School Days

Trade

Trade

Well-known Member
I'm here visiting my oldest son and his family and I find out that my little six year old grandson who has just started the first grade has homework every night!

And this is after the poor little feller has already spent almost 7 hours at school! Now granted elementary school was a long time ago for me and maybe my memory is failing me, but I do not remember having homework until the 7th grade. I asked his dad, my son who is 43 and my wife who is 64 and neither of them remembered having homework that early in school either. So I'm wonder what anyone else can recall about it. It seems to me that 6-7 hours of school is enough for kids that young without expecting them to do homework to boot.
 

We didn't have homework until fourth grade, if I remember correctly, and then it wasn't much to speak of. In addition, we didn't even go to school full day in the first and second grade. Firsts went in the morning, seconds went in the afternoon.

I say let the kids be kids for a while. First grade is too early for homework!
 
jujube said:
I say let the kids be kids for a while. First grade is too early for homework!
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I agree. It's too much pressure on them when they are that young. It's a recipe for burn out IMO.
 

I remember being assigned homework when I was in 3rd grade but from what I recall the homework was nothing more than reading books. I do know that when I was in the 5th grade I began getting homework for all subjects.
 
I don't remember having homework until secondary school, and have never agreed with it, when an adults working day is over the majority do not bring more work home with them and I think it should be the same for schoolchildren, especially under 10 years
 
I didn't have homework until about the 5th grade also. I do remember when it started they really piled it on. Parents where upset about it. We also had strict requirements as to what size our assignment pads should be. Loose leaf notebooks with dividers and the list went on. My Mom didn't have a car until my Dad got home from work at 6PM. Back then the stores closed at 5PM so I never was able to get the proper supplies for a few days. I'm sure there were other kids in the same boat but I always felt like I was the only one. Mom was furious about all these requirements. She should see the list my daughter is issued for her young children each year..
 
Same here,I remember the 1st day being textbooks being handed out to take home and cover(brown grocery bags) and the supplies lists.
My Mom didn't drive either so same story as you:)
These lists today seem excessive to me,I know schools are having budget issues but every kid needs tissues,antibacterial wipes and Ziploc bags????
Can't imagine how people with a few kids do it and I don't understand why they don't send them home with the kids in June so the stuff could be purchased little at a time.
Oh well,just my opinion
 
I'm ok with homework in Kindergarten.

IMO it's not about the homework at that age it's about getting the kids into the routine and the responsibility of budgeting time, keeping track of paperwork, meeting deadlines, etc...

I'm totally opposed to the lists of school supplies that each child receives at the beginning of each school year. IMO all supplies should be provided and paid for by the school district through our school taxes. Providing the required supplies helps to level the playing field for each child in the class and helps to protect some children from the stigma of poverty and neglect.
 
Very true.
Starts the habit of being organized, keeps parents aware of what's going on,for instance, permission slips,notes on child's progress.
 
Trade said:
I'm here visiting my oldest son and his family and I find out that my little six year old grandson who has just started the first grade has homework every night!

And this is after the poor little feller has already spent almost 7 hours at school! Now granted elementary school was a long time ago for me and maybe my memory is failing me, but I do not remember having homework until the 7th grade. I asked his dad, my son who is 43 and my wife who is 64 and neither of them remembered having homework that early in school either. So I'm wonder what anyone else can recall about it. It seems to me that 6-7 hours of school is enough for kids that young without expecting them to do homework to boot.
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Same here- we didn't have homework until the 7th grade.
In the later grades of elementary school, we had time in class to do our assignments. And for that matter, we weren't even allowed to take our textbooks/workbooks/etc. home.
And I agree with you- too much pressure, too much work = burn out.
 
Aunt Bea said:
IMO it's not about the homework at that age it's about getting the kids into the routine and the responsibility of budgeting time, keeping track of paperwork, meeting deadlines, etc...
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I think it's designed to indoctrinate them into the mindset of being slaves to the corporate overlords.
 
Parents are the drivers of homework. Private and independent schools use it as a marketing tool.

Even in secondary school I didn't like setting homework unless there was a good reason. Just using up a student's time is not good enough - learning must take place or it is useless.
 
It's been a very loooong time since I was in school,but I do remember having homework even in Kindergarten. Then we just usually had some coloring to do at home. Each year we got more and more Homework. Now my youngest grandchild is just starting 2nd grade tomorrow. She had homework in 1st grade. She even had a list of books to read during the summer. She also has to bring in a project that she worked on over the summer. 3 weeks ago the school sent out a list of school supplies she needs to bring in with her tomorrow. In first grade she even had to buy an IPad. I always thought that if a child paid attention in school they shouldn't have to get loads of homework every day.
 

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