Homework rant

[Janepod]

My children are still in elementary school, so I don't have these high school class issues yet, but after reading this thread I'm even more convinced to follow my brother's lead with his h.s. kids: regular classes only.

It's not worth the stress in their teenage life to be loaded with APs and Honors classes when they'll still go to college and have careers with regular classes. In the big scheme of things in this life, going to college for 3 years instead of 4 is such a small reward for all the h.s. stress associated with it.

I don't believe the tons-of-AP/Honors-students learn time management and stress management: they learn how to unhealthily obsess over getting the magnificent scores to get into the magnificent colleges and they feel crap when they don't get into their first choice college. I read about it every day on College Confidential.

If your kids want to go to a top 20 - or really, even a top 50 - college, they will need to pack their schedule with honors and AP classes. Those universities don't accept students with "regular classes only." But really, it's up to each family to choose the path that is right for them.

 

[NHdisneylover]

My children are still in elementary school, so I don't have these high school class issues yet, but after reading this thread I'm even more convinced to follow my brother's lead with his h.s. kids: regular classes only.

It's not worth the stress in their teenage life to be loaded with APs and Honors classes when they'll still go to college and have careers with regular classes. In the big scheme of things in this life, going to college for 3 years instead of 4 is such a small reward for all the h.s. stress associated with it.

I don't believe the tons-of-AP/Honors-students learn time management and stress management: they learn how to unhealthily obsess over getting the magnificent scores to get into the magnificent colleges and they feel crap when they don't get into their first choice college. I read about it every day on College Confidential.

I totally agree with this! AND, realistically, while it might make a minor difference to some, MOST people will not end up with substantially better jobs or careers 10 years in from attending a top notch school vs. a normal one. Many of the tops in their fields went to state schools, or other lesser known private colleges.
All that stress and anxiety, (or not if your kids are brilliant, but still assignments to complete every night and on school breaks, etc) with less time leftover to work on social skills, work ethic in an environment where you do not get the near "immediate" feedback of grades, staying physically fit, learning to cook or travel or clean up the house, etc doesn't seem to create well rounded people, or people who are necessarily good employs.
I also many teens pushing this hard on academics end up with self esteem which is too linked to seeing those grades and feeling like they are "the smart one"--and when they eventually hit something they do not do well, or those "grades" quit coming in once they have a real world job, this can lead to problems.

 

[HelenePA]

If your kids want to go to a top 20 - or really, even a top 50 - college, they will need to pack their schedule with honors and AP classes. Those universities don't accept students with "regular classes only." But really, it's up to each family to choose the path that is right for them.

this isn't true at least it wasn't when I was in HS. There is ONE school (not my district) near me that offers a few AP courses and until the dis I've never even heard of them! I got in at PSU no problem as well as a few others.

 

[TomorrowlandFamily]

If your kids want to go to a top 20 - or really, even a top 50 - college, they will need to pack their schedule with honors and AP classes. Those universities don't accept students with "regular classes only." But really, it's up to each family to choose the path that is right for them.

His children (10th and 11 graders), aren't specifically interested in getting into a top-50 college. They just want to go to college to get their degree for their career interests, the 10th grader planning on becoming a nurse and the 11th grader becoming a CPA. They have an average amount of homework and are enjoying their high school experience without the stress that they won't be happy in life unless they get into a top 50 college.

Many of the tops in their fields went to state schools, or other lesser known private colleges.

Yes, like my brother. He's a cosmetic dentist in Dallas and doing very ($$$) well.

 

[Janepod]

this isn't true at least it wasn't when I was in HS. There is ONE school (not my district) near me that offers a few AP courses and until the dis I've never even heard of them! I got in at PSU no problem as well as a few others.

That's great, but with all due respect to PSU it's not a top 25 school.

 

[Janepod]

His children (10th and 11 graders), aren't specifically interested in getting into a top-50 college. They just want to go to college to get their degree for their career interests, the 10th grader planning on becoming a nurse and the 11th grader becoming a CPA. They have an average amount of homework and are enjoying their high school experience without the stress that they won't be happy in life unless they get into a top 50 college.

It's great that your family is happy. Like I said, everyone has to choose the path that's best for them. And I agree; to be a nurse or CPA you really don't need to go to an elite school. Glad it's working out for all of you.

