The only problem with the no homework argument is that the kids bring home nothing at all of their school day and what they are working on or struggling with. When schools agreed to put an end to homework they did not replace it with any meaningful form of parent engagement. I can ask my child about their day, sure, but that gives me little insight. I can have parent teacher meetings after things have gone wrong or see marks on assignments I know nothing about after they are handed in. I cannot be a participant in my child's education. I am not talking about being a parent who does the assignment for the child... simply being able to have a level of awareness and involvement. You don't get that from canned comments on a report card or awkward parent teacher "triad" conferences with the kid in the room. A lot more parents would feel confident in the idea of letting go of homework if we had a way to participate.
Thank you for your thoughtful comment! I have posted this: http://gwmssharks.blogspot.ca/2014/04/what-happening-on-school-today.html for other ways to know what's happening at GWMS daily. At our triad conferences we encourage parents to meet with teachers in the Portfolio Cafe or if you would like to meet with individual teachers in the privacy of a classroom with or without your child present we can certainly manage that. Just ask me or your child's teacher. Thanks for the feedback! Mr. Mead
The only problem with the no homework argument is that the kids bring home nothing at all of their school day and what they are working on or struggling with. When schools agreed to put an end to homework they did not replace it with any meaningful form of parent engagement. I can ask my child about their day, sure, but that gives me little insight. I can have parent teacher meetings after things have gone wrong or see marks on assignments I know nothing about after they are handed in. I cannot be a participant in my child's education. I am not talking about being a parent who does the assignment for the child... simply being able to have a level of awareness and involvement. You don't get that from canned comments on a report card or awkward parent teacher "triad" conferences with the kid in the room. A lot more parents would feel confident in the idea of letting go of homework if we had a way to participate.
ReplyDeleteThank you for your thoughtful comment! I have posted this: http://gwmssharks.blogspot.ca/2014/04/what-happening-on-school-today.html for other ways to know what's happening at GWMS daily. At our triad conferences we encourage parents to meet with teachers in the Portfolio Cafe or if you would like to meet with individual teachers in the privacy of a classroom with or without your child present we can certainly manage that. Just ask me or your child's teacher.
DeleteThanks for the feedback!
Mr. Mead