Should parents have to go back to school to help their kids with homework?

Hi Jen, I think it should be optional. I can't see some parents who absolutely loath schooling to begin with be made to go. I also could not see all parents succeeding in a particular class because not all would have the same level of "know how". What happens to them? I also don't know what would be taught, techniques on what is best way to show a child how to study? What happens then when a parent finds some of it too be too tedious. Also what comes to mind is some parents work 2 jobs, so when do they fit the time in? Gosh I have a lot of questions so really what it boils down to me in my mind is that it should be optional and not enforced because what works for me may not work for all. Besides the best advice as a parent is strictly hands on. Our children do not come with manuals, so we learn as we go.

Parents don't have to go to a class just to help their children with homework. It beats the purpose of the teacher doing his/her job and the whole tuition fee thing. I think it will also beat the purpose of the child becoming independent of his/her parent/s while at school.

Well, I think that there are two sides to this debate. First of all, the school systems are making budget cuts in the wrong areas. We need teachers in the schools and I hear almost daily of local schools cutting teachers due to budget cuts and cutting out programs that kids need, but they will spend on new sports programs. Kids need to learn academics before sports. Secondly, I believe schools should offer tutors for children who have parents who do not understand the work that kids have for homework. If a parent would like to sit in and attempt to learn it, that would be fine, but we should not force parents to go back to school. If they do, parents will have to do it each year as there will always be something new being taught that parents will not know.

You know, years ago they (whoever "they" are) were talking about having teachers take a test to see if they were actually smart enough to teach and the teachers were screaming that this test would be unconstitutional. Like, HUH??? Teachers refusing to be tested??? Something is definitely wrong here! I remember the days of my kids doing their homework. I was very involved with it and remember dreading the time they'd come home with geometry or physics because I sucked at both when I was in school. Oh, I passed, but just barely. I definitely would have gone to classes if it would help me to better understand what my kids were going through to help them if they needed it. I don't think this would be taking responsibility from either the teacher or the child. The child would still have to do the work. If it turned out that none of the students were understanding a particular subject, I would have to voice my opinion of that at the next PTA meeting or even going directly to the School Board to question why none of the students were learning since that is a direct reflection on that particular teacher. I would think that any child would benefit from having two teachers, one at school and one at home but being forced to go back to school shouldn't be part of it. Children do better when they have parents who are involved with their school work but it is ultimately the teachers' responsibility to see that they learn. I think I could safely say that a lot of our teachers could use some extra education. I wouldn't mind going back to school to help my child and the teachers shouldn't mind, either.

Parents does not necessarily need to go to school to help their children with homework. It really depends on the parents already if they are going to help their kids out. Also, its on them already if they earnestly want to learn on their own on topics their children are learning so that they can be involved on school work. I am having a blast teaching my son things and also I learn on my own on topics he had to tell something on so that I can teach him well on it. I learned on my own out of my own will and every parent should but of course to each is his/her own.

Hi JenInTN, I do think that this is a good idea, it would be great to help out our children more, and good to learn some new things ourselves. I would agree that parents should be involved with their childrens school work, even if our children can do their homework on their own, it is good that we have the knowledge of the subjects and so we are able to check the homework to make sure all is ok. Also to do the homework together in that we will help them but not give them the answers, then this is good quality time with our children. In the other way you mention i guess i would agree that it does in small parts take the responsibility away from the child, but i do feel that children also learn from their parents so it is only right that we do help them. We cannot be seen as taking responsibity away from teachers, they teach at school and children learn, the homework is exactly what it says, homework, and so for home, so should our child need help then we as parents should help them, rather than have them struggle and wait until school time. We all have the best interests for our children, we want our children to learn and so it is good that if they are at home and stuck on their homework then we are there to explain it a little so that they can understand and get their homework done. So many new things change in life, it would be good for parents to learn more also, plus this has advantages to us for learning and also this means we can help our children out, so it is a win win situation really.

I'm so against this. Teaching is the responsibility of the teachers....not the parents. Not all parents are capable of helping and in India most of the parents who desperately want their kids to get an education are the illiterate parents. These parents can't even HELP the child with homework....imagine having to go back to school. The general trend today is that most parents end up doing a lot of teaching at home (atleast in India)...despite paying exorbitant yearly school fees. All this in the name of HELPING the child with homework. Actually trend is the wrong word...it's become a part of life and everyone is expected to do the teaching at home. I understand that some children might need more help than others...but how long can a parent be expected to help' with the homework? Most high school stuff is beyond the parents in general. I personally feel that guiding the children to 'help' themselves is what the parents should be doing...and teaching is what the teachers should be doing. If a child is unable to do his/her homework on their own (even after the effort to do so), it means that the concept is not clear and the teacher needs to help the child. My son is musically inclined and he wants to major in music. When he has trouble with his homework, I have been told that they would provide books for me to learn and then teach my son! I don't see the point in that. I appreciate music....I can listen to it....but sorry...I'm not going to learn it. If I wanted to learn music, I would have done so earlier...or I would do it for myself...not to teach my son. My little one is interested in sports. So, do I need to start with sports too to help my other son?

