Latest


Chennai mother starts plea to ban homework

  •   Sun, Sep 16 2018 10:14:32 PM

Daijiworld Media Network

Chennai, Sep 16: A mother of two young kids from Chennai has started an online petition to Ministry of Human Resource Development asking them to ban homework and give children a gift of exploring by reducing stress.

Mirudula Manian writes on change.org that she does not want the imaginative bubble of her 4 year old son to diminish because of academic stress.

Terming homework as a never ending drama for children and parents, she writes, “Most parents of primary school-aged kids would agree that homework creates tears and tantrums and it takes far too much time.”

“There is a minor conflict at every home (hopefully) it's about homework. Heavy portions for this age, cycle test for kg classes, surprise test and weekly test, what not for small children (most parents would agree with it.) This is something which I'm referring to all schools (at least most schools across India, 98% irrespective of the syllabus or teaching methodology, we fear stress level is way too high both with kids and us,” she highlights in her plea.

Manian cites a court order banning homework till class-II. "It is sad to see small children loaded with so much homework. If the parent has more than one child or comes back home after work, you can imagine that homework has the potential to occupy a significant component of our afternoons. We have our children involved in music lessons/dance/sports and more. Additionally the children enjoy being children, playing with friends, having free time colouring,” she writes and stresses that homework drives children away from learning.

While Manian encourages schools to give reading and projects for children, she says topics should suit the age and level of understanding of the child, as the project is for children and not for parents.

The petition has received support from 9,700 people. Some have also posted their own thoughts on homework in the comment section. Vaisha K Krishnan, from Tamil Nadu's Villupuram, commented "Please ban homework. As a student of class XII, I have tests every month, then board exam. We don't need homework. We have a large syllabus. It is a lot of work. We have assignments and record notes too. Writing less and studying more might help students cope up with CBSE.”
  

Top Stories

Comment on this article

  • Kesari, Mangalore

    Tue, Sep 18 2018

    Minimize the home work according to an age limit would have been makes some sensible. Especially working mother finds lot of challenges to teach the child. Schools take donation, tuition fees other activity fees, rather than teaching the students in school, teacher demand the mother to teach the child at home, this is not the right way, then why should we send the child to school instead we can teach at home itself write, Now a days teachers are focusing more on their make-ups and accessories. Request all teachers consider each student as their own child and give special attention for KG students. Teachers don't have time to concentrate on each child so they insist the mother to teach at home..........

    DisAgree [1] Agree [1] Reply Report Abuse

  • Rita, Germany

    Mon, Sep 17 2018

    I quite agree with the online mother.I too feel small children when they go to KG ,are not reif enough for higher education as today they are exposed to .I feel pity on these kids who have to go through their "exams"even to a kgclass.Here In Germany KG children have this stress nicht.They go there to study some songs ,play ,study to be in a company etc.make some outings visit farmers etc.Now slowly they are taught some english alphabetes byhart.At the age of 6starts their first schooling.even then a doctor decides whether they are fit to start schooling.when not then at seven.In the beginning they dont have so much hard school ing .few hours first and slowly more.Their schooling is only morning.Afternoon is later they can do their home work.There arent so many children going for tutions as they do in India.second children are divided to school as for their ability.If not smart they go to a different school.not much home work etc.I find this is good children can later find they want study can do.

    DisAgree Agree [3] Reply Report Abuse

  • Jenifer, Mangalore

    Mon, Sep 17 2018

    Parents who problems about homework given to small children, must ensure that their learns to write A-Z and a-z when the child is admitted to KG. Because, today's education is not like it was before 10-20 years. Today's education system starts second language (Hindi/Arabic) from 1st standard. To make space for this, students when entering 1st standard must complete two-three letter word writing in English because from 1st standard onwards the second language alphabets are to be learnt. If parents are complaining about sending homework, its nothing but they are not prepared to keep with the pace.

