Author Topic: 5th grader's crusade against homework. (Read 2951 times)

ToxicAdam · « **on:** February 24, 2009, 08:40:23 AM »

http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2009/02/20/assignment_america/main4816823.shtml

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Even though he's just a fifth grader, 11-year-old Ben Berrafato is challenging - seriously challenging - one of this country's most enduring and widely held beliefs: The belief that kids need homework.

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Part of his essay reads: "Homework is assigned to students like me without our permission. Thus, homework is slavery. Slavery was abolished with the passing of the 13th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution. So every school in America has been illegally run for the past 143 years."

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As he pointed out, there is almost zero connection, correlation between homework and any type of achievement in elementary school," Kalish said.

In researching his essay, Kalish says Ben really did his homework, so to speak, citing the very latest studies.

"Kids who do 60 to 90 minutes of homework in middle school and over two hours in high school actually do worse than average in standardized tests," his essay read.

How far is Ben going to take it?

"As far as I can," he said. "As far as possible."

What say you, Evilbore?

Reb · « **Reply #1 on:** February 24, 2009, 08:58:04 AM »

Smart people don't need homework, dumb people drop out, the people in between need the homework.

That's my reason for thinking the study is right, but the boy is wrong, or in his case he's probably right, but there are kids that need it.

Reb · « **Reply #2 on:** February 24, 2009, 09:02:57 AM »

Discipline is about committing to something, not mindlessly following.

Tieno · « **Reply #3 on:** February 24, 2009, 09:03:18 AM »

Sounds like the kid just discovered he has an opinion.

I'm for homework though, so at least some kids get used to a little working and studying, how little it may be.

I never did 60-120minutes of homework though...probably the most I ever did in highschool was that and it didn't happen very often. Kids need to have time to do other things too, there's no joy in working 2 hours every day after school.

fistfulofmetal · « **Reply #4 on:** February 24, 2009, 09:04:50 AM »

i've been out of school for about 6 months now so i hope all those little fucking shits get hours of homework every night.

Diunx · « **Reply #5 on:** February 24, 2009, 09:26:04 AM »

If it wasn't for homework the whole grade would depend on exams, fuck that.

Kestastrophe · « **Reply #6 on:** February 24, 2009, 09:28:37 AM »

I didn't learn anything in high school or anything prior, it seems, so I would have to agree with the kid. Public school in america is much more about learning social norms. The only thing I can recall is the Dramm-Shopp (sp?) act

ToxicAdam · « **Reply #7 on:** February 24, 2009, 10:00:46 AM »

I wish school were only tests only. I would have been an A student .. I never did homework, so I mostly pulled C's and B's.

It seems like one of the concepts of homework was to get parents involved in their kid's work. But the truth is that never happens.

Homework for math makes sense. It's really the only way you can learn the concepts is through repetition. Everything else seems like make work.

Eric P · « **Reply #8 on:** February 24, 2009, 10:02:59 AM »

hated homework.

found it to largely be a waste of my time.

so i would spend most of my time reading.

tehjaybo · « **Reply #9 on:** February 24, 2009, 10:09:28 AM »

The reason I failed classes was because I didn't do homework. I think it's pointless, personally. I agree with GM though that it should be reserved for those that don't test well and need extra credit work. However, I don't think it should be held against you if you don't need it.

I'd have at least a two-year degree now instead of being a college dropout if it were not for homework.

BlueTsunami · « **Reply #10 on:** February 24, 2009, 10:12:38 AM »

Quote from: ToxicAdam on February 24, 2009, 10:00:46 AM

It seems like one of the concepts of homework was to get parents involved in their kid's work. But the truth is that never happens.

Pretty much and when the parents don't show interest, the kid loses it too. Vicious cycle.

Tauntaun · « **Reply #11 on:** February 24, 2009, 10:16:02 AM »

Take that black people!

Us white folk been slaves too!

Great Rumbler · « **Reply #12 on:** February 24, 2009, 10:18:49 AM »

Over 2/3 of the homework I did in highschool didn't help me learn a thing. It doesn't help that most highschool level homework is basically "Flip through the chapter and fill in some blanks". There's no discussion of material, there's no thought involved, it's just mindless. And therefore pointless.

demi · « **Reply #13 on:** February 24, 2009, 10:21:56 AM »

You dont need homework to pass school, I got by with my C average just fine

drew · « **Reply #14 on:** February 24, 2009, 10:31:49 AM »

Quote from: Rebiak on February 24, 2009, 08:58:04 AM

dumb people drop out

you are of course not talking about people like myself who realize if they dont take a time out to think about their life and which direction it should be heading theyll end up blowing their brains out with a revolver at the ripe age of 30

spoiler (click to show/hide)

fuck art school

[close]

Eric P · « **Reply #15 on:** February 24, 2009, 10:36:33 AM »

close, but it's fuck art school girls

[youtube=560,345]cFnupeF6uvU[/youtube]

drew · « **Reply #16 on:** February 24, 2009, 10:43:18 AM »

LITERALLY AMIRITE WINK NUDGE ETC ETC

Bloodwake · « **Reply #17 on:** February 24, 2009, 11:40:13 AM »

Homework makes school a 14 hour a day unpaid job in college. So fuck it.

