Should Homework Be Scrapped?

[derekgas]

As I said earlier, homework for my kids is usually done at the childminders, leaving our limited 'family' time for play, games, cooking, cleaning, ironing, my 'homework', and accyweb, in that order.

[emamum]

homework is to bridge the gap between home and school. too many parents see them as 2 different things and take no interest in what the childen are doing. This leaves the children thinking that its unimportant and these children are very hard to teach..

In a education setting there sometimes up to 30 children to 2 educators, some children may get missed out, usually the quiet ones and homework means that sometimes the parents can spot these problems and point them out to the teacher. A parent is the child first educator and it is important for the child to carry on this relationship.

Partnership with parents is very popular at the moment in educatiion settings and this means involving the parents in their child education as much as possible. this ensures the child can see the importance of school and also helps them to feel more comfortable in the setting, knowing that thei parents are happy with it.

Homework also allows the child to 'show off' to their parents what they can do and they SHOULD get much more praise for it than they would in a busy classroom. I enjoy the one to one time i get with my son when he is doing his homework, in our very very busy lives it is sometimes difficult to find time to sit down with one child and give them the attention that they need, not always because we are busy, they have things to do as well. apart from doing their homework you also get chance to chat with them about things that are bothering them, things that have happened.

[blazey]

Originally Posted by davo69

i would never send them they would wont to go and change there life style

Most children who have had an interest from their parents don't need to be sent, they go willingly. University is the best place in the world

I can't believe that you think you don't need to engage your child in education at home. Did you let your child go to school without being able to speak or know colours etc? Why does it stop being your job just because they reach a certain age?

[cashman]

just a thought,when mine were young we both used to help with homework etc,but were struggling with certain things, i was very good with maths at school, but found their homework was alien to what i had learnt, possibly the fact of decimalisation who knows, but basically we did not have a clue.

[blazey]

Originally Posted by derekgas

As I said earlier, homework for my kids is usually done at the childminders, leaving our limited 'family' time for play, games, cooking, cleaning, ironing, my 'homework', and accyweb, in that order.

So your child minder has a more active role about the most important part of your childrens lives than you do. Does that not make you sad?

[emamum]

I have to say... i have given my 'professional' opinion. But as a parent i can aso see that its a pain in the ass sometimes. especially when the child doesnt want to do it.

[derekgas]

Best explanation of what everybody else was trying to say emma, good on you! And though I agree in priciple, in practice it isn't quite that easy with 4 youngsters and 2 working parents.

[Lilly]

Originally Posted by cashman

just a thought,when mine were young we both used to help with homework etc,but were struggling with certain things, i was very good with maths at school, but found their homework was alien to what i had learnt, possibly the fact of decimalisation who knows, but basically we did not have a clue.

These days, if parents do not feel that they have the knowledge to help with homework, they can brush up their Maths and English skills on various free courses that are currently available. I understand that some parents may be reluctant to try to help if they are not very good at Maths and English themselves but there isn't an excuse for not getting yourself signed up for one of these courses if that's the case.

[blazey]

And to add to that, I just thought of a lovely scenario of what is wrong with someone else doing that for you.

Imagine you send your young toddler to the child minders, not such a strong speaker yet because daddy cant be bothered, and she thinks it'd be nice to teach your chil the word 'Mummy' with a picture book. Woah and behold, the child associates the lady holding baby as the child minder and thinks SHE'S mummy.

Then comes the confusion and upset when they're having to be taught NOT to do that, when initially saying the word was praised.

Pretty extreme but some youngsters have to spend more time with their child minders than their parents. When you end up with a 14yr old who goes off the rails because they have a poor relationship with you because they think theyre a burden when they ask for help with school, you'll know why.

[cashman]

Originally Posted by Lilly

These days, if parents do not feel that they have the knowledge to help with homework, they can brush up their Maths and English skills on various free courses that are currently available. I understand that some parents may be reluctant to try to help if they are not very good at Maths and English themselves but there isn't an excuse for not getting yourself signed up for one of these courses if that's the case.

not knocking yer suggestion,lilly can see difficulties for people that work unsociable hours n theirs quite a few of those.

[lancsdave]

Originally Posted by blazey