I understand the frustration in some of these examples, such as the preschooler with daily homework and the kindergartener that goes to school 8 hours day and then has more than 30 minutes of homework. I also don't like the idea of missing recess to complete an assignment. But homework is absolutely necessary to master the topics and acquire the skills and discipline to cope in college and the workplace. What if your child desires to go to law school or medical school? Do you really want to limit his or her opportunities in life? In my area, all the schools and public libraries offer free after school homework help and tutoring and study halls in the middle schools. The teachers stay late to offer help to struggling students. Homework clubs are all the rage. Perhaps a better approach would be to find a way to work with the school so that the school schedule is more manageable. Perhaps study halls could be incorporated into the school day.

agree, its a 50/50 shot what kind of teacher our kids get.... and if that teacher can teach our particular children with the differnent learning styles and needs all kids have, to succeed

I intended my remarks about homework to refer to High School students. I agree that Elementary school students do not need homework and High School students should only have meaningful and necessary homework. My main point is that some teachers give homework only because the system says they should.
I had very little homework in High School and I learned enough to pass tests to acquire 1/2 year of college credit at George Washington University. Some teachers are very good and teach subject-matter and teach students how to study. The main problem is that some schoold have too many subjects that do not add to a student's development.

Both my sister, 20 year K4 & K5 teacher and our other 20 yr.+'s 3rd grade (teacher friend) say a definite "No"!! After 8 hrs. of school it's enough. They make time during the day to get the "work done" and if extra help is needed they get it at school. Both teachers have super reputations and the kids love to learn. Though with "The No Child Left Behind Act," it is getting much more difficult. My son, in K5 was sooo burnt-out at the end of the 8 hr. day, at 6yrs.old and still was "supposed to do 30-45 mins. of homework!! I say it's nuts!! I have a BA degree and I do not remember doing homework, until 4th or 5th grade and it was "fun" projects!! I say let them learn thru life, ask ?'s, be curious, dig in dirt, splash some paint and get refreshed after school!! My son made it thru K5 and we eased off on the homework!! Katie Lund

i agree 100% to this, life is caotic enough without the battles of after school hrs of homework, after all life is one big classroom. right?

Homework is necessary if it prepares the student to better understand the teacher when he/she discusses the subject matter studied. The biggest problem I have observed while watching my children (years ago) and now my granchildren complete homework is that they do not always understand how to complete the homework. I have been teaching adults how to study more efficiently for the past 35+ years and the biggest complaint is that their teachers never taught them how to study. Homework is useful only if completion of the homework helps the child understand the subject being studied. I did a brief survey last Fall and found that many students come to college not knowing how to study and as a result are required to take numerous developmental classes before taking college level classes. Over $1,000,000 was spent on tuition at Jefferson Community College during Fall 2008 by students taking developmental classes.

I believe homeworks are essencial, but moderate.

When a child who loved school actually starts not liking school at all, then you know there is a problem. Some of my kids started hating school earlier than others. I've noticed it depends on many things. Sometimes it's whether the child is ready for school, enough sleep from the night before, and a good breakfast. Other times it's the teaching style of some teachers, those who make it fun and interesting have a better chance of having pupils who enjoy coming to school and who enjoy learning. And homework and busy work every day is NOT enjoyable to either the child or the parents. Time management is only perfect for the perfect family. There are usually too many other things that a family has no control over. Like younger siblings who want to play with the older siblings who come home from school. And the older ones needing to interact with the little ones, not everyone trying to occupy the smaller fry so the older ones can do their homework. Let alone if dad is still at work, and mom is trying to help with homework, occupy any other children, do the laundry, cook supper, get the kids an after school snack, let alone any after school activities. It can be very chaotic in many many households, not because anyone lacks time management, or are stupid people, just because most people are "normal" people who are trying to raise their kids right, teaching them many many different things they need to know to get them thru their childhoods and into adulthood with some sense of themselves, and what's right and wrong. Sometimes it's so difficult to even fit in church activities, so we don't anymore..and that is a shame. And on Sunday's...well...it's nice to sleep in and take it slow on a Sunday morning without all the rush and hurry that accompanies an every morning ritual during the school year. My youngest daughters enjoy school right now. The soon to be 9th grader has finally had a teacher my youngest WILL NOT ever get, and that's a promise. Some teachers take the joy out of anything. Most do not, but it's not a joy to have a teacher thru a whole year who is like that...thank God this teacher was off-set by the other group she had. I...and everyone I know...would love to get thru the childhood years with out too much drama. Drama doesn't always make a kid stronger, as some people think. Sometimes it's just the opposite. I still don't believe in HOMEWORK...famlies usually have enough HOMEWORK to keep the kids busy.

