Is homework unnecessary?

[miketv]

Just started junior school, we have reading every night (we need to sign to say they've read), plus one big piece of homework, plus a small piece of homework, plus practicing spelling every night for a test.

It just seems a lot. Not helped by us having after school club/breakfast club every day, plus activities after this. It's often 630pm by the time we get home, then we have to eat, then start homework.

AIBU to not agree with this? DC enjoys reading but forcing it on him is really turning him off. And doing homework is like torture (to him). He's generally bright I think but has so many other things he's interested in that he really resists this.

Teacher has told us that if they don't do homework there will be "consequences" which has got my back up (although appreciate that they have to follow school policy).

I don't mind homework that is "prep" - that is, preparation for the next lesson. I remember getting a lot of homework in early secondary school (one of the parents complained that her son never seemed to have any so they gave use loads) and I don't think that was productive.

There was one German lesson where the teacher mentioned the homework that was due that day and I started panicking - then I found it in my book. Clearly I'd just done it on autopilot as I had no memory of it. That was pointless.

I can see the point of reading. Some of the homework tasks that get described on here (make a castle out of shoeboxes etc) fill me with dread.

I think encouraging children to read out of school is a good idea. I also don't have a problem with the odd bit of story writing, or a few sums now and again if it's something the teacher wants to be sure the children have grasped.

But reams of homework every evening, and nightly battles and tears for something that hasn't proved to have much if any worth seems wrong.

I think six hours at school should be enough at that age.

Big discussion a few days ago on Twitter about this, started by Rob Delaney griping about his 7 year old’s homework. Lots of debate and discussion from teachers, parents and celebrities. Most people agreed homework was stressful and pointless, particularly at primary level.

You sound like a pain in the arse.

Despite enquiries being du jour, there are some things that are best learnt through repetition and wrote and the reinforcing of independent work at home is, I believe (35 years as an educator) extremely beneficial.

The work being set could be debated or questioned but your "bright" child won't succeed if their parents undermine the school because your back's up because of gut feeling - no post-grad and years of PD to back it up.

" AIBU to not agree with this?"

Yes. HTH

Ha! I don't think I'm a pain in the arse to ask the question - but thanks for that!

I don't agree with the amount he gets, but I NEVER say that to him, I try to encourage him to do it, because if I can try to get him interested it won't be so much like pulling teeth. When he complains (not if) I have to say that it's his teacher setting the homework not me, so let's get this done.

He can't read in the car because we're not always in the car, if we are it's only for a 3-5 minute journey so hardly worth getting the book out (plus he gets travel sick if he reads).

In theory he could do homework at after school club, but there are much more exciting things to do there - and at home he won't do homework unless I prompt him, so there's not a chance it'll happen there on his own initiative!

It's a linked junior school so we didn't look around he was just automatically transferred. It wouldn't have occurred to me to ask about amount of homework (although it might in future!). The teacher recently told a group of us how the children would be in trouble for not doing their homework/reading etc and it really annoyed me as I don't think they should be doing quite so much.

We skived off reading and homework last night and watched a film together before bed - it was so nice to do something fun and relaxing together rather than the homework/reading/spelling battle - which is what prompted my post in the first place

stillHereStill

That was really rude and uncalled for and reflects your own issues not OP's. You know there are teachers who are happy to have reasonable discussions with parents about these matters. Most sensible teachers don't expect to be dictators who get to commandeer all of the children's leisure time without parental input!

OP's DS sounds like he has far too much homework. At primary age there is just no need for it.

stillHereStill

You sound like way more of a pain in the arse than OP! Surely if you're a teacher you should be willing to listen to parents input too? If you're setting so much homework or setting it in such a rigid way it's interfering with home life and putting the kids off reading you should be listening.

OP Mine is Y3 now and gets spellings, reading (flexible as to when it's done - we do on average half an hour a day at least but not forced every day) and one piece of written work on a Friday. This is fine for us and were happy! The amount you describe is too much!

Sshhh a teacher has spoken

It sounds a bit much. How long does it take?

Sometimes. I agree with the reading but my DD is between two homes and we have to try and cram lots of homework into three days because her father doesn't do it on weekends with her. They expect homework to be done by Wednesday at our school.

