As a professional educator and the parent of three grown children, I take issue with Euna Kwon’s “”Suburban Mom”” column regarding homework in the October 20 issue of West Windsor-Plainsboro News.##M:[more]## While I completely agree that children should not be given too much homework and need time to just play, I still believe in the value and necessity and the importance of homework.
Doing assignments at home serves several purposes and it allows students to practice what they were supposed to learn in the classroom; if they still cannot understand afterwards, they can tell their teacher so that he or she can review; it gives the parents information about what their children are learning and affords them the opportunity to help and be involved in the educational process, as they should. I do not believe in busywork or overload, but I do believe reinforcement is extremely important. I think this is proven in cultures where children spend their time outside of school by studying. They are the ones who excel academically.
I believe that problem you are addressing is caused by students being involved in too many extracurricular activities. They are stressed to excel in all that they do, and, frankly, they are doing too much. School and free playing time, perhaps one outside activity or maybe two, and possibly religious instruction are more than enough for children to do. I think you are trying to eliminate the wrong thing from children’s schedules. We need to go back to the basics.
Angela Dilouie
Red Oak Drive, Plainsboro
P.S.: I recently read the following item in “”Woman’s World”” magazine and found it an interesting contrast:
“”Little League, music lessons, Scouts, and dance recitals. Is it too stressful? No, say experts at Yale University, who found in a new study that children and teens involved in organized activities for about a week have better academic performance, more functional family relationships, and less substance abuse.””
