SCHOOL HOMEWORK

Sun (Auckland), Volume II, Issue 542, 20 December 1928, Page 22

SCHOOL HOMEWORK

BAN POPULAR AT MT. EDEN APPROVED BY PARENTS Of 1.41 replies from parents to a questionnaire sent out by the Mount Eden School Committee, regarding homework, 125 favoured the abolition of homework, and of these 71 gave their reasons. Reporting on the questionnaire last evening, Mr. S. E. Chappell, chairman of the committee, Said parents were asked for their oifinion as to whether the abolition of homework had any effect on the health of the children; what effect was noticed on the social side of home life; and were they in favour of continuing the ban? Of the 125 who favoured the ban, 54 gave no reasons for their affirmative attitude. The remaining 71 gave various reasons for favouring the ban, but all spoke in high praise of the change. The better health enjoyed by the children was emphasised, and others noticed improved class work. Of the 12 negative replies, only one was really strongly opposed to the dropping of homework. There were four replies classed as doubtful, and a number of parents supplied no answer. The questionnaire was sent to the parents of children in Standards I. to IV. inclusive. Mount Eden School has no higher standards. Not only have the parents given an emphatic vote of confidence in the system, but the inspectors have spoken in high praise of the school’s work. The retiring headmaster, Mr. A. Douglas, who was responsible for the innovation 18 months ago, states that in his 40 years’ teaching experience the examination results have never been better than at Mount Eden school, in spite of the elimination of homework.