    Its understandable that from the day we studied and the time our child starts to go to school there is about 25-30 years gap. Education has moved on, its not like how it was when you were studying. Accordingly, your child is not playing 'Kutti-Donne' s/he is playing with your smart phone. Please understand this, or privately educate your child and make her/him appear directly for 10th exam privately without any school exposure. It will leave you with no complains to make.

    Please understand, the advancement in lessons is made keeping in mind the added curricular items that are time-bound. We can't live in a system that was before 25 years, the world and education has advanced.

    DisAgree [2] Agree [2] Reply Report Abuse

  • Santosh, Manglore

    Mon, Sep 17 2018

    Homework (not a heavy) is necessary for students to keep connected with what they studied in school. If there is no homework, then students will start their own other activities in the home or somewhere.
    The result is that in school also they will start to think about their evening programmes and they can't concentrate on studies. This will effect in the exam time, poor performance, then parents blame again to school or their kids.

    DisAgree [2] Agree [4] Reply Report Abuse

  • Mohan Prabhu, Mangalore (Kankanady)/Ottawa, Canada

    Mon, Sep 17 2018

    Today's children are loaded with books and homework from a very early age. Those bags are heavy to carry and the time spent at home doing homework robs the children of quality time with parents and siblings and neighbourhood children. There has to be a limit to all this. There should be a time when school work is done in school itself and not at home, may be in extra time under supervision by volunteering seniors who are well able to direct and have plenty of time.
    I do not remember, in my good old days, ever to have been given homework; instead, we were asked to read certain number of pages of a book that will be the subject of teaching the next day. All that my father did was to ensure that I (and my siblings who were also in school) would sit down at least for an hour and read, whatever we were asked to. He did not interfere at all, and he was an educated man. Those were the good old days.
    Look where I got me. I never had or claimed to have intellectual capacity at a young age, but it developed over time. And I, on my own time (while working), over a long stretch of time, attained the highest qualifications imaginable in law, in academics as well as in the profession, and retired in a senior position from Canadian civil service as an attorney. Homework at a young age would have crushed me! Modern day teachers and parents aim too much for the children and are frustrated when their goals are not achieved. Blame homework for that.

    DisAgree Agree [4] Reply Report Abuse

  • MYE Dsouza, Mangalore

    Mon, Sep 17 2018

    Teacher's should avoid giving homework on Friday's or Saturday's for the kids to enjoy family time. Children should be given the privilege to enjoy being a kid as time goes by too fast. Having a good childhood memories with family bonding are also important as they grow and face the real world.

    DisAgree Agree [4] Reply Report Abuse

  • Pink Floyd, Wrecked World

    Mon, Sep 17 2018

    I was born intelligent. Education ruined my life!

    DisAgree [1] Agree [5] Reply Report Abuse

  • sheetal, Mangalore

    Mon, Sep 17 2018

    I totally disagree with this topic. By giving homework, it makes a child to learn and help himself up-to-date with what is taught on a daily basis in school. I do support every school who give homework everyday and test on a weekly basis. We parents have no right to judge whether any particular school has to give the homework to our kids. If there is no homework on a daily basis, then most parents will spend time with the kids in mall and other activities. For a minute just sit and think that you do not teach your kid anything the whole year and then just 1 day before the final exam you open the books and force them to study everything. After this, you all can comment on this post.

    I do agree the pain and stress every parent take to complete their kids homework. After all, the kids are our own and we need to sacrifice our time and energy with them for their homework. Mirudula Manian, if you do not like test and exams. then why do you send your kids to school. You can make them sit at home and play with them. There is no need to educate your children when you dont like homework and exams.

