New York, NY – The amount of homework public school teachers can give would be limited to ten minutes a grade a night under a new resolution being introduced to the City Council.
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That means first-graders would get 10 minutes a night; second-graders would get 20 minutes a night; third-grades 30 minutes, and so forth.
"Kids deserve to be kids," the City Council Member introducing the legislation, Peter Vallone Jr., who represents Queens, said.
"Homework can add to a student's education, but we should not pile heaps of it to replace solid learning in the classroom."
He said limiting homework would increase the time children can spend going outside and exercising. He said his own two daughters sometimes get so overwhelmed by homework that he cannot convince them to play outside. [NY Sun]
It’s a shame that some of the educational “experts” weighing in here can’t spell too well.
It beggars the imagination that the only way one commenter can come up with to keep kids “off the street” is to “load them up” with homework.
Nebach, his poor kids.
Anonymous 3:34 p.m.
Which subjects were added since we were in school? Yeshiva kids have 8 hours as opposed to the 6 hours and 20 minutes of school that I had from K through 12th grade. Actually less time if you consider that Koch and co, cut the school day when the money ran out in the late 70’s. It’s a long day. The subject matter consists of lemudei kodesh and lemudei chol. Besides, Vallone is talking about public school, not yeshivas.
Our yeshivas do a very good job of getting material out there. Do yeshivas have to pile on homework? No they don’t have to pile on homework. They do have to insure that the students have substantial time to review material. Parents have a role in that as well.
A student who is not remedial should be able to review a 40 minute lesson in 10 to 15 minutes or less. That means that the student should rewrite notes that are confusing or incomplete and by doing so reviews the material taught. In the major secular subjects – Reading, Arithmetic, handwriting, parents should do 15 minutes (maximum) for each with their child. That’s providing, after you look in your child’s notebook, you see that review is necessary. You don’t beat the kid over the head if he/she is keeping up. You encourage review. The child should tell you what he/she was doing and by reviewing the homework is done. This takes 5 minutes per subject. So for a 1st through 3rd grader, 15 minutes per night of review per subject is enough. As the child grows older, you’ve instilled the habit and the child, with your occasional follow up, will do it on their own. Setting the example and encouraging good habits precludes aimless political hacks from interfering in your life. Now, if this works, Vallone and his friends will have to find jobs – good luck in today’s economy.
Our kids are learning more subjects than we did and that’s why the teachers give HW – they can’t possibly teach properly because of time constraints. Less HW definitely will give the kids more exercise opportunity.
If the kids would learn in school they would not need homework.
BTW how many math problems / essays / fact memorizing per 10 minutes?
Ok, folks. Let’s not get carried away. Homework is supposed to reinforce and review what was taught in school. One of my teachers, I went to public school, stated that if our class would spend time re-writing our notes she would never give homework. Good study habits, that means review, rewrite, and remember, are more important than the busy work that is assigned. Of course you have the pedagogic experts who, on open school night, demand to know why the teacher is not doing anything in class – that means not assigning homework or giving tests – that the little Einsteins complain about.
Mr. Vallone’s proposal is not vetted by educators. Is there too much emphasis on homework in our schools? Probably. What’s the right amount of homework? Any amount of time that enables a child’s understanding and retention of the material isn’t too much time. Are children getting that from their homework assignments? Mr. Vallone, can you pedagogically answer that question?
HAHA, these kids can barely pass they’re competency tests to begin with. Let’s handicap them some more and help America slip even further in the worldwide education standings. Bravo indeed.
BRAVO…BRAVO…. IT’S ABOUT TIME SOMEONE HAS THE GUTS AND INTELLIGENCE TO STAND UP TO AN OLD RIDICULOUS LEARNING SYSTEM THAT HAS NO VALUE…. HOWEVER… PUT A LIMIT ON UPPER GRADES ALSO. AMEND YOUR BILL AND I’LL SUPPORT YOU.MR. VALLONE , YOU SHOULD RUN FOR PRESIDENT… BRAVO!!!
agree or not, the best and proven way to keep our kinderlach of the streets is via loading them up with homework although a “project” would probably be as good and more fun but the need to keep these kids off the streets is important whatever method you wish to endorse!
the law is STILL rediculous!!!!!!!
that means that a 9th grader will have 1hr and a hlaf worth of home work and a 12th grader 2 hrs!!!!!! isnt that too much
I suggest that the city council pass a law. There needs to be a law that the City Council can pass laws that make sense.
At a time when our city is at a major financial crisis, with many families expected to lose their incomes and homes, all they can think about is homework??
Stupid politicians.
Are they going to arrest my teacher if she gives too much homework?