Education Quandary

'I've read that homework is a waste of time. Shall I stop encouraging my daughters to do it?'

Hilary's advice

No, of course not. What has happened to common sense among parents? There seems to be so little of it about any more.

This mother has read about a book, due out shortly, which says that homework has little effect on school results and makes children's lives miserable. But the research it quotes from actually says something else. It says that the only kind of homework that gets measurable results among primary-age children is reading. And that, for older children, an hour or two of homework a night is useful, but anything more is counter-productive.

Obviously, in the light of this, teachers need to think very carefully about any homework they set, and what they want pupils to get out of it. Homework for homework's sake is pointless. And primary teachers should maybe ease off on all those maths worksheets and poster-making tasks. They don't seem to make much difference.

For parents, the task is to cultivate a good, balanced attitude to any work done at home. Do a lot of reading with younger children, and help older ones to take responsibility for their homework, learn to concentrate when they are working on it, and do the best they can. Encourage them to be organised and self-disciplined, and offer help if it is needed, but keep things in proportion.

Remember that friends and fun are also important in your children's lives, encourage them to do physical activities, and never let any child labour all evening over a task that should only take half an hour.

Readers' advice

Yes - admit you were wrong. Homework should be banned in primary schools and be voluntary in secondary ones, including private schools. Everything children need to know can and should be crammed into school hours, leaving them free to spend their evenings and weekends doing what interests them.

Parents shouldn't row with their children about homework. On the contrary, complaints from teachers should be answered with the statement, "I have enough rows of my own with the kids. I'm not having yours as well."

Mark Taha, London SE26

Rather than worrying about whether to tell your children that homework is a waste of time, focus on ensuring their time isn't wasted. If the school decides to scrap homework, remember that after-school activities for primary children needn't involve arithmetic or spelling tests. Time spent creatively - cooking, trying a new sport or writing a diary - all beat lolling about in front of the telly. They will thank you for the lesson in self-discipline when it gets to GCSE time.

Alexandra Caish, London SW12

I often tell my primary school children that homework is a waste of time. Whenever they have to do some laborious and unfocused project work, I explain to them how much more useful it would be for them to learn 10 spellings or play football. I also help them find quick ways to copy out enough information to get by. One of the jobs of a parent is to teach their children how to spot bunkum and evade it.

Rene Mitchell, Plymouth

Next Week's Quandary

Dear Hilary

I'm developing a real problem with how the teachers at my children's secondary school talk. It seems to me that their slangy vocabulary and Estuary English accents undermine any sense of professionalism, and encourage pupils not to respect them. I'm not an old fogey, but a working mother of 41. Am I right to be worried, or just a horrible snob?

Send your letters or quandaries to Hilary Wilce, to arrive no later than Monday 12 February to 'The Independent', Education Desk, Independent House, 191 Marsh Wall, London E14 9RS; or fax: 020-7005 2143; or e-mail: h.wilce@btinternet.com. Please include your postal address. Readers whose letters are printed will receive a Berol Combi Pack of a cartridge pen, handwriting pen and ink eraser.