Parents Struggle To Help Kids With Homework

By Dr. Marciene Mattleman

PHILADELPHIA (CBS) - In 2007, Sarah Bennett and Nancy Kalish wrote The Case Against Homework, pointing out that there is no evidence that homework helps academic success for elementary school kids. Other books appeared with similar points of view.

This September a national survey was released from The National Center For Families Learning in which parents of kids K-8 acknowledged that they weren't up to the task of helping their kids with homework. Sixty percent admitted that their kids' homework was a struggle - up about ten percent higher from last year.

Fifty percent more parents than the last survey reported not understanding the material and a quarter responded that they were too busy to provide homework help.

Teachers and principals need to be aware of this information reported in Education Week, and plan strategies to alleviate some of the problems so that parents become partners in learning.