Be honest: on a typical workday, how much work do you take home to complete in the evening? One to three hours? Every night? This is what we expect our children to do. They spend between six and seven hours every day in school, and many of them then head to after-school programs or athletics, arriving home in time to eat dinner and hopefully spend time with their families. And then they have to go to their rooms and do homework.
This fall, an elementary school in Quebec, Canada, made headlines for banning homework for all students in grades 1 – 6 (although teachers will still be able to assign reading and studying). In 2012, French president Francoise Hollande proposed eliminating homework for all primary and middle schoolers in France, and a German high school began a two-year ban on homework for its students. In an online poll titled Should Schools Ban Homework, 85% of all respondents say yes. Those who want homework banned cite long hours in school, lack of downtime and time to play outside, and high stress levels as reasons to eliminate it. Proponents of homework believe that homework provides practice, an opportunity to show responsibility, and gives teachers another measure of performance.
Is there any research on the effectiveness of homework? Believe it or not, there is plenty. Alfie Kohn, a leading expert on education and parenting, even wrote a book in 2006 outlining his findings and they may surprise you. First, there is no evidence that assigning homework to elementary school students has any positive effect on their achievement. This is true despite many years of research studies hoping to prove at least a correlation between the two. Now, what about high school students; surely, given their higher-level math and literature courses, teenagers benefit from homework? The most recent study, published in 2012, showed that there was in fact a positive correlation between math and science homework and standardized test scores (students who did homework scored 2 – 3 points higher than their peers who did not do homework), but no correlation whatsoever between amount of time spent on homework and grades earned. If you’re still not convinced, you should know that there is little to no homework assigned in Finland, where high school graduation rates far exceed the United States’, test scores are some of the best in the world, and two-thirds of the high school graduates go on to college.
Meanwhile, there is also plenty of research on the positive effect of play on student achievement and the need for children to spend unstructured time outdoors for their healthy development. Last year, in the Atlantic Monthly article “Teach Kids to Daydream,” Jessica Lahey explained the benefits of mental downtime. If we know that creativity and inspiration often strike when the brain is “idle”, and we also know that our brains need downtime in order to work efficiently, why don’t we ensure that our children have unstructured blocks of time throughout the day (and especially at the end of the day) so that they can synthesize what they’ve learned? (By the way, Finnish elementary school students have approximately 75 minutes of recess per day.)
The answer to this question is the same reason why so many education reforms fail: it’s hard to change. It’s so much easier to do things the way we’ve always done them. Adults often argue that they did homework and they turned out fine. The idea that children and teenagers might not have something to do (or somewhere to go) every minute of the day actually scares some people. They think their children might get into trouble: after all, there’s that old adage about the devil finding work for idle hands. However, in the past few years, there has been more of a call to debunk the myth that busyness is best for business (or for school). Many researchers (and CEOs of companies like Google) have found that taking breaks and relaxing actually promotes productivity and innovation. A 2012 article in the New Statesman asserts that excessive hard work is counterproductive.
Change can be difficult, but in a world where we increasingly rely upon data, it is time to look at the data we have and make some tough choices. If we want schools and teachers to be held accountable, then our system should be held accountable, too. The knowledge we have gained from research should be incorporated into our school systems to improve education for all students, regardless of their backgrounds or their home states. Think about all the things our children might do if they weren’t wasting time on homework every day: like 17-year-old Ann Makosinski who had time to tinker, they might invent something capable of improving the lives of everyone on the planet. They might just be the next groundbreaking composer on the music scene. Or they might just have time to write poetry, play a sport they love, follow their own interests, or read books for fun, all of which are worthwhile pursuits.
Lauri Lee is an independent consultant with over twenty years of experience in both public and private education, with learners from infants through adults. With experience in marketing, communications, social media, development, admissions, and technology, she is able to synthesize many of the issues facing our educational system today. She lives in Providence with her family, a big dog, and a small cat. She encourages you to connect with her on Twitter@fridovichlee or to contact her directly at [email protected].
Related Slideshow: Top High Schools in Rhode Island 2014
Claim to Fame: School principal Scott Sutherland was named Rhode Island Principal of the Year in 2014 by the Rhode Island Association of School Principals.
Claim to Fame: A structure based on the Diploma Plus Model fosters positive relationships between parents, students, teachers, and administrators and creates powerful learning experiences that will motivate students to grow and succeed.