I agree, NO HOMEWORK. While I think the occasional home projects are fun and a great learning experience. Our kids aren't little grown-ups. They are only little for a fraction of their lives. They need to have time to play and learn what their role is in the family and community. If anything becomes drudgery it is no longer interesting. Learning comes easiest when it is fun and balanced. Six hours of school plus 1 or more hours of homework is NOT balanced!

For the record, I don't think a blanket ban on homework is in order. I think the workload needs to be reasonable and age-appropriate. I do NOT think that it is reasonable for there to be homework in kindergarten AT ALL, and probably not necessary until the second or third grade. After that, it should be, as others have said, a review of topics covered in class designed to help establish good study and time management habits. It should not take over anyone's life after school. Kids need down time. We all do.

I graduated from high school in 1979 - a lifetime ago! and I do not remember homework being nearly as laborious and time-consuming in high school as it is now in elementary school. I think that is absurd, especially when there's evidence that public education in this country is less effective than it used to be, not more.

i agree, no homework

What a teacher considers a little bit of time homework can litereally turn into a long evening of homework. Even half a hour of homework in just 2 or 3 subjects adds up to 1 to 1/2 hours. Time management? I know what that is. We live in the real world of real children. Why should we want our children to go to school 7 hours a day, then come home and work on the same stuff for more hours. Add that up. By the time they HAVE to get up to get ready to go to school, there is at least 1 -2 hours before that, then they have the come home time.That's about 9 to 10 hours from get up to come home. I've lived both spectrums, those who ride the bus, and those who walk. Thank God we live across the street from our middle and high schools. They can sleep a little longer, and don't have to ride those hot buses with all those kids. I also drive a school bus, and have for years. These kids have to put their backpacks in their laps! Many little kids don't have legs long enough to touch the floor, which helps support the backpacks. And the buses are generally aweful, and many kids are on there way way way too long. In the spring before school lets out and at the end of summer when they start, these buses waste these kids because they are so hot. The little ones are zapped! They NEED to go home, relax, play, eat, watch some tv, bathe, cuddle with mom, play with dad, not more homework. My one girl (whose is now 23), when she was little, she ALWAYS fell asleep on the bus, then she'd get home and sleep sleep sleep, I even had trouble waking her for supper, let alone baths and homework. I think for the first couple of years she'd have to do homework in a rush before the bus picked her up.
Have you ever weighed their book bags? With only their homework stuff in it? Try it? My one child was bringing home 15 lbs of books! At the school age of 4th grade, and 5th grade. No child should have to lug that much.
I still think, that after this last year where my younger of 8 children, who rarely got any homework, and they still learned and I had a happier kid, with happier parents, that it is not a bad thing, but maybe a good thing.
If I had to do it all over again, knowing what I know now, going thru what I've gone thru, I'd give the advice to many new parents to look into homeschooling BEFORE your kids go to public school, and before the Government decides to run it too. Once the kids get into school and you might think you'd rather homeschool, your kids will say "no" cause why? They'll miss their friends. LOL And do your homework if you want to homeschool, there are differences in charter schools and real homeschooling.
My suggestion would be to homeschool thru 8th grade, then let them do public school for HS credits.

I believe home work should be limited. Most parents end up doing the homework and projects because the children are too tired when they get home from school. I would suggest homework maybe 2 or 3 days out of the week with weekends free.

Whoa,,,,I'm glad I'm not your child,,,,what do you do for fun with your child???

One of the life skills I am teaching my children is time management. Some parents practice time management with their children and the outcome is everything fit together for good.

Home work is great for many children because it gives them more hours to practice. I am thinking of soccer or football or tennis practice or TV viewing, which runs three times or about six hours a week. I believe if my children and other students spend around six hours a week to practice their school work and life skills, then the US will be on the top of academic among the industrial nations.

