Dear Editor, For the first time in a long while, I have so much
to say in response to the letter
“Parent Pleads for Less Homework,” (Times, Saturday, Oct. 8)
that I truly don’t know where to begin. By the way, I am trying to
see this from both the perspective of a mother, as well as a
teacher, since I have been both for numerous years.
Dear Editor,
For the first time in a long while, I have so much to say in response to the letter “Parent Pleads for Less Homework,” (Times, Saturday, Oct. 8) that I truly don’t know where to begin. By the way, I am trying to see this from both the perspective of a mother, as well as a teacher, since I have been both for numerous years.
First of all, I encourage N. L. Murphy, the author of that piece, and others to walk a few miles in their teachers’ shoes. May I suggest some really sturdy shoes because you will be walking/running your feet off during the course of the day. I realized early on in my teaching career that I would never be able to please everyone. Two hours of homework (the amount cited in the text) will be one person’s dream and another parent’s nightmare. In addition to this, the writer MUST know that teaching has changed so much in the past few years.
Every teacher feels the wind (nowadays it feels more like a tornado) at his/her back to meet each of the California State Standards. In order to do this, homework was strategically designed to reinforce content knowledge that was “taught” that day. Without the homework, each student would simply be “taught” something in the classroom and it would be assumed that it was “understood” so the teacher would advance to something else. If this were the case, can anyone surmise how many students would be left behind in the era of the infamous “No Child Left Behind” Law? Schools are given yearly report cards by the state and are assessed by how well their students have met the state standards.
The writer also makes a blanket statement that parents (that would assume all parents as in parents everywhere) love teachers who give little or no homework. How “easy” on myself my after-hours work would have been if I had done that! I spent countless hours grading papers each night , but I felt that my hard work was helping to make a difference in my students’ lives.
The part that got me rushing to my typewriter was the fact that the writer’s children seem to take a long time to settle down and tackle the homework. That’s precisely why parents should start setting homework rituals and routines with children at a VERY early age. I acknowledge that a child can have too much homework, but I’d also have to say I value and revere the teachers who raised the bar for each of my own five children. Sure, it was a lot of work, but getting into college is harder than it’s ever been. Getting a good paying job is essential for our children and our children’s children.
I received numerous compliments because I had high expectations and, yes, a fair amount of homework. This would prove to be a direct contradiction to the statement that you are loved if you give little or no homework. Because the teacher can’t please everyone you can bet your bottom dollar that three or four parents are complaining to the school principal that there isn’t enough homework even while you’re up to your ears in it. That’s just the way things go. The teachers get advised about any/all concerns and then tries to find a middle ground. Remember, one homework size does not fit all!
Going full circle, I will end as I began. Volunteer in your child’s class. See what your child’s teacher does day in and day out. It has been said that teachers make more decisions each hour than air traffic controllers. I believe this with my whole heart. Having “family time” in lieu of homework is wonderful. Reading books is a noble pastime as well. But, truly, so many students would opt to play video games instead of homework. Frankly, from the vantage point of a teacher and a mother, I have a colossal problem with that!
Sharon Polcer, Morgan Hill
