A recent study by the Applied Research Center shows that black children, particularly black males, are disciplined more often and more severely than any other minority group. This article argues that educators should stop squeezing time out of family life for the questionable benefits of homework. Parents say that teachers require it. Teachers say that parents demand more of it. Politicians call for grading parents on their ability to help with it.
Citizens run for school board seats on no-homework platforms.
Some dismiss the current anti-homework outcry as just the latest swing of the opinion pendulum. School boards and politicians dictate homework policies for political rather than pedagogical reasons. Teachers say that they are increasingly uncomfortable about handing over to parents the learning for which teachers are accountable. Welcome to the homework wars. If the legislation passes Congress in coming weeks, which is by no means certain, it will give Washington a greater say in evaluating public-school performance.