Agree with a reasonable homework comparable to sport practice or TV viewing.

Thanks for sharing!

The first school I sent my child to only sent minimal work home (2-3 worksheets or a small essay or a long term project here & there). I LOVED that school & my family was active doing all sorts of things in the community.
The new school gradually sends more & more work home... and she balks more & more at going to school.

As the new year approaches my daughter's enthusiasm for learning is not showing up. She has mentioned that she is not looking forward to homework specifically. This from a kid who used to BEG me to give her worksheets instead of color books as a little girl, who used to do extra-credit just because, and who considered learning the best game ever...

Homework for children below fourth grade should be severely limited.After a full day in school they are just too tired mentally. Creative play time is very important for children and shouldn't be taken over by homework. Homework that can be incorporated into that play time would be OK such as going out and finding three different types of leaves as part of science homework(just an example). Homework for older kids isn't a bad thing just keep it relevant and not busy work or rerepetitivenless the child really needs that kind of reinforcement. Also don't overload the kids. My middle schooler is very bright but has an LD. Homework for him can take hours for even what the teacher considers a short assignment. He's mentally fatigued by the end of the day and the last thing he wants to do is more school work.

Sketptic2 I agree with you, my son was also having issues with the long division and we worked on it together and its gotten better.. There is nothing wrong with homework it keeps the kids minds going. They practice what they have learned through out the day.

This answer is from the perspective of a father whose daughter just finished fifth grade. My points may not be applicable for other grades.

There are several good reasons for homework. One is that after the teacher shows the students a method of working problems, for instance in math, the students usually need significant practice to become proficient in it. To do that practice in class is a waste of the teacher's time.

Another reason is that a writing assignment may require research or materials not at hand in the classroom. Likewise reading assignments can be done at home allowing the teacher to spend more time actually teaching.

Homework also allows me to give my daughter more individual attention than the teacher has time for. I discovered my daughter had misunderstood the method for long division and was doing all her problems wrong. I was able to correct her method so she was able to do them correctly, whereas without my involvement I think the teacher would have just marked the problems wrong and gone on.

hopefully if there not burned out by then

and thats homeschooling, ya learn real life experiences

Well it loks like 99.9% of the parent agree that there shouldn't be homework. I don't know the answer to this delima, BUT IF all the parents stood together and protested and just let the schools know there "not goimg to stand for this" maybe just MAYBE we can make a difference,,and stick to it!!! What can they do?? After all "we are still their parents" and we should have a voice to what is good and right for our children> After all,,,,,,we are paying ther wages!!!

I believe homework should be in moderation. My son is in preschool and even his teacher sends home homework. I think it is stupid and usually ignore it. Most of the time it is something he has known for ages. I removed him and decided that he would not be returning to that preschool in September. As far as homework, I would try to integrate learning and fun. When we are playing, I also try to make it educational. At the grocery store, I will say and spell something I need and let him find it. He loves it and he remembers those words. This would work if your child has a spelling list.

I think homework is good, for all the parents that want to know what there child is learning there is homework. This also builds a little responsibility, if our kids learn early that home is important and needs to be done before other things then hopefully they will take that lesson with them going into high school and college. Homework is like a class project the more time you put into it the better your grade will be. I have a soon to be 5th grader who I am almost sure will have homework everyday, except fridays. My son was having a hard time with division last year and when ge recieved a C in math I wasn't shocked at all because when he would work on his homework I would help and I could see that he was really trying and from working with him I was not shocked I just kept encouraging him to ask for help when he didn't understand. I also will have a kindergarderner this year, schools for kinder, here only go half day and they will have homework. Counting, parents have to read to their child. and learning there address and phone number by writing it. I actually like helping my kid learn and practice things because that is just time that we are spending together. I think as long as kids have a routine they will do fine. I'll tell you though my kids have me laughing, my husband is away at work for most of the week and when he is at home and he'll ask if anyone needs help with homework and my kids will say Dad you know how to do this! (it is so funny, my husband tells them I did go to school too!) kids they are so funny..

