“LEAVE HOMEWORK TO TEACHERS’ DISCRETION”

Sun (Auckland), Volume II, Issue 475, 3 October 1928, Page 1

“LEAVE HOMEWORK TO TEACHERS’ DISCRETION”

INSPECTOR’S ADVICE HEAVY TASKS UNWISE

“Efficient teachers realise that, under conditions where pupils are required to work up to their maximum effort for five hours each day, it is unnecessary and unwise to impose further heavy tasks demanding appreciable mental application.”

An opinion on the suggestion that homework in the schools should be abolished was given to the Auckland Education Board to-day by the senior inspector, Mr. C. W. Garrard, who thought the commonsense of the teachers should be relied on. The Auckland City Schools Committee had written asking if it were practicable to abolish homework in the city schools.

Mr. Garrad’s report was as follows!: “I am of the opinion that the amount of homework set in primary schools is very small indeed; in many schools none at all being given. Where given it is usually limited to the preparation of reading lessons, poetry and possibly geography, the maximum time devoted by the pupils being probably not more than half an hour. IN JUNIOR HIGH SCHOOLS “In the secondary departments of the district high schools, where the pupils are older, it is customary to set some homework requiring probably an hour each evening. I see no argument against this as the pupils are well able to bear the extra strain, and it supplements the daily efforts of the teachers. Moreover, many of these pupils are studying for departmental and other examinations the work which can scarcely be covered in the limited time at the disposal of the teacher during school hours. “There is also the fact to be taken into consideration that the setting of some homework for these pupils, especially in English, may encourage the habit of reading, which will be of material advantage to them when they leave school.

“I have in recent years made many inquiries and conducted investigations concerning homework, and I am convinced that the teachers in *.his district realise the importance of exercising restraint in the matter of requiring pupils to prepare lessons after school hours, and the latter-day tendency has been to restrict to a large extent the setting of homework. “I do not consider it advisable or necessary for the board to instruct teachers to set no homework, as the subject may safely be left to the wise judgment of the headteachers.”

“We will tell them that, and if they are not satisfied they can come back,” said the chairman, Mr. A. Burns, when the report had been read.