School Assigns Homework To Parents
By speakeasy
@speakeasy (4171)
United States
October 4, 2007 2:34pm CST
and if the parents don't turn in their homework the teacher threatens the child's grades.
Also, this is not a "one-time" assignment; it is a regular every week practice. Parents are given regular reading assignments and then are required to log into the class blog and post their response.
Some of the parents seem to enjoy going "back to school" and enjoy this practice. One parent has "flat-out refused".
Here is a link to the full article - http://www.nytimes.com/2007/10/04/education/04homework.html?pagewanted=1&ei=5087&em&en=09b0edbe53d0dc42&ex=1191643200
Now the teacher admits he has only penalized one student for the parent failing to complete an assignment - the parent didn't give the teacher an "excuse" so the student was penalized. But, this information was not given to parents; that they could "opt out" of any assignemnts.
To me, this is ridiculous. In this case, all of the parents had Internet access; but, in a lot of places that is not always the case. Not all parents read and write English well enough to complete these "assignments".
When many parents are struggling to put food on the table and take care of their children; do they really have the time to do this? If the parent is busy "doing homework" are they neglecting other family members? If more teachers were doing this, would a parent with several children have the time to complete ALL of the homework they were "assigned"?
What do you think?
4 people like this
16 responses
@uath13 (8192)
• United States
7 Feb 08
Considering I often have to spend ALL night helping my daughter do HER homework I'd be pretty put out if told I had to do my own asignment as well. Most of the time I already push her well beyond what the books teach. Asking me to do more paperwork after already doing a full day of it is.... BS to put it politely.
1 person likes this
@speakeasy (4171)
• United States
8 Feb 08
That is why I posted this article. I also spent many hours helping my son with his homework when he was sgoing to school. Plus, I had a full time job and so did my husband.
BUT, if this practice is starting in one school; it could spread. If we are not aware of this type of "teaching" we could find it popping up in our own schools before we know it. We need to be informed so we can make sure that this doesn't happen in our schools.
@BayleighGray (4334)
• United States
5 Oct 07
Thats insane!! Especially penalizing the student for this. How is that going to help students? I can see a lot of p!ssed off kids because their parents didnt do an assingment! Oh boy!
I would be one of them who flat our refused this. I wouldnt have time to take on extra activities from my childs school if Im working and trying to support a family. What was that teacher thinking?? And like you said, not everyone has internet, nor do they work a traditional day time job, they could possibly work 2nd or 3rd shifts.
I just cant believe this.....but I dont know why Im so surprised anymore with the world today. lol
@BayleighGray (4334)
• United States
5 Oct 07
Now that I think about it, something like this is in effect in the school system where I live.
My friend has a son in the 6th grade I think, could be 5th, lol, and I had called her the other night and she was saying she couldnt talk she had an assignment from her sons school that she was required to help him with. Some sort of project that the kids HAD to do with their parent/s, and the parent/s had to send a written reply with it once it was finished. So that seems pretty close.
And where are the kids while the parents are sitting in their classroom in the evenings? Whos home helping them with their school work or fixing them dinner? Seems like its taking away even more of the time a parent is absent. I think you made that point initially. Good one.
Bay xx
@speakeasy (4171)
• United States
10 Oct 07
Yes, it does seem like it would take more time away from caring for the child and the family as a whole.
Plus, not everyone's family is the same: the number and ages of the children are different, the number of parents varies, who works in the family and the hours they work - some people do work evenings.
There are just too many variables to make a regular weekly assignment truly feasible. A special project once a year - maybe.
@BayleighGray (4334)
• United States
10 Oct 07
I was talking with my friend about her sons school and how the teacher, which is a new teacher at the school this year, sends home individual folders each day with the work that was performed. Now hes only in 1st grade, but still yet. There's many options to being involved with your kids school that dont require you to do "homework" or attend the school outside of Family nights and indivudual parent/teacher meetings.
A memo of the days work perhaps, they have a lesson planner, they could make up a memo and copy it to send home. While doing the lesson plan, do a memo. On the memo give the parents some questions to consider about the work and ask them to start a discussion with their kids about it, if they can. If they cant or dont, then no harm done to the childs grade. That is what really shocked me the most.
Thank you speakeasy. Bay xx
@sarahruthbeth22 (43143)
• United States
5 Oct 07
I am with you.Who is suppose to be the teacher's student, the child or their parents? No every household has both parents in the home. And even if both parents are there, they both may be working and they would be too busy to do these assignments. I didn't think of the parent with two or three students , how could they finish all those assignments? What about the parent of twins?Do they have to do two different assignments.And assuming that everyone has a computer at home is just stupid.And assuming that every parent knows enough English is a great point. In many households, the child is the first person in the family to speak and write English.But the main reason I hate this is parents have enough stress these days that they don't need any extra.
@speakeasy (4171)
• United States
5 Oct 07
And, what about disabled parents. I have a friend who is the primary support for their family because her husband is diabled, physically. While he is home every day and has thetime - he is also severely dyslexic and reading and writing are VERY difficult for him.
What about parents who are blind or have other disabilities? This makes no sense.
