After my trip to Arizona I have come to the conclusion that first graders get too much homework. I'm not sure that I even see a need for homework that young but no more than 10 minutes if you feel like it is critical to a six year old's need to build character.
After a day of school these little children need some time to decompress, play unsupervised and just be kids. They also need time to interact with their families. Home work like sports or some other activities that we involve our chilren in take away critical family time. Someone pointed out to me that a lot of the decisons people make are well intended but based on incorrect principles. The greater part of the education community are dedicated, overworked and underpaid and who have a deep concern for their students. I think most of the problem lies with legislators who don't do their homework. They should spend at least a month in the classroom before they legistlate anything.
5 comments:
The art blog is good. Just remind readers occasionaly that it is you talking and not Dad
Amen!!!!! You should send that to someone in politics...
Actually, they should spend a week doing homework with Diana before they legislate anything!
Kids in China here have outrageous amounts of homework! And really I don't think it helps them critically think better - it teaches them to jump hoops and in too many cases, to cheat, but at the end of the day a good hour playing would do their learning more good. Kids need to be kids!
Ok, don't get me started on unfunded mandates...the New Mexico State legislature is very fond of them...
Older kids need some homework, and if you were ever in my class you'd always get time to start in class, and if you used your time right, you wouldn't have homework at all.
That said, I think refocusing on basic skills would negate the need for homework.
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