« Ed Week releases new report on grad rates |
Main
| More math please, says majority of adults »
June 20, 2006
School's (not) out for summer
BoardBuzz found two interesting editorials yesterday about summer "homework" for students. One, in the New York Times, argued against this growing practice, aimed at keeping students on track during summer vacation. The authors argue that the homework "overburdens our children and sends many back to school burnt out and sick of learning."
But how much is too much? A summer reading list, 10 book reports, a math packet? Again, the authors cite "one ninth grader we know was assigned a packet of materials on the Holocaust. Another must read a 656-page book on genocide, on top of three chapters of a science textbook followed by a 15-page take-home exam, prepare a 20-slide PowerPoint presentation and complete an English assignment involving three books and essays." Phew, that hardly leaves time for soccer camp, swim team, and a trip to Disneyland!
On the other hand, an editorial in USA Today contends that while many teachers "will slip a summer reading list into their student's backpacks," so that "their brains don't turn to mush," what they should really be doing is "encouraging students to practice their math skills." The author goes on to say that while educators have long lamented the summer break as time that "wreaks havoc on learning," the havoc is most concentrated in math. "That's not to say that kids don't need to work on reading over the summer ... they need active encouragement from teachers and parents to stay up on math."
No matter what your position is on summer homework, encouraging students to pick up a book while lounging by the pool or staying sharp with a few extra math problems while on a car trip to grandma's seems like a no-brainer to BoardBuzz. Now where's our copy of War and Peace?
Posted June 20, 2006 1:16 PM |
Curriculum
Trackback Pings
TrackBack URL for this entry
BoardBuzz Feed
