District Administration - December 2006 - (Page 63)

Q&A The Homework Myth Senior editor Gary Stager talks with Alfie Kohn about his new book, The Homework Myth: Why Our Kids Get Too Much of a Bad Thing Alfie Kohn Why write a book about homework? r ic we repeat about the need to do the default. There should be no what's best for kids. Be willing to I'm always fascinated and more than homework except on those occasions question the conventional wisdom, a little disturbed when our practices when teachers have good reason to challenge traditional practices, and are completely out of step with what believe that a given assignment is take some flack for doing so. Be the data say. Homework, I discovered, likely to benefit most students. To guided by what the research says, is a stunningly clear example of that, me, that seems like just common not by pressures from people who because more and more of it is being sense and not a particularly radical know less about learning than you piled on younger and younger chil- idea. What's bizarre, I think, is the do. Ask yourself whether what fami- dren, even as research continues to status quo, in which we say, We're l ies do in the evenings should be find absolutely no benefit to making going to make you kids do school decided by families or by schools. kids do more academic assignments assignments at home just about Ask yourself whether there's any at home after spending six or seven every night. Later on, we'll figure reason to believe that kids who hours in school. I wrote the book, first, out what to make you do. That rarely get homework who don't to make it more difficult for anyone to assumes that homework in and of have to work what is, in effect, a claim with a straight face that stud- itself, irrespective of the content, is second shift after school is over ies show homework is effective or beneficial. There's not a shred of evi- w i l l be at any disadvantage homework teaches kids good study dence to support that position. in terms of their intellectual devel- skills ; and second, to try to figure out opment . And above all, help teach- So what homework might meet a why homework would continue to be er s and parents to remain focused standard of probable benefit? assigned and accepted in the absence on the overriding question: How of evidence that it does much good. The kind that kids, in conversation does homework affect kids' interest with one another and the teacher, How does this book relate to your in learning, their desire to read and decide is important enough to previous work? think? If the effect isn't positive, we infringe on family time. The kind that should have doubts about assigning Well, the same basic question runs logically has to be done at home, such it. If the effect is actually negative, through a lot of what I write: If we as interviewing parents about fam- then the obligation to question the say we want this for kids , then how ily history. The kind that consists of way things have always been done come we're doing that? I spent a reading books of their own choosing, is even more urgent. single page on homework in an ear- without a requirement to summarize, lier book [The Schools Our Children analyze, or write reports about what What sorts of homework might Deserve] and decided recently that the they've read, thus turning reading you endorse? topic warranted a book of its own. into a chore. I should be clear from The Home- What advice would you give a school work Myth that I don't say there What has been the reaction to leader regarding homework? should never be any homework. the book? Rather, I suggest that we change Ta ke seriously all the lovely rheto- It's been varied, as you would December 2006 63 www.DistrictAdministration.com kohn.indd 63 11/13/06 11:21:28 AM http://www.DistrictAdministration.com

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of District Administration - December 2006

Contents
Editor's Letter
Update
Inside The Law
Curriculum Update
Administrator Profile
District Profile
Mayor controls LA district
Who's In Charge In LA?
How Safe Is Your School
National school security plan
District Administration's 6th Annual Salary Survey
Fresh Chance for New Orleans Schools
Fresh start for New Orleans
Alfie Kohn on the homework myth
The Homework Myth
Conventional Guide to Birds of a Feather
Speaking Out
Anne Bryant on school board relations
Professional Opinion
Principal Opinion
Problem/Solution
Leadership Books
New Products
By the Numbers

District Administration - December 2006