Ending Homework Hassles Podcast
Last year, tenth grader Sophia Elias’s typical after-school routine involved a five-hour shift at her part-time job followed by two hours of honors history homework. “I did French homework during breakfast and math problems in art class,” says Sophia, a B student in Freemansburg, Pennsylvania. After discussing options with her parents, Sophia decided to trade in honors history for the easier honors English and reduce her part-time job hours.
San Diego senior Kristin Calish cut back her Irish dance classes from five to two times a week in order to dig into her daily four hours of advanced placement homework. Her brother Tom, a middle-schooler, doesn’t have her great study habits. “My mom sometimes catches Tom ‘doing’ his homework while simultaneously surfing the web, instant messaging, and blasting music,” says Kristin.
Homework is a hot topic in every home that houses a middle- or high-school student. Research on homework finds that academic achievement improves when teens have the right kind of homework, says Harris Cooper, Ph.D., professor of psychology at Duke University and author of The Battle Over Homework: Common Ground for Administrators, Teachers, and Parents. But what’s right is up for debate among experts. Some say that kids are overwhelmed and can’t squeeze in equally valuable family time and extracurricular activities. Others complain that many teens don’t get enough homework.
PATRICIA HUGHES 11/22/07
My son wants nothing to do w/any of it. He was just recently dropped down to a lower level in 7th b/c the beginning of the year was the ultimate disaster. He wants to be cool and free. Homework is done as quickly as possible. Grounding!!! No more gaming systems, limited TV, no phone and possibly no more BSBl which he lives for. If that doesn't work, I don't have the answer. PE, NYS
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