1 person likes this
@sarahruthbeth22 (43143)
• United States
6 Oct 07
I bet the person that "thought" about this new rule doesn't have kids or has just one 9-5 job and assumes that mothers are stay at home moms so they have the time.It is so stupid.
@soccermom (3198)
• United States
4 Oct 07
My daughter started middle school this year and has a teacher that sends home assignments that we are to complete together once a week. I have no problem with it, and keep in mind I have two other small children, two jobs, coach soccer and all the other hectic stuff life throws at us. Yes I am busy, and sometimes I don't feel like doing the homework, but I do for the simple fact that my childs education is very important to me. I feel as though it is my responsibility as a parent to be involved with my child. An hour or two a week does not make the rest of my family feel neglected. As a matter of fact I find it is great one on one time with my impressionable pre teen. My preschooler also brings home things that we are to complete together. I treat it the same way I do with my older daughter. I am exhausted a lot of the time, but I made the decision to have kids, and nobody ever said it would be easy.
As far as the kids that have parents that don't speak good English, I think maybe it will help them learn better English and also help their kids with the language. I know this is off base, but my daughters school soccer coach is Hispanic and speaks with a thick accent. Guess what he teaches? 8th grade English!
My point is that parents do struggle with work and to put foos on the table, however, that does not excuse us from paying attention to our kids and being involved.
@speakeasy (4171)
• United States
4 Oct 07
Well, fortunately, my son is no longer in school.
When he was, either my husband or I were always there to assist with home work as needed.
However, I do not think it is up to some teacher to tell me WHEN and HOW I need to interact with my child. I also do not consider homework to be "quality time" with my child.
@buwald (271)
• Netherlands
8 Feb 08
i dont really see how that would help students, really, i know from experience how much i hate homework, and i could imagine that if my child's school would do such a thing, i'd refuse it aswell. And i dont think its legal to lower the grades becouse of this. At least, it isnt here in holland, after the fourth year in secondary school, all the grades are put towards the final exams, so that would harm the students very much.
@speakeasy (4171)
• United States
9 Feb 08
I agree; I do not see how making parents do homework helps educate the child. And, penalizing the child for the parents failure to do "homework" is not fair.
I think these teachers are failing to take into consideration that not all children have "good" parents or parents who stay home all day and have the time to do separate homework in addition to helping the child with their own homework.
@izathewzia (5134)
• Philippines
8 Feb 08
I don't think this is fair. My child always have a homework to do. I help her most of the time since she is still in pre-school. I want her to develop that attitude in her study. Little by little I am letting her to do it on her own.
@speakeasy (4171)
• United States
9 Feb 08
You are right. Parents who are involved with their children's education; don't need extra work. And, parents who are not involved with their kid's education are not going to suddenly change and become involved just because they have a "homework assignment" from the child's teacher.
@sbeauty (5865)
• United States
5 Oct 07
As a teacher I can easily see where this teacher is coming from. He is trying to get apathetic parents involved in their children's educations. It has been well documented that students whose parents don't get involved in his education feel that their parents don't think education is important and end up not doing as well as the children who have parents who make the effort. If people don't know English, maybe they should learn it. After all, they are obviously claiming their rights to free, public education. To me they should be taking it on our terms and not wanting our systems to bend for them. I'm not a bigot. I just moved from my home because of the thousands of these people wanting things their own way and squeezing out the local residents.
@speakeasy (4171)
• United States
5 Oct 07
While I sympathize with the teacher trying to get parents more involved; I do not think that threatening a child's grade based on parent participation is in any way acceptable.
Also, nothing requires the student and parent to actually "work together". The assignments are similar; but, the student hands in their assignments in class and the parent logs their assignment in on the website's blog. This can be accomplished together or separately with NO interaction by the parent and student.
So, while the parent may know the student is studying a specific work by an author: the parent may not know what the student thinks about it, if the student completed the assignment, or even if the student "plaigerized" an outside source.
That REALLY doesn't get the parent "more involved" in their child's education. Also, if the parent has multiple students that will be going through the same class in successive years - how involved are they going to be when they get the same "assignment" the third or fourth year in a row?
@ElusiveButterfly (45940)
• United States
5 Oct 07
This is a wonderful idea to keep parents, the students and teachers all connected on a daily basis. Having worked in a high school I remember grades going out and the kids rushing home to collect the report cards that came in the mail and hide them before their parents could get them. The family became upset only after they found their child was failing a subject. Keeping an eye on the work that they do and having the parent log on is a great idea. But, how does he really know that the parent is the one logging on and not the student? There are many that would log on as their parents in order to keep the parents in the dark about their school performance.
@speakeasy (4171)
• United States
5 Oct 07
I agree about keeping parents involved and having a class website/newsletter and requiring the parent to either log in or return the newsletter would be a good way to keep people connected.
But, the article REALLY concentrated on parents who were happy with the program and glossed over parents who weren't. The actual students were barely mentioned; especially, what they thought about the program.
