The schools aren't afraid to assign the children homework - beginning in kindergarten. Assignments include reading, handwriting, arithmetic and memorization of Bible verses. Parent involvement is required; in fact, parents are required to sign off on their children's assignments.
The results are impressive. Our third grader can already read better than many high school graduates. The two first graders can read and do addition and subtraction better than many grade school graduates.
The teachers are kind, loving and adored by students and parents alike. The school has a long waiting list of applicants.
In other words, as my old pappy used to say, "a little hard work never hurt anyone ... and might actually do you some good."
Parents signing off on the homework does not mean they were actually involved with the homework. It means they signed it. Homework for kids your grandkids’ age makes sense in moderation because they are essentially memorizing a lot of things. Handwriting is a physical skill that requires practice but when I look at all of the adults whose handwriting is borderline illegible, most of whom had penmanship homework, I wonder how successful the homework assignments actually were long-term.
I’m guessing the school environment and what they learn in school has much more to do with where they are educationally than going home and doing homework.
Spot on.
We have a lot of friends who do exactly that kind of training.
We decided to homeschool, no TV, no computer games, no cellphones. Wife has two degrees and plays five instruments, so our children are basically in school 16 hours a day.
I just moved to Sierra Leone and all five went with us, of their own free will, two being adults. Three of them immediately got jobs in the US Embassy and are earning their college money.
The children must really hate us for the hard work we put them through as kids. (sarc)