Claim to Fame: Famous alumni include Peter Kilmartin (Rhode Island state representative and current attorney general), Kevin Lima (Disney animator and film director of the films A Goofy Movie, Tarzan, 102 Dalmatians, Eloise at the Plaza, Eloise at Christmastime, and Enchanted), and Abraham Nathanson (developer of the game Bananagrams).
Claim to Fame: Times 2 Academy constantly exposes its students to guest speakers, internship opportunities, college fairs and job shadowing opportunities to encourage their students to embrace their futures.
Claim to Fame: Famous alumni include David Macaulay (author and Caldecott Medal-winning illustrator), Aaron Fricke (gay rights activist), Johnny Goryl (MLB player for Chicago Cubs, Minnesota Twins), Jon LaRose (MLB player for Boston Red Sox), Daniel Stewart (first openly gay elected mayor in New York State history-Mayor of Plattsburgh, New York), Linda Nochlin (leading abstract expressionist artist), Peter and Bobby John Farrelly (film directors, producers, authors), Suzanne Martin (Emmy-award winning television producer), and Annette Nazareth (a Commissioner of the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission).
Claim to Fame: Famous alumni include Jamie Silva (Indianapolis Colts free safety), Claudia Jordan (model and reality TV star), T.J. Del Santo (Meterologist at WPRI-TV), Brent Martineau (Sportscaster), David Franklin (Scientist/Entrepreneur), Kim Schifino (Musician in Matt and Kim), Jennifer Lee (co-writer of Disney’s Wreck It Ralph).
Claim to Fame: Central Fall’s Chess Team has experienced incredible success and finished in the top 10 at a national tournament that had over 5,000 competitors, as well as receiving funding from star powerhouses such as Alec Baldwin’s Foundation.
Jacqueline M. Walsh School for the Performing and Visual Arts
2013 Rank: #23
Enrollment: 167
Claim to Fame: The schools shares prestigious artistic patnerships with RISD, Sandra-Feinstein Gamm Theatre, Fusionworks Dance Company, Athletics, Pawtucket Boys and Girls Club, Rhode Island Philharmonic Music School, and Aurea.
Claim to Fame: Famous athletic alumni include Tom Mellow (played in the NHL, won a silver medal at the 1972 Olympics), Vinny Pazienza (former World Champion professional boxer), Mike Stenhouse (played in the MLB for the Expos and Boston Red Sox), Curt Bennett (an All-Star NHL player), Joe Cavanagh (Captained Harvard University’s hockey and tennis teams), Ray Jamieson (Oakland Raider’s fullback), Greg Oden (New England Champion Springboard Diver).
Claim to Fame: The school offers a Entrepreneur 360 Center for Innovation and Entrepreneurship is a 60-hour program for students supported by NFTE. Students learn about the concepts and the skills necessary to create a business, sharpen their work ethic and help grow their confidence.
Claim to Fame: Famous alumni include Mark van Eeghen (former NFL Pro Bowl running back and the only person ever from Cranston West to have their number retired in any sport), Anthony Meo (baseball player), Jeff Diehl (baseball player), Tom Denucci (actor), Amber van Eeghen (former cheerleader for the New England Patriots).
Claim to Fame: The school sports a School Improvement Team that brings staff, students, community members, and parents together once a month to have their voices heard concerning how the school can be tailored for success.
Claim to Fame: Famous alumni include James Woods (Emmy-award winning actor), Chris Terreri (College All-American, Olympian, and two time Stanley Cup winning NHL goalie), Patrick Sheehan (PGA professional golfer), Dan Wheeler (Major League Baseball pitcher).
William M. Davies Career and Technical High School
2013 Rank: #29
Enrollment: 833
Mascot: Patriots
Claim to Fame: Davies ensures that Parents are heavily involved in the curriculum through the Parent Involvement Policy, which is a program supporting the development, implementation, and regular evaluation that includes parents in all grade levels.
Claim to Fame: The school is heated entirely by recycled wood chips in order to preserve the environment. The school also sports an Energy Lab that enables students to develop career pathways in stem agriculture. Their colors are green, and so is their mindset.
Claim to Fame: Famous alumni include Bill Almon (baseball player) and Damian Constantino (baseball player, holds NCAA record holder with hits in 60 consecutive games).
