May/June 1999
Teacher Magazine, Vol. 10, Issue 08
Education
Opinion
Homework Hell
Teachers assign homework, parents enforce it, and kids do it, right? Not necessarily. Teachers assign it, of course, but few parents enforce it, and lots of kids don't do it. In fact, a majority of teachers surveyed for Playing Their Parts, a new study by Public Agenda, a public opinion research firm in New York City, cite students not doing homework as one of their most serious professional concerns--and they blame parents: Seventy-eight percent of the teachers believe parents are barely involved in their children's homework. Meanwhile, parents have their own problems: Half of those polled by Public Agenda admit to having had at least one screaming fight with their children in the last year over homework. Following are dispatches--as recorded by Public Agenda--from the front lines of the homework wars:
Education
Opinion
K Is For Kindness
| In an excerpt from her new book, former kindergarten teacher Vivian Gussin Paley reflects on spirituality in schools and the innate goodness of kids. |
Education
Opinion
The Boss Of Us
| A teacher puts a troublemaker in charge of her classroom and remembers what it was like to be on the other side of the desk. |
Education
Letter to the Editor
Letters
How easy it seems for the middle school in "Mob Squad" [April] to modify its "widespread participation" philosophy when the institution of basketball is at risk. Pity the unfortunate young lady who aspires to excel in cheerleading. She is shamefully sacrificed on the egalitarian altar.
Mob Rule?
How easy it seems for the middle school in "Mob Squad" [April] to modify its "widespread participation" philosophy when the institution of basketball is at risk. Pity the unfortunate young lady who aspires to excel in cheerleading. She is shamefully sacrificed on the egalitarian altar.
Education
Opinion
Hail, Socrates
Many teachers assume that they are the most important part of the learning process. They dispense knowledge, and students receive it. Take my high school American literature teacher, Mr. Prosser. He began most lessons by stating the objective--"By the end of this class, you will be able to identify the characteristics of the 'code hero' in Hemingway"--and then, anticipating the so-what looks on our faces, explained the relevance of this knowledge: "Hemingway's concept of the 'code hero' will give you standards by which to judge your own ideas of heroism."
Education
Opinion
Finger Painting
| Children know instinctively that the artistic process requires fearlessness and enthusiasm. |