I don't think homework should be banned in general, but I think homework at the kindergarten level is absurd. I am pretty sure that I did not start bringing work home until second grade at the earliest, and then it wasn't much - just enough to make sure we were retaining concepts. My observation was that the practice was detrimental to my son's learning experience.

sure, a 20 min review is fine, but these kids are coming home with up to 2-3 hrs a night of homework, im sorry but thats way above review, thats homeschooling and not only review, there are materials in that homework packet thats simply busy work and some of it they didnt even go over in class. we the parents are the one's battling for ages with r kids who are burned out, tired from a long day at school to do the homework, and it is a battle, this makes our kids hate us.... and sooner than later hate school,, little homework is fine but hrs and hrs,,,, i dont think so

My husband and I do not believe in homework. We feel that what ever they are teaching should be taught in school, not sent home for the parents to become the teacher. My daughter who was in 5th grade last year had no after school life. She was sent home with homework which they said should take no more then an hour to do (most nights I wouldn't of even been able to do it in an hour) But an hour worth of homework after spending 7 hrs in school is ridiculous! By mid school year it took her hours because she was so burnt out. Her grades also began to decline. School is very important but so is letting a child enjoy their childhood.

I do agree that the amount of homework given to our kids is too much but I disagree that the practice itself should be banned. I think it is a good start for them to adapt to the concept of knowing how to round up one's day by assessing and refreshing what went on through out the day, especially the new things learned.

I'm not against homework, but I think the amount that is given to kids is ridiculous. There is no reason why a kindergartner should be in school for six hours and then have another 30+ minutes of work to do at home. Often times with my son, homework took much longer than the 30 minutes because he was just plain worn out and needed to be a six year old and play. It's not that he couldn't do the work, he just got burnt out. Kids need to be able to play and burn some energy off. Most adults I know like to rest and take a break from when they get off of work, but kids don't always have that opportunity. They might have after school clubs they go to and then have to jump right into doing their homework. By the time they finish their homework, it's dinner time and then, shortly thereafter, it's time for bed. I remember coming home from school and still being able to play outside after I finished my homework. Kids just can't do that now and I think we are short changing them.

when kids get older they r ready to take on this, maturity helps with age, kids today r so stressed by school all day then hrs of homework, what happens here is kids get burned out, hate school by 5th grade, and basically shut down, but when the pressure is of and they are older and mature enough then they would be ready and more successful

yup totally, it should be banned, kids should have the extra time in school to do it, not home, this kills the relationship between child/parent

yup totally, it should be banned, kids should have the extra time in school to do it, not home, this kills the relationship between child/parent

I was appalled at the amount of homework my kindergartner had last year - almost every night! For the most part it was extremely repetitive drills, which do not help five-year-old children learn in any meaningful way. I do not understand this drive toward teaching certain kinds of academics at earlier ages despite all research demonstrating that by fifth or sixth grade any apparent advantage over children who had more play-oriented early education has vanished.

I agree totally with the no homework concept. My daughter had sooooooo much homework during the 5th grade last year it was unbearable to see her carry so many books home EVERYDAY.

I live in Colorado Springs, School dist 49. We have also been through 6-7 superintendants in the last 4-5 years.

I agree that some exposure to homework is necessary, but the amount should be appropriate to the child's age. Very young children should not be overwhelmed with tons of homework, especially the repetitive stuff my son gets. If it's going to do any good, it should be more relevant to that day's topic so that it can do what it was intended for and reinforce the material.

Where do you live, in Antioch?

I live in a district where most of the school board either home schools or sends their kids to another district but they expect me to put my kids in these schools? I don't think so. I think only one board member has their kids in school here. Says alot about the district.

That's a great concept. My son was a A B honor roll student when he was in Private school, now he is failing and I'm sick about it. It is pretty bad when the teachers refuse to send their children to Park Middle School, in Antioch, where their teaching!!!,,,that says something, huh????

I absolutely agree! My son was in first grade last year, and they had an hour of homework every night (except Friday). I think that is much too excessive especially at such a young age. Instead of starting them off learning to enjoy school, they are learning that school is homework and no fun. Because he went to after school some days, by the time he'd finish homework and eat dinner, there is barely enough time to get ready for bed, let alone play or read for fun. The worst part was that they homework was so repetitive, the same kind of worksheets everyday. It would have been better if they would at least focus on one particular skill or topic (whatever they are working on that day) than to do the same stuff everyday. I have two relatives that are teachers, and both of them structure homework around what a particular student is struggling with and if a student is doing well they do not even have homework. I am hoping for a better situation this coming year.