 

[TomorrowlandFamily]

It's great that your family is happy. Like I said, everyone has to choose the path that's best for them. And I agree; to be a nurse or CPA you really don't need to go to an elite school. Glad it's working out for all of you.

Thank you.

I'm sure you understand how one could feel sorry for the high school kids with so much on their plate so young in life, but I would never presume to tell parents how to raise their children. I know I wouldn't like it. lol

 

[HelenePA]

That's great, but with all due respect to PSU it's not a top 25 school.

I believe you said top 50 in your other post, and you might want to look at your list again http://www.psu.edu/this-is-penn-state/rankings heres a link for you and oh wow.. look who's tied for #1 in Environmental Sciences.

 

[Janepod]

Thank you.

I'm sure you understand how one could feel sorry for the high school kids with so much on their plate so young in life, but I would never presume to tell parents how to raise their children. I know I wouldn't like it. lol

I hear you. I receive a lot of unsolicited advice (my son is the only grandson on both sides of the family) and I'm pretty close to telling a lot of people to put a sock in it.

And considering my son wants to be either a professional hockey player or a scuba diving policeman at Atlantis, I do not think he will be taking an absurd course load in high school. We'll see.

 

[Janepod]

I believe you said top 50 in your other post, and you might want to look at your list again http://www.psu.edu/this-is-penn-state/rankings heres a link for you and oh wow.. look who's tied for #1 in Environmental Sciences.

I tip my hat to you. To be honest I had no idea what PSU stood for; I though it was Pacific something.

 

[TomorrowlandFamily]

May I ask the parents of the children taking a heavy load of APs and Honors, what careers do your children want to go into? And what colleges? I enjoy reading about young people's career goals, that's why I read College Confidential.

 

[sam_gordon]

My children are still in elementary school, so I don't have these high school class issues yet, but after reading this thread I'm even more convinced to follow my brother's lead with his h.s. kids: regular classes only.

It's not worth the stress in their teenage life to be loaded with APs and Honors classes when they'll still go to college and have careers with regular classes. In the big scheme of things in this life, going to college for 3 years instead of 4 is such a small reward for all the h.s. stress associated with it.

I don't believe the tons-of-AP/Honors-students learn time management and stress management: they learn how to unhealthily obsess over getting the magnificent scores to get into the magnificent colleges and they feel crap when they don't get into their first choice college. I read about it every day on College Confidential.

My freshman (HS) DD is on the AP curriculum. I don't see it as a way to get into a "top" school, but more as a way to (in no particular order)...
1) Be challenged
2) Be able to test out of college courses. Paying for an $80 test instead of hundreds or thousands of dollars for a college course will hopefully be beneficial
3) Understand how college courses work.

May I ask the parents of the children taking a heavy load of APs and Honors, what careers do your children want to go into? And what colleges? I enjoy reading about young people's career goals, that's why I read College Confidential.

She says she wants to be a teacher. And that's what she's said for the last 4-5 years. I'm not holding her to that at this point.

 

[Janepod]

May I ask the parents of the children taking a heavy load of APs and Honors, what careers do your children want to go into? And what colleges? I enjoy reading about young people's career goals, that's why I read College Confidential.

I interview for my alma mater, which has a school of foreign service. So a lot of these applicants want to work for the state department & diplomatic corps. But there are also many applicants who want to go into law or medicine. Very few who want to stop at just an undergraduate degree.

 

[VickiVM]

My freshman (HS) DD is on the AP curriculum. I don't see it as a way to get into a "top" school, but more as a way to (in no particular order)...
1) Be challenged
2) Be able to test out of college courses. Paying for an $80 test instead of hundreds or thousands of dollars for a college course will hopefully be beneficial
3) Understand how college courses work.


She says she wants to be a teacher. And that's what she's said for the last 4-5 years. I'm not holding her to that at this point.

Also, the AP classes generally are weighted higher for GPA and if a student does well and has several AP classes, can assist with more in grants and scholarships...in today's economy that is surely something to work towards if it's possible.

I'm sorta in the happy medium camp...some AP, some general classes. A few extracurricular activities, but not too many that it becomes a burden to the entire family. If you have one child, then you can devote a whole lot more into their schedule than if you have 2, 3, 4, etc.

Family dynamics is also affected when a child is struggling to maintain balance. Have to really be honest about what is most important to your family and say no when appropriate. It's really nice to be able to say proudly that ..."my child excels at this or that, is on the honor roll, is taking only AP genius classes, is going to state finals for this or that sport, etc." But if the family relationships are in an unhealthy state, then we're no different than the families we criticize that have zero involvement in their children's education and welfare.

