You’d think that the thoughtful and lengthy letter Diane Hewlett-Lowrie sent to her son’s second-grade teacher would have warranted an equally thoughtful reply, or, at the very least, opened up an interesting conversation. Instead, Diane received nothing but a curt email reply. The teacher thanked her for expressing her concerns and told Diane that, accordingContinue reading “Frustration in Plumsted, New Jersey”
Category Archives: General
Moms (and Dads) on a Mission: More from Plumsted, New Jersey
In The Case Against Homework, there are dozens of sample letters to teachers and administrators which you can use as a jumping off point (or copy verbatim) for your own letter to your child’s teacher. Today, I am posting a very lengthy letter by Diane Hewlett-Lowrie, whose comments and letters I have posted before, hereContinue reading “Moms (and Dads) on a Mission: More from Plumsted, New Jersey”
First Monday
In The Case Against Homework, and every month in the first year of this blog, I suggested that parents send a note on the first Monday of every month to either a teacher or school administrator and express their frustrations. If parents took this simple action, the homework problem would become too big to ignoreContinue reading “First Monday”
Sometimes The Good Old Days Really Were The Good Old Days
I read a profile of David Boies, the lawyer who represented Al Gore in Bush v. Gore, and I couldn’t help but long for the days when children were allowed to be children and to develop at their own rates. Boies, who grew up in the 1940s, is one of the most famous trial attorneysContinue reading “Sometimes The Good Old Days Really Were The Good Old Days”
Moms (and Dads) On A Mission–Scotland
Sasha Reynolds, the mother of a 7-year-old and a 5-year old, recently wrote me to tell me what she’s doing in her children’s school in Scotland: I have finally approached the school my children attend with regard to the homework issues as I am on the Parent Council. I have found to my pleasant surpriseContinue reading “Moms (and Dads) On A Mission–Scotland”
Why Is It So Hard to Become a Teacher?
Here’s a great opinion piece by Ellie Herman, a television writer of 20 years who is trying to become an English teacher at an L.A. public high school. Testing my patience California needs teachers, so why is it so hard to get a credential? By Ellie Herman After nearly 20 years of working as aContinue reading “Why Is It So Hard to Become a Teacher?”
Moms (and Dads) on a Mission: Gray Summit, Missouri
Today’s “Mom on a Mission” is Krisi Repp, a mother of three from Gray Summit, Missouri, with students in public elementary, middle, and high schools. A stay-at-home mother for the past 12-1/2 years, Krisi recently returned to work part-time. Here is a letter she wrote to all of her children’s teachers, right before the beginningContinue reading “Moms (and Dads) on a Mission: Gray Summit, Missouri”
In Memoriam: Kate McReynolds
My very good friend, Kate McReynolds, died last Friday after a year-long struggle with lung cancer. I became friends with Kate after I interviewed her for The Case Against Homework. During my interview, I was struck by how incredibly articulate she was. In fact, although all of the professionals I interviewed for the book–and thereContinue reading “In Memoriam: Kate McReynolds”
Moms (and Dads) on a Mission: Plumsted, New Jersey
I’ve been hearing from a lot of parents (mostly moms), who sent letters to their children’s teachers and/or principals in the hopes of starting a dialogue about homework. I hope the letters, which I will be posting off and on, will inspire you to also start a dialogue in your community. The first letter isContinue reading “Moms (and Dads) on a Mission: Plumsted, New Jersey”
Guest Bloggers get Media Attention in their Own Communities
If you’re a regular visitor to Stop Homework, you know that I often write about what parents are doing in their own communities to challenge homework policies and practices or, better yet, have parents write about their experiences themselves. Many journalists visit Stop Homework to get ideas for stories, and they ask me to putContinue reading “Guest Bloggers get Media Attention in their Own Communities”
Stop Homework 