There is a delicate balance between abolishing homework outright and assigning ridiculous amounts of homework.

[sclaires]

I cannot see doing away with homework in middle and high school. Most students only go to school 180 days a year which is not enough time to learn all they need to learn. Homework in elementary school should be limited to one subject a night. The school year needs to be lengthen so that the students can learn more. Schools in Japan, China, and I don't know what other countries have longer school years then we do and look at what they have accomplished!

[tvnewsguy42]

Here's an example how very very little homework helps:

Countris such as China and areas in Japan rarely give homework, and guess what, they are one of the most highest acedemic contries.

Maybe one reason we are not the best educated country is because all the work handed out is more stressful than good for students.

[jade881]

I belive not giving us homework is a good idea. Though like with everything there are pros & cons. I stress tremendously becuase If I have something I want to catch up on or something it gets in the way and I get anxiety attacks or so. Maybe they should lessen the homework like give us things we need to work on or so or give us a number of chapters to read because it does get in the way of going out side and spending time with family. Though europe and asia do have better schooling systems or so and we need to catch up, pros & cons.

[malya11-2009]

we abolish homework and then we wonder why american education levels are so low, especially compared to european education levels....

i guess our logic has gone with the homework.

[toolmangler-2009]

Sure; lets stop homework, better yet lets knock the schoolday down to one hour, with a 1/2 hour for lunch and 2 fifteen minute recesses. That ought to get rid of all the teenage stress. Then all we have to do is set up a trust fund to keep our 'Little Darlings' set for the rest of their 'short, useless, unproductive lives'. What a giant heap of post animal processed vegatation.

[j0hnwi11iams]

NCLB is a farce. It is set up to make public schools fail. They want to deprive parents of a voice under the premise that they will be getting choice. Some choice.

[intn1]

When I go to college I'll just inform my professors that I am unable to do their homework because it interferes with mylife. Honestly, I spend anywhere from 30 minutes to 5 hours on homework on 4 of 5 nights a week. On the weekends I work a part time job, attend church, and work on my English homework. We are currently reading one play a week and doing a 5-8 page report on its content and our personal responses. This will last for another 5 weeks. When school started back in January, I had to do 2 short stories a week. I am taking two AP classes that I am getting college credit for. During the fall, I spent 2 hours after school three days a week at band practice. I had no free time. I manage school, homework, church, band practice, family time, friend time, and I have a 3.867 GPA. My ACT scores have been 26 and 28, and I'm shooting for higher in April. Homework is how I reinforce what I have learned during the day. I have to do my homework to practice math concepts and learn vocab words and biological principles, as well as the material for my AP American History. As for doing taxes, my dad taught me. Fixing minor car problems? Dad taught me. Cooking? Mom taught me. Cleaning? Mom taught me. Driving? Both parents taught me. Work ethic? Both parents taught me. I am doing fine. I'm stressed sometimes. Sometimes I feel like I could pull my hair out, but I'm making it just fine, and I'm the kid prepared for the real world.

[iowa7148]

I'm sorry, but I do agree with Harris Cooper. There is research to support homework. From Keith and Cool, 1992 "Regardless of student ability or prior coursework, the amount of time they devote to homework increases their achievement." What I think is the biggest issues with homework is that educators are not paying attention to two key recommendations from researchers regarding homework.

1. Ask parents to facilitate homework completion rather than help with homework content. Well-planned homework should not need parental help (Marzano, Pickering, & Pollock, 2001)
2. Schools should develop and communicate a clear homework policy. Establishing, communicating, and adhering to clear policies will increase the likelihood that homework will enhance student achievement (Marzano, Pickering, & Pollock, 2001).

This policy must be clearly communicated to parents. Students must have a place to write down assignments, such as an agenda. Homework should have a clear pupose and this purpose clearly communicated to students (no busy work). If students are spending too much time (no more than 10 minutes per grade), then yes, I agree, the district needs to take a good look at their homework policy and revisit it.