Homework

Homework

I object to anyone getting homework. I object to it in elementary school, in middle school, and even in high school. University doesn’t count because it’s not homework. You could, if you were dedicated, spend only as much time as you spent in high school doing university level work and you’d probably still gets As. Think about it. 8:30am to 3:30pm every day, Monday through Friday. That would do it, including class time.

You know why I object to homework? It doesn’t teach you the value of work/life balance. Kids sit in those desks all day for hours on end, and then you want them to go home and do more? What are you teaching them? That they should eschew their weekends when they grow up and work themselves into a frenzy, burning out early? Sure, there are times when work has to come home. You do it because you love it, and you want things to be easier. But as a rule? Don’t do it. I wish I’d had this revelation when I was a phd student, because it’s crushing to think, every moment of every day, that you should be working. No. You shouldn’t be doing homework at 7pm on a Thursday night, little middle-schooler. You should be out playing road hockey or jumping rope or swimming in your best friend’s pool. That’s better for you, mind and body. Math can wait.

0 thoughts on “Homework

  1. well, ya. that’s true.

    however, there are some activities that children can do at home that may support learning, and also be fun. An assignment “learn a song from someone in your family or community in a language you don’t know…” and bring it into class, is valid.

  2. The value of experiencing the world, your imagination and creativity is really under estimated. My 6 year old son would agree, homework sucks! He learns much more when we go camping. He was struck by the beauty of Downtown Toronto this weekend!

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