Homework

[Heyupduck]

Do you think homework is necessary?

I’m a teacher, but do private tutoring nowadays as opposed to full class teaching (I used to give homework)
I don’t know if it’s because I’m not a mum
myself, but I don’t see the need for it.
My Dd was given homework on Friday after school…she’s 5. It’s pretty simple, to design her favourite meal using different materials to decorate. I worked yesterday, Dd was at a friends, today she has a party and we have to food shop. We managed to get to the craft shop to get all the materials at least. The work has to be in tomorrow.
I tutor a 12 year old in Maths, but she often has so much homework each week (from all subjects it seems) that we spend 2-3 hours completing it at the weekend.
Is there really any need for all this work when they’ve been learning all day 🤷🏻‍♀️
Can’t we just let them be kids?

Also, with the girl I tutor, when I ask her if her maths homework was ok etc, when she has handed it in, she says she thinks so as they were allowed to mark it themselves or that the teacher just does a general tick on the work. This is hours of work for some children.

NOW a mum myself, not Not a mum

I don’t think 2-3 hours over the weeks is too much for a 12 year old, if we’re talking all subjects. If that’s on top of 1-2 hours every weekend night it seems a lot. At that age I reckon I was probably doing around 30-45 mins to an hour every night and probably a couple of hours at the weekend, but I did go to fairly academic and challenging school. So far DS is in year 4 and doesn’t get much homework. He’s supposed to read every day (and does) and we do maths and writing practice too because his writing is appalling.

Can’t we just let them enjoy their youth?

As a teacher did you used to set homework? If so, you must have had a reason to then. Surely that same reason is there whether you are a mum or not (other than you now realise what a pain it is to be given a craft or poster style homework)?

Arty / craft homework is pointless. And I'm glad my kids primary doesn't do it.

At 5 reading, a few maths questions and a little writing is plenty.
A teacher can't hear 25-30 kids read every day so really needs parents help. Maths & writing helps parents see what they are working on.

2-3 hrs seems OK that's about 30mins a day which isn't wild. Keeping in mind most secondary kids are home from about 4pm and no longer using childminders etc.

My question is why are parents paying a tutor to do ALL the homework. Surely it makes more sense for the kid to tackle it themselves and then you go through the bits they are stuck with?

Are you sure the 12yo is doing HW during the week?

I think the 12yo is just saving all her homework for the weekend.

I am not keen, as a parent, on the practical homework tasks but we did a survey of every pupil and that was their preferred homework by a mile. So I guess most schools aim for a balance of homework types.

Most parents who object to homework IME do not do so on ideological grounds but lack the skills to persuade a reluctant child, or feel guilt about not having time to enforce/supervise it.

The private schools in our town set far more than we do and parents seem to be supportive.

I agree with you. Homework set for a 5 year old is homework set for the parent. And I've got enough on my plate!

I agree there's too much pressure . There's so many adults working all day and then taking work home who end up with burnout. And we put our children through the same. Evenings and weekends should be for relaxing. With our work culture the way it is there's no wonder there's so many mh issues

I think homework is pointless in primary apart from reading. I agree with it in secondary, it sounds like this child is saving all her homework for the weekend which is what my ds does. In secondary they need to get used used to independent work to prepare them for revision, and to also prepare them for 6th form where half their work will be independent.