High school is about the child and parent starting to SEPARATE. The teen is expected to start being more autonomous. Having a separate life, friends, and learning to become an adult and accomplishing things on their own. Parents are supposed to be there for support "as needed"; not, as a "classmate".
@SViswan (12051)
• India
5 Oct 07
Why are the parents assigned homework in the first place?
I understand having to read something to help the child with THEIR homework?
The focus should be the child's education and not the parents.
As you rightly said, some parents might enjoy doing it. But other parents don't have the time or the inclination.
And penalising a child for the parent's non-completion..that's way too crazy!
I don't understand the point of a parent doing an assignment.
Okay...so I just read the full article and luckily for them it's working out good. But threatening that the grades of the child would be affected is like pressurising them to do it. Make the parents aware that their involvement is also necessary and how they can go about it. Beyond that it's too pushy!
@speakeasy (4171)
• United States
5 Oct 07
I agree fully. If my son had a problem with an assignment; I had no problem sitting down, reading the text, and then discussing it with him to be sure he understood what the article was trying to convey.
But, I would have been really upset, if I was REQUIRED to read an assignment and then turn in MY OWN homework on it every week. If I want to do that, we have a community college in our town and I would be learning about the subject of my CHOICE.
@nangel78 (1454)
• United States
5 Oct 07
I think this can be good and bad. While this process does involve the parents more which is good, it also has students looking to their parents to possibly bail them out on homework. I can see where this can be positive and negative. Students are not as independent doing their own homework, but this does let the parents know what is going on in their classes.
@speakeasy (4171)
• United States
5 Oct 07
I just think there are better ways to make the parents aware of what is being studied in classrooms. Using the Internet and having a website where that information is posted and kept current is the easiest way for any parent who is interested in their child's classes. Doing actual homework assignments is going overboard.
@Destiny007 (5805)
• United States
5 Oct 07
I think the schools need to limit their teaching to the actual students.
I see a lawsuit begging to happen, and a teacher begging to be fired.
Teaching should be limited to the schools only without trying to interfere in the students and parents private lives.
I think this is a fine example of a teacher trying to exceed their authority.
@speakeasy (4171)
• United States
5 Oct 07
I definately agree and telling the parents they have to participate or their child's grades will suffer is a form of emotional/psychological blackmail to any parent that cares about their child.
@prasad6blr (95)
• India
5 Oct 07
Hi,
Don't get panicky, they are just testing your nerves.
To come out of that kind of situation just go to the school once and talk to the teacher, tell her about your condition, ( having multiple kids and will mpt be in a position to complete everyone's homework) then understanding your condition, they will definitely relieve you from that burden.
Take it cool.
@speakeasy (4171)
• United States
5 Oct 07
The problem is that they did not tell the parents that they COULD "opt out".
Also, once a program like this starts in one school and then gets positive publicity on the internet and in the news - these things spread like a flu virus.
@meanangel (167)
• United States
5 Oct 07
Parents should always be involved in their childs education but to have home work assignments is rediculus. I am a single parent and til just recently did not get home from work until 11:30 pm or later and I would be so tired that I could hardly make myself take a shower let alone do home work. Mornings were spent getting ready for school and spending time together so why would I want to worry about my childs grades slipping because of some thing I could not get done? A teacher should never have the right to dictate what goes on in the home. I like helping her with her home work and answering questions if I can but I have done my time in school and do not see why anyone should have to redo things unless they want to. Learning should be fun not something you have to worry about getting punished for.
@speakeasy (4171)
• United States
5 Oct 07
I know. I have known some single parents who actually have to work two part-time jobs to keep food on the table. Scheduling that with their child's school and after school activites doesn't leave them with much of a personal life and now some teacher wants to take control of that little bit of persoanl time.
Homework assignments can be fun; but, not if you are a parent who already learned it the first time. It would quickly become a "chore" for the parent and kids pick up on things like that. They would know the ONLY reason you were doing it was to satisfy the teacher.
@joshuakill (10)
• Singapore
5 Oct 07
To me, I think it depends on the kind of homework given out and the background of the parents. After all, you can't give a parent with no education 5th grade maths problems to do.
However, I still feel that this idea is quite ridiculous. Why would you want to give the parent homework? Homework is meant to improve the child!
@speakeasy (4171)
• United States
5 Oct 07
And, this was for students in Jr High and High School, way above 5th grade.
@Sharon38 (1912)
• Jamaica
4 Oct 07
We have the same system here in Jamaica but a little nicer.
I remember once my daughter go several assignments to do and I did the research and made her write it however I never realised that I should have used cartridge paper and after all those hard work she got a d. I was upset but you know what it taught me a valid lesson.
Another thing too when our children get homework parents have to sign in the textbook and exercise book dating it. I enjoy this although sometime sI am exhausted and want to sleep but I want to teache her to be responsible so I act like I am supermom.
@speakeasy (4171)
• United States
4 Oct 07
I have no problem with helping a child with THEIR homework. But, this article assigns homework to the parent and the parent turns in the parent's homework on the teacher's blog.
That can be done either separatley with little or no interaction with the child or the parent can choose to interact with the child.
Having a parent's homework affect the child's grade is too much.