I do better in classes with assigned readings and exams than in classes with homework. I'm in agreement with just using it as extra credit work.

brawndolicious · « **Reply #18 on:** February 24, 2009, 05:39:24 PM »

Homework is a better way to test your understanding than exams. Also, it makes you more organized/disciplined especially with large group projects.

xnikki118x · « **Reply #19 on:** February 24, 2009, 09:23:39 PM »

I did my homework all the time in high school and before. It was once I got to college that I stopped caring as much.

Until you graduate from high school, you do your homework. It's not slavery, wtf kid? Hahaha logic fail.

Dickie Dee · « **Reply #20 on:** February 24, 2009, 09:49:38 PM »

I think this kid is gonna go really far in life (seriously).

However, the changes he wants will probably hurt his average classmate.

TakingBackSunday · « **Reply #21 on:** February 24, 2009, 10:11:15 PM »

Quote from: Eric P on February 24, 2009, 10:02:59 AM

hated homework.

found it to largely be a waste of my time.

so i would spend most of my time reading.

pretty much

Positive Touch · « **Reply #22 on:** February 24, 2009, 10:22:36 PM »

Quote from: Eric P on February 24, 2009, 10:02:59 AM

hated homework.

found it to largely be a waste of my time.

so i would spend most of my time playing dumb jrpgs.

pretty much

WrikaWrek · « **Reply #23 on:** February 24, 2009, 10:31:17 PM »

Homework is needed. It's how some kids become great students, and how some of those great students becomes whatever important intelligent and cult figure of society.

The rest won't do homework, but they won't become great students.

Dickie Dee · « **Reply #24 on:** February 24, 2009, 10:46:43 PM »

I think anyone worth anything will give homework the bare minimum of attention but find something or other awesomeness that will completely captivate them for the moment.

Madrun Badrun · « **Reply #25 on:** February 24, 2009, 10:48:37 PM »

I didn't do homework till uni. I wish I would have gotten in the habit sooner.

thekavorka · « **Reply #26 on:** February 24, 2009, 11:18:13 PM »

in principle, i'm against homework. all grades should just be based on exams or weekly quizes or something.

but i know 50% of people would probably fail, so homework is a necessary evil to get people on their asses to learn the material

Mandark · « **Reply #27 on:** February 25, 2009, 12:44:38 AM »

I got very worked up over the idea of homework as a teenager. If I know the material and can show it why should I have to do this drudge work that only gets checked for completion anyway yadda yadda. Acing tests without doing the work became kind of a point of pride, which seems to be common among honors underachievers.

But 90%+ of the time getting students to learn will require them engaging the material outside of class, whether that means repeating types of calculations or reading the novel they've been assigned. If homework doesn't factor in to the final grade, I can't imagine how teachers get the students to actually do the reading.

Besides all that, homework should impart some semblance of responsibility and organizational skills, which aren't to be sniffed at.

The Fake Shemp · « **Reply #28 on:** February 25, 2009, 12:47:16 AM »

You would like a tophat with your monocle, Mandark?

Olivia Wilde Homo · « **Reply #29 on:** February 25, 2009, 06:48:03 AM »

I'd only work on homework the period before it was due. Turned in half assed work and got As anyway.

In general though, I think homework is a net positive. In general, I'm just not trusting of Americans in terms of education.

bachikarn · « **Reply #30 on:** February 25, 2009, 08:57:26 AM »

This reminds me of a Pete and Pete episode.

Yeti · « **Reply #31 on:** February 25, 2009, 07:33:56 PM »

Quote from: Kosma on February 25, 2009, 07:14:44 AM

You get graded for homework in the US?

It depends on the teacher. Pretty much all of mine only graded for completion.

Madrun Badrun · « **Reply #32 on:** February 25, 2009, 07:41:10 PM »

Quote from: Mandark on February 25, 2009, 12:44:38 AM

I got very worked up over the idea of homework as a teenager. If I know the material and can show it why should I have to do this drudge work that only gets checked for completion anyway yadda yadda. Acing tests without doing the work became kind of a point of pride, which seems to be common among honors underachievers.

But 90%+ of the time getting students to learn will require them engaging the material outside of class, whether that means repeating types of calculations or reading the novel they've been assigned. If homework doesn't factor in to the final grade, I can't imagine how teachers get the students to actually do the reading.

Besides all that, homework should impart some semblance of responsibility and organizational skills, which aren't to be sniffed at.

well said.

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Author Topic: 5th grader's crusade against homework. (Read 2951 times)