Portland Elementary School Bans Homework
- Portland Elementary School Bans Homework
- By Betsy Hammond, The Oregonian/OregonLive, September 9, 2016
- Website Link Here
- Key Points: Teachers at Cherry Park Elementary in the David Douglas school district claim that research shows there's "little to no evidence homework does any good," which is why they have banned it entirely. The principal at Cherry Park explains that part of the reasoning behind their decision is related to socioeconomic status and language barriers, as well as the inequity that comes from it. At Cherry Park, 75 percent of their students are living at or below the poverty line and families speak more than 30 different languages.
- Relevance: Depending on what level you're teaching at and the demographics of the school you're at, the "no homework" philosophy could have a big impact on your students. As educators we must consider our student's home lives and their support systems. In my personal experience working in special education, I feel like these factors play a big role in deciding whether or not to send books home or to assign homework. In this aspect, students from lower socioeconomic families are at a disadvantage and it's our job as teachers to provide ways to best support them.
As you mention, it is imperative to think about students’ lives outside of the classroom. I work in a Title 1 school with kindergarteners, and we give weekly homework. I have worked with 1st through 5th graders as well. I have observed the added stress, barriers, and negativity that is centered around homework. Many of the students do not receive adequate support at home, or there are other factors contributing to them not turning in their homework. I appreciate that the article highlights the importance of reading, as it fundamental. As students are in 3rd-5th grade, the reading log could be introduced as more students are reading independently. Like you suggest, it is our responsibility to find ways to support students in the classroom. We can ensure that learning is positive and enjoyable at school.
ReplyDeleteWhile I fully support the idea of encouraging family time and outdoor activities, I failed to see the relevance of the SES level of the students and other languages in relation to homework. Upon reflection, maybe parents aren't available to help because they are both working (or a working single mother), or parents cannot help because they don't speak the language of the assigned work. I think these are good guesses, but I would have liked the author to explicitly make the connection.
ReplyDeleteAs a working single mother myself, I can attest to the reading logs being drudgery. Not because my children don't like reading, or I don't like reading with them, but they usually read before bed and we forget to fill out the log. This year my daughter was encouraged to read to any family member, and her sister loves it.
My last comment is about the expectation of the student's use of free time. Not all students will be able to spend time with family (especially if you are assuming the family is unavailable to help with homework), or enjoy playing outside. I would hope that the school would offer after school programs in lieu of homework. A science club, aerobics or fitness class, even elementary students would enjoy things like this.
I can understand the position of the principal in that homework assigned to children in this elementary might cause conflict at home for many reasons. First, socioeconomic level does have a correlation to reading levels. Second, With over 30 different languages spoken at the school, Reading in English might be difficult for parents of the children. By eliminating the requirement of reading, both students and relatives are relieved from the stress of required homework that could be difficult for both. What I do not like about this policy is it takes away reading time for the student. The article does not give any solutions to filling in this time gap. I like the idea of offering an after school program dedicated to reading and enhancing other academic skills.
ReplyDelete