The Homework Myth

Why Our Kids Get Too Much of a Bad Thing

By: Alfie Kohn

Narrated by: Alfie Kohn

Death and taxes come later; what seems inevitable for children is the idea that, after spending the day at school, they must then complete more academic assignments at home. The predictable results: stress and conflict, frustration and exhaustion. Parents respond by reassuring themselves that at least the benefits outweigh the costs. But what if they don't? In The Homework Myth, nationally known educator and parenting expert Alfie Kohn systematically examines the usual defenses of homework--that it promotes higher achievement, "reinforces" learning, and teaches study skills and responsibility. None of these assumptions, he shows, actually passes the test of research, logic, or experience. So why do we continue to administer this modern cod liver oil -- or even demand a larger dose? Kohn's incisive analysis reveals how a mistrust of children, a set of misconceptions about learning, and a misguided focus on competitiveness have all left our kids with less free time and our families with more conflict. Pointing to parents who have fought back -- and schools that have proved educational excellence is possible without homework -- Kohn shows how we can rethink what happens during and after school in order to rescue our families and our children's love of learning.

Intriguing argument

Author/reader still comes off as pretentious as he does in his other books, but you can't fault his logic and dedication to thorough research. Many of what he shares mirrors my experience as a 90s kid. I hated hw and still do. It deprived me of opportunities to learn how to "study" and teach myself, which gave me a disadvantage when I went to college and the professors didn't teach and tests were the entire grade.

Gold Mine

Must read for parent and teacher! We should disccus about this subjects with our schools and see what can be done. Great book, very interesting points are made. I have laughed (in a bad way), I have cried and it made me angry at some points. We should do more for our kids, and we should stop treating them like if they don't know anything at all!

I am a anti-homework advocate

Why? Not because I don’t think that children should be learning. But among the wonderful things that this book talks about with imperial evidence and common sense approaches, homework turns children who are future adults into workaholics. You only have 24 hours in the day. Eight hours I spent sleep, then eight hours at school when they are at the height of your neuroplasticity. When you get your children home from school, you only have a small window of time where you can still grab your attention. Why would you help the teacher do their job? You didn’t even go to school to get the professional educators license in the content matter specializing in. So stop lying to yourself. What are you good at? Cooking? Child development? Home management and design? Health and hygiene? Budgeting and economics? Sewing textiles and clothing management? Care for the elderly? The estate planning? Family law? There are so many things that you could teach them for their life at home. I urge you to read this book and then get with a early childhood educator who is also an anti-homework advocate and plan developmentally appropriate curriculum around family and consumer sciences/home economics. Your time as a parent will be best spend teaching them about life and how to live as a human being then trying to help the teacher do their job. I tell the teachers don’t send that homework home. They won’t get done.