Homework debate

And I thought Miley Cyrus' performance at the VMAs generated a ton of opinions. Ask parents how they feel about homework, as we did on CNN's Facebook page, and the response is immediate and intense. So many parents from all over the country sounded off passionately, saying we expect too much, too little or the wrong things from young students.

PRINCIPAL January/February 2007 By Alfie Kohn [For a more detailed look at the issues discussed here - including a comprehensive list of citations to relevant research and a discussion of successful efforts to effect change- please see the book The Homework Myth.]

This column was written by Conor Clarke.Ah, the start of a new school year. No better time for an all-out assault on that perennial threat to 11- and 12-year-olds everywhere: homework.

Many in the education field today are looking for evidence to support the case for homework, but are coming up empty handed.

Quebec's largest English language weekly newspaper, The Suburban published an anti-homework editorial at the end of August: Too much homework As kids go back to school, we need to pay attention to a growing movement among parents and educators calling on homework to be severely reduced. We think they are right.

After four years and 530 posts, I've decided its time to retire the Stop Homework blog and turn the homework advocacy over to you, my readers. You should be able to find whatever sample materials you need in The Case Against Homework and/or the posts, especially those in Moms (and Dads) on a Mission, Students Speak Out, Teachers Speak Out, and Success Stories.