    DisAgree [11] Agree [3] Reply Report Abuse

  • Robin, Byndoor

    Mon, Sep 17 2018

    I agree to disagree with you that --- Today kids go to school to study. Teachers expect parents to teach at home while parents want teachers to take care of their wards. This is passing forward of responsibilities. What parents to do if they are not capable of guiding at home or tired of their daily work ? Teachers sometime want the home work done at ANY COST !!!! Forget about the evening play with neighboring kids. Again it is the CRY of parents to reduce the weight of BAGS. Any teacher says that BAGGAGE load be reduced ? It is difficult for me to carry my daughters bag and how she will carry ? Reforms are very much necessary. The model people we point today were all studied in rural areas without going to KG classes and without studying CBSE/ICSE syllabus.

    The next thing a kid thinks today after returning from school is HOME WORK.....

    DisAgree Agree [8] Reply Report Abuse

  • Vincent Rodrigues, Katapadi/Bangalore

    Mon, Sep 17 2018

    Better not the students parents interfere with the school/college matters where their siblings are studying.

    DisAgree [4] Agree Reply Report Abuse

  • Pinkfloyd, Udupi

    Mon, Sep 17 2018

    WE DONT NEED NO EDUCATION
    WE DONT NEED NO THOUGHT CONTROL...

    DisAgree Agree [2] Reply Report Abuse

  • Jenifer, Mangalore

    Mon, Sep 17 2018

    The basics of English is that, when two negatives are used in a phrase, it becomes positive.

    DisAgree Agree [5] Reply Report Abuse

  • Navin Shetty, Manipal/ Bahrain

    Mon, Sep 17 2018

    Not new, these type of petitions on Change.org is running since last few years, nothing is going to happen.

    DisAgree [2] Agree [3] Reply Report Abuse

  • Harry, Mangalore

    Mon, Sep 17 2018

    I used to write my own answers in all the tests and exams, I used get less marks in class test / exams, but I got good marks in SSLC, one of Sister (Nun ) noticed this, who used to tell me that, I will score good in board exams, & it happened, I was got failed some time in some subjects and got first class marks in board.
    so, learning with fun needs to be adopted,
    but again I strongly believe that, parents also needs to change their mind toward kids studies and capabilities, even though someone is not good in studies, let them decide step by step what gets good for them, as we grown up, there will be destiny for all !

    DisAgree Agree [9] Reply Report Abuse

  • Smile, Mlore

    Mon, Sep 17 2018

    Too many "what if" questions make the parents 'anxious' about their child's future !!
    Homework is definitely a big issue for the Kids, But for parents biggest problem is carrying a imaginative above 95% scorecard in their minds. In the process little kids will have to pick all the information thrown at them at speed of cluster bombs.
    Here we can't blame the education board either, since they are setting a common syllabus for millions of children , it should not be a cakewalk for the intelligent kids as well.

    DisAgree Agree [4] Reply Report Abuse

  • Robin, Byndoor

    Mon, Sep 17 2018

    Abba.... I salute this lady. I can't see the torture of my wife to my daughter at home. It starts in the morning. My daughter while still feel sleepy, not booted up adequately has to answer the questions fired my Monster. My wife thinks that byhearting and answering correct words is the only way of learning. There is no scope for my daughter to learn and grow naturally. I expect her to learn observing nature. Wife want her to learn inside the room. I see my daughter like the prey in the hands of tiger during exercises. Horrible... Really Horrible... Many a time I fought with my wife to relieve daughter from her clutches (Sometimes I pacify wife to release daughter).

    My wife give example of me and shoot at me that I am not able to earn Money or status in society !!!!! May be true. But I am earning enough for livelihood. I shoot back at her telling that I am mentally sound because of the absence of torturous training at my boyhood days. I studied in rural govt schools and many a time our favourite (Lazy) teachers allow us to read ourselves or play in the ground or garden. It was the great time I never got again in my life.

    I have read that Dr. Shivarama Karanth, told his daughter not to go to school. He made her attend the Public exam directly.

    Another funny thing is apart from her rigorous training, my wife want me also to teach daughter !!!!! I told her I will teach what I want to, I feel at Right time and at Right place but Never what is in the syllabus.... I want to make her ask me questions about the natural doubts arise in her.

