I agree with this no primary home work thing

[vintageteacups]

what kirsty allsop thinks

Kirsty (IMO) has hit the nail on the head about stopping homework for primary school children. At a time when kids are obese from lack of exercise and staying in watching and playing games etc, surely, a reading book and a few spellings and times tables would suffice?

Why is it that my DCs bring home maths homework (which often takes dd hours because she procrasitnates) and and a project that takes research - often done by me because DD is too tired(mentally) after a week at school.

Why can't swining on a rope swing, helping to pick apples, taking control of the shopping list, reading a comic, helping to mix cement etc, all be a part of primary 'homework'.

The stress put on kids at secondary level is so much that why not let them be kids for a bit longer at primary?

I agree.

HW pisses me right orf

primary?

how would that work here with no primary schools? we have lower,middle and upper schools....so where do you draw the line??

not everywhere has the 2 tier system

normally Kirstie sends me round the bend, but she mentioned this on (??) Woman's Hour a while ago, and I totally and utterly agreed with her

Id draw the line at yrs 1 through to yr 5 or 6, enough time for homework after that

Haven't read above yet but also meant to ask - can parents offically say that their child is not going to do homework at primary level? Not necessarily every time but say if you've had a busy weekend and you just haven't got around to it, would it be frowned upon if I rocked up tomorrow and said DS didn't do his homework - we had a family weekend?

Okay tiffany - I meant from reception to year 4 (6 possibly but I think from yr 5, that some homework is okay).

I agree. I often have to call DD in from playing outside after school to do her homework. She's 9, y4 and just developing puppy fat. I think being active outside is more important. Fortunately we are getting better at geting into a routine with it, so it takes less time without all the arguing etc.

Vintage I think DD's teacher would be understanding if it happened a few times, but not regularly. He would give her longer to do it but still expect it to be done. I'm not courageous enough to refuse it altogether!

yes but legally, can you refuse to make them do hw at primary level?

Ah - actually, unless nobody did it, then I guess some kids might fall behind - although the homework mine are given (IPC homework), it doesn't really teach anything new; just re-enforces what they've learnt in class.

what about reading at home?

DS1's homework rarely takes more than a half hour to do. I hardly think that this amount of homework would cause him to become overweight due to a lack of exercise.

It does however allow me to see what he is covering in school (maths and English wise), and instills good habits (an expectation of homework and the habit of finishing it first prior to playing). He also plays an instrument which requires practice everyday, and is more onerous to have him do.

Yes, of course reading at home.

I know what you're saying sofaqueen but often, children who have been pushed from really on, fizzle out and have hang ups as a teen (only going on friends and kids I know- not based on evidence).

DD's project takes a lot longer than half an hour but generally, I'll research it online for her, along the lines of what she wants to do and then she'll put it into her own thing with pictures and graphs etc.

I think its wrong.
ds1 is in year 2 and has A LOT. Reading every night. learning words for spelling test on monday,and handwriting practice every night. And on a friday he had 40 maths questions and has to write 100 words , using .,"?! and time connectives, on the topic of his weekend.
I hate it all. and think it is totally totally wrong.
And this is just a normal primary school.

Blimey - that seems way too much Oblomov.

Quite agree - especially when they seem to spend a fair amount of their time at school watching videos (not always educational!), having golden time, and other such stuff. Get the work done in school time, I say!

We never had Golden Time at school - and never expected anything like it either. In summer, we used to think that having a story under the playground tree was the coolest treat ever .

I also loved tidying out the teacher's cupboard (they used to get the kids who finished their work to do jobs - rather than extend themn as they would now). Bieng allowed to take down corridor displays was also a huge treat - we were obviously easily pleased!

You dont have to do HW in primary, they cant make you and there isnt a legal requirement for them to set HW.

I'm for no homework till about 13 - they should be able to do it in a school day.

Teacher and homework hater here. Fortunately I'm not obliged to set it.

Actually everyspring I agree with you.

I have 3 DD'S in primary and the h/w is ridiculous it takes nearly all evening to get through reading, spelling, handwriting, numeracy and then learning logs that consist of 3 pieces of h/w on one sheet, we have to spend time over the weekends just to keep up with it and the kids 'playtime' defo suffers! im just glad others agree with me, i thought i was the only one.

You're right everyspring. Unless adults are required to, they don't do work at home once their core hours have finished. So why should the kids?

This is SO frustrating. I teach. I hate homework for all the reasons listed. HOWEVER woe betide I don't send enough homework home - there will be parents in to complain. You can never 'win' - unless homework is set, but is not compulsary to complete. But what is the point in that?