I know, I know. Your argument is going to be that maybe my child shouldn’t be doing gymnastics or swim lessons. That maybe I shouldn’t be pushing extracurricular activities into our schedule. But to that I say no as well. My children enjoy these things, just like they currently enjoy school. Being active is something that is good for their bodies, and a child’s mind AND body should be something we strive to develop as they grow.
Part of growing up is learning how to maintain a balance of things, and right now I’m teaching them to balance school and fun activities, but I can’t do that when I’m making this exorbitantly difficult on them.
Do I want my kids to experience a little bit of adversity? Yes. Do I want them to know what it’s like to have to do things you don’t want to do? Definitely. Do I think it’s an important lesson to teach them that they are to do things that are assigned to them, even if they seem frivolous? You bet.
But I also want them to know that they can stand up for themselves when too much stress is taking over their lives.
I want them to be able to look at things and say, “You know what, I need to let something go so I can enjoy this part of my life.” I want them to know that it’s OK to say no sometimes and that people aren’t always going to agree with your decision, but that their well-being is more important than that.
So let’s make a compromise, teacher.
Since I have done my research on this topic (and I am professionally educated in it as well), I will agree to some terms. My child will most definitely read every single night. I don’t mind if you tell me that they need to read a book on a certain topic, or even if they need to read certain pages from a textbook. I think we can both agree that reading is a staple in any education system and provides much more than simple literacy skills.
Also, I will have them do projects.
Research a particular topic on the internet and give a presentation to the class? Sure. Complete a engineering project using certain materials? Absolutely. Write a research paper on a topic for their biology class? I’ve got your back. Because those skills — literacy, critical thinking, problem solving, writing proficiency — those are the skills that are needed in the real world.
Those are the skills that will power my child through higher thinking. Will they always like it? Nope. Will they complain and fuss and fight me on it? Well, duh. They’re kids. But if these are the skills you are teaching my child and not sending them home busy work filled with worksheets and memorization and verbatim answers out of a book then I will back you 100 percent.
To my child’s teachers.
I respect you. I honor your classroom policies and procedures. I know you are there to make my child feel safe, respected, cared for and to provide them with the necessary tools to thrive as a good human being. Trust me, I once was you.
But I also am an advocate for my children, and my children deserve to be kids. They deserve to play when they get home from school, not sit down to do homework. They need to have fun, let off some steam and get rid of the stressors of the day. They deserve to have their focus for the next 13 years be more than just school and homework. They need sports, extracurricular activities, the arts and music to be a well-rounded human.
They need time with their family, because years after they have left your classroom, we will still be here holding onto a bond that may not be as strong because we spent years arguing over school work.
I want them to love school and to love life, so please understand when I tell you my child won’t be doing homework.
