Homework: what theyre saying on the classroom floor
Young journalists at Children's Express respond to Tony Blairs initiative on homework (prescribing homework times etc.) - and hope he will do more of his own if the Labour Party wins the next general election.
| I don’t think I agree with the idea of parent-teacher contracts because the children will only get resentful. |
Nine-year-old Anton Yavorsky, a year five pupil at St Mary of the Angels primary school in Notting Hill, west London, says it is hard to judge who would benefit from 30 minutes of homework a night. Some people take longer to do the same work. I get homework, but not every night - it usually takes about 15 to 20 minutes. Mostly its spelling and maths, he said. Maybe I'll wish we had more homework when I go to secondary school."
Increasing homework at primary school was seen as a good idea by the secondary school pupils who were interviewed. Tara Glynn, 17, from Hackney, east London, said. I never did homework in primary school until the last year. When I started secondary school it was part of growing up and gaining responsibility.
Tara, who is in her final year of A-levels at our Lady's Convent School, in Stamford Hill, east London, says homework varies from day to day even at her level. Homework depends on what happened that day at school. I don't think I agree with the idea of parent-teacher contracts because the children will only get resentful.
Senab Adekunle, 14, is in year 9 at Elizabeth Garret Anderson Secondary School, in Tony Blairs Islington constituency. She does the homework her teacher assigns and extra work where possible. Not everyone has a stable environment at home. Homework centres would show that there is support for you and that adults think your studies matter.
Twelve-year-old Juanita Rosenior said: In my school they sometimes overdo the homework and I don't get to bed until 10pm. Juanita, a pupil at Greycoats Hospital Lower School in Sloane Square, west London, added: It's not fair to say that you should do a certain amount because they don't know how all the pupils can cope.
Gillian Antwi-Bosiako, 10, a pupil at St Francis Primary School, in Peckham, south London, gave a novel response. I do my homework because I'm usually bored at home, she said. I get one piece of homework a night which usually takes me about 15 minutes. It's not enough and is too easy most of the time. I think I will find it harder at secondary school because it is too easy now.
Gillian says Blairs promise of 30 pupils per primary school class does not go far enough. She currently has 25 classmates. There should only be 15 in a class. With 26 its really crowded and there are more people who ruin your learning when they are mucking about.
About the team
This article was produced by the Children's Express London bureau, and published in The Independent.
