Image Analysis

This image was posted in www.newyorker.com along with an article about the countries that are moving towards or have already moved to ban homework in grade schools. The immediate portion that came to my mind about the image was the massive stack of books and papers. It is unclear who the person shouldering the burden is, but I believe it to be the mother of the child.

I think this picture takes a different stance on the homework ban than most images I have seen. While the standard image is of small children sleeping, slumping, or being unhappy with their piles of books, this image shows the other angle. The angle of the burden to the parents. The parents have to shoulder the responsibility of the homework assigned in all classes be completed. The parents have to keep up with the knowledge of their children to help them work through the homework they don't understand.

It also portrays the mother trying to balance the life of her son. He is the most important aspect, being on top of the pile. However, he is also having to try to balance his life, which is portrayed with the soccer ball and the violin. This is also an interesting concept. The child is trying to balance the two things he most enjoys, with everything else being beneath him and becoming the responsibility of the parent to maintain.

With the angle of the picture falling down, it gives the impression of a failing battle. The mother is being crushed, and walking downhill. This image really struck me with a different viewpoint on the burden homework has put onto families. It also made me really think about how much the child concerns themselves or leaves it up to their parents to deal with it.

Works Cited: Untitled Photograph. New Yorker web. December 17,2012. http://www.newyorker.com/talk/comment/2012/12/17/121217taco_talk_menand

Research Question

Is homework for students in grade school necessary for in their education?

Currently, I would disagree that homework is an important aspect of education. I personally did not need or learn much from homework. I often did not even do my homework, and if I did it was at the very last minute and the bare minimum of what I had to do. I certainly do not remember doing anything at home that helped further my education. My memories of learning are always from a classroom. Whether it was a lecture by a teacher, or a group activity in class, those are the times I remember learning. I do not remember one homework assignment I ever did. I also believe that creating homework assignments for students is very time consuming for a teacher. In addition, the same homework for each student does not meet each student’s needs. Having a complete ban on homework in grade schools may possibly free up time for teachers, giving them more time to do the one on one teaching we so desperately need in our classrooms.

I see several angles to this issue. My mother was a teacher for over 35 years. She would have loved to not have all the papers to grade, the homework to think of, and the motivation to push for homework to be done. She would have loved to be able to spend more time working face to face with the children in their learning. Moreover, she would have loved not to spend her time off work grading papers and sacrificing her family time. I also know that my child needs to work on his education at home. The limited hours at school that are now available to our children do not leave enough time in the classroom for all learning to take place in the classroom. I also see how a parent’s lack of concern or lack of time to be the surrogate teacher to their children can damage the current standard of education with homework.

I hope during my research to find answers to studies that have been conducted about the effectiveness of homework. I already know that Charter Schools have started to ban homework. Yet they have a different working educational system than a public school system. Would their system be more beneficial if it was adapted as the standard? Would our children benefit more by keeping the learning and teaching with the professionals at school? On the other hand, do they benefit by having the alternate eye and support of parent teaching and homework?

My Blog Introduction

Hi, my name is Rebecca. I am a wife and mother of a 6-year-old son. I have a varied background in my career path, from being a stay at home mom, to a full time student, a call center, a floating unit secretary for 15 doctors’ offices, and a bookkeeper. I found my true joy in accounting. My ultimate dream goal would be to work in Accounting in the Healthcare field.

Having a son who is just starting school, in a district that has already started to ban homework for grade school students, I am very interested in the debate. I am not sure if getting rid of homework in a generation that is already so lacking in education will be helpful. I am hoping to find the answers to this debate. I am curious where my son might end up with the outcome.