GREENSBORO, N.C. — It's time for my "2 Cents."
Do children have too much homework?
The question sounds as simple as 1+1, but the answer is more like the unsolved Collatz Conjecture -- a problem stumping even the smartest minds for decades.
Fifteen years have passed since I graduated high school, and I still recall the stress of a seven-hour school day, followed by after-school clubs and sports and then hours of homework and studying...making midnight a familiar foe.
I worry about my pre-kindergartner, who currently loves school but craves and needs both evening playtime and downtime with family. Will future homework dull the allure of learning?
The National Education Association recommends the 10-minutes-per-grade-level rule for homework, but a 2015 study found primary school children receive three times that recommended amount.
I asked a family member with 40 years of NC public school teaching experience for her take on homework. She said for younger students, small snippets of nightly homework help reading skills become automatic and lay a firm foundation for study skills in later years.
Ultimately, she concluded students need homework -- just not too much. I agree.
Adding to our children's load must not subtract the value of rest. While homework is important, simple being home...is largely invaluable.
Sincerely,
Meghann
