Too much homework!!!!

[bunny]

My son is in 8th grade and he is getting buried with homework right now. I feel so bad for him. It is starting to get really nice outside and he is stuck inside doing homework. He gets anywhere from 2 to 3 hours per night. He is a straight A student, but come on teachers. He is already at school almost 7 hours per day. He works more than I do and I have a full time job. I don't remember doing all of this work when I was in school. All of the teachers say they only assign 1/2 hour a night but he has 5 core subjects plus a couple electives. I can't wait for summer vacation!!!

 

[zekie20]

deleted

 

[LongLiveDisney]

I know. It's beyond ridiculous. Our high schoolers have no time to do ANYTHING but homework and studying.

 

[Pixie Dust for Me!]

Have you tried talking with his teachers? I know when my son was younger, teachers would often not coordinate things and my kiddo would get stuck with hours of homework in 5th grade. When I spoke with the teachers and suggested that perhaps they could coordinate things and not all assign huge projects at the same time, it would help.

Karen

 

[taylor3297]

If you are in one of the 45 states that adopted the common core, this will be the norm.

 

[cabanafrau]

I'm afraid that's the way it is these days. Hopefully it's paying off in boosting his learning.

As for the suggestion to talk to the teachers, I definitely would not -- and either of my girls would have vaporized me on the spot if I had tried.

 

[anniemae]

I agree it's awful. It's like they have no time for anything. Come home do homework until supper. No outside. Also, in school they have cut down on lunch and recess (for the younger ones). Lunch is now 20 minutes. HOw long are lunches at other schools?

 

[StitchesGr8Fan]

It sucks, but I keep reading that in other countries kids go to school WAY more than American kids. Less days off, more time in class. They don't have childhoods. They are expected to excel.

Americans have to decide, do we value childhood or do we want to prepare our kids to compete in a global market someday?

 

[Poohforyou]

Is it really a few hours of work or is it just taking him a few hours to do? I ask because I have an 8th grader as well and plenty of times she could get her homework done in under an hour if she'd just buckle down and do it.

She's a good student though so whatever works for her is ok but when she complains about how long it takes her some days I remind her of the amount of time I see her goofing off when she claims to be doing homework.

 

[StitchesGr8Fan]

I should also add that if teachers had time to teach and didnt have to deal with parents, administrators and standardized testing then kids could get more done during the day. But some crappy teachers and litigious society ruined that.

 

[Art 1]

My son is in 8th grade and he is getting buried with homework right now. I feel so bad for him. It is starting to get really nice outside and he is stuck inside doing homework. He gets anywhere from 2 to 3 hours per night. He is a straight A student, but come on teachers. He is already at school almost 7 hours per day. He works more than I do and I have a full time job. I don't remember doing all of this work when I was in school. All of the teachers say they only assign 1/2 hour a night but he has 5 core subjects plus a couple electives. I can't wait for summer vacation!!!

It was normal for ours to have 30 hrs per week of homework, at least. They spent many weekends doing homework.

 

[taylor3297]

This is an interesting read if you are interested.

http://edudemic.com/2012/08/why-do-we-focus-on-finland-a-must-have-guidebook/

 

[bunny]

Is it really a few hours of work or is it just taking him a few hours to do? I ask because I have an 8th grader as well and plenty of times she could get her homework done in under an hour if she'd just buckle down and do it.

She's a good student though so whatever works for her is ok but when she complains about how long it takes her some days I remind her of the amount of time I see her goofing off when she claims to be doing homework.

I have a Masters degree and I would be hard pressed to complete it any faster. For instance he has to write a 2,000 word research project on a career choice for his English class. For this project he needs 200 note cards and 8 sources. He also needs an outline and rough draft. He spends 1/2 hr to 40 minutes on this project alone almost every day. Then he has to outline his History book every night. That is another 40 minutes to a hour. Plus he has daily Algebra homework. It is a lot of work.

 

[bunny]

It was normal for ours to have 30 hrs per week of homework, at least. They spent many weekends doing homework.

I am sorry. That is ridiculous. I graduated 2nd in my class in high school and graduated from Penn State with a 3.85 GPA and a double major and never spent that much time doing school work. When do these kids get to be kids?

 

[Pigeon]

It sucks, but I keep reading that in other countries kids go to school WAY more than American kids. Less days off, more time in class. They don't have childhoods. They are expected to excel.

Americans have to decide, do we value childhood or do we want to prepare our kids to compete in a global market someday?

That depends on the country. Finland, widely acknowledged as having the best educational system in the world, does none of what you claim.

OP, complain, but complain to the school board, not the teachers. Chances are the teachers think the kids get too much homework, too.

 

[usnuzuloose]

I don't have kids in school. But I know of someone who keeps getting their child out of homework. And even though they have done this, they still have problems getting them to do the homework. I don't think we are helping kids any when we keep getting them out of the home work.

And they had the child evaluated to make sure there were no learning issues involved. This kid is in 7th grade. It is only going to get worse when High School comes around. Some times, not all kids , but some of them need to take responsibility in the home work area.

I am not trying to be disrespectful to anyone in here. Just stating my HO as to what I see with some who has these issue.

I hope for the ones that are really into it with to much home work I hope you can find a solution that really works for you.

 

[taylor3297]

That depends on the country. Finland, widely acknowledged as having the best educational system in the world, does none of what you claim.

OP, complain, but complain to the school board, not the teachers. Chances are the teachers think the kids get too much homework, too.

The article posted was about Finland. At one time their school system was in the situation the US is in. Finland did turn it around but it took several decades.

 

[gina2000]

Finland has a great secondary education that includes a large percentage of students participating in vocational training.

http://www.minedu.fi/OPM/Koulutus/ammatillinen_koulutus/?lang=en

 

[Poohforyou]

I should also add that if teachers had time to teach and didnt have to deal with parents, administrators and standardized testing then kids could get more done during the day. But some crappy teachers and litigious society ruined that.

I have an 8th grader. She's a top student who will be in all honors classes as a freshman next year. We're in one of the top districts in one of the top performing states in the country. She's getting an amazing education and manages to have plenty of time for a very happy childhood. I honestly don't see her having any more homework than I did although she's further advanced in most subjects.

 

[Art 1]

I am sorry. That is ridiculous. I graduated 2nd in my class in high school and graduated from Penn State with a 3.85 GPA and a double major and never spent that much time doing school work. When do these kids get to be kids?

Well, it's what the parents want or they wouldn't send the kids there. The school must know what it's doing. It's wonderful what you have achieved but would be just average or below average of what the average graduate from there accomplishes. And far below what the top 30% or so accomplishes let alone the top few graduates.