Today I came across this article…
which itself is a bit concerning because it sounds like these pupils will be getting less instruction during school hours so that they will have time to do homework in class. I think the line about giving children more time to bond with their families is absolutely ridiculous. It is true that some school systems can over do it with homework, and yes there should be a balance, but I do not think it is possible to give adequate instruction during a class and provide time for re-enforcement of the teaching all during a class period. Homework provides the repetition necessary for most people to really learn what they were taught in class. But the real problem I have is the parent’s comments “…I’m a single mom of three kids and I don’t know that I’ll take the initiative to just, [say] Okay let’s work on something in your workbook tonight…” This mother went on to say that her kids will probably just spend more time playing video games and watching television. It is inexcusable for a person to realize the work necessary to secure a bright future for their children and have the ability to do the work, but refuse to do it because they are too____ lazy/tired/busy/you fill in the blank. This is not a case of a parent who does not know better, but a parent who is not attempting to do better. I know a bunch of people are going to say I am being too hard on a tired single parent who works all day and does not have the energy to come home and help her children learn something… But I say that attitude is the problem. If television and video games were replaced with study time, reading, or computerized tutoring for 50% of the time these kids would be much better off. It does not take a lot of extra time or money to do right in all cases, it just takes parents who are willing to deal with kids who will complain and gripe about having structure in their lives. Being a parent is not necessarily supposed to be easy. Protecting and educating the youth is not always fun, pleasant, or entertaining… but you have to take the good with the bad, and get the job done people.
