History of Homework

Attitudes toward homework have been cyclical.

• Attitudes toward homework have historically reflected societal trends and the prevailing educational philosophy of the time, and each swing of the pendulum is colored by unique historical events and sentiments that drove the movement for or against homework.

• “Rethinking Homework” by Cathy Vatterott page 3

The Current Reality

• NCLB and high emphasis on assessment.• “People don’t go to school to learn. They go

to get good grades, which brings them to college, which brings them the high paying job, which brings them happiness, or so they think.” page 19 Rethinking Homework”

• The explosion of the tutoring industry.

Some Facts

• Homework can be a good or bad thing• Since colonial times students have had

homework• Since the 1950’s the amount of homework

being brought home has not changed.– In last decade there has been a slight increase in

primary grades.

Quality of Homework Assigned

• Very dependent on “What is the goal of the homework?”– Is it practice?– Is it extending student’s knowledge?

• Varies from teacher to teacher.• Varies with a teacher from day to day.• Varies with students• Quality is a function of the goal of the

assignment.

International Comparisons

• Comparing apples and oranges– The length of school day as well as number of

days varies.– Some countries it is common practice to go to

private tutor after regular school

• Some comparisons show less homework while a few show more.

Public Attitude Toward Homework

• Goes through 15-20 year waves of support and lack of support.

• Early 1900’s the mind was viewed as a muscle that needed to be exercised. Homework was a way to discipline the mind. Memorization was viewed as mental exercise.

• 1940’s problem solving abilities and greater emphasis on developing student initiative and interest in learning resulted in less assigned homework

• 1950’s Sputnik reversed this trend. Homework was a way to accelerate the pace of knowledge acquisition.

• 1960’s homework was seen as a symptom of too much pressure on students to achieve.

• 1980’s “A Nation at Risk” recommended increases of homework to combat mediocrity.

• 1990’s continuation of homework to meet state mandated academic standards

The Situation Today

• 2000’s the conflict between overburden parents, too much stress on children, and teachers efforts to improve achievement test scores continues the battle

• In January of 2006 a national poll showed 57% of parents feel it is about right, 19% too much, 23% too little. About as good as can be expected.

From NEA May 2008

Processing Time

• On your lotus chart fill in the boxes around the squares for– Purposes of homework– History of homework

Clock Partners

• Find your 6:00 partner• Discuss – Is homework an effective strategy?– How effective of a strategy is homework?