Common School Practice

        One very common school practice I would change is homework. I see no need or real positive effect homework does for students as a whole. Many educators believe homework is a way of reinforcing what is being taught in the classroom. I must agree with the purpose of this strategy, but in reality, not all students gain what they are supposed to from these homework assignments.

        I believe homework (at home assignments) is a good thing to be given to younger students such as in the elementary levels. I believe this allows for the child and parent to connect and develop a relationship that is further more than just a family relationship. Now in days, you do not see many parents that are involved with their child's school and many parents do not even know what the child is learning at school. I feel that if an elementary teacher would give maybe just one weekly homework assignment that needs the work of both the child and parent, they are forced to get involved and maybe little by little the parents will become more interested in volunteering in schools which will help the student be more successful in school.

        Personally, and not very proud of it, when I became a student in Jr.high and high school I vividly remember simply copying off others to do my homework assignment. This is where homework becomes an issue. As for me, when I become an educator one day, I do not see myself as one to give homework, but to use the time in the classroom to my advantage. If a teacher has good strategies and good discipline there is no reason why the teacher is not able to cover all the lesson and materials in class and feel the need to give homework. At that age a student does not understand the importance of homework, therefor will not gain from it. They can simply ask another student to do it for them or copy off one another. And When testing comes around the student fails and whether teachers are to blame or not, it is them who gets a bad name or evaluation for having such a high failing rate.

        Right or wrong, and I am sure many will argue this case for many years, to me: It all becomes a chain reaction. One thing leads to another, and in my perspective, I see mostly failure out of giving homework.