Posted on 01/20/2005 5:10:29 AM PST by Obadiah
I agree with you completely. In addition, I have noticed an increasing trend over the past few years of teachers assigning homework over material not covered in class on the assumption (and presumption) that mom and dad can pick up the slack and teach what the teacher just didn't get around to covering. I had three kids in AP/Honors programs that had summer assignments that did nothing but create more problems than they solved. The state has them 9 months of the year, the other 3 are up to me.
You'd be surprised (maybe not) at the number of kids who get to college and have NO clue how to do homework or take tests.
As a former teacher, I must partly disagree. The teacher is passionately trying to push the kids to better themselves...demanding such from kids increases a teacher's workload as well and unconscientious teachers do not do that.
That said, the teacher went a bit too far in a personal crusade for academic competence in the 3Rs.
But that father--what a piece of (non-school) work....
I think that's changing though.
"filed a lawsuit against the boy's math teacher"
But you can bet the kid's a smart-mouth, and probably a good reader (typical of the math-averse) who will be a first-string pick for the ACLU collegiate internship of his choice....
I can sympathize with the kid.. I was working a fulltime job during the summer when I was 17 (Actually every summer since I was 15 :P) ..
Summers are when kids should be working and making money for the rest of the year.
"I hope this parent prevails, for no other reason except to win a much needed victory over the tyranny of the state"
...profound Libertarian point! However, it is one thing for the parent to prevail (independence or rebellion against tyranny); It is another thing for the independent parent or student to become anarchastic for anarchy and sloth's sake. This calls into issue the stated community standards for education--vs. default actual community standards....scary disparity!
How did I ever manage to pass AP tests without doing summer homework? And how did my daughter? :)
In fact, here's something interesting: my daughter passed the AP Euro History test last spring with one *semester* of independent self study. (On top of seven periods at H.S.) She began studying for it in January. Summer homework is simply unnecessary, IMHO.
I object to homework during vacations because vacations are for relaxing. When husband takes a vacation from work, I expect him to leave his job at work with exceptions for emergency situations.
I do not recall ever having college work assigned prior to a semester. Why should grade school teachers assign work prior to any instruction taking place?
"fast forward a few years to the kid looking for a job: the routine background check that is now part of just about every hire in the nation turns up this article along with the lawsuit and the prospective employer knows there is a slacker standing before them."
Maybe the employer will instead realize he has a prospective employee who values using time wisely, learning from broadening experiences (i.e., being a camp counseler), and who thinks "outside the box" of conformity, which is very desirable in some professions (less so in others!).
"In addition, I have noticed an increasing trend over the past few years of teachers assigning homework over material not covered in class on the assumption (and presumption) that mom and dad can pick up the slack and teach what the teacher just didn't get around to covering."
Yep. That was one of the things that started me thinking about homeschooling. I figured if I was to be the "teacher" anyway, at least I could do it without having to dance to the tune being called by the teacher.
Typo correction: "counseler" in my note should be "counselor."
Back when I was in highschool, I played baseball, was involved in theatre, and took part in many, many activities beyond school. And that was all in addition to the homework.
Summer was a nice time for a reprieve from all that. That being said, my schools always assigned some sort of summer reading assignment. It took me all of about three hours during my summer to complete.
I agree that the kid and his parents should get over it. That doesn't mean that all highschoolers who feel overburdened with school and extracurricular activities are simply hanging out smoking dope 24/7. I sure as hell didn't have the time to do that.
It's more likely that the kid is just a pretty normal, average person who whined a little about having a summer assignment. The parents are probably the loonies in this equation.
"Have high schools abandoned a varied curriculum with placement into class sections done by aptitude?"
What does that have to do with summer homework? I think the point is that the school system needs to -- and can -- accomplish its work during the time its given. As I wrote in another note, I highly question the necessity of a committed student to working over the summer. My daughter, by applying herself, studied for and passed the AP European History test independently in under a semester. I would suggest that summer work for an AP class is simply "busy work" or a lazy, possibly controlling teacher. The summer is the time for *me* to give her reading lists, for her to develop new interests, to work, etc. Not doing school homework during the summer does not equate with laziness, lack of aptitude, lack of organizational ability or a lack of interest. JMHO.
The father is doing his job as a parent. Teachers want 'involved' parents but they only seem to want them involved when they toe the company line.
Boy, I'm kind of flubbered:). I don't give any students homework over breaks (and not during the summer). I don't know hardly any teacher who does. However, we do expect that the kids and parents will at least read and practice arithmetic. There are all sorts of comments here that I agree with.
The second the mortician presents his bill.
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