According to the Arizona State Department of Education, there are approximately 1,089,384 students attending school in Arizona. 54,084 of these attend the 328 private schools in the state. School is a critical aspect in kids’ lives that helps impart the necessary skills and values for them to succeed.
A controversial and divisive topic that has remained a staple in conventional learning is homework. After sitting for hours on end in the class, your child may have to handle more schoolwork over the dinner table. Proponents of homework say it’s a necessary part of school that encourages practice, provides more learning time, and teaches better time management.
Acton Academies Stand on Homework
One of the key pillars for East Valley Acton Academy is that we believe that the best learning occurs in an environment without homework, no frequent testing, no grading, and no whiteboard lectures. Each of the principles is backed by research that reinforces the principles of Acton Private Schools.
The debate for and against homework giving in public and private schools in American has been ongoing for over a century. Research done by Harris Cooper, a neuroscience professor at Duke University, found out that the amount of homework done correlates with the performance of students in middle school. A counterargument by Denis Pope, a senior lecturer at the Stanford Graduate School of Education, found that homework can negatively affect kids, especially their lives away from school.
While some private schools in Arizona may argue that homework helps keep the children “busy,” it may have far-reaching implications. Here are examples from findings done by the Stanford University study.
1. Greater Stress
Students dread homework. Chances are that you did, too, while you were one. 56% of survey respondents interviewed viewed homework as a primary source of stress. The stress may kill the joy of learning, with children associating learning with “completing the homework.” Your child may not strive to learn anything new but to finish the assignment provided in time for dinner.
Acton Academy believes that a relaxed environment is vital to supporting your child’s creative and critical thinking skills. Your child doesn’t have to “stay in the box” or “conform to the rules” to spark their creativity.
2. Kill Family Time
A general rule of thumb in the education circles is that each grade, starting from the first, should have an incremental 10 minutes of homework. However, a 2015 study found out that kindergartners spend 25 minutes on homework, first graders 28 minutes, and second graders 29 minutes. Pope’s study found out that high school students spent an average of 3.1 hours each night completing homework. Kids are at a formative stage that may require parental input. Between balancing schoolwork, homework, and extra-cocurricular activities, you may not have enough time to spend with your kids.
3. Reduced Quality of Instruction
Homework can be an energy drain for most kids, resulting in reduced quality of education. At East Valley, we are a student-led private school in Arizona. Your child may have greater control over their learning process. Instead of excess homework, your child can focus on building their portfolio and public exhibition.
Giving out homework remains a controversial topic for most education stakeholders. Acton believes that your child should be stress-free, taking control over their learning process. If you are searching for learner-driven private schools in Arizona, reach out to East Valley Acton Academy.