The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1902-03-03
SCHOOL WORK AT HOME.
A Brooklyn Parent Complains That His
hid Has Too Much OF II.

To THE EDITOR OF THE SUN-Sir' The
svstem OF home work" in the grammar
grades OF the Brooklyn public schools Is an
outrageous burden on the pupils and an I'M
position on the parents. My little girl Is IN
the third grade. She IL certainly not lacking
In intelligence, for she has always been among
the foremost in her classes. After she reaches
home in the afternoon her time is taken up
almost continuously until bedtime with TINS
assignment OF work. ] thought II was set
tied when | was n boy that the regular school
hours cover about as much time as a growing
child should spend at his studies, wlth' say
an hour or so at night added for further prepa-
ration. The secret and insidious practice OF
giving out home work" has undermined this
salutary restriction, and under the influence
of Jealous theorists and faddists. lacking dis
erection, the work has increased beyond Shat
any child should undergo. IL IL could hH
generally known exactly how much time a
child must spend at school work in order
conscientiously to do what is assigned, there
would be a public outcry which would drive
the present school authorities out OF po"si
Complaint 70 the teachers has rllcltfa ,9e
the matter, and that compliant should we
made higher up; many or then, ulshppioNe
of the quantity of work imposed. ana some
ask why the parents do not protest against "
The parents, of course, are not oteahth.u
and have no leaders. The dlflcuiIE teacheIs
tell me, Is that there Is not s~uflcient Tune
during school hours for explanation or STUDY
because time lie wasted on a variety OF educa-
tional fads which have crept into our pubic
school systcm. Music. drawinR sewing.
designing, jumping, the rowing motions. are
some examples Of these. IL,
The home work. too, IL injected WIN
faddism. Time is wasted by such metho'S
as the following: A grammatical explana-
and of lis four or FIVE varieties, The children
are required at home to compQse
amples OF these various clauses, which woGld
be comparatively easy-hut. TO nnd exah,pl,s
In one of three designated books ] ha,e
tried my hand at this, ana ] iouhd y Ilk'
looking for a needle in a haystack., too
ouire a child TO do IL In the little time left after
a school day and the other home WORK given,
suggests TO me the tasks imposed by the eNh
characters in the fairy tales In other WORDS
Il ia demanding an impossibilty.
The result OF this system IL not Truly Gov.
cational. In the great majority, OF cases u
scholarship. In the minority, where the
students are conscientious, " will break dow
health IL enforced, even. where the chi!d mas
assistance from educated parents.
In some schools the teachers do not rigldly
require the work to be done, but IN others a
failure 20 perform everything results IN re-
proof and being kept in"-a fatal DISCOURAGE
ment 20 a sensitive and well-meaninR pupil,
And yet, as though Ia irony, the pupils are
enjoined that they should be outdoors az
least an hour daily
This letter has proved longer than ] Intend;
ed hut / hope THF SrS will believe me when !
say that the matter Is OF the utmost impor-
lance. and will publish u, and also allow other
10 he heard. RK~MoNsTRANcR.
RHOOKlYN. March J..