To Homework or Not to Homework? That is the question.

[Aroura]

As a teacher, I can explain why homework doesn't work: it cannot be sufficiently enforced, and it reveals differences in opportunities at home. Especially in California and Texas, homework will drive a wedge even further between poor 1st-generation kids and more established and better-educated American families.

Because of differences in lifestyle (working parents, single moms, etc.) it has to be assumed that a child will be doing homework at home, with no assistence. And obviously this will result in more capable kids pushing ahead and less competent kids getting buried in guilt and blame.

Yes, this is what I have been reading as well.

My issue with this is it caters to the lowest common denominator without trying to improve their situations. It is basically throwing up our hands and saying, well poor kids with 2 working paents or a single working parent cannot do homework, so we just won't give any kids homework, even if it is shown to help the kids who CAN do it.

This drags down the more capable kids, and how is that fair?

I should think a better solution would be to provide some sort of after school program or help for children who cannot get help at home, and still give them homework. Useful homework, not mindless grind homework. And this doesn't even have to cost a lot of money! Our school asks for adult (and even high school) volunteers for all sorts of things. Why not to tutor kids after school in homework?

I feel like American education is being dumbed down more and more, catering to the lowest common denominator instead of trying to raise them up.

I have mixed feeling about homework. Boring work that make kids hate school and learning is stupid to assign. Interesting and well designed homework can help our children, poor and well to do, do better in their future academics.

P.S. I'm disabled and poor as dirt, but I do have TIME for my kid, and realize that is a crucial factor. I also have a degree (earned before my disability) and a passion for learning. I realize my child, though poor, is one of the advantaged ones. I would gladly donate an hour a day after school to help those less fortunate kids get their homework done! I'm sure I'm not alone.