Parents: Homework Balance Is Struggle

The first order of business at a Board of Education-sponsored public forum on homework was the squashing of a rumor.

Montville schools Superintendent Dr. Paul Fried said there's a rumor that he wants to abolish homework altogether. That couldn't be further from the truth, he said.

But homework can cause undue stress for students, Fried said, and many of the several dozen parents who attended the meeting shared their children's struggles and their own concerns with afterschool assignments.

Fried announced a plan to create a short-term committee of parents, teachers and administrators to examine research on homework and its effectiveness before the district weighs implementing new policies. He said other districts have tried policies such as no homework on weekends or holidays, and setting progressive time limits for younger students. Fried said he wasn't advocating for a particular approach, but said it is an issue other district's are working to address and Montville should be aware of what other schools have found and research has shown.

Fried said the homework discussion is part of a larger effort by the district to create a healthy atmosphere and help students achieve a balance between school, family and other activities.

Parents' stories shared during the discussion ranged from students who have several hours of homework a night, to students who haven't had much if any homework for the past two weeks.

Some complained of busy work and one said it can be like memorizing the dictionary. Others worried that some classes have lots of homework, while others have far less.

Teachers in attendance said they are receptive to input from parents, and in some cases are open to students spending a set period of time on homework if parents verify they did the work. But teachers don't often hear from parents on those matters, they said.

A discussion followed on what role parents and teachers ought to have in determining appropriate amounts of homework.

Administrators from the schools attended and listened to the discussion.

"Homework: Supporting Our Children, Teachers & Parents" was a followup to

Jackie Ritschel, chairwoman of the board’s curriculum and instruction committee, said the district received an increasing number of questions regarding the quality, quantity and equity of homework since last November.