Should parents be "forced" to go back to school to help thier kids with homework? No!!! Should parents be given the "choice" to go back to school if they feel it would help thier kids? Yes!!! I don't think the schools should force the parents to go back to school just to help thier kids. But rather be given the option to go back. Like a refresher coarse. I'm 32 so obviously I have been out of school for a long time. I have two children that are in 1st grade. Now, at the time what my kids are learning is pretty easy stuff for me to remember how to do. So I don't have a hard time helping them to make sure they are doing it correctly. I for one don't give my kids the answers but have them do thier homework and then I go over it with them and help them with anything they got wrong. But once my kids get a little older and start getting into harder stuff, it would be nice to take a refresher coarse to remember the subject myself. For example: I was horrible in some areas of math like geometry. I never use it in my daily life and have pretty much forgotten it. So if the schools were to offer a refresher coarse for geometry and my kids were learning that. I would definitly take it so that way I could be of more assistance to my kids in making sure they are doing it correctly.

I don't think it's a bad idea, but should be voluntary. I don't think you can expect parents to HAVE to go and take a class. IF nothing else, the parent and the child can figure it out together. But I do agree that parents need to be more involved in the children's homework and school life. It amazes me that parents come down on kids for not having their homework done at bedtime. Even if they work, they should see that homework gets done. I think that children are left on their own too much. Even with working parents, there should be some time devoted to the kids, if only an hour. And it doesn't have to be to do homework. Even watching a television program together. I think going to the class could be a benefit for all.

Hi. JenInTN. Yes, unfortunately the school system is making a child learn too fast and too much. This is a major problem in the school's today. It is such a shame that parents have to take certain classes so that their child can understand certain learning abilities that they don't really know about. They don't need most of this information, they are trying to get kids to give this information out. Too many kids are ahead of their own age group because of issues that are like these are. I just think that it is absurd for a parent to have to go back to school so that their kids can learn extra learning skills, that they probably won't need in the future anyway. Many parents are already going back to school/college now to pursue additional educational skills so that they can get a better job.

Well, I don't think that it's perhaps necessary. I do think that it can help the child learn, if the parent can help them with their homework. But I do know that there are some after school programs where there are private tutors and such. I think that, in some cases, it doesn't cost a lot, if anything. So at worse, this is a solution that parents can keep in mind. Parents can even talk to the teachers to find some kind of a solution to help the children. The teachers would definitely be in a position to help with a solution. Maybe not personal, but they might know of someone who may be able to tutor or a program or something.

I wouldn't want to but would need to if i had a child i had to help .Things have changed way too much since i was in school. I'd be lost.

If the point of the parents class was learning how to help your child stay interested and learn better, then I think it's a great idea. If it's so they (the parent and maybe the child)can answer the test questions better so the kid passes the test and progresses to the next grade not really having learned the material, then no.

I don't think parents should attend some class to learn how to help the kids, most parents whose kids read in good schools are well qualified , they know their responsibilities, here in my area there are rich couples, but not enough qualificaion, they employ private tutor for the kids Well whether it is parent or tutor, they should just guide, should not do the home work for the kids.. Thanks for sharing Cheers. God bless you, have a nice day ahead. Kalyani ‘Namastey’. .

If the parent's don't remember this stuff from their own school days it's because they have NEVER used it since they actually got out into the real world & joined the workforce. 95% of the stuff they expect the kids to memorize in school now is completely useless in their day to day lives. Seriously, when was the last time you had to remember much from your biology classes or calculus? I think the school curriculum needs to be looked at & modified to actually teach what is NEEDED. Why teach everyone way more in a subject than they'll ever need in a field unless they're actually going to be working in it. IF they are going to be working in it than save that for college. Get back to the basics like how to give change....

Sadly many parents are Way too busy for the class and there are many like my mom who would go but the class would be too hard for her. Don't get me wrong , my mom was a brilliant woman but she wouldn't be able to follow algebra! I can still remember the look on her face when she saw my violin music! She said it looked like chicken scratch! So it is a good idea but it won't work for every family.

JEN...you've broached a subject that has me torn between two answers, so allow me to relate...DUH! When my son was in elementary grades, I would take him out of school each Fall for 6 weeks, as I had a job in Honolulu, that I could NOT afford to turn down! It was like home-schooling, lesson plans with me, and homework mailed! I did not understand the NEW MATH, and struggled...but it seemed to help my son understand it more, explaining it to me. SO...here it is year's later! I take care of my bosses son..whilst she is away on business trips...help with home-work...and NOW am FACING another NEW MATH!! WHAT UP...it's one MY SON doesn't understand! DO I need to be a CAREER student..in order to interact/help with a child attending school today. They say it is just a new twist on the old basics..but even my son, relates that it is the 1+1=2, that is the math that he relates to daily..and uses daily, as an Engineer! Can't answer your question...as I don't know which "tree to bark up!"

In my opinion I think That in our case here my grandson's teacher keeps up pretty much apprised of what he is doing by her sending his homework and any information in a manila envelope. I think this would be good if it could be weekly, not nightly. I think it would be beneficial. But as kids turn into teen how much of a situation is it going to become when kids don't want their parents knowing all their goings ons. Know what I mean? Could make it pretty miserable for some kids.

A class like with would have been very valuable to me as a parent when my children were growing up. I was always a good student and even though I had my children while I was young the world was moving far to fast for me to keep up with what my children were learning. This was before the Internet and a computer in every home.

If you have lots of money to study again just to help your children in their homework then go, however if your kids are just pre-schooler,elementary or high school then you can study their own books and lectures to teach them in return. The cost of education is almost unbearable to others so if it is like having two kids in one level of education that is already too much in ones budget. If I am to go in school just for that objective I'd rather get a vocational course instead.