I got the following email from a former high school principal and current teacher who is located in British Columbia, Canada. Dear Sara, As a — past — high school principal and teacher… I have never seen the value of more than a little homework. And that ‘little’ has to be considered for its meritContinue reading “From my Mailbox–A Former Principal Offers an Opinion”
Author Archives: Sara Bennett
Guest Blogger: First Grade in Public School Was Pure Torture
Today’s guest blogger, Tracy Stevens, is a former high school Spanish teacher who infrequently gave project-based homework to her students. Currently a telecom salesperson and the mother of two boys who attend private school after a difficult year in public elementary school, she is the author of abettereducation.blog, which is full of interesting interviews (includingContinue reading “Guest Blogger: First Grade in Public School Was Pure Torture”
Free-Range Kids
About a month ago, I had the pleasure of spending a few hours with Lenore Skenazy, the author of the blog, free-range kids. We had a great time chatting about homework, education, childhood, and being parents of “free-range kids.” Skenazy is not only full of common sense but has a great sense of humor. HerContinue reading “Free-Range Kids”
Easing Homework Overload
Here’s a piece I wrote for Natural Awakenings magazine titled “Easing Homework Overload.” The free magazine is in health food stores around the country. Here’s my suggestion: If you find a copy in your community, pick it up and leave it on a park bench, at the library, on the steps to the school, atContinue reading “Easing Homework Overload”
Why Teachers Quit
Whenever I talk to teachers, I try to keep in mind how hard their job is. It helps keep our conversations respectful and it also helps keep the focus on our common interest–the student. Here’s an article from Teacher Magazine about the pressures on teachers and why so many of them are quitting: It wasn’tContinue reading “Why Teachers Quit”
Inside the Minds of School Board Candidates
I came across this piece, where candidates for the Houston Independent School Board were asked whether the District should have a “no homework policy.” I have a feeling that the positions taken by the various candidates are typical of those in many communities and thus worth a look, just to know what you might beContinue reading “Inside the Minds of School Board Candidates”
Some Canadian School Eliminate Homework
I’ve written many times about places in Canada where homework has been eliminated. This month’s Today’s Parent, published in Toronto, Canada, has an article titled, “The End of Homework?”, which looks at a school in Barrie, Ontario, which eliminated homework this year. The article concludes: But a year after [Barrie’s] Prince of Wales eliminated mostContinue reading “Some Canadian School Eliminate Homework”
Moms (and Dads) on a Mission–Update from Toronto, Canada
Today, Frank Bruni, the moving force behind Toronto, Canada’s family-friendly homework policy, writes about how the year-old homework policy is working. You can read Frank’s earlier entries here, here, here and here. My Thoughts on the Anniversary of Toronto’s Adoption of its New Homework Policy by Frank Bruni April 16, 2009 It is one yearContinue reading “Moms (and Dads) on a Mission–Update from Toronto, Canada”
On Spring Break Until April 20
Moms (and Dads) on a Mission–More from Halifax, Nova Scotia
A few weeks ago, Psych Mom, the mother of a second grader in Halifax, Nova Scotia, wrote about why she wasn’t going to make her daughter do any upcoming creative projects and how she was trying to reduce her daughter’s homework load. She provides an update: “Update on the reading homework my 7 year oldContinue reading “Moms (and Dads) on a Mission–More from Halifax, Nova Scotia”
Stop Homework 