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).

My DD has just started yr 1 and I feel the amount of homework she now has to do is absurd.

I have had another evening of tears and meltdowns because she was struggling with the spellings. She's 5 fgs, she Should be relaxing or playing in the evenings and not worrying about if she can spell 'brute ' or not.

I didn't do any homework.

I passed my GCSEs with reasonable grades (a-cs), passed my national diploma with a distinction (at 18), passed my access course with a distinction (at 32) and did well in my first year at uni (65%+ grades)

I'm not really sure what I'm trying to say....

Surely for children who go to after school club, any homework should be completed there?

I'm against any homework (apart from reading) that requires parental input.

I went to a very academic junior school in the 1970s and we didn't have any homework at all!

My DS has never done a bit of homework for less reason than your child!

I am not wasting my precious time with him arguing over homework he insists does not exist, even though I know full well it does.

However, he is now in year 7, upper part of the middle school he is in and it suddenly matters to him, he wants to do it now. So I don't honestly think a relaxed attitude towards homework does any long term harm.

Last week he was demanding help to get it done, this week, he is doing it independently! Result!

Surely for children who go to after school club, any homework should be completed there?

DS after school clubs are for specific activities, different each term eg football, dodgeball, cricket, cooking etc etc

So no, they can't do homework then?!