When I was teaching this was my policy except for a slight modification. Students were expected to read nightly, study for spelling tests which parents insisted were necessary,  play outside, spend time with  the family playing games and  talking.

I had learned several universal truths about homework.  The students who needed review or practice or finishing  of the work done at school, had no help or encouragement at home and the incorrect homework just reinforce mistakes , mastery of the concept harder due to relearning and clarification of the mistakes.  The students who didn’t need  homework often had helicopter parents who insisted on neatness and perfect papers. What is the point when their student already knew the work.     Of course there could be individual assignments for homework but impossible for teachers to spend this much time. I felt very strongly that if it was important for the students to do the work, it was equally as important for me to correct it and give feedback to the students.. . . . not busywork which was only given a * that it was  complete.

Children need time with their parents talking about the election, events in news and school.  And they always need to read. . . . . . books which they choose and enjoy, talking about.  I really think  that students would and do benefit from parent’s reading to them  even when the child can read.  This opens up discussion.  One family I taught had a Dad who read books like Harry Potter to his children and they discussed the book. Each child was an amazingly talented student who looked forward to their “reading with Dad”.  I also discovered that the best writers are also readers who are constantly  reading published writing for vocabulary and sentence structure.

I think that the strongest argument for no homework is a question for the adults:

“How would you feel after  working a full day to be given an assignment of working at home each night for 2 more hours?”

Think about it !   Insist on rigorous school where children work and learn all day long.  After school, encourage them to learn social skills while  playing,  learning,  and spend quality time with them at night!   Eat together as a family which has proven to be beneficial  for the students.

Finland is always near the top of best schools in the world, (See below)  They do not have homework.  It can and does work.

I taught elementary school and all grades from K-6 except for first. I will concede that homework may be needed and beneficial for Middle School and High School, but not excessive. . . . hours and hours!  They should have time for family, sports, and extracurricular activities such as scouts and church youth group.

So, does this manage to convince you that moving to Finland may be a really great idea? This infographic was made on behalf of OnlineStudents, the popular online resource of informative articles.