Never Mind the Students; Homework Divides Parents
The article, “Never Mind the Students; Homework Divides Parents,” written by New York Time’s Kyle Spencer, takes the views expressed by those in favor of and against the call to ban the mandatory traditional homework for children up to fourth grade in a national conversation involving school authorities, teachers, parents, and education activists.
In this short synopsis, I summarize the author’s key points and give my thoughts on the points raised as they play out in related literature.
The author has presented the argument made by those in favor of the ban on homework and those against it. He states that those in favor of the ban see an opportunity for their children to explore knowledge in an unlimited way. They argue that traditional homework does not advance children’s curiosity. Alfie Kohn, the author of 14 education-related
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Harris Cooper is one of the leading voices making the argument against the ban. Dr. Cooper is of the firm conviction that some amount of homework helps the parents to keep track of their children’s progress at school. He argues that moderate homework should be encouraged even though it does not necessarily increase a child’s test scores.
The National Education Association and the National PTA have also weighed in the debate and are in support of a moderate homework that promotes curiosity.
Parents are also divided between these policy proposals: some see the need to continue with the homework while others want it banned outright. Those in favor of the ban argue that it allows children time to explore knowledge uncontrolled.
Those who are against the ban argue that the new policy proposal is economically not feasible as they cannot afford technology that would aid the children to explore knowledge unlike wealthy families. Some parents also argue that they simply cannot design their own assignments for the children. Therefore, they are for reforms, but not