    I failed in teaching to my own WIFE. Because .... She never want to be a listener. Instead Dictator...

    Many a time I ask myself.... How much it costs for one way Journey to Himalayas ???

    DisAgree [2] Agree [31] Reply Report Abuse

  • Jenifer, Mangalore

    Mon, Sep 17 2018

    Robin,

    Study is not something that you induce into a child's brain but its something the child takes-in, with enthusiasm. You can't let children idle around till it is age to school - education starts from the time s/he begins to recognize things. Therefore, even toys come in education pattern, like fruits, animals, cars, so on.

    My little ones had education books described in colorful pictures that of fish, flowers, birds, fruits, vegetable, animals and so on. The kid at an age of learning to utter small words, could tell the name of every picture in the books, whereas s/he had no knowledge about alphabets. The information came from naturally stored identity the kid had in his/her mind. The habit developed further to read books much advanced to the child's age. At present, besides their college study, my kids finish all books that are available in their library - and, yes, after achieving desired outcome from their studies. No, we parents do not set them any target - they themselves define where they want to be.

    Hope your wife understands this and a methods more friendly to the child is adopted.

    DisAgree Agree [5] Reply Report Abuse

  • Robin, Byndoor

    Mon, Sep 17 2018

    If she understands I have nothing to be desperate..

    DisAgree Agree [4] Reply Report Abuse

  • Raks Dsouza, Mangalore

    Mon, Sep 17 2018

    Here people are commenting without understanding the news article at all, here the request is to ban homework till class II ,even i support this plea!

    DisAgree [3] Agree [28] Reply Report Abuse

  • Santosh, Manglore

    Mon, Sep 17 2018

    Whatever! We are good at comments, without knowing the truth. That's our birthright. I also commented. Then the only have noticed your comment.

    DisAgree [1] Agree [3] Reply Report Abuse

  • G R PRABHUJI, Mangalore

    Mon, Sep 17 2018

    If presents are educated then no body will ban home work. But systems must introduce in homework. I think parents must insist home work. Parents should not encourage tuition class.

    DisAgree [22] Agree [6] Reply Report Abuse

  • Jenifer, Mangalore

    Mon, Sep 17 2018

    Best way of memorizing things is by writing it several times. It imprints in our mind like a photocopy. If a student of XII has not cultivated this habit, I think she has wasted all her years of study before this. If the student agrees to lock off her smart phone/tablet, I agree she is totally dedicated to her study. But, she will refuse this part because (as per her) then it will leave her behind from her peers, I am sure she is searching for a stone in the curd. Common youngsters, make a choice - what do you want ? YOUR future, or to keep pace with the social activities ?

    As for the mother of the young child, I do agree with her to some extent but its we parents who must contribute towards the study of our children by being with them when they learn to write. You can't expect the teacher to hold 40-50 students' hand and help them learn. I agree that both the parents work, hence they too have their share of responsibility but so do the teachers. We all work for a reward and if we don't fulfill it, we are branded a failure. This applies to the teachers too, who must complete their portion for the period given.

    DisAgree [26] Agree [5] Reply Report Abuse

  • National Man, Mangalore

    Mon, Sep 17 2018

    There's a difference between studying and memorizing. It's sad that so many Indians can't distinguish between the two. It's also the factor that distinguishes education system of India and that of most other countries.

    By your comment, it's very much clear that you're examining a person on his/her capability to memorize texts suppressing creativity and knowledge.
    One must note that it's is next to impossible to score 90%+ without memorizing so obviously most parents would encourage memorizing texts. And the fact that there are so many students who are 'proudly' scoring 98%-99%, it is indeed defining the falling rate of Indian education system. Google this fact... You'll be surprised to see where and how India is ranked in the education system.