Homework builds the necessary work ethic to excel in higher academics. When a student continues into high school and college, classroom lectures and exercises alone is not gonna cut it. Especially in more rigorous curriculae like AP and IB programs in high school. Get them ready so it's not a shock later.

momsareus1

Great idea "Mom's for kids" These forums are a great place to vent but also to get ideas and advice from other parents who are or have had the same problems.

I agree completly. Again, the problem is with the school system, they have let us all down. When teachers start throwing things at students and calling them nasty names, putting them down in front of the other class mates,,,,,,I'm done!! Teaches aren't a role model anymore,,,only in it for the money. And even worse, if you make a complaint,,? God forbid, they back up the teachers and it will always be the students fault. I have talked to meny mom's an the story is the same across the board. It would be great if us mom's would start a "Mom's for Kid's" group.

I agree - especially when they reach middle school. There were nights my daughter, who has always been an excellent student, would be up past 10:00 doing homework (starting after school). That's when I email the teacher and tell him/her that my child has not finished her homework and I will not allow her to stay up past 10:00 to finish and if they have a problem or concern with that, they can contact me. I think it is ridiculous for our kids to be in school for 6+ hours and then come home and do homework for another 3 or 4. Where does family time come in to play?

Absolutely NOT !!! My son's have so much homework. My question is,,,,WHY??? aren't the teachers doing their job? They spend 7 hours a day 5 days a week in class,,,and that's not enough??? My daughter home schools all of her "4" boys and they get their work done in 4 hours,,YES, and have a much better education and alot of social gatherings with other Home Schooled parents. I'm sick about our schooling system...if anyone is interested in Home Schooling "Online" visit K-12 website. It's GREAT!!!!!!!!!!!!

I agree that too many teachers send home too much homework. Some is busy work, and some is practice. I've also seen some answers from parents who aren't very happy about projects. As a mother of a child who learns best from project based hands on learning, let me give you the other side of the spectrum. My child sits in school day after day in most classes listening to lectures. He has difficulty paying attention and keeping focus during this time. Teachers have always gotten upset and punished him for fidgeting and not paying attention. He needs to be doing something but that just isn't acceptable in many classrooms. He's expected to sit and at least pretend to pay attention. The projects are a way for kids like him to connect with what has been taught in class to to be able to put it all together. He has trouble seeing how the small pieces connect. I have read that approximately 7% of kids learn differently but schools mainly teach one way. That's great if your in the majority, but what about the rest of the kids. Most of the teachers do their best to educate kids in their classes who are on many different levels but they don't have time to make individual homework assignments for each child. Your child may not like projects, but my child hates daily repetitive homework to practice what he learned the first day. He looks forward to those projects which seem to be few and far between.

Ditto to that - TG we don't live in S. Korea! In my opinion, that is child abuse - If it is true and not an exaggerated claim. I don't see that claim as anything to be proud of.

As for a second language, these other countries have English as a second language, which just happens to be our first language. What would our second language be? We are the melting pot of the world, so why do many other countries use English as a second language if other countries kids do so much better with their schools. Why do so many people leave their countries to come to the U.S. of A to go to our colleges and work in our country if it's so bad? Us having a second language would be a great thing to put into our schools while the kids are in the first 3 years of elementary school, as that is when it's best to learn a second language. Which one would we choose? I'd say the spanish language because of the influx of Mexican people who now reside in the U.S.A., I still don't go for the homework, though.

thank God we don't live in South Korea (LOL)

Its funny to me that parents can find the time to drive all over town for sports training, games, and personal trainers, but then are too busy for homework. In South Korea, students study 12-16 hours a day. Oh, and they ace our SATS in their second language. We cannot blame schools, funding, politicians, and bad teachers for our failures, if we are going to balk at homework.

Yes, but it should not just be busy work. It should enhance and enforce what has been learned in school.

