Summer homework

in reality, in recent years, many specialists have declared war on homework in general, especially holiday assignments.

Those who study music should know, more than others, that the cognitive development of a child or adolescent does not only occur through "school" study and academic subjects. It occurs through play, movement, and creativity.

That father is more intelligent than many teachers, in my experience.

In my opinion, however, this parent is right. Over the years, I have learned that for a concept to be learned and assimilated, it needs not only study, but also rest. It's a bit like when you make bread. First you prepare the dough, then you let it rest, and then when it's ready, you bake it. It will then be the parent's job to help the child digest what they learned during the school year, stimulating the child to practice and study, but without forcing them. In elementary school, they used to give me a 50-page book with homework for the summer holidays. It's true, 50 pages of little exercises are nothing in 3 months of summer, but if we look at it from a child's point of view, they are heartbreaking. In the end, if I must say it, I never did any of those 50 pages, and I don't feel all that ignorant!

Rest is good and is a right of every human being. If we all allowed ourselves a break, we would all be less stressed and more productive; the brain is not an inexhaustible resource!

Given that I, like many others, have survived summer homework. The first free-form question I ask myself is: "in case I hadn't done them, how would I be today?" (better/worse, more or less used to stress, etc.).

That being said, the thing that convinces me least about the email are the final motivations, which have everything except a didactic/pedagogical tone... in that moment, the parent's annoyance at having to keep up with their child's commitment shines through. To me, this is not a reasonable motivation.

It would have been very different if they had asserted motivations of a different nature... four sensible lines like the good Thallo or even Lowseling did would have sufficed. Therefore, in my opinion, the parent has somewhat "invalidated" their writing, even if they might be in the right. I don't know if statistics exist regarding the "value" of today's professionals in relation to summer homework yes/no. Surely the working world does not allow for many breaks or quarterly breaks, so another question could be... how far (and in what scope) should preparation for the working world go?

I think there are also strong connections to questions such as:

- Remedial exams versus debts

- Exam at the end of primary/secondary school: yes/no

I will repeat myself, but in general, it seems to me that many have survived scenarios of this type and/or "hybrids."

I think it is difficult to objectively demonstrate the benefits of changes of this type; science, time, and statistics are needed

I always did my summer homework and reading, and I didn't die. I didn't see it as an imposed torture that flagellated my existence. And at the end of August, I couldn't wait for the start of school. My brother is like that. I believe there is a lack of respect for the institution of SCHOOL, which is a serious matter; a love for school must be cultivated. If there is no respect for what is assigned as summer enrichment by teachers, why should children have respect for the teachers themselves?

an infinite controversy could be opened here, I chose to have my children do the absolute minimum of summer homework, preferring readings (chosen by them and not imposed) and cultural/recreational activities seasoned with in-depth studies and discussions on various topics; given the results, it was the best choice!!!

If then not doing homework becomes the justification for resigning from parenthood, well, that's another story!

Ludovica wrote:

I have always done summer homework and reading, and I didn't die. I didn't see it as an imposed torture that flagellated my existence. And at the end of August, I couldn't wait for the start of school. My brother is the same. I believe there is a lack of respect for the institution of SCHOOL, which is a serious matter; a love for school must be cultivated. If there is no respect for what is assigned as summer enrichment by teachers, why should children have respect for the teachers themselves?

Unfortunately, I cannot show respect toward an institution that does not respect me. In my entire life, there have been few teachers capable of truly teaching me anything, and we are talking about 1 or 2. Returning to the subject of homework, doing homework doesn't destroy one's existence, but an average student is already required to spend 6 hours at their desk; when will they be able to expand their knowledge and dedicate themselves to what they want to specialize in? But above all, children, who still have such a desire to play and discover the world, why must they be forced to stay with books just because of the whim of a teacher clinging to methods from 40 years ago?

Lowseling wrote:

But then above all the children, who still have such a great desire to play and discover the world

In fact, books are a means to discover the world; you rightly accuse your teachers... and it shows. There are books with which one can even play. Every age has its own games! And it's a bit like the military issue.... it's not needed, it's not needed, and yesterday I was at a large shopping mall, I asked a young clerk (he must have been 22 or 23 years old) where I could find a plunger and he doesn't even know what I'm talking about. Kids at 20, served and revered, who don't even know how to make their own bed... and poor things, they would be too stressed to do 4 little grammar or math exercises or read a good book. Then we complain that libraries are closing, well fine.

Perhaps, as I read between the lines of Lowseling, it is the teaching methods.... but what does that have to do with the benefit of good summer reading? No one forces anyone to read Madame Bovary, but reading is useful and it's even more beautiful to do it when you don't have the commitment of regular attendance.

Another issue:

> when will they be able to expand their knowledge and dedicate themselves to what they want to specialize in?

Sorry, but perhaps you have the wrong address. If it is not manual labor, what is better in this regard than school and books?!