Homework

[DaisyNonna]

What are your views on this?
Is it necessary?
A good idea?
Why?

[Peter Pedant]

They have to be able to work on their own

or to practise examples on their own

so they are learning to study AND to self motivate

self study as an activity is completely different to being taught

[DaisyNonna]

Different from if you are a pedant

[Buenchico]

I taught maths which, just like learning to play a musical instrument, requires firstly some direct instruction, then some assisted practice and finally lots more unaided practice. e.g. the teacher explains how to solve quadratic equations, then gets his/her pupils to work through some in class (so that they can ask questions if they're unsure of the technique) and finally gets them to work through plenty more examples (so that they become really proficient).

It would be a waste of a piano teacher's time if he/she was required to be present all of the time that his/her pupil was practising scales (and an incredibly inefficient way of teaching piano); it makes far more sense for the pupil to practise alone and then for the piano teacher to assess their proficiency afterwards. In exactly the same way the best use of a maths teacher's time is for them to be present for the 'instruction' and 'aided practice' periods but for the pupil to complete the 'unaided practice' (but still assessed) part of the work at home.

However I would never set homework simply because it was timetabled to be given on a particular day. I would only ever set it when some 'unaided practice' was actually necessary.

[Buenchico]

"That 'different' can only be followed by 'from' and not by 'to' is a superstition. Not only is 'to' 'found in writers of all ages' (OED); the principle on which it is rejected . . . involves a hasty and ill-defined generalization".
- H W Fowler

[DaisyNonna]

My homework included learning that different from was correct.

[Buenchico]

>>>My homework included learning that different from was correct

Well Fowler (who is generally regarded as providing the standard guide to English usage) disagrees, as above.

F T Wood is also recognised as an authority:
"Different: followed by 'from' or to 'to' but not 'than."

The Longman Guide to English Usage leans (only) slightly towards your opinion:
" . . . 'different from' is the safest choice for serious writing. 'Different to' is a British alternative, censured by grammarians since the 18th century, but defensible in casual speech and writing".

Perhaps your homework also taught you that 'Ring-a-ring-a-roses' was associated with the symptom of the Black Death or that Bubonic Plague was spread by the fleas on rats? Perhaps you were taught that the Great Wall of China could be seen from the moon? Or that Columbus discovered America? Or that 'i' always comes before 'e' except after 'c'. They're all wrong! (NEVER TRUST A TEACHER!)
;-)

[sunny-dave]

Interesting PP - I don't think homework did teach me to 'self motivate' - there was a whacking big stick waiting the next day if I didn't do it - that was the motivation.

Once I was at University, and the stick was no longer applied, I was fecking useless (uselessly feckless?).

[DaisyNonna]

In a word, NO.

[Georgiesmum]

Yes. i think homework is very important. It shows how well the pupil cvan put into practise what they have been taught on that day, and encourages them to manage on their own and do their own research if needed .
One of my sons homework once was to find out how many islands there are in the world and to list them!

[DaisyNonna]

Never trust myself?

[BlackadderV]

I before E, except after C, is incomplete. It should go on to say "when it sounds 'ee'". To that rule there is only one exception.

[baza]

homework is done because the work is not completed during the normal day, some it seems have taken this into their jobs, which would explain the number of work vans parked in the streets near you from around 1500hrs until 0900 hrs the following day and all over the weekend.

[janbee]

I never minded homework. We always got a lot of it and it was a bind sometimes when I'd rather have been out playing but I did it, albeit grudgingly.
So, Yes, I think homework is essential.

[mikey4444]

Quentin Crisp once famously said :::

“There is no need to do any housework at all. After the first four years the dirt doesn't get any worse.”

[cazzz1975]

It is necessary unfortunately, certainly if you wish to pursue further education, A lot of coursework is done at home or in free periods, so the ability to work alone is important. This is instilled by introducing homework from an early age.

[Cloverjo]

I don't like the idea of children slogging away at school all day and coming home with yet more to do. They should be able to relax. However, I get Buenchico's point about practice of methods, and the need to instill a habit of working and researching alone for those who will go on to further education.

Some kids love homework and should be given some to help stretch them intellectually, while for others it can be a source of misery and they should be free to kick a ball around, make model aeroplanes, write their own stories or whatever they enjoy doing and might be better at.

[in a mo]

Homework should be set when Teachers have a Day Off in term time "Training day" "Baker Days" I have no idea which of theses names are used by your Schools.

[pixie373]

It's really useful- it reinforces what they're learning and sometimes having it explained by a parent, perhaps in a different way can help them click. There is a lot though. Mine spend hours doing homework - other things are important too.

[pixie373]

In a mo- inset days

[Prudie]

meh, I'm not sure. Although I can fully understand the theory of the value of working on your own I think a lot of homework is completed either by parents, the internet or some other body than the pupil itself. Although I always did my homework (often on the school bus) for fear of the dire consequences of not doing it it was only the required minimum and don't think it improverd on my overall ability that much.