No more homework for students at inner west school sparking debate among parents, teachers and academics

ONE inner west school’s decision to stop homework has sparked a debate among parents, teachers and academics over keeping studies to school time and other schools could follow suit.

Justine Latham helps daughters Alice Bulloch, 8yrs and Zara Bulloch, 6yrs do their homework as she tries to cook dinner. Picture: Craig Wilson

A DECISION to stop homework at Leichhardt’s Kegworth Public School has sparked a debate among inner west parents about whether the policy will help pupils in the long run.

Principal Belinda Perih said the Leichhardt Primary School established a new homework policy with the P and C’s agreement when term began a month ago.

“Kegworth Public School established a new homework policy following extensive, detailed consultation with the parent community last year based on current educational research,” Mrs Perih said.

She said parents were still expected to spend time reading with their children.

“It was agreed that because home reading is so important to students’ learning, all parents will read aloud with their children at home for 10 to 15 minutes a day,” she said.

The Department of Education could not confirm how many other schools closed the books on homework at the end of the day.

Justine Latham helps daughters Alice Bulloch, 8 and Zara Bulloch, 6 do their homework as she tries to cook dinner. Picture: Craig Wilson

Birchgrove mother Justine Latham, whose children attend Balmain’s Father John Therry Catholic school said the stress of homework discounted the benefits for her three daughters.

“I’ve got a high school teaching background and I don’t believe there is any consistent relationship between the amount of time spent on homework and academic achievement,” Ms Latham said.

In an interesting twist, Ms Latham said her daughter discovered homework was unnecessary while she was researching its pros and cons — for homework.

“She discovered that Finland is the world’s top-rated education system but children aren’t assigned homework until they turn 14,” Ms Latham said. “My daughter jumped on that, though the irony is that homework let her find that out.”

Ms Latham said there were other activities she would prefer her children to do in the “witching hour” after school and before dinner. “It doesn’t need to be structured or academic — it could be cricket in the street, riding their bike to the park or walking the dog instead,” she said.

Erskineville Public School parent Jane Street said her children’s homework was not compulsory, but it created conversations at home.

Juggling making dinner and helping daughters Alice and Zara Bulloch with their homework. Picture: Craig Wilson

WHAT THE EXPERTS SAID

THE Catholic Diocese of Parramatta’s executive ­director of schools and NewsLocal education columnist Greg Whitby agreed wholeheartedly with the elimination of homework.

“As homework is currently used, it is extra work to aid memory, in which case it’s a waste of time,” Mr Whitby said. “Where we need to go is getting children to do their own research and investigation in their own time, and then engage with their teachers who say this is good, this is not, and this is where you need to go.”

Mr Whitby (pictured) said it was a hot topic with ­parents who generally viewed homework as an ­indication of how hard their children were working.

University of Sydney educational psychology professor Richard Walker said homework had some value, but it needed to be carefully planned by the teacher.

“It is essential that students receive feedback on their homework activities,” Dr Walker said.

“However, students shouldn’t be given too much homework and the work that is given should be ­engaging and motivating.”