You can't re-do your kids childhood.

 

[MouseketeerMMC]

Why are kids expected to go to school for 7 hours day and then often have 3-4 hours of homework? I feel so bad for my DD. First day back after vacation and she has a huge SS packet, and tons of math homework due tomorrow. I know she just wants to relax. Fortunately we didn't have anything else going on today after school. She has club meetings every day but Mondays.

It just seems so unfair. Most adults aren't expected to start work at 7am, come home at 3, have an hour break and then work from home until bedtime. This has to be unhealthy.

She's is in all advanced classes, so some of this pressure she did put on herself. She's in 9th grade and I assume it's only going to get worse. She is not poking around or wasting time either. She did homework for an hour or two almost every day over vacation as well. How do families w/high schoolers go away those weeks?

Selfishly I would like to spend some time with her today but I know it's not going to happen. She can't stay up late because chorus starts at 6:50 am. tomorrow.

Thanks.. just venting. She's not the one complaining, I am.

I have heard that top schools give more homework to increase the students knowledge - I do not know if this is true or not.

I agree with you that the amount of homework can be crazy. I can understand math for repetition purposes, but a lot of parents work until five, and if a kid needs help it can be late into the evening to get everything done!

 

[sam_gordon]

I have heard that top schools give more homework to increase the students knowledge - I do not know if this is true or not.

I agree with you that the amount of homework can be crazy. I can understand math for repetition purposes, but a lot of parents work until five, and if a kid needs help it can be late into the evening to get everything done!

IMO, if a kid needs help before a parent gets home, their fellow students are only a call (or text) away. Heck, my DD's teachers accept texts & calls from students after hours when students need help.

 

[VickiVM]

May I ask the parents of the children taking a heavy load of APs and Honors, what careers do your children want to go into? And what colleges? I enjoy reading about young people's career goals, that's why I read College Confidential.

As I mentioned before, I'm sorta liking our middle of the road direction our kids have taken as it pertains to AP classes.

My oldest did a few AP classes and got college credit for 2 - graduated with a 93 GPA, but only ranked about 297 in a class of 602. The high school my kids attend is very competitive. He's very intelligent and has a very likeable personality. Awesome communication skills- this will take him far, I believe. He's pursuing his dream at Univ. of North Texas and in the College of Music (undeclared major at the moment, but leaning towards Performance in viola). Should I have pushed him to pursue something that is more marketable? Probably - but not at the risk of him possibly hating college and dropping out. He's finishing his first year and is loving where he is, so I'm content.

My middle daughter works hard for her A's and B's she gets in mostly regular classes. She is taking a couple of AP classes in only the subjects she excels in and has a shot of doing well - fortunately it's in science and math!! She's finishing her jr. year in high school and wants to study Environmental Science at either Texas State or Texas A&M - Corpus Christi. Env. Science is her passion.

My youngest is a freshmen in HS and extremely intelligent. She's is taking almost all Pre-AP classes and makes straight A's. Her passion is choir and fortunately is not as demanding as say a sport or dance. I'm not concerned about her in the least because she has a very high standard she sets for herself regarding grades.

The children's outside interest is mostly centered around church - youth group, volunteering, etc. This a a blessing to our family as we all participate together as I am an elder for our church representing the Youth and Young Adults - so we're generally all together in the same place every Sunday and sometimes in the middle of the week.

 

[Iforgetmypassword]

who said anything about tears?)

Answer:

There are some days when she is so stressed out from the thought of how much more she has to go that she cries.

 

[MouseketeerMMC]

IMO, if a kid needs help before a parent gets home, their fellow students are only a call (or text) away. Heck, my DD's teachers accept texts & calls from students after hours when students need help.

I do not think it should be the job of other students to help another student out. Though I do like the idea of a teacher being able to help a student out.

 

[ZephyrHawk]

It just seems so unfair. Most adults aren't expected to start work at 7am, come home at 3, have an hour break and then work from home until bedtime. This has to be unhealthy.

Well....no. But I am expected to leave the house at 7 am (it takes over an hour for me to drive to work), arrive at 9, work through lunch, stay late most days, drive home, make dinner for my family, and do household chores before bed circa 11pm (on a good night). That very well may be unhealthy, but it's just what's expected of a professional in my position.