By Joseph Ochoa
WHEN you were a kid, didn’t you just wish teachers would never give any homework from kindergarten to college?
Well, if you did, wish granted. President Rodrigo Duterte last October 16, approved an executive order “mandating all Educational Institution to prohibit teachers from giving students of all levels assignment”. According to the president, the law will give the students their well-deserved rest after spending the whole week focusing on their studies. Thus giving students more energy and willingness to study during weekdays.”The students wake up every morning, to spend the rest of the day studying. They only have a few hours to live their life as a kid, teen, and pre-adults. We should not take these hours of freedom away from them in the form of giving take-home assignments everyday. These kids don’t even have time to process the information given to them.”Teachers and Professors who will be reported for giving homeworks and assignments upon implementation are expected to face a fine of 50,000 and 1-2 years jail time.” (www.pinoyexchange.com) The president was even quoted to have cursed “assignments” with his now infamous battlecry of “p…..angina”. Now, all you assignment-hating students, you have found an ally in the guise in no less than the President of the Republic of the Philippines.
This is a relatively unorthodox order; especially coming from the President of the Republic. In an informal survey conducted by the author of this article among teachers and parents of pupils and students of levels from kindergarten to tertiary, asking them if they agree or disagree with the EO and why, 60% of teachers agree with the “No Homework Policy”, with the major reason that it would give children quality time with the family”. The remaining 40% disagree because according to them, there would be no follow-up activity for retention and mastery, and advanced study of lessons, Furthermore, a projected effect is the decrease of the development of study habits of children. On the other hand, all interviewed parents unanimously concur in disagreement against the Duterte EO; with reasons in consonance with the disagreeing teachers. Parents’ concerns were raised regarding the perceived probable decline of academic performance, study habits, and value of diligence and hard work.
“Homework teaches students about time management, and setting priorities. Making assignments “helps teachers determine how well the lessons and material are being understood by their students.” It “gives students another opportunity to review the class material.” Assignments “gives parents a chance to see what their child is learning in school. It teaches students the skill of problem solving, the discipline of having to do things, even when they don’t want to, taking responsibility for their part in the educational process, the value and procedures of independent work, and the importance of planning, staying organized and taking action.” (lessonplanspage.com) “These tasks are important to help the students revise the concepts taught in class and perform better at the subject.” Learners “can develop a better understanding of the subject and its applications when they attempt assignments on their own.” “It will help them revise the concepts they read in school. (www.theschoolfield.org) “Memphis Parent writer Glenda Faye Pryor-Johnson says that, “When your child does homework, you do homework,” and notes that this is an opportunity for parents to model good behavior for their children.” (education.cu-portland.edu)
However, on the other hand, “there is actually no homework in Finland”; yet the high school graduation rate for students in Finland comes in at 93% against Canada’s 78% and the US’ 72%. “Finland also happens to have the highest rate in Europe for students going to college (two out of three)” (neomam.com) In fact, Finnish education is considered the best in the world; and they have no homework. Typically “the highest homework loads are associated with countries that have lower incomes and higher levels of social inequality.” (newrepublic.com)
Students “need time to relax and take their minds off work”; considering the “pressure of having to complete homework every night is quite daunting for most children” and this necessitates “time to refresh their minds and bodies”. Homework reduces a child’s family time which is “especially important to a growing child and without it social problems can crop up and a family unit can be compromised by a lack of time being spent together.” Homework can cause conflict between parents who want the child to do their homework, and a child exerting resistance to do an overwhelming task. (www.teach-nology.com)
“Now, finish the work, so that your eager willingness to do it may be matched by your completion of it, according to your means. For if the willingness is there, the gift is acceptable according to what one has, not according to what one does not have. “
2 Corinthians 8: