An interesting read. Mr. Kohn really pushes me to go beyond the thinking our education system seems to encourage. As a parent of 3 middle schoolers, I certainly agree with his point that homework is a major source of contention in a family.
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Lou Lloyd-Zannini
1/4/2013 04:11:29 am
Alfie Kohn has been pushing people's buttons for as long as I can remember. The problem is twofold: He's usually got a piece of something important and true in his prod, and he's always quite obvious in his bias. So it's not like there's any hidden agenda with him.
So far, this book is true to his usual form, and it is thoroughly engaging reading. I'm looking forward to seeing what others think -- not just of the work as a whole, but compelling and/or exasperating pieces of it as well. Let's not save it for the meeting. There's too much good stuff to kick around.
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Camille Williams
1/13/2013 04:51:54 am
Thanks for starting this book club. I was really excited to see this as the featured book, because it has been on my list of things to read for quite awhile. I haven't started it yet, but I wanted to post a couple of (fairly) recent news items on this topic:
There may soon be no homework in the entire country of France:
Can't wait to read this book and discuss at the meeting! Thanks again for this opportunity!
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Sharon Hellmann
1/15/2013 10:10:25 pm
Interestingly, the topic of homework has come up recently on a language teachers' listserv to which I subscribe. It is not a great surprise that Alfie Kohn's name has come up in the conversation. One thing I'm seeing from this group of (largely) middle and high school foreign language teachers is that many, many of them give homework because they are required to do so. They are looking for ways to make it easier for their students and themselves. That doesn't seem like a very meaningful use of time for students or teachers. One teacher did just post that his "homework" (and the quotation marks are his) is to have his students have some fun with the language: listen to a song, go to a local latino restaurant, read your favorite children's book in another language. That's more encouraging than a worksheet to conjugate verbs!
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Suzanne Conklin
1/18/2013 08:30:54 am
I have just started the book, and there is an outside chance I'll finish it before the discussion... but I'm hoping to. So far...
Yes, Lou, the bias is obvious. The author states that the research is flawed, thus it doesn't show that homework is valuable. But, if that is true, than the research can't show the opposite either.
Also, my interpretation of so many of his comments is that teachers have no ability to judge the value of an assignment, have no backbone to challenge their school administrators, nor have the ability to empathize with family concerns (unless they are parents themselves). I find all this preposterous.
I was drawn into this discussion because it hits a nerve with me. "Homework" is getting attacked in much the same way "worksheet" gets attacked in educational circles. These words are so incredibly vague, that it is meaningless to attack or defend them. "Book" "paper" etc are equally vague. It is their content that should be judged.
More soon, I'm sure... and I look forward to the discussion!
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Lorraine Downes
1/27/2013 11:42:40 am
I read 3/4 of the book and that was a challenge. I found it poorly written and repetitive. I think Mr. Kohn makes a couple of decent points about homework but I find many of his comments snarky and without any substantial research to back up his declarations - exactly what he complains about. Looking back at my notations I have to laugh, there is more than one "come on!" and a couple of "loaded language". Looking forward to a lively discussion.
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Lou Lloyd-Zannini
1/29/2013 11:53:25 pm
Suzanne,
Your third paragraph is right on the mark. I found that Kohn's assertions that teachers mindlessly cave to aggressive administrators determined to do whatever is necessary to torture children (Okay, so it's a somewhat loose translation of his comments, but not that far off the mark!), is seriously off-base, and not reflective of what I've experienced in my work in VA or here at HBS.
At the same time, as I talk with colleagues around the country, Kohn's remarks aren't all that far from their reality in many areas. I guess that for us the question is whether this rings true for us, and if so, what we would do about it in an ideal world to resolve it.
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Camille Williams
1/28/2013 11:41:09 pm
Yes, there is a lack of evidence proving homework to be harmful. Kohn himself acknowledges that in the book. But what would have been the proper sequence in terms of widespread adoption of homework and emergence of evidence? Educational research clearly showing it's benefit to children followed by adoption of the practice? Or, widespread adoption of the practice without said evidence, continuting as long as no proof emerges that it was detrimental all along? Kohn, of course, argues the former, and I agree. He borrowed the legal terminology, "burden or proof." For me, it also resonated as a health care provider. Those who strive to provide evidence-based care ideally do not routinely prescribe treatments until and unless research deems them both safe and beneficial--especially treatments with observable downsides to patients. So, I tend to agree that since homework is often so consumptive of family time,and the limited time children have to pursue other very valuable activities, the "burden of proof" should require solid evidence that homework is necessary for children's learning.
We of course know Kohn's opinion without even opening the book--he put it right in the title. But I wonder what the educators and administrators among us think of his treament of the research (I'm sure most of us do not have time to read all the individual studies cited!). If he is presenting the research accurately, then I do find it compelling in and of itself that years of research has failed to show significant benefit, even without proof of actual harm.
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Jane Allard, HBS Librarian
2/11/2013 02:48:06 am
We had an uplifting first Bookclub on Thursday evening, 2/7/13! It was such a pleasure to meet and share ideas with parents, teacher-parents, and our administrator. To learn of others' professions, backgrounds, and ideals/experiences that have shaped our "take" on the homework debate. Fun to learn of the pre-6 year olds' desire for homework! I truly estimate that Alfie did not enjoy his school experience, disagree with the notion of kids having to endure a 'second shift' when the school day is done, and know from experience that skills are building all day, after school and into the night---because we are doing an impressive job of raising good citizens who can express themselves, make decisions and treat others with dignity. That's definitely a day's work! Bravo us!
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