Share this
Twitter
Myspace
Digg
Del.icio.us
Reddit
Slashdot
Furl
Yahoo
Technorati
Newsvine
Facebook
Export PDF
Print
E-mail
TagsBY PAM LOBLEY
NEWJERSEYNEWSROOM.COM
NOW THAT’S FUNNY
A school district in South Jersey might abolish weekend homework. The Board of Education of the Galloway Township Public School District is considering recommendations from district officials to change the homework policy – including ending all weekend homework.
Hmm. Don’t I read every week in some magazine that the schools in the U.S. are a disgrace and that, on a global basis, our children are stupider and way behind many other developed nations in most important subjects? And now you want us to take the weekend off?
Superintendent Annette Giaquinto said the idea was for students to have more time with their families and for extracurricular activities.
I agree that grade schoolers don’t need weekend homework, but middle and high school kids? They need to hit the books. Do you think the kids in China are relaxing with their families at a water park? I doubt it.
I don’t know about other parents, but no homework for my kids just means more time in front of the TV. I am not going to automatically run out and schedule a lovely picnic or an edifying day trip to Hyde Park just because they don’t have homework. I am too busy. On a typical weekend I have 12 loads of laundry to do, food shopping for the week, possible clothing shopping, home repairs, yard work, bill paying and heavy household cleaning. So no homework might mean my kids have the weekend off, but I don’t.
Furthermore, working hard is what it’s all about. As this economy drags on, it is painfully obvious that getting into a good college, and having a successful career, will be a huge challenge. It is our job to prepare them for life.
I realize that many kids have heavy sports schedules over the weekend, and that puts pressure on families. However, let’s be serious. Is your daughter going to play professional basketball? Will your son be a famous lacrosse player? Probably not. They need an education.
Our country has a very schizophrenic attitude toward our children and their education. On the one hand, we feel our children are under too much stress. We cite eating disorders, binge drinking, cheating, and depression as evidence that our children are too over scheduled and pressured to succeed. They take too many AP classes, they obsess about college entrances, they are on a treadmill.
On the other hand, the national scores are dismal. President Obama, like President Bush before him, has made it a priority to improve our schools. Kids aren’t learning math, their writing skills are weak, they can’t identify Missouri or Pakistan on a globe.
Which is the truth. Are our kids over-achieving little robots or slack-jawed morons failed by their nation?
I don’t know the answer to that. But I do know that a math sheet, a list of verb conjugations in French, a couple of chapters in The Old Man and the Sea, and preparation for a unit test in Science is not too much to ask of a ninth grader over his weekend.
I guarantee you, he will still find plenty of time to play video games.
Pam Lobley writes the “Now That’s Funny” column. Sign up for her mailing list at www.pamlobley.com.
ALSO BY PAM LOBLEY
The HCG diet: Being 'pregnant' makes you thinner?
'Go the F**k to Sleep' book goes viral with online PDF
N.J. pension fund desperate for hedge fund returns
'Real Housewives of New Jersey' cast needs a good Swedish woman
Facebook movement works to let James Tate go to prom despite his history of disciplinary issues
Judgment Day: World to end on May 21, according to Doomsday prediction by Harold Camping
Bronx Zoo peacock found dispelling iPhone5 rumors
New Jersey's allergy season in full bloom
Ideas for the perfect Mother's Day gift
Facebook is starting to see a decline
La Salle University hires strippers for ethics symposium
Rutgers wants Springsteen to save them from Snooki sin
New concerns over Facebook depression
Bergen County towns object to PSE&G's ugly solar panel utility poles
N.J. pension funds to take more risk
New Jersey's new fertilizer laws: obey or pay
Can a supermoon cause an earthquake (VIDEO)?
Cappie Pondexter’s Twitter comments can be a lesson on tweeting
Ash Wednesday: Hear God's voice over the sound of your snacking
Gasbuddy.com is a great way to find cheap gas
Faith Kroll (PHOTOS): Live sex act exposes Northwestern
Gov. Christie as President: The difference between 'could' and 'should'
How did 'Kurt Douglas' do at the Oscars?
Is President Obama stealing from Governor Chris Christie?
Chris Lee shirtless photo leads N.Y. Congressman to resign, but with raised suspicions
Is there a gay Snooki for ‘Jersey Shore' spinoff?
‘Jersey Shore' leads pack of hit N.J. reality TV shows
NJ school closings: More snow means more snow days
Mid-terms stink at North Hunterdon High School
Yes, Snooki and ‘Jersey Shore' to film in Italy
Coming out of the closet: I'm a mess
Who really owns the New York Jets?
Kansas State University professor loses 27 pounds on Twinkie diet
N.J. school closings: Snow day tips
Four Horsemen of Downsizing: Newark ending mounted police program
N.J. weather forecast: State is getting more snow!
Snooki wrote a book? It's ‘A Shore Thing'
Now that's funny: Angie's got a bump!
Gov. Christie will not make New Year's resolutions
Christmas photos ... do the kids really look like that?
True confessions — I got bailed out by Fed's Ben Bernanke!
Gov. Paterson wants New Jersey to help pay for repairs to New York's Tappan Zee Bridge
Billboard at the Lincoln Tunnel celebrates atheism
‘Dancing with the Stars' — a spin off?
It's official. Chris Christie might run for president in 2016
‘Real housewives of N.J.' star Teresa Giudice will be back
Who wears the pants in your family?
N.J. dad drops toilet paper from plane while flying over son's school
Jewish Standard caught in the middle on same-sex wedding announcements
Kids need to pay attention. That is it. They don't need to go home and work all day and night. They need to pay attention to what their instructor is saying. Once they do that, they can go home and be rewarded with relaxation or family time. Studying is crucial, I agree (although I never really studied..).. But there's a difference between studying and doing homework. Homework is just busy work.