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 wrote to her to tell her that there was already a homework policy in place, but invited her to a meeting of the Site Council the following day to discuss the issue further. There, they talked about surveying the parents to find out current attitudes on homework.

About a month later, Jodie heard again from the principal. He told her that the Board was leaning towards not surveying the parents, but again he invited her to give him “her perspective.” So Jodie wrote to him:

My perspective is that we would be losing a valuable and needed survey that would give us great insight and help improve our children’s school experience. I know that many parents are concerned about this issue. Our policy is bare-bones and leaves much to interpretation, but why should we settle for merely adequate when we can make all kinds of progressive, family-friendly changes? We could even try a two-week no homework period if all parties agree. There is so much we can do to support our kids and I strongly believe that we should make all efforts to do so. The question we should be asking is not “Isn’t this good enough?” but “Is there something more we can do to improve the lives (and learning) of the kids we are serving?” Revamping the homework policy is one way we can show the kids of BCHS and their families that our school is responsive to their needs and willing to go the extra mile for them.

Apparently the principal was convinced by Jodie’s response; he invited her to the next monthly site-based council meeting for further discussion of the issue.

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 others in her community, Kerry wrote the following:

Don’t Drink the Kool-Aid
by Kerry Dickinson*

We are reminded this week of the Jonestown tragedy 30 years ago, when 918 died in the largest mass-murder-suicide incident in UShistory. The slogan “Don’t drink the Kool-Aid” came out of this event which has become a pop culture warning against blind obedience. I’ve heard this reference twice recently in regard to how we are raising our kids in today’s world. We have gone from a culture that was once adult-centered (when we were kids) to a culture that is child-centered (now). And the irony of that, as a guest at the discussion Friday night pointed out, is when we lived in an adult-centered world, we were free to do whatever we wanted when the adults weren’t looking. Now, with our children the constant focus of our attention and time, we don’t let them do anything unless we know exactly where they are at all times. While we are providing them with so many opportunities, we are unwittingly taking away their childhoods from them.

It’s easy to get wrapped up offering our kids everything possible, to “drink the Kool-Aid” so to speak, by over-scheduling their lives and living in constant motion just because everyone else around us is doing the same. At some point though we have to take a step back and slow down or we may see some harmful unintended consequences. The film we viewed Friday night, “Slipping Behind” showed us many children who looked great on the outside and performed really well, but who suffered many unintended consequences from this kind of fast-paced, competitive, child-centered lifestyle: suicide, anxiety, anorexia, cheating, ulcers, cutting, drugs, etc…

Continue reading “Moms (and Dads) on a Mission–More from Danville, California”

From the Mouth of a Seventh-Grader

Adam, a seventh-grader from New Hampshire, wrote me an eloquent diatribe against homework:

I must be completely honest with you. I thought I had it bad, but reading some of your archives for summer assignments is terrible. My learning environment is second rate, my books date back to the mid 80s, my teachers are old enough to retire and crab at you all day, my school’s maximum capacity of students is supposedly gonna exceed by 46 next year. My fellow peers are real rebels and have lost their learning attitudes thanks to homework and studying. Because our test grades are so low, we must do an 8-10 sentence paragraph for every subject (even gym). Worse, whether yours is bad or good, you have to read yours to the class. It’s discouraging.

My math grades at the beginning of the year were superb. I was on the honor role! My average score was 97, but as school continued and the year progressed, homework did too. I’m now given two hard assignments for math per day. And guess what? As homework became harder and more plentiful, my grades decreased. Now, I hate school and want to drop out and be homeschoooled! In 1-6th grade, school was fun. Now it’s a pain and even in chemistry, my fav subject, I have to rush and ignore the teacher to secretly get tonight’s homework done to have enough time to play on the volley ball team. And guess what again! My 97 in math is now a 68. My highest score this past semester was a 78.

Down with homework!

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 stress with no benefit of added learning. Most teachers have no idea how to assign homework, what good homework looks like, how much to assign, none of this. They do it because they’re expected to by parents or administration or because they’re on power trips or because they erroneously believe it’s beneficial. I read a great book that’s obviously biased against homework, but that provides tons of examples and resources and relevant scientific data. It’s my reference this time, and it’s called, The Case Against Homework: How Homework Is Hurting Our Children and What We Can Do About It, by Sara Bennett and Nancy Kalish. It’s extremely informative and a great tool for teachers and for parents.

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, and changed attitude. At the same time, why not pick up a few extra copies and give them to those in charge of school policy?

And, if you’re thinking of making a year-end donation to a cause, please consider making a tax-deductible donation to:

Stop Homework/Alliance for Childhood
P.O. Box 444
College Park, MD 20741

Be sure to earmark your check for “Stop Homework.” Like many other groups which rely on funding from private foundations, Stop Homework lost half of its funding this year. Your contributions will help ensure the longevity of this project.

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 elementary schools.

Read about it here.

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 with most of the parents in the class and there was a lot of fighting and crying as a result of the homework which we have ended.

The silent majority was real and are grateful that I made a stand for the families. Most were having enough trouble with the spelling test alone, five words a week, and we will see if that can be ended as well.

From my Mailbox–A College Student Speaks Out

Eric, a senior at a university in Maine, wrote to me last week:

I’m a senior attending my state’s university and I have to tell you, I was one who didn’t really care for doing or not doing my homework. I understand the importance of it- there isn’t enough class time to teach all that needs to be taught, but really? I mean I remember doing 2 hours of homework each night…short-cutting it doing only what I had to. This didn’t include all of the papers or special projects.
Continue reading “From my Mailbox–A College Student Speaks Out”

Scarsdale, New York, High School Phases out Advanced Placement

According to an article in The New York Times, “A year after Scarsdale became the most prominent school district in the nation to phase out the College Board’s Advanced Placement courses — and make A.P. exams optional — most students and teachers here praise the change for replacing mountains of memorization with more sophisticated and creative curriculums.”

A handful of exclusive private schools, including Ethical Culture Fieldston, Dalton and Calhoun in New York City, have abolished Advanced Placement courses in recent years, but Scarsdale has set a precedent for high-achieving public schools. It did so deliberately, investing $40,000 to bring in 25 professors from Harvard, Yale, New York University and other top colleges to help develop the Advanced Topics curriculum, and having guidance counselors contact admissions officers at 130 selective schools to explain the change and gauge any concerns.
Continue reading “Scarsdale, New York, High School Phases out Advanced Placement”

Where are all the Children in the Parks?

I have an opinion piece posted on the National Wildlife Federation’s Green Hour Blog:

Do you ever take a walk in the park and wonder where all the school-age children are? Do you walk by playgrounds in your neighborhood and notice that there aren’t any school-age children there either?

I do and it breaks my heart, because I know where they are — inside doing their homework. Kindergarten, which means “children’s garden,” has become a misnomer. Gone are the block area and the dress-up area, the sand and water table, and recess. Instead, children are ordered to sit quietly at their desks, listen to scripted learning programs, and focus on academic skills.

Read the rest here.