School bans homework for two years

[The Straight Story]

School bans homework for two years

A German school has decided to ban homework as a means to help kids feel less stressed over their schoolwork. The initiative will run as a test and then be evaluated at the end of two years.

...

According to a report published by The Local, kids at the Elsa-Brändström high school in grades five through nine won't be receiving any more homework.

Germany's high school system recently had a revamp where the school day is extended and a year was cut out of high school, reported The Local. However, that has resulted in longer school days; purportedly, some children have classes until 6 p.m.

Teachers are saying kids will have more time to do work during their classes instead of bringing it home at night. The no-homework policy will be tested for the next two years and then reevaluated to see if banning homework is effective in helping kids learn.


Read more: http://www.digitaljournal.com/article/337749#ixzz2DNMtqpZs

[NV Whino]

1. I think this is a good idea

Let kids be kids on their own time. I've been appalled to learn that kindergarteners as well as early grade schoolers were getting homework. And I mean hard core stuff.

[Twinguard]

3. I've got 5 year old twins in kindergarten.

You can't believe how stressed they (well, one of them) get over homework... coloring pictures, cutting and pasting numbers, writing letters (and their name and date on each page).

It's crazy. They are five and Kindergarten is mainly a year to learn how to do school... but homework? Really? I try to get them to do a page or two a night just to keep up with the busy work. My kids are five and playing chess, reading several grades ahead of where they are, and memorizing taxonomic families of animals... in LATIN! I know that parents are quick to brag about their kids, but mine have been tested to have IQs in the 140 range. They are "gifted" by every criteria, but the pressure of homework is simply too much for five year olds. I really wonder about the other kids in the class who aren't quite as advanced (I volunteer in their class once a week, and trust me, there are kids that aren't as advanced).

[laundry_queen]

13. I was shocked when

my kindergartener came home the other day with a bag full of reading materials, a audio CD and some fridge magnets and flashcards, with some detailed instructions on how I, her parent, should spent an hour a day going through everything with her, making her listen to the CD and asking her questions about the CD, quizzing her on the flash cards and making her write out the words. Are they fucking serious? I'm a single mom, f/t student with 4 kids. I don't HAVE an hour a day to do all that, nevermind that a kindergartener shouldn't be doing homework for an HOUR each day, nor should a parent be expected to teach their kids the curriculum. Jesus. I couldn't believe it. I'll be bringing this up at the next teacher meeting. Unreal. I think because it's a rich area they assume all moms are SAHMs and have 2.1 kids and all the time in the world to teach their kids for a few hours every night.

My 9 year old was getting 1-2 hours of math homework every night, then some parents complained so thankfully I don't have to deal with that anymore. The teacher wasn't even explaining the homework, just assigning an entire chapter for them to work on at home. Makes me wonder what they are doing IN class?

[obamanut2012]

2. I don't think kids should have homework

Not like what they are often given.

Good call!

[TeamPooka]

4. I won my class Presidential election in 4th grade with this exact platform.

#imavisionarydammit

[WinkyDink]

5. I'll just bet you won! :-)

[valerief]

6. Great idea! nt

[Mariana]

7. So much homework is just busywork

given just for the purpose of making the kids do homework. My stepkid was given so much in high school that she was getting physically sick from lack of sleep trying to do all of it. Her dad and I had to teach her to prioritize - First, do the stuff that will improve your understanding of the material. Second, do those assignments that don't help you learn much, but count heavily toward your grade. Last, if you feel like it, do the bullshit busywork that is an utter waste of time. The majority of her homework assignments were always in the bullshit busywork category.

[Blue_Tires]

8. This is nothing but straight-up BULLSHIT

(that I wasn't reborn a kid in Germany so I could take advantage of this bold, forward-thinking idea...)

[white_wolf]

9. I know right?! So unfair.

[The Straight Story]

10. My daughter is home schooled and has no homework

She goes through a virtual academy, so much nicer and smoother (works at own pace, etc).

To each their own though (kind of like MS/Apple/Linux...use what works for you).

[Blue_Tires]

15. So she'll never know the unique thrill of

furiously scribbling everything out during the morning bus ride?

[Dark n Stormy Knight]

11. I don't know that it's less stressful to have four years of high school compressed into three

with classes until 6pm.

Also, I have to wonder if the teachers are paid for these extra hours.

[flygal]

12. This is a Hauptschule - makes good sense.

In Germany kids are divided into "secondary" schools at grade 5. The top students (grades from 1/2 of 3rd and all of 4th grades) go into Gymnasium (usually have to have at least b+ grades) they get the Abitur after grade 12 and can go to college. The next tier gets c average and goes to Real Schule till 10th grade and then to a vocational school or finish the Abitur in three years and go to College.

That leaves the rest in Hauptschule (also called middle school). They usually have several 4s and 5s on their report card (1 being best 6 worst), and do not have as much desire for school and finish after grade 9 and go to a trade school or straight to work. The average Hauptschule student has low income families and many have rougher situations at home. You won't find any doctor or lawyer kids at the Hauptschule. I can see that many students do better learning at a slower rate and not wasting time on Latin and French.

Some states here have an integrated school that combines the three and they are hard to get in they are so popular.

I hated the stress of grades in 3rd grade - my daughter made the gymnasium but many feel the stress. Gymnasium is better suited for naturally smart kids, mine does ok but is not a natural A student but she likes the challenge for her.

[white_wolf]

14. Maybe it's just me, but it seems very strange to base students futures on their grades in 5th grade.

Maybe it's different in Germany, but in the U.S. you are around 12 in 5th grade. It doesn't seem fair to me. What if you get sent to Haupschule and after you've grown up some start making great grades and decide you want to go to college? Are there any options for those kinds of students?

[flygal]

16. sorry so late to reply

but yes, you can try and transfer to the Real schule and then go on to trade schools. From there you probably would not make it to the abitur and college but there are many trade opportunities.