Author Archives: Sara Bennett

Finland’s Students Do Little Homework and Perform Best in International Tests

In Finland, schools starts at the age of 7, high school students spend less than 1/2 hour a night on homework, and very little time is spent on standardized test preparation. This Wall Street Journal article titled “What Makes Finnish Kids So Smart?” takes a closer look at schools in Finland to show how theirContinue reading “Finland’s Students Do Little Homework and Perform Best in International Tests”

From My Mailbox: Letter from an Anonymous Freshman

Do you have any advice for this anonymous freshman? Dear Sara, You’ve devoted a lot of space on your website to the issues surrounding homework in elementary and secondary schools, but I couldn’t find any information on what to do when the onslaught continues into college. As a college student, I continue to experience theContinue reading “From My Mailbox: Letter from an Anonymous Freshman”

Tune in on Thursday to All Day Web-a-Thon on School Reform

The American Sports Institute is creating a new, ground-breaking, wellness-based school (The Arete School) in Marin County, California, and, to support its efforts, there will be an all-day streaming telethon on the internet on Thursday, February 28. The event will feature leading sports figures and educators discussing topics ranging from school reform to the keysContinue reading “Tune in on Thursday to All Day Web-a-Thon on School Reform”

From My Mailbox: Portland School Cannot Take Away Recess for Failure to do Homework

I recently heard from the father of a 7th-grader in Portland, Oregon, who told me that he and his wife allow their son “to set his own priorities and to decide for himself whether he wants to do his homework. A couple of the teachers in the school took offense by this approach and exercisedContinue reading “From My Mailbox: Portland School Cannot Take Away Recess for Failure to do Homework”

Letter to the Editor: “I’m a Weary Veteran of Homework Wars”

Last week, after two researchers from the University of Toronto released a study on parental attitudes towards homework and recommended that homework be abolished in elementary school, there were numerous letters to the editors of Canadian newspapers. Here’s one of my favorites, written by Toronto mother of three, Claire Watson, and published in thestar.com: AfterContinue reading “Letter to the Editor: “I’m a Weary Veteran of Homework Wars””

Guest Blogger: A Father’s Epiphany and Homework Reform

Today’s guest blogger, Frank Bruni, the father of a 12-year-old seventh grader, lives in Toronto, Canada. Frank, who has been quoted extensively in the Canadian press, has been a driving force in pushing the Toronto District School Board to review and revamp its homework policy. A Father’s Epiphany and Homework Reform by Frank Bruni LastContinue reading “Guest Blogger: A Father’s Epiphany and Homework Reform”

Canadian Study: Homework Has No Value

Researchers in Canada just released the results of the first study ever on homework and concluded that homework has no value through 6th grade. “”For elementary school, especially for the primary grades, I am down on homework entirely,” said Linda Cameron, one of the authors of the study and a former kindergarten teacher. According toContinue reading “Canadian Study: Homework Has No Value”

Guest Blogger: “We don’t have time to do that; You’ve got Homework!”

Today’s guest blogger, Diane Hewlett-Lowrie, has worked for 20 years in a variety of environmental education positions in Scotland and the U.S. and she currently lives in New Jersey. She has a special interest in how children learn and believes in nurturing the development of the whole child. She and her husband have one son,Continue reading “Guest Blogger: “We don’t have time to do that; You’ve got Homework!””

Study: New Middle-School Teachers Woefully Unprepared to Teach Math

A study released in December concludes that soon-to-be middle school math teachers in the U.S. are ill prepared for the task. “Our future teachers are getting weak training mathematically and are just not prepared to teach the demanding mathematics curriculum we need for middle schools if we hope to compete internationally,” said William H. Schmidt,Continue reading “Study: New Middle-School Teachers Woefully Unprepared to Teach Math”