Why I Hate Homework

Over the last month, I’ve been collecting statements my mom-friends have made about their kids’ homework. Here’s my collection:

• It took two hours to do forty-five minutes of fourth grade homework.
• “I am exhausted. It has more to do with homework.”
• “They get so much homework, it’s almost like homeschooling anyway.”
• “Now we’re sitting here trying to write . . . . Homework is not for the faint of heart.” 

Now, I’ve been out of school many years, and my children are grown and married. But I remember the many, many hours spent bent over a desk or table, hours and hours of homework.

To be honest, some of those hours, especially on projects and math, were probably well spent.

My own kids had no homework—or maybe all their schooling was homework—since we homeschooled. They did the exercises, practice, and research during class hours. Some days, they spent more time in class than others.

I really understand the time constraints and extra pressures on teachers. You have to teach X amount of this subject and that subject, raise funds for the school, prepare the kids for special parents’ programs, celebrate holidays, have field days and field trips . . . . The list goes on, and teaching time gets a chunk taken out of it. To all you teachers out there, I understand, and I truly care. I understand that some of the practice work absolutely needs to be done at home, since there’s just not time at school.

But, that’s not what I really want to address here. I am talking about non-necessary homework. Let’s say the child is doing great in the subject. Let’s take math for an example. This kid is doing algebra in his head in sixth grade. Math is easy for him. He gets it. He could skip a couple of grades and still glide through math. Does this same kid need to do two pages of problems of sixth grade math every night?

A little girl reads Dickens in second grade. She has a book in her hand ever chance she gets. Does this second grader really need to be in a reading group? Does she need to do extra reading at home, unless we’re talking about “being on the same page” with the rest of the class? Does she need to be on the same page?

Why did the fourth grader need to have two hours’ work ahead of him when he got home from school? Was it really necessary to put him—and his mother—through that?

Yes, some children need extra tutoring and extra help in some subjects. Some children have learning issues and special needs. I totally understand that. But I still believe that they should be able to do most school work at school, maybe get tutoring right after school, and then have the evening free to be at home with their family. 

Play with the dog, brother, sister, and parents. Run. Jump. Laugh. Create. Relax. Be a child.

Homework should be minimal, if at all.

Here’s another thought: priorities. I remember when I was in college, it seemed like most of my exams were on Mondays or Thursdays. The times that I went to church in the evenings on Sundays, the whole time I was in church, I was nervous about the study time I was missing and how my exams would go the next day. (I confess I didn’t even try on Wednesdays, because I didn’t have transportation, nor was it provided.) Maybe things have changed over the years—I hope so—and maybe teachers are more thoughtful of the kids’ spiritual priorities. But, I believe Christian schools should think about the priorities Christians need. Christian kids should be in church with their families on Sundays and for prayer meeting. They should not have to choose between grades and church. How can this be done? Teachers schedule no tests on Mondays or Thursdays, for one. Have light homework over the weekend and very light, if any, homework for Thursday. School scheduling needs to help children honor God, not hinder them.

Maybe I’m against the one-size-fits-all teaching mentality. That is, every student must do 3 pages of math exercises, read 10 pages of science, read one chapter in the novel, fill in 3 pages of English workbook, read another 10 pages of history, prepare a science experiment for the science fair, do a salt map for history . . . . We’re talking about each student spending several hours after school.

Why not give the struggling math students a little more practice, and the ones who need little, not have homework in math? Why not go through the 10 pages of science in class with simultaneous teaching? Why not have one or two class science fair projects with smaller individual assignments, tailored to abilities? Why make a salt map at all? Every child can access the map for history class on his computer. Yes, read the chapter in the novel for homework, but fill in the 3 pages of English workbook maybe in class or in study hall. We’ve gotten the homework time down to less than an hour, for even the most needy student.

Now, I’ve had my say. I speak as a former homeschool teacher with sixteen years of experience. I hated homework as a student, and I still hate it now. I feel sorry for my young friends and their mothers, who spend several hours each evening pouring over books. I'd rather they be enjoying each other.

So, now you know why

I

               hate

                                    homework.

