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No to homework policy
August 29, 2019

By
Itchie G. Cabayan

People's Tonight

Among the most burning issues these days is the ‘no homework policy’ being
pushed by some lawmakers.

Students, teachers, parents and even politicians have joined the bandwagon and issued
their take on the issue and yet, it seems that no one has taken the initiative to conduct a
public hearing that will explore all angles, weigh the pros and cons and then formulate
ways so that those for and against and all stakeholders may meet halfway.

Of all the pronouncements made, what caught the ire of many is the proposed House
Bill filed by Quezon City Representative Alfred Vargas. His proposed HB 3883 limits the
giving of homeworks to students to weekends, citing that ‘a few landmark studies have
suggested that homework does impact upon family life, in some cases in a negative
way… yet in general, it is positively associated with academic achievement.

This is fine, except that Vargas’ proposed bill went a bit far as it reportedly contains a
provision where he wants teachers to be fined P50,000 or face imprisonment for one to
two years if she or he will violate the no-homework policy.

In effect, he wants to ‘criminalize’ the giving of assignments on the part of teachers,

Recently, I have watched lawmakers, students, faculty members and even psychiatrists
being interviewed left and right regarding their stand on the controversial issue.
Having been a product of classic education myself, I strongly believe that homework or
assignments must really be part and parcel of a student’s life.

During those days when I was a student, there were no cellphones or computers yet, so
that we relied on books, physical research and frequented libraries. The ‘copy paste’
system now being enjoyed by students was unheard of.

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The way technology has made things a trillion times easier for students these days
makes it difficult to understand why and how they could afford to complain about
homeworks, if they involve research only.

I guess the problem is education on the part of teachers who give ‘impossible’
assignments, or the kind that is beyond the capability of their students. They should be
able to assess if the homework or projects they assign would not be possible without
the help of parents.

The good education secretary, Leonor Briones, is correct in saying that most
homeworks are done either by the parents or nannies. So, there must be an adjustment
on the part of the teachers to give homework that can well be done by their students.

Homework hones a student’s ability to be creative, organizational, responsible and

Some say students must be spared from homework so they can get into sports or get to
have more bonding time with their families.

Bet your bottom dollar. Most, if not all these students will just find more time to stay
glued to their gadgets and waste away precious time on social media. Time which
would have been well spent on learning.

In other countries, homework is guided by what is called, ‘the ten-minute rule’ which
recommends a daily maximum of 10 minutes of homework per grade level’. An online
article said that ‘the most comprehensive research on homework to date comes from a
2006 meta-analysis by Duke University psychology professor Harris Cooper, who found
evidence of a positive correlation between homework and student achievement,
meaning students who did homework performed better in school.’
In the same article, Cooper was quoted thus: ‘A good way to think about homework is
the way you think about medications or dietary supplements. If you take too little, they’ll
have no effect. If you take too much, they can kill you. If you take the right amount,
you’ll get better.’

***

Beauty tip— Choose the right polish. Most brands will only last about a year before
they become thicker and start to clump. Polish that’s too thick will go on thicker and
won’t dry well, leading to more chance of smearing or smudging. Most nail polish
formulas are similar and will last almost a week. (Source: Dr Rosary May Canay-Diaz
of Californian Bloom Aesthetic Institute and Medical Spa /4108424/4669596/
09178038240/ 025053987 ***
Jokjok (from Josephine Miranda of Quezon City)— Sa isang classroom…Teacher:
Class, what is ETHICS?/ Pedro: Mam, etiks are smaller than ducks.
Hehehehhh…/Teacher: Okay, that duck will lay an egg in your card. Hehehehh din!

***

Direct Hit entertains comments, suggestions or complaints. Please have them emailed
to [email protected] or text 0927-7169778

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Thinking About a No Homework Policy? Here's What

Homework or No Homework?

Taking a stand to implement a no homework policy should be based on the needs of the students
and not the opinions of fellow teachers or parents. However, teachers who want to put an end to
homework assignments often have to deal with the strong opinions of administration, teachers
and parents.
If you're thinking about implementing a no homework policy for your students, it's a good idea to
do a little research into the homework debate to decide if you're making the right choice. And if
you choose to do away with homework, you'll need an arsenal of facts to make your case. Here's
what you need to know ahead of time.

Historical Facts

The idea of homework has been debated since it was first conceived in the early 20th century. In
the 1930s the idea of 'exercising a child's brain like a muscle' was quite popular. Homework was
just another form of exercise outside of the classroom. In the 1940s, educators began to question
if homework interfered with home life. After all, many students had to work on the family farm
or in the family business. Family life and activities outside of school were of great importance,
and homework began to fall out of favor.
The 1950s saw the world outside of the U.S. charging ahead in education and technology. In
order to stay ahead of countries such as Russia, education in the U.S. was revamped. Homework
became a means of stepping up the game and furthering the educational success of children.
The homework debate reversed again in the 1960s out of fear that it caused extreme amounts of
stress on children and parents. However, the 1970s and 1980s again saw a change in public
opinion when the Japanese began to surge forward economically. This brought back the fear that
the U.S. was falling behind in education. Homework was once again accepted as a means of
strengthening the educational system and creating smarter and brighter minds.
The Real Reason Behind the Debate

After taking a look into homework history, it should be no surprise that the debate continues into
the 21st century. What is surprising is that, according to Duke University psychology and
neuroscience professor Harris Cooper, the percentage of people for or against homework--and
the actual amount of homework given--has hardly changed over the centuries. So why is
homework still a hot topic? Simple: Homework is merely the center battle in the growing war for
better education.
Homework is just a small part of the educational system, and it has become a weapon to drive
teachers apart further apart as well as parents and administrators. It's a 'lose-lose' battle for
everyone involved. Teachers who work hard to maintain homework are criticized, as are those in
favor of the no homework policy, and the two are often pitted against each other. And let's not
forget the students--they are the ones caught in the crossfire.

Homework As It Was Meant to Be

Homework was created as a way to encourage educational growth and discipline. Studies
show that homework has indeed accomplished this over the years. In fact, it has excelled at its
goal by aiding in the improvement of study habits, attitudes toward school, independent
problem-solving skills and more.
Historically, homework has been guided by what some refer to as the 10-minute rule. Although
not set in stone, this rule has gained support from the National Parent Teacher Association and
the National Education Association. The guideline recommends a 'daily maximum of 10 minutes
of homework per grade level'. For instance, third graders should be assigned 30 minutes of
homework each night, while high school seniors should have about two hours of homework each
night.
Keep It About the Students

Although studies show the success of homework, those same studies also reveal that, at times,
homework causes unnecessary stress and tiredness in children and in parents. Homework is
obviously not perfect and is need of adjustments, but those adjustments are not black and white.
Throwing our homework across the entire education system isn't the solution. Too much research
has shown the positive effects of homework. But overuse of homework cannot be ignored either.
The solution to the homework debate should be centered on the students. What works for one
classroom does not always work for another. The teacher decides the amount of homework to be
given and should do so based on the classroom's and school's needs. After all, all schools are
different because no one school serves the same exact type of student. In any given class, a no
homework policy may be adapted one year and put on the shelf the next. It's about what the
students need.
No matter what decision you make regarding a no homework policy, make it in the best interest
of your students and not in the best interest of fellow educators or other outside influences.

By Amanda Johnson

December 2016