Claim to Fame: Famous alumni include John Orlando Pastore (Former Governor of Rhode Island, US Senator), S. J. Perelman (American Humorist) Bruce Sundlun (Former Governor of RI), Rudolph Fisher (pioneering Black radiologist and writer of the Harlem Renaissance), Irving R. Levine (Former NBC News Economics Correspondent), Frank Licht (Former Governor of RI), George Macready (American actor), A.O. Scott (Chief New York Times Movie Critic), Stanley Fish (Literary theorist and legal scholar), Michael Kang (Filmmaker), C. M. Eddy, Jr. (Renowned Author), Lauren Corrao (Comedy Central executive; helped develop That '70s Show and Mad TV for Fox),William A. Barnett (Economist), Robin Green (Emmy and Golden Globe Award-winning television producer for The Sopranos and Northern Exposure, among others), S. Hastings Richardson (Author) Alexander Knight (Poet), Angel Taveras (First Latino Mayor of Providence).
Claim to Fame: Janice Anderson (Assistant Production Manager of Cirque de Soleil), Tom Cavanagh (Forward, Worcester Sharks), Sara DeCosta (Goalie, 1998 and 2002 U.S. Women’s Olympic Hockey Team),Tony Petrarca (Chief Meteorologist, WPRI-TV), Brian Shanley (President of Providence College), David Petrarca (Director whose work has included Big Love, True Blood, and Hung for HBO; over 40 world premieres including Marvin’s Room on Broadway and West End, Fuddy Meers in NYC, and A Year With Frog and Toad on Broadway).
Claim to Fame: Students have the opportunity to bask in the spotlight in the Husky News Network, a student news organization where students can serve as anchors, camera men, and content writers.
Claim to Fame: Famous alums including Bebe Buell (model, singer, mother of actress Liv Tyler), The Cowsills (family singing act that was the inspiration for TV’s The Partridge Family), Tanya Donelly (co-founder and guitarist of the band Throwing Muses), Joanna Going (actress) Paul Gordon (keyboardist and guitarist for the B-52’s and the Goo Goo Dolls), Kristin Hersh (co-founder of Throwing Muses), P.H. Horgan III (PGA Tour player), Van Johnson (actor), John Mellekas (professional football player), David Narcizo (drummer for the band Throwing Muses), M. Teresa Paiva-Weed (President of the Rhode Island Senate), Jerry Sullivan (sports columnist at The Buffalo News), Noah Jewell (Olympic gymnast).
Claim to Fame: Students have the opportunity to work in The Confucius Classroom, a public educational institute established in collaboration with the Confucius Institute at Bryant University under the sponsorship of Hanban. The classroom is dedicated to developing globally competent students through an understanding Chinese culture, language, and economic trends.
Claim to Fame: Middletown High School has enacted a specific Professional Learning Community in 2013, a program geared to make fundamental shift from focusing on teaching to an area of learning where students and teachers collaborate.
Claim to Fame: Famous alumni include Dr. Thomas DiPaola (Education leader in RI), Henry Nardone, Sr. (Member of URI Foundation, RI Board of Regents), Dennis Algiere (Current RI Senate Minority Leader), Dr. John Toscano, (Chairman of Dept. of Chemistry at Johns Hopkins University), Daryl Finizio (Lawyer, New London Mayoral candidate, Westerly City Council), Peter Lewiss (RI State rep, judge, lawyer) Diana Blanda (Actress/Singer).
Claim to Fame: Scituate High School’s “Schools for Schools” club has raised thousands of dollars for Invisible Children to help Uganda defeat the children soldier crisis there.
Claim to Fame:Famous alumni include Bill Reynolds (Providence Journal Sports Columnist), Phil Madeira (Award-winning Songwriter/Musician), Judy Clapp (Recording Engineer who has worked with Dwight Yoakham and Bill Frisell) Brian Howe (film and television actor) Marceline Hugot (a film, television and Broadway actress) Brett Quigley (PGA golfer) Shanna Moakler (Former Miss USA, Playboy Magazine model and ex-wife of Blink-182 drummer Travis Barker/star of MTV’s Meet The Barkers), Spalding Gray (Monologuist/Actor) Matthew Broome (New England Amateur Golf Champion).
Claim to Fame: Famous alumni include Donald Carcieri (Governor of RI), Suzanne Carcieri (First Lady of RI), Debra Messing (Actress), Mark Zito (Radio Host) and Leeann Tingley (2006 Miss Rhode Island USA).
Claim to Fame: Famous alumni include David Cicilline (US Congressman and former Mayor of Providence) and John DeCubellis (lawyer/judge, General Counsel to National Education Association RI).