We hardly do it because we have dancing, boxing etc. Which she loves and we aren't going to give up for homework

I don't kno how I feel about it, I think possibly it helps the slower (in how fast they work!) kids in the class, as it gives them 1 on 1 time to work through stuff in a bit of peace. My ds is probably in this category and he sometimes says that he didn't get it in class but now he sees it which I suppose says something! Other ds is kind of a superkid in work respect and just flies through it where other is really thinking it through . So I don't know I suppose, it helps us but it might put others off

I do think homework should reinforce what's being done in class. We used to be given homework sheets for the sake of it and it was a waste of time at that age.

My DD has just started Reception and she has reading every night (then I have to fill in her reading record) but we've always read to her every night so that doesn't bother me. Actual homework is only set once a week, over the weekend, and so far we haven't had anything that has taken longer than 20 minutes or so to complete. Friends with kids in Reception at other local schools have had a lot more than us though and I think it must make it very difficult for FT working parents. If you're not getting home til 6pm or later, which is the norm for a lot of families, then by the time you've fed the DC and bathed them they're shattered and should be getting ready for bed not having battles about homework.

It's all very well saying they should do the homework at afterschool club but this only works if the staff are encouraging all DC to do so and willing to supervise them. No primary school aged child is going to sit and do their homework independently while all the kids around them are doing crafts, running around playing games etc.

In my opinion, unless the work is very structured to reinforce what an individual child needs, then homework beyond daily reading and practising times tables is not massively useful for primary aged children. If the child is upset or stressed, then they aren't going to take in much anyway.
An exception to this might be if the child is upset or stressed about not 'getting' something or is needing to catch up in understanding. Even then though, the work needs to be at the right level to achieve this.

"The work being set could be debated or questioned but your "bright" child won't succeed if their parents undermine the school because your back's up because of gut feeling - no post-grad and years of PD to back it up."

This is laughable! 🤣

My ds is a natural academic. He is one of those annoying people who doesn't have to try hard at all yet falls within greater depth and has done all throughout primary. He just gets it.

He will always do well because his brain just functions that way.

Some children have to work harder like my dd but still do well.

In juniors we hardly did their projects that were termly. Mainly because they go between two homes but also because it was just too much.

Both are doing incredibly well at school.

I never got homework in primary and I'm now a successful manager so I don't think it's necessary at all!

My dc have never done any homework. They are 17 and 15. Eldest passed all his GCSEs and youngest is in the top set of everything. If the school are doing their job right, homework just isn't necessary.

I think reading is OK until they can read - ie chapter books then encouraging informal reading - I certainly remember my children progressing to free reading once they got to a certain level and then reading homework stopped. For one this was in reception for the other yr6.

Once this is done spelling and timetables is enough at Primary school.

Basically the same as most children did until a few years ago.

Both of my children made their career out of their out of school activities. One was a dancer and now a dance teacher. The other is a musician - financially propped up by being a firefighter.

Prioritising homework over out of school activities would have essentially ruined their lives. Both would probably be stuck in jobs they hated and whilst they may have earned slightly more it would have come at a huge cost. A lifetime of happiness.

Ive no issue with homework but I would with that volume!!

DS gets homework on a Friday that has to be done over the weekend - one maths sheet plus one spag sheet.

Only thing he gets through the week is a list of spellings to learn and he's supposed to do 45mins reading each night.

We practice spellings in the car/while walking to school.

The only thing I don't push him to do is the reading. He's reading secondary age books so I don't see the need, plus in my view reading is for enjoyment, forcing him to rigidly do 45mins a night takes that away.

Currently arguing with my youngest about spellings!!

I think homework can have a place but I think it needs to have at least a week to complete in primary school, to be able to fit in with people's lives.

I disagree with having to record reading every day. I am not sure it actually works to encourage anyone to read that wasn't already doing so, but it turns reading into a chore instead of a pleasure. It's not the actual reading I disagree with, just the forced element.

StillHereStill, what utter bollocks. And OP sounds sensible, not a pain in the arse.

Beyond a bit of reading practice in the infants, I never bothered with primary school homework as it was so utterly pointless. Despite that failing of mine, my eldest DD graduated last year with a first class honours from a Russell Group university and is now working in a great graduate job.

My youngest DD this year did her GCSEs and got nine grade 9s.

I hardly damaged them and undermined their education.

What OP describes is far too much homework for primary school children. It is pointless.

Oops I meant anotherpidgey not pudgey re meltdowns only being at home.

I'm lucky our school doesn't do homework other than spellings and reading. However the expectation on how often is creeping up. When they are at school club and not home until 6.30 then still need to be in bed by 7.30 it really isn't fair on them - or the parent! I'm lucky my daughter doesn't need much help with it but I do worry that my youngest will need more.