There needs to be homework for student so the student can practice the skill or to study but not too much

TeacherParent,
I really liked what you wrote! Especially about the PTA, because I've never once considered that route. Any PTA I've ever gone to centered mostly on fund-raising, and just plain ways to help the school to attain didn't items they say they need to better teach our children, or playground equipment. Anyway, what better place to have parent imput than the PTA! I bet we could get more parents to attend if they knew the homework work was to be addressed. If I do that, I really need to be well prepared (LOL). Now, guess I need to do more homework myself.

There's no safe blanket statement that can really be made as to what's 'needed' in terms of homework. The problem lies in the faddish nature of curriculum - rather than base curriculum on research-based knowledge, much of what we do in schools is done in respond to the latest fad to come down the pike. Some professor of education who's never taught children comes up with the idea that children should be doing 'projects' and viola - projects spread throughout our schools. Is there any sound research that shows the includion of projects into the curriculum increases learning?
In a nutshell - no. Nor is there any research that demonstrates that homework increases learning. Both projects and homework have been on the rise over the last two decades mostly in response to the newer concept that is 'multi-tasking'. While that reality was always a part of everyday life and the workplace, we only recently coined the term that describes the constant juggling of tasks that is life. Schools are not immune to what's going on in the world outside them and increasingly they perceive it be normal that children are also 'multi-tasking'.
Whether it's healthy for children to do such is another matter. And whether it's healthy for the family to have children engaged in academic 'multi-tasking' isn't a question that schools ask. Indeed, I no longer see school as having much connection to or interest in the family life of students. In the better world, I'd like to see schools establish Parents' Advisory Councils - I'd like to see schools be more open to parent input and to establish channels for such input.
Until that day, families do well to protect themselves as best they can from those school based demands that are unreasonable. Keeping all old assignments as one parent here has advised is excellent advice. Teachers cannot always keep proper track of completed homework particularly if they're assigning mountains of it. Having materials at home to turn out the latest assigned project as another poster suggested is more good advice. In my home we spent our weekends completing the projects so we could spend our weekday evenings just getting the next day's work done.
I find that most PTAs and other such organizations devote themselves to fund-raising. Parent groups could also devote time to discussion and consideration of school policy and practice in regard to homework and all other issues.

To let you know..the 6th grader whose team of teachers had the smarts to keep the school work at school and not send home "homework". These kids did excellent work, their behavior in general was better, my daughter wasn't on edge because of it. My child was a much much happier child. She's always been a good worker and good student and she's always been on the honor roll, and this year she made all A's. She loved school, but then again, she has always loved school. Homelife was definatly better for her and me.

Yes, I think that children need to have some form of homework. However, the homework should be an extension of what was learned in class and something that helps them apply their lesson to "real life". By no means should a child have assignments that last for hours or be extremely frustrating. Many homework assignments, like some classroom assignments, become busy work and the children still do not understand how to apply school work and real world situations. Moreover, homework can be useful and does help children practice the expected objective as well as other skills (organization, time management, etc). Understand the objective and it will help you and your child get homework accomplished easier, rather than "OMG look at all this homework!"

If your teachers are opened to suggestions and have forums that allow parent input, ask teachers to be more creative with the homework assignments, maybe even combining some of the subjects. Ex. Watch your favorite television show and write 7 sentences said by your favorite character and diagram each sentence. This assignment will give them time to relax, focus on what characters are actually saying, listening skills, and understand the different parts of a sentence. The children will think about how people speak and if that speech is acceptable or unacceptable, correct or incorrect. Ask teachers to give assignments that include parental involvement in which parents have some active part in the assignments, the children will enjoy it more.

Don't be afraid to appropriately approach your child's TEACHER first and voice your concerns about your child. Try not to criticize your teachers efforts or give the "I think" speech. Instead, speak with your child's teacher about what you see happening at home as result of "too much homework", not complain. He/She will try to alter the homework. Beware that not all teachers will change, because there are lots of children with different learning styles in one class to consider. Communicate, positively, with your child's teacher about homework concerns and what he/she would like for your child to accomplish while doing the assignments. Homework will not end but begin to get easier and shorter.

