Category Archives: In the News

Toronto School Board Considers Scaling Back Homework

After three months of reviewing research on homework and meeting with parents, principals, and teachers, the Toronto, Canada, School District Board is now taking a very close look at a new proposed homework policy. The proposal focuses on quality, not quantity, suggests that homework in the early grades be limited to reading, talks at lengthContinue reading “Toronto School Board Considers Scaling Back Homework”

Teachers in England Will Soon Debate Motion to Abolish Homework

The Association of Teachers and Lecturers (ATL) in England, a union which represents 160,000 teachers, will debate a motion at its annual conference next week calling for an end to homework for elementary school children and cutting back the amount for teenagers. According to The Telegraph, “The move comes amid growing fears that children areContinue reading “Teachers in England Will Soon Debate Motion to Abolish Homework”

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”

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”

New York City Councilmember Proposes Resolution to Limit Homework

Yesterday, a New York City councilmember introduced a resolution to limit homework to 10 minutes per grade per night. The resolution, if passed, would not be binding, but, at the very least, it will spark some discussion. I am dismayed, though, by the comments to a <a Wall Street Journal blog entry, “So What’s theContinue reading “New York City Councilmember Proposes Resolution to Limit Homework”

No Big Surprise: Study Links Drop in Test Scores to a Decline in Time Spent Reading for Pleasure

According to an article in The New York Times, the National Endowment for the Arts released a report showing that as students read less for fun, their reading test scores are declining. In addition, “performance in other academic disciplines like math and science is dipping for students whose access to books is limited, and employersContinue reading “No Big Surprise: Study Links Drop in Test Scores to a Decline in Time Spent Reading for Pleasure”

“I Hate Homework,” says Jeff Opdyke of the Wall Street Journal

So many readers have pointed me to an article in the Wall Street Journal How Homework Is Hurting Our Family by Jeff Opdyke that I’m posting it here. He begins: I hate school! Yes, I know that’s a bit immature for someone 41 years old. But it’s true. I hate school — so much soContinue reading ““I Hate Homework,” says Jeff Opdyke of the Wall Street Journal”

Teachers Jump on the Assign-Homework-to-Parents Bandwagon

A math teacher at Hilliard Memorial Middle School in Ohio has started assigning homework to parents. Her rationale: “It’s stressing the importance of schoolwork, and it’s good for the kids to say they know something that their parents don’t.” According to an article in The Columbus Dispatch, the “assignments ask students to show their parentsContinue reading “Teachers Jump on the Assign-Homework-to-Parents Bandwagon”