Originally Posted by SamF (Post 544446)

Primary School = No

High School = if relevant, so many times we got h/w that was just for the sake of giving h/w so teachers looked like they were working, it should be as and when rather than a set number of times a week.

Originally Posted by Lilly (Post 544475)

My children have had homework right from the start of primary school, in reception class. I don't mind, I think it's a good thing. It's only simple things like reading books, spellings and worksheets.

Originally Posted by katex (Post 544480)

Of course they should get homework .. gives them an introduction to self-motivation. !

Primary school does not give more than 1/2 hour per night .. usually to learn times tables, spellings, read a chapter of the book they are studying .. what is wrong with that ? Well, that was my experience with my children .. they didn't mind at all, as when they had the test next day .. came up with 10/10 .. what's better than that ? Was not just their homework, was mine too .. had to spend time testing them.

Later at secondary .. grew from 1 hour/3 hours, depending on subject/course work (which has to be done out of school). Still plenty of time for play/after school activities.

'Course not every child is academic, but the time spent 'after hours' (which let's face it are short), well worth the extra to set them on the basics.

Believe me, if they get to University, will have to learn to be self-motivated and burn the midnight oil, nobody will mamby-pamby them then, ask Blazey or Cyfr.

My son (25) and daughter (43) are still doing extra courses (out of hours) to further their career and pleased that they were taught the discipline of 'homework' early in their life.

Originally Posted by blazey (Post 544539)

reason number 1 : it is never too early to be disciplined into deadlines and routine

reason number 2: it gives parents the opportunity to take part in their childrens education

reason number 3: it helps a child learn outside the classroom and communicate with their parents more about issues in the classroom.

Originally Posted by Neil (Post 544584)

Just occasionally you speak a lot of sense.

Children need homework to help them progress. You can't really expect them to only learn in school. Parents have to help out as well. Reading is one of the most important things a child can do. Even from a young age our children have brought home reading, spellings and maths homework. I wish I could spell as well as my 10 year old, he would beat me hands down in a spelling test :o. His spelling ability is due mainly to the amount of reading he does.

Originally Posted by blazey (Post 544540)

What I will add to that is that a lot of the problem is the poorly educated parents who didn't necessarily get such a good education in their day. Not all parents can read and do maths as easily as some children and the parents can cause problems with homework too...

I imagine this is less and less as time goes by though with the more accessible education system, but there are still families with these kind of issues.

Originally Posted by [email protected] (Post 549384)

Since they are finishing the school day at 3pm they had better have some to make up the lost learning time