I'm an upper elementary teacher and a mother of 3 school aged children and 1 newborn. Many of my students parents voiced their concerns and I had many concerns of my own about homework. Understanding my students and my children's learning styles helped me to realize the true purpose of assigning homework and what kind of homework was meaningful.

Homework is more necessary as children grow older. However, for any child to be up until midnight, except a rare occasion for older kids (high-schoolers), is totally unacceptable.

Study halls should be provided, and teachers should be allowing ample time at the end of each lesson *every day* to get most of all of the assignment done - even in high school. Again, I stress, in high school, things are different and there will be teachers who lecture throughout the entirety of the class.

In grade school and junior high, teachers should definitely be making sure that children have plenty of sleep. They should not ignore the facts that children need to have ample sleep.

On top of this, children also need their weekends to relax and be kids, to play, and to have plenty of time for family time.

If you need to, request to your children's teachers that they have less homework, or more classtime to complete it. If this is a problem, see if speaking to other parents to join your cause will help get the teacher on board.

If all else fails, bring medical statistics to the principal and teacher in a meeting, that shows how much sleep children need. Create a chart of your time at home, driving time, dinner, homework, chores, bathing and getting ready for bed, and getting into bed and going to sleep. I'll bet that will help.

It's only just begun. There have been tears and ranting and raving on all parts, child and parents. Sometimes it's impossible or close to impossible to find all the information for something the teacher wants them to do, even WITH a parents help. Homework should never be graded because it should be a way for the teacher to know if what he/she is teaching is getting thru to the kids. So, if my child has 50 math problems and thinks she is doing them right, only to find out the next day that she has skipped something in the equation, well, that would probably show up in the first 5 problems. Not only that, then she has this wrong way stuck in her head. And gets a terrible grade just because she didn't understand how to do it right. Or, they don't write down the directions from either the board, or the teachers mouth fast enough, so they don't have all the directions. I remember in first grade my daughters' handwriting was really pretty in her journal, less than halfway thru the year her writing was really getting bad, enough so I noticed this. I asked her what happened to her writing, and she told me that the teacher said they have to write faster, and it's hard for a kid to write faster, be accurate, and neat at the same time. All these little things we as parents notice but don't ever say any thing is because we are afraid of the repercussions our child will go thru when they are at school, and we are not there. Or we don't want to be looked at as the parent who causes problems or become a pest. Anyway.....more examples?

I have only two children with one of them starting third grade this fall and one starting kindergarten. There are definitely different issues for kids in elementary, jr, and High school. One school my older son went to only sent home homework that re-capped on what they learned that day or spelling words for that week. I know it is important for him to learn the discipline of homework now so he isn't shocked when he gets into Jr. and High School, let alone college. The problem is, too many times they are given homework that they haven't even gone over in class at all! This happened to us when he started a new school. New math concepts etc. that I literally had to sit down with a frustrated child to try and teach him how to do it. Homework should be to re-enforce work done in school only. Oh yeah, projects are a whole other story. Thats for another day....

I've had children in school since the time of Moses (LOL). Actually since 1982. My own kids. I have homework horror stories. Has anyone had their kid come home needing to do a "project"? We all have. I use to NEVER have any art supplies, poster boards, pens, pencil, extra writing paper, colored pencils, markers, rulers and so on, at home. Here comes the "project". Now, I lived 10 miles out of town. Three to six kids with homework, everyone starving, kids wanting and needing to unwind either outside, or watching tv, or reading, or listening to music. And more than one kids means more than one quarrel. I guess I was suppose to jump in my mostly non-existant car, with non-existant gas and money, and head off to the store to buy all these supplies so my child can make a "project". Pretty sad, and funny, isn't it. And then, we have to get home and make it. If we were lucky, we'd get a few days or more to get it done. Only the kids whose parents really helped them got the best grades. The kids "projects" that looked like the kid did it themselves, ended up with lower grades. I saw that time after time. My kids got the lower grades. And as a parent, I had to keep my mouth shut, or the child would have to pay the price. When the 5th grade teacher retired, I told her what I had seen. I think she was suprised. I saw a neighbor practically doing all her kids "projects", and these children always got great grades on them. It happens all the time. Projects should be done in school..period, with the arts and crafts stuff we bought them to take to school.
Another thing, how about the teacher wanting a child to have a report typed up, and they've never had keyboarding skills, let alone that not all kids have a computer to do the typing or keyboarding on. I guess I could go on and on. I just think it would be nice if the powers that be would listen with open ears. Other than reading, all other work should be kept at school.
I've learned to keep all the papers my children have done at school. The reason being, I've had more than one teacher say that a homework assignment was not turned in, even though I knew it had been done. More than twice my daughter has pulled it out of where we've had it, and it had been graded by the teacher who failed to enter the grade. I'd copy the work, send it email that night with a note, and send the original the next day to school. This has happened to us many times over the years. I learned this after it happened to my older kids many different times, but I couldn't prove it. Someone told me they keep a folder for all their kids papers, for each 9 weeks. I started doing that, and it has proved to be invaluable. If all work was done at school this wouldn't be an issue.

