This is different....

[SeanTK]

Check it out:
http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2009/no ... ork-milley

I personally believe that a private exemption from all outside of class work is foolish, but at the same time, I've experienced many circumstances where I am either loaded up with +4 hours of work for an evening that is actually meaningful, or more often, exposed to "busywork" that really provides no benefit other than practicing getting an assignment done on time.
I think that homework is beneficial overall, but until you are in a university setting, it shouldn't be over 2 hours a night maximum, especially for elementary & middle school. (US designations, not sure of the precise term in other world regions)


Opinions on this article/your past experiences with "homework"?

[Mazza]

Lucky buggers, I don't mind the projects, just the pointless stuff you have ALREADY DONE A MILLION TIMES 

[BFMF]

Sometimes homework is good. I tend to do better on tests when i've done homework problems related to the test material.

But other times, homework that is busywork is sometimes just completely unecessary

[skoker]

I think that homework is pointless, if and only if, the teacher is humourous in their teaching ways.  I don't mean juggle in class but if they can connect with pupils that they will learn better.

[machineman9]

"In return, the pupils promise to get their work done in class, to come to school prepared, and to revise for tests. They must also read daily and practise their musical instruments at home."

I think I'd rather take the homework. I dislike playing musical instruments and there are very few books I would read. None of my English teachers ever believed that I don't read books, but personally I find them a bit of a bore.


I don't quite get what lead up to this. Everyone else manages to do their homework. If it isn't improving their success rates, they are doing it wrong. Homework helps you to get a concept or method sorted in your head, so it will help out. Besides, it is easier to do an essay at home with your music players, instant messengers and all of that with you than to just be stuck in a classroom and doing it.


I think they got off worse by not getting homework. The demands are greater in lessons now. If they are finding the homeworks hard, then I don't see how they are going to find classwork any easier. The homework reinforces your knowledge. They could always have just gone to the teachers and asked for less work or more help. Both are usually available to students.


Things to do tonight:
Copy missed work for Physics
Complete 2 Physics homework sheets
Improve coursework for Technology
Prepare things for a friend's birthday
Eat dinner
Go out to cadets, probably.

I would class that a usual night. The workload isn't too bad. They are about 11 years old and complaining? 

[Fozzer]

Many of you Blokes over the Pond baffle me!... ...!

Many of you, (like Sean), are in your late 'Teens, and early, to mid twenties, and are still going to "School" every day, and doing "Homework"!..... ...!

In my days, we started School at the age of five years, and left School at the age of sixteen, and immediately started work, apart from the very few who went to "University" up to the age of eighteen.
Why are you lot still at School... I ask myself?....... ...!

Paul...over the age of sixteen!.... ...!

[machineman9]

Why are you lot still at School... I ask myself?....... ...!

Better and longer education, thus better jobs.
Oh, and it is compulsary for the newbies who have just started high school. Unlucky! 

[Hagar]

Why are you lot still at School... I ask myself?....... ...!

Better and longer education, thus better jobs.
Oh, and it is compulsary for the newbies who have just started high school. Unlucky!

[Fozzer]

Why are you lot still at School... I ask myself?....... ...!

Better and longer education, thus better jobs.
Oh, and it is compulsary for the newbies who have just started high school. Unlucky!

[machineman9]

Why are you lot still at School... I ask myself?....... ...!

Better and longer education, thus better jobs.
Oh, and it is compulsary for the newbies who have just started high school. Unlucky!

[Hagar]

It's either they are already taken, or won't employ you for being underqualified.

As we learnt, getting a degree can mean your hourly rate gets pretty much doubled... As and when you can find that work. Besides, it gives you a bit of an advantage over other job candidates and lots more.

Sorry to disillusion you but in my experience it's the other way round. Many people applying for jobs these days are overqualified. You will soon need a degree to apply for any job which is ridiculous. That's the fault of the system & not you. The best training for many jobs is "on the job", not at school or college.

