I had heard an interview a while ago by Alfie Kohn and was intrigued by what he had to say so I decided to check out his book.? It took a while for our local library to have it for me (it is popular apparently!).
The book is about how our country has an educational policy built with certain premised that include:
- Homework will improve academic success at all grade levels
- Homework will improve non-academic elements such as work ethic, focus, ability to finish at all age levels
- More homework is always better than less
- Even though homework is painful, it should still be done
- Our country is losing a contest in education against other countries and more homework, at all grade levels will help
- Our children are investments in the future (as if they are commodities rather than children)
- Tougher standards are more important than improving learning standards (i.e. make the work in the classroom and the homework harder and harder rather than focus on how children learn so that they can learn more)
There are probably more elements that are covered in the book but I think these were some of the key elements.
He spends 3/4ths of the book debunking every one of these policies and all the research that may be behind them (if there is any because many of the policies don’t have any research to back them and are just made up out of thin air).? The elements on the research are interesting at time but also confusing at time.? I imagine that there is no other way it could be done because there is just so much material to cover.? Unfortunately though, it may not be useful in the end because ultimately you need data to use to make changes (see next section).
The last 1/4th of the book is trying to discuss what a parent might do in order to change things.? This is very common sense kind of stuff such as don’t push extreme and suggest experiments with evaluation elements to see progress for teacher, student and parent.?
My only disappointment in the book is that the data on research was not presented in a more organized fashion so that it would be useful in presenting a case to local schools, school boards, and even teachers.? As it is, you can only use the author as the authority which may not be useful as he clearly has an agenda and bias (much like the researchers he lambasts!).
Even with the criticism above, I still found his arguments sound and reasonable.? Especially as a parent of kids just beginning the educational struggle, I have some angst about what to do when it comes to nearly every aspect of their education.? I watch the homework and find little value in it for my children.? I would love the resources of the teachers who put the homework together be spent more on the education during the class rather than this nearly useless homework.?
One aside, so far we have been fortunate in that about half of the homework has been free form reading which is useful for the child and is even called out as such by the author.? It changes as they get older though.