Today’s guest blogger, Karen Cecere, is a Howell, New Jersey, parent who got recess restored in her community last year and is now fighting to get recess for all New Jersey children. She is a Girl Scout leader, active PTA member, and is extremely concerned with the growing lack of time for children to beContinue reading “New Jersey Parents–Act by Tuesday to Make Sure New Jersey Children Get Recess”
Category Archives: General
Moms (and Dads) on a Mission–Calgary, Alberta
Unfortunately, not everyone in Canada has been having the same luck as Frank Bruni of Toronto and Dale O’Dair of Niagara Falls. For over a year now, Shelli and Tom Milley, the parents of three children, have been trying to get their children’s school in Calgary, Alberta, Canada, to institute a reasonable homework policy. TheyContinue reading “Moms (and Dads) on a Mission–Calgary, Alberta”
Good News to Start off 2009–Private School Changes Homework Policy after Talk by Alfie Kohn
I recently heard from Alfie Kohn that he spoke to teachers, administrators, and parents at an independent school in the Northwest. After that visit, the lower school division director wrote to the parents: As a result of Kohn’s visit and our discussions, and after I did even more research from other books and articles fromContinue reading “Good News to Start off 2009–Private School Changes Homework Policy after Talk by Alfie Kohn”
Moms (and Dads) on a Mission–Even more from Berea, Kentucky
In November, I wrote about how Jodie Leidecker, a mother of two from Berea, Kentucky, who has been involved in the movement to save recess, had started to organize other parents to see about getting a low or no homework policy in her district. (You can read the previous entries here and here.)The principal wroteContinue reading “Moms (and Dads) on a Mission–Even more from Berea, Kentucky”
Moms (and Dads) on a Mission–More from Danville, California
Kerry Dickinson, a mother from Danville, California, who last year got her school district to reevaluate its homework policy and institute a new one, recently held a screening of a film-in-progress, Slipping Behind, a documentary about the “intersection of youth, stress, education, opportunity and the global economy.” In a follow-up email to attendees, and othersContinue reading “Moms (and Dads) on a Mission–More from Danville, California”
Teacher Recommends A Case Against Homework
It’s always gratifying when I come across an education blog where the writer recommends The Case Against Homework. In jbanana829.edublogs, a pre-K teacher and French tutor, writes: For a long time, I have had issues with homework. I think it is mostly busywork that takes up family time and causes a tremendous amount of stressContinue reading “Teacher Recommends A Case Against Homework”
How to Have a Homework-Reduced 2009
If you’re hoping that 2009 will be a better school year, homework-wise, why not give your child’s teacher a copy of The Case Against Homework: How Homework Is Hurting Our Children and What We Can Do About It? If s/he reads it over the holiday break, s/he just might return with a new, informed, andContinue reading “How to Have a Homework-Reduced 2009”
New Jersey Parents Fight for Recess
My favorite education blogger, Susan Ohanian, recently wrote about a group of New Jersey parents who fought to have recess restored in their community. Their efforts have spread statewide and now there’s a bill pending in the Legislature that would establish a task force to examine whether recess should be required in the state’s elementaryContinue reading “New Jersey Parents Fight for Recess”
Moms (and Dads) on a Mission–More from Niagara Falls, Canada
A few weeks ago, I wrote about Dale O’Dair, a dad from Niagara Falls who talked to the school about his first-grade daughter’s homework load (several hours a week). The very next day, the school wrote a note to all of the parents stating that homework booklets would be abolished. We have now spoken withContinue reading “Moms (and Dads) on a Mission–More from Niagara Falls, Canada”
Moms (and Dads) on a Mission–Success in San Anselmo, California
Today’s guest blogger, Torri Chappell, from San Anselmo, California, is the mother of a college freshman and a high school sophomore. She is also a teacher. After a decade of advocating for schools to reexamine educational practices that undermine learning and discourage learners (excessive homework, meaningless homework, standardized tests, timed reading/math quizzes), she has finallyContinue reading “Moms (and Dads) on a Mission–Success in San Anselmo, California”
Stop Homework 