    When a teacher teaches the students, she is imparting knowledge. But the so called 'homework' in our country is just transferring data from the text books to note books. There's no knowledge gained by doing that... it's only for memory. How do you expect a human to memorize after 6-8 hours of tiring day at school? We being grown-ups, find ourselves exhausted sitting in our office chair for 8 hours, then what about our children? Instead students must be encouraged to do assignments and research on the topics related to their academics like in most other countries leading in education.

    Don't get offended... you are not at fault here. The entire country has been brought up in this poor education system including me!

    DisAgree Agree [15] Reply Report Abuse

  • Jenifer, Mangalore

    Mon, Sep 17 2018

    National,

    Certain material in our education system is just for memorizing, answering during the exams, and then forgotten. I could not reply to my children's quetions : 'What have we got to do which war happened when and where or which author was born when'. Regardless, since its in their books, they got to answer. One cannot learn this formation, it needs to be memorized.

    All depends on how we train our brain. It can be expanded to stored vast data, it also can be shrunk to a lazy bug. A very bright student, upon losing encouragement will automatically come down in his faring. This encouraging comes from the parents, not teachers alone.

    DisAgree [8] Agree [2] Reply Report Abuse

  • jk, mangalore

    Mon, Sep 17 2018

    And there in lies the problem. Education is not about memorizing. Its about learning new things , exploring and understanding. I would any day prefer a child who writes an answer in his own words rather than memorize it.. Our system has worked and made us good workers...but we need to have more entrepreneurs and this is mostly learnt by the students who then go west for further studies or who gain experience working there...Leadership qualities, thinking outside the box, problem solving etc comes with an open approach to studies.. this is my view..

    DisAgree [2] Agree [15] Reply Report Abuse

  • Jd, Mangalore

    Mon, Sep 17 2018

    Absolutely. Parents also are teachers and have lots to teach the child. If the child has to slog out at home with writing and repeating work, when does parent teach?
    There are some parents who are not imaginative or lazy, who believe teacher and school alone are responsible and capable to educate the child. This tribe is increasing. Due to their pressure, some teachers load the child with beyond acceptable limits.

    DisAgree [7] Agree [5] Reply Report Abuse

  • Sahil, Mangaluru

    Mon, Sep 17 2018

    Home work is a great Way for kid to develop life time learning skills.

    Instead of ban request that minimize the home work according to an age limit would have been makes some sensible.

    DisAgree [7] Agree [20] Reply Report Abuse

  • Eva, Kirem

    Mon, Sep 17 2018

    I too feel homework is necessary to monitor the child. At least parents come to know where their is in learning. Also schools should maintain quality of homework. Something interesting like match the following, strike the odd one our, correct one etc

    DisAgree [3] Agree [9] Reply Report Abuse

  • vijay, uae

    Sun, Sep 16 2018

    ban home work..follow kejiriwala education format. education is not just bokk worm.
    now a adays eduaction is buisness. teachers just dump home work on kids. thechers show their a...show off work to scholl mangement....
    kids sholud allowded to play in their age.. home work grdually sould start from 3 class.

    DisAgree [3] Agree [16] Reply Report Abuse

  • DON, Udupi

    Sun, Sep 16 2018

    India should copy the west in child education, free of homework until certain class.
    This will encourage innovative mind rather making byheart texts.

    DisAgree [4] Agree [27] Reply Report Abuse


Leave a Comment

Title: Chennai mother starts plea to ban homework



You have 2000 characters left.

Disclaimer:

Please write your correct name and email address. Kindly do not post any personal, abusive, defamatory, infringing, obscene, indecent, discriminatory or unlawful or similar comments. Daijiworld.com will not be responsible for any defamatory message posted under this article.

Please note that sending false messages to insult, defame, intimidate, mislead or deceive people or to intentionally cause public disorder is punishable under law. It is obligatory on Daijiworld to provide the IP address and other details of senders of such comments, to the authority concerned upon request.

Hence, sending offensive comments using daijiworld will be purely at your own risk, and in no way will Daijiworld.com be held responsible.

You might also like