In business, sports, whatever we know we have to do our homework — in other words study the subject matter thoroughly so we’ll be successful. But should second graders really have to do homework? One teacher in Texas doesn’t think so.
Brandy Young has decided not to give her second grade students any homework this year. In her letter to parents she wrote: “After much research this summer, I am trying something new. There will be no formally assigned homework this year... rather, I ask that you spend your evenings doing things that are proven to correlate with student success. Eat dinner as a family, read together, play outside, and get your child to bed early.”
Young also wrote in her letter “Research has been unable to prove that homework improves student performance.”
Not surprisingly, Young’s letter has gone viral all over the world and the reaction from parents and students all over the world has been pretty much the same as a kid opening presents on Christmas Day.
My reaction was also exactly the same as a kid opening presents on Christmas Day. Not that there aren’t second graders who don’t need some extra tutoring — and should receive it.
But Young seems to want her second graders to master what they need to learn at school — and not have to put in any overtime.
In order for Young’s experiment to work, though, parents are going to have to buy in and do what Young is requesting them to do.
Here’s hoping Young’s experiment works and second graders no longer have to put in overtime.
— Charles Whisnand
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