Do you? Please comment.

I've Got a Mansion!

The Versace mansion in Miami was recently sold to Joe Nakash for $41.5 million dollars, less than half the original asking price. It has 10 bedrooms, 11 baths, a swimming pool with some 24 carat gold tiling. There are lots of mosaics, frescoes on the walls, chandeliers, and sculptures. In some ways, it looks like an Italian villa, but some rooms are more like something out of the Arabian Nights. 

For sale now is the 1890 home of timber magnate John Rudley. The listed price is $190 million. For that, you get fifty acres and a 12-bedroom home with 15,000 square feet of living space. There’s also basement and attic space, a grass tennis court, gardens, an apple orchard, greenhouses, a 75-foot-long heated pool, and a carriage house. All of this on gorgeous strip of land on Long Island Sound. Are you interested? 

Some years ago now, I was sorely tempted by a “bargain” I saw on a luxury real estate TV program. The property was on a rocky peninsula somewhere in France. The stone castle—yes, a castle—was surrounded by a lovely strip of lawn and a protecting wall. The castle itself had been refurbished, conserving its grand entrance hall with super high ceiling and huge chandeliers in period-looking wrought iron. The peaked doorways lent a charm to each bedroom. White stucco walls, gorgeous wood beams and floors, and a state of the art kitchen added to its appeal. The castle becomes an island at high tide. The price tag? A mere $2 million, which really wasn’t bad for what you got. History, romance, architecture . . . .

I had to pass it up for several reasons, including of course, lacking two million dollars.

But, I do own a mansion. Let me tell you about it.

First let me tell you what it’s not.

It’s not anything like Versace’s opulent and somewhat gaudy home. It isn’t anything like Mr. Rudley’s tastefully paneled house, either.

It is much more expensive.

I have no idea of the decor or the style. I don’t even know how many rooms it has. (Maybe it’s only one room.) I don’t know if it has chandeliers or tiles or what views you see from the windows. I don’t know what materials were used for walls, windows, or floors.

But, I know I’ll love it.

I do know a little about the setting. My mansion is on a main street. It’s in a walled city with twelve gates. It’s light and beautiful everywhere.

I’ve never seen my home, and I didn’t use a real estate agent.

It will last forever. My mansion’s out of this world. Its architect-builder is the best. (John 14:2-4; Hebrews 11:10)

It wasn’t paid for in millions of dollars . . .

But in blood. (Romans 5:9; Ephesians 1:7; 1 Peter 1:19; 1 John 1:7; Revelation 1:5)

My mansion is lighted by The Light. In the whole city, there’s no night, no tears, no hunger, and no thirst. There are springs of water, golden walls, foundations of precious stones. There’s color everywhere. The few who have seen it were left without words. (Isaiah 6:1-9; 2 Corinthians 12:4; Revelation 22:5-9)

The Lamb is on a throne in that city. He’s not only the Lamb; He’s the Shepherd, too. Sounds like thunder, and bolts of lightning come out of His throne, and there’s a rainbow around it. Surrounding the throne, there are twenty-four elders, dressed in white robes with gold crowns on their heads. Lamps are burning. The description goes on to talk about pure glass, like crystal. (I think the surroundings must look like Swarovski’s best.) Everything is beautiful, colorful, shining, pure, clear, reflective, majestic. (Revelation 4 and 7:13-17)

I’m hoping my house contains a few treasures. I’ve been sending treasure ahead of my moving date. (Matthew 6:20)

When I accepted Jesus as my Savior, He made a reservation for me. He’s preparing my eternal home, simply because I put my faith in Him.

I know I’m going to love it!

In my Father’s house are many mansions:

if it were not so, I would have told you.

I go to prepare a place for you.

And if I go and prepare a place for you,

I will come again, and receive you unto myself;

that where I am, there ye may be also.

And whither I go ye know, and the way ye know.

Thomas saith unto him, Lord, we know not whither thou goest;

and how can we know the way?

Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life:

no man cometh unto the Father, but by me (John 14:2-6).

Do you have a mansion reserved for you?