Journal 6

NETS-T I

Spencer, J. T. (2011, September 19). Education rethink. Retrieved from http://www.educationrethink.com/2011/09/ten-reasons-to-get-rid-of-homework-and.html

Ten Reasons to Get Rid of Homework (and Five Alternatives)

John T. Spencer's article, “Ten Reasons to Get Rid of Homework (and Five Alternatives)”, expresses the injustice of homework with examples and alternatives. He explains how children, young and old, are constant; kids have so many extracurricular activities going on these days, homework can bring them overboard. Some kids have stay-at-home parents that are very supportive and present after school, however, some students play the parent role while their single parent is working overtime every night. This is where the injustice comes into play. Another reason their shouldn't be homework is because kids need to be active. Six hours of school should be enough to learn the subject. Having assigned homework is de-motivating. Instead children should be creating, building relationships, and discovering on their own. This type of self-directed learning is motivating, and crucial to the development of a child.

Instead of making homework mandatory, teachers can be available to students who want more activities for home or need more help. A child learns how to work hard when it is self-directed work. If parents want their kids to have homework, teachers can provide workshops for them to help them enable learning after school. Homework should be an extracurricular activity with no pending grade. Informal homework guides a child into creativity and interest.

Some other alternative ideas might include:

1. Compromising. Instead of assigning a huge packet of work, assign 4 questions. Or assign a short article and have kids right down a question they formulate from the article. Homework doesn't have to be hours long. Create something doable.
2. Create fun. If you are teaching a nutrition lesson, have kids take a picture of themselves eating something that they think is healthy. Have them share it with the class.
3. Share hobbies. Give extra credit for kids who want to share a hobby. It can be as simple as reading a poem they wrote, or bringing in a video they filmed.
4. Have kids interact with society. Instead of having paper homework, let the kids go outside and socialize and interview and create relationships.
5. Use every day life. Parents are always driving their kids everywhere, sports, events, friends, or the movies. Have kids calculate how much gas it takes to get to the movies, and how much it costs. Have them create journals of everyday life.