toward a system that won’t factor and helps teachers determine and homework into students’ final grades, assess whether a student has mastered at present there is no stated policy a skill during class time. She says it also at the secondary level regarding the helps inform the teacher as to how well allocation of homework. they are doing their job. Kris Felicello, assistant The teachers at her school give superintendent for educational services homework that “aligns with the daily with the North Rockland Central School learning activities and outcomes that District in New York, expects to have intentionally supports what kids learn a new homework policy in place by at school,” she says. the end of 2019, in Romano, who has response to fifth-grade been teaching for 17 students’ petition to years, emphasizes that abolish it. More than homework at Veritas 150 signatures were is not given with collected. the expectation that “Homework is such parents aid their child a controversial topic,” beyond reminding Felicello says. “Some them to do it; nor is it people feel strongly scored in a way that we shouldn’t have it, would be punitive or and some feel it’s a negatively affect a rite of passage. When student’s grade. the students came Despite the to me and were so trend toward passionate about it, ending take-home it was kind of that assignments and tipping point.” the popular petition, — ALLISON WIENHOLD, Although educators North Rockland’s teacher, Dunkerton Community School District, Iowa are examining how new policy may not to reform homework abolish homework policies, some experts argue that this completely. Teachers are trying new ongoing debate has already been settled approaches, such as assigning longby years of research and data. term projects with deadlines, which Alfie Kohn, a former teacher and allows students to work at their own author of The Homework Myth: Why Our pace and convenience, and learn timeKids Get Too Much of a Bad Thing, says management skills and prioritization. studies have proved that there’s no If her school district expected valid reason for homework. “We have teachers to give homework, or it was more than 100 years of research on a district requirement, Wienhold says the topic, and the results are startling. she would provide “choice enrichment,” No scientific study has ever found where she might suggest Spanishany benefit to any kind of homework,” language books, television programs or he says, adding, “Newer research is social media platforms for students to casting doubt on whether homework engage and help them improve their is necessary in high school. … There is conversation and comprehension. no evidence homework raises student “You don’t always have to tell kids test scores or promotes meaningful what to do and how to do it,” says Gary learning.” Armida, an English teacher at North Still, Rachel Romano, founder and Rockland High School. “You can just executive director of Veritas Prep make sure they have the skills, and Charter School in Massachusetts’ you’ll be amazed at what they come up Holyoke School District, sees the benefit with.” of take-home assignments. The work — Kimberly Redmond of The provides an opportunity for students (Westchester County, N.Y.) Journal News to practice their lessons independently contributed to this article.
I do not work outside of school. I leave my school work at school. I respect the balance and separation of school and home.”
married mother of two children younger than 5, can relate. Many students hold jobs, are caretakers to younger siblings while parents work or are busy participating in extracurricular activities. “I do not work outside of school. I leave my school work at school,” says Wienhold, who believes it would be wrong to hold her students to a different standard. “I respect the balance and separation of school and home.” Wienhold also contends that it is not equitable to assign students homework when many don’t have access to a computer or the internet at home. Although her district is moving
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