Kids on the coast

Can I go out to play?

In the mid 1980s a US Government report Nation at Risk reported that American children were not achieving at expected levels. Political and parental pressure on schools to improve standards intensified. Teachers were expected to cover more material in greater depth within the same school hours. One solution was to increase the amount of homework and, over the years, the pressure to achieve filtered down to the earliest years of schooling with homework increased – even for the very young. The University of Michigan found that the amount of homework expected of 6-9 year olds had tripled between 1981 and 1997. Eventually, American parents began to question the cost of “the more homework the better” approach as the cracks began to appear in family relationships due to homework stress.

Australian schools rethink homework

Australian schools started down the same path about the mid ’90s, piling on the homework. In 2004, consultant adolescent psychologist Dr Michael Carr-Gregg called for a review of homework practices in Australia. “The reality is that homework, as currently constituted in primary schools, is a largely ineffective and overly burdensome practice and, for the physical and psychological health of our young people, it is time to reconsider,” he said. Michael believed homework interferes with family life, creates tension and limits time for individual and family activities.

Roxana Pereyra from Buderim agrees with that view. “Primary school children spend six hours a day at school on average – not including the children who have to spend longer periods of time in before and after school care,” she says. “When you are working parents and don’t get home till after 5pm, there is little time left (exactly three hours in our case) to prepare dinner, eat together as a family, have showers, prepare uniforms and get bags packed for the next morning, cram in homework and then get the kids to bed by 8pm!”

Roxana says participating in sport, music and the arts would be of more benefit to primary children than homework. She believes homework should be abolished from the primary school curriculum.

“Once they hit high school, that’s when it’s really necessary,” she believes.

Fortunately, Australian educators have avoided the worst excesses of the American homework experience. Practices have been reviewed and policies changed in the light of recent research. In 2004 the Queensland Department of Education and the Arts published a Homework Literature Review-Summary of key research findings to examine the impact of homework on students. Research on the relationship between homework and achievement indicated that students who do homework generally outperform those who do not. However, this applies much more strongly to high school students and there is little evidence that links homework to subsequent achievement for primary students.

Homework policy for Queensland state schools

The Queensland Education review concluded that some homework seems to be better than too much or none at all but time spent needs to be related to age. It also found homework activities seem to be more effective when linked directly to class activities so that homework is part of the whole learning process.

Based on the review, Education Queensland developed a Homework in State Schools policy. It gives guidelines as to the maximum amount of time students at each grade level should spend on homework (see fact box) and suggests homework tasks suited to each level. The trend is towards smaller amounts of better-designed homework, though some primary schools have done away with homework altogether.

Has homework become more family-friendly?

Jess Schepers from Kuluin is a working mum of four children in Years 1-10. She feels teachers and parents are close to “a comfortable balance” regarding homework. “I’m not sure if it is because the homework load has eased over the years due to policies being changed or because my children are using their time more wisely and being more efficient, but it seems we aren’t as bogged down (by homework) as we used to be,” Jess says. “I find the homework level to be within reason and suited to their age group.”

“It’s normal for us all to be in the kitchen in the evening with homework books open – one on the computer and the others at the kitchen table, while I make dinner.

“I will communicate either by a note or a message in the homework book if we don’t understand a question or need assistance.”

Sippy Downs parents Rachelle and Matt Hatton say sport and fitness activities take up a large chunk of their leisure time so homework with their four children is tightly scheduled.

“Homework time in our house is at 5pm for half an hour,” Rachelle says, “We are lucky I work from home so we can allocate this time – Matthew is just getting home then as well so he usually helps the big boys while I help the little ones.”

What do the teachers think?

Queensland primary school teacher Libby has been teaching for 20 years and is currently teaching Year Two. “At this age level, developing a love of reading is the focus. I would expect 10-15 mins of quality reading with a parent each night,” Libby says. “but I would have to say that there is always someone who cannot get the homework completed.

“Many kids make it up on the weekend or we do it during school with me as the supervisor.

“My parents are fantastic and I understand that some nights it just is not possible or not worth it depending on a family’s commitments, extra after school activities, or a child’s fatigue.”

As a mother of two primary students, Libby understands that family life doesn’t always run to plan. “Everyone’s wheels fall off at sometime, and sometimes a child just needs to have a night off,” she says. “One night of missing homework is not the end of the world.

“I also say it is important to set boundaries regarding homework and try to keep a simple and achievable routine! That way the kids know what they have to do and so do the parents.”

Anthony teaches science and maths to Years 8-12, in a regional Queensland school. He points out that homework is expected by parents as well as being school policy. For Years 8-10, homework generally means completing class work and for Years 11-12, revision of class work or assignment work. A teacher of 23 years’ experience, Anthony says, “I’m very easy going about homework. I believe there is more to life than having to go home and do more ‘work’ after being at work! I have school age children as well. If they do not get it done, I don’t care.”

Anthony says studies have shown that homework does not really improve one’s performance and his advice to parents about homework is “If it gets stressful, stop, do no more, and talk to their teacher the next day. If this occurs over many nights, something needs to change. Many teachers are quite flexible when you talk to them face to face in a mature way. If you go in with the ‘boxing gloves on’ it becomes messy for everybody.”

Communication is the key to de-stressing homework

If your child is having difficulty with a particular homework assignment, try substituting a practical activity or some gentle guidance through a few examples. Let the teacher know about the difficulty and the steps and time you took to help. Constant negativity over homework may discourage your child from learning. Make an appointment to talk to your child’s teacher and talk about your concerns, remembering that you are on the same team – you both want your child to be a successful learner.

Research shows that homework can:

• Develop good study habits, build character and self-discipline. 
• Provide review and practice of concepts taught at school, and consolidate learning. 
• Promote independent learning using a range of resources such as the internet and libraries. 
• Promote parental involvement which positively affects school achievement.

Arguments against homework include:

• Homework leaves little time for leisure, social relationships, extracurricular interests, sharing of household chores, general play and relaxation.
• Homework interferes with an active lifestyle, including sport, and may contribute to obesity.
• Homework causes tension in the family when tired children and equally weary parents are under pressure to complete homework.
• This pressure may be worse for single parents, for children already struggling to keep up at school, and for children with special needs.
• Homework contributes to existing inequities – students from lower socio-economic backgrounds may not complete homework because the home environment is not conducive to study, they may have extra home duties or, in the case of older students, be working part-time.

How much homework is enough?

International best practice suggests, as a rule of thumb, no more than 10 minutes of school homework per school day in Year One, increasing by up to 10 minutes a day with each year level to a maximum of two hours per day in Year 12.

Education Queensland policy suggests a lighter load:

• In the Prep Year, generally students will not be set homework.
• Years 1-3: Up to, but generally not more than, 1 hour per week.
• Years 4-5: Up to, but generally not more than, 2-3 hours per week.
• Years 6-7: Up to, but generally not more than, 3-4 hours per week.
• Years 8-9: Up to, but generally not more than, 5 hours per week.
• Years 10-12: The amount of time devoted to homework and independent study will vary according to the student’s learning needs and individual program of learning, determined through their Senior Education and Training (SET) Plan.