Guest Blogger: Victory in Toronto
Today’s guest blogger, Frank Bruni, the father of a 12-year-old seventh grader, lives in Toronto, Canada. Frank was a driving force in pushing the Toronto District School Board to review and revamp its homework policy. You can read Frank’s other guest blog entries here and here.
Just Start
by Frank Bruni
On April 16th 2008, Toronto Canada became one of the first jurisdictions in North America to pass a substantive homework reform policy.
The policy reduces the homework burden on middle school and high school students and all but eliminates homework in the elementary grades. In addition, homework will no longer be allowed during vacations.
The new policy mandates that teacher’s co-ordinate their efforts and that the homework that is sent home is “clearly articulated and carefully planned” and “require no additional teaching outside the classroom”.
This policy is a major breakthrough for those of us who have been advocating for homework reform.
When I started to write this it was intended to be a “how to” guide for anyone who wanted to replicate what we have achieved in Toronto. But when I read it it seemed preachy.
I guess what I really want to communicate is, just start. Every situation is different, every school board is different, and every community is different, but just start somewhere.
Most of us convince ourselves that we are either to busy or lack the expertise to take on projects like these, and it paralyses us into inaction.
Large organizations count on this inaction to do want they want but, large organizations react to public pressure, and school boards are no different. But you have to start somewhere, so just do it.
The victory in Toronto was the result of many talented and passionate people putting in their time and effort to come to what has been described by some as one of the most innovative homework policies in North America.
I have been uncomfortable taking any credit for the new policy, but as someone pointed out, I got the ball rolling. So, I guess I can take credit for that. I made a two minute presentation in front of a sub-committee of the Toronto District School Board that started the process in motion. I started somewhere.
So I guess the question you have to ask yourself is, are your kids worth two minutes of your time? Just Start!
Mr. Bruni — congratulations! This is wonderful news.
For those of us in the US, the big hurdle is NCLB, which has everyone running scared of any reform that they think (incorrectly) might bring down the standardized test scores.
April 21st, 2008 at 7:34 am
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Thanks FedupMom
For those of you looking for inspiration and support. look no further than Sara Bennett’s book, “The Case Against Homework”. It was my inspiration.
Further, my correspondence with Sara has been, without a doubt a real boost, especially when things were not going as I had hoped.
Sara is my hero! - enough said.
April 21st, 2008 at 7:53 am
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Thanks to Frank Bruni for taking the time and effort to organize for discussion around the topic of excessive homework. It is important for busy parents to become concerned about this invasion of family time.
I am an educator in Calgary, Alberta who has written a book called Simply Too Much Homework! What Can We Do?
We are organizing parents in Calgary to form a Homework Reform Movement that we hope will spread across Canada. Interested parents can e-mail me at vera@readingwings.com or by phone at 1-800-411-9660
May 4th, 2008 at 9:05 pm
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aww im your hero thanks
<3
May 5th, 2008 at 2:31 pm
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