The worst part of my job was interviewing applicants for positions in the company. I hated having to tell them that pieces of paper meant nothing to me. I could teach them all they needed to know or send them for specialised training. I was interested in seeing what they could actually do.

[Fozzer]

It's either they are already taken, or won't employ you for being underqualified.

As we learnt, getting a degree can mean your hourly rate gets pretty much doubled... As and when you can find that work. Besides, it gives you a bit of an advantage over other job candidates and lots more.

Sorry to disillusion you but in my experience it's the other way round. Many people applying for jobs these days are overqualified. You will soon need a degree to apply for any job which is ridiculous. That's the fault of the system & not you. The best training for many jobs is "on the job", not at school or college.

The worst part of my job was interviewing applicants for positions in the company. I hated having to tell them that pieces of paper meant nothing to me. I could teach them all they needed to know or send them for specialised training. I was interested in seeing what they could actually do.

That was the benefit of having an Apprenticeship for 5-6 Years, (which is what I did) after leaving School at 16, for a profession in Electrical Engineering.

I learned everything I needed to know, and more, "on the job" as Hagar said, earning my weekly wages, with part-time Engineering College one day per Week, paid for by my employer,......!

I was always highly respected, and highly sought after, for my practical knowledge involving my Trade, together with other practical things learned along the way!.......!

Paul....A Bright Spark in a Dull World!...... 8-)...!

[machineman9]

It's either they are already taken, or won't employ you for being underqualified.

As we learnt, getting a degree can mean your hourly rate gets pretty much doubled... As and when you can find that work. Besides, it gives you a bit of an advantage over other job candidates and lots more.

Sorry to disillusion you but in my experience it's the other way round. Many people applying for jobs these days are overqualified. You will soon need a degree to apply for any job which is ridiculous. That's the fault of the system & not you. The best training for many jobs is "on the job", not at school or college.

The worst part of my job was interviewing applicants for positions in the company. I hated having to tell them that pieces of paper meant nothing to me. I could teach them all they needed to know or send them for specialised training. I was interested in seeing what they could actually do.

Oh I agree. But they want you to be able to do the job when you start Monday morning, not have to go through training with you. That is why apprentice positions are very good. We get a few each year from Bentley, but besides that I don't really hear of many. It is the system, but it is also probably more productive.

It helps to have a character about you and to be adaptive, but they still usually like grades and marks as well. That is why I like coursework, because it gives you a grade which shows how you have performed over a long period (usually 2 years). It is better than a one off exam, but coursework is very easy to update whereas exams aren't, so give you a true result for that day. Coursework is quick and easy to improve.

[Rich H]

Well, quite a lot of homework is really extra work; which can't be done in lessons done to time. Hate to say it, but it is quite benfitial - sort of  :-/

There are simply cases where they just set homework for the sake of it, but to be fair; teachers are under pressure from the management of school to set it.

[Hagar]

Oh I agree. But they want you to be able to do the job when you start Monday morning, not have to go through training with you. That is why apprentice positions are very good. We get a few each year from Bentley, but besides that I don't really hear of many. It is the system, but it is also probably more productive.

It helps to have a character about you and to be adaptive, but they still usually like grades and marks as well. That is why I like coursework, because it gives you a grade which shows how you have performed over a long period (usually 2 years). It is better than a one off exam, but coursework is very easy to update whereas exams aren't, so give you a true result for that day. Coursework is quick and easy to improve.

Who do you mean by "they"? It depends on the job but someone thinking they know it all is exactly what I didn't want. Ours was (is) a very specialised business & we wanted people with no pre-conceived ideas but the ability to learn the correct way of doing things. We didn't have the time to get them to unlearn bad habits before teaching them how to do it properly.

Unfortunately too many young people are given the impression that a piece of paper means they can immediately start earning the same wages as people with many years experience. I'm afraid it just doesn't work that way. Having to deal with inexperienced college graduates who thought they knew it all was one reason I & many of my contemporaries took early retirement.