The amount of homework often assigned these days has been a Hot Topic of discussion. You might like a new book on the subject called The Myth of Homework that tried hard to find research that demonstrates homework is helpful but could find none.
As a young parent, I believed without knowing much that homework would help my children but when I saw the reality of how much homework was assigned, I came to share your opinion. I voiced that opinion often to fellow teachers and all but stopped assigned homework as a teacher to try to lesson the load for my middle school students who seemed to get homework every night from every teacher other than me.

Sadly there are fads in education - and thoughtless decisions too - and thoughtlessly assigned huge amounts of homework seems to be the current fad. Even Oprah devoted a show to it! Also sadly true is that most schools dont have any real forum for parent input or parent discussion and this discussion about homework occurs on the fringe of how schools and teachers make decisions. Often teachers can take offense when an individual parent brings the matter up to a teacher.
I think the points you make are particularly good ones- children should indeed be learning life skills like helping with shopping, cooking and caring for the house and should have time to take responsibility in the house. And no child should have to be up at midnight doing homework.

In 7th grade i realized that homework wasn't helping me learn. it was like busy work. In High School i was taking a math course and couldn't do the homework at home. i tried and tried but if i did the same problems in the classroom i could do it. My teacher would let me come into class an hour early just to do my homework on the chalk board. I learn very quickly that i learned best at school off the chalkboard. At home on my own i didn 't learn i just did the work.

I meant that homework could be cut down to Monday, Tuesday, and Thursdays. With no homework on Weekends, Wednesdays ( usual chuch night), and any and all holidays. Weekends and holidays are family days and I don't think it needs to be taken up with trying to fit in homework.

Too much homework is overwhelming for the whole family.Last year my 6th grader had a lot of homework that she could not alone.It was stressful to work all day ,cook dinner,and watch my three preschoolers while helping my daughter with homework.

I truly don't think this is getting out there to the powers that be. There are school systems, a few, that do have policies on the amount of homework being sent home. The rest it is up to the teachers. I think homework also overloads the teachers. If there wasn't homework, or it was severly limited to only the same 2 or 3 days a week, with weekends, holidays, and Wednesdays, then the teachers would have more time to teach in the classroom, and help those who just plain don't understand and then these children are not left in the dust. Can you imagine the teacher going home and not having to grade homework! Wouldn't they like that? They could spend more time with their families, too. Also, the teachers and parents and children would cut down on the amount of fighting that comes from the need to do the homework, those who don't turn it in, or turn it in on time, and so on. This past year was the first year I've ever had a group of teachers (6th grade) who didn't send in homework. It was a wonderful year. My young children loved to go to school, by the time middle school and up became a part of our lives, they mostly hated it. I'm starting to see some disillusion from the soon to be 9th grader, who is a gifted student. The ONLY reason she wants to go to school is to see her friends and play volleyball. That is so sad.

I completely agree! This past year was Ok for my kids in grades 2 and 4, but the year before was torture to the whole household. We'll see what we are up against this coming year. Unfortunately, the school systems are refusing to listen to parents about how too much homework really interferes with family time, family activities, other quality life education, and any extra curricular activities the kids participate in such as sports. I have done quite a bit of reading on the subject and there is a LOT of material out there! Parents all over the country are demanding, pleading, begging for some solution to this growing problem, but the school systems refuse to listen. Good luck.