Should Montclair Abolish Homework?

Here's something interesting that dropped into the Patch email inbox.

A South Orange-Maplewood parent has sent out a message asking other parents to organize to abolish homework, using the South Orange-Maplewood School District (SOMSD) annual parent survey instrument.

"Attention those of you who've seen or know the message of ','" the email reads.

"We all received a survey from SOMSD. Take it, and on the bottom where it allows you to comment, ask them to abolish homework. Imagine if everyone in Maplewood and South Orange did that?"

"Race to Nowhere is a documentary film focusing on the pressures children are under — starting in middle school and carrying through to college," Brooke Lefferts wrote on Patch in January. "It follows several families with adolescents who have struggled with low self–esteem, eating disorders, stomachaches, headaches and depression as a result of trying to keep up with schoolwork and extracurricular activities."

Lefferts continued: "There are also interviews with many educators and psychologists about how our educational system and culture are failing kids by demanding they achieve, largely in order to get into the best college and get a lucrative job."

The film sold out various screenings in Montclair with many parents also asking whether Montclair schools should at least reduce the amount of homework given to students.

Meanwhile, Patch caught up with the parent who posted the request to abolish homework.

"Homework is the bane of our family's life," she wrote. "Our son spends hours each day and also has larger projects to accomplish. It doesn't allow him time to do anything else. Fitting in soccer or Boy Scouts is a challenge. Forget about anything that would be special or fun like art or music lessons. And socializing with friends is also out of the question unless there is no homework that day."

"If there is one thing I see my son suffering with in his life it's lack of time. When I was a kid, life took forever. He blinks his eyes and the day is gone. Wouldn't it be great to have family game night or go for a nightly walk or ride?"

Although the parent actually thinks that the larger projects can teach time management, it's the daily homework she objects to: "The nightly worksheets, that are merely printed from a website most of the time, are the real killer."

"I would love to have more unstructured, unplanned time together as a family."

What do you think? Should homework be abolished? Tell us in the comments.