Should Parents Do Homework?

I recently read an article in the New York Times about an English teacher who required parents to respond their children’s homework assignments in a blog the teacher started online. If the parents do not do their part of the homework, the students’ grade could be at risk. This innovative approach keeps the parents involved in their children’s work as well as helps introduce some family time. This approach is one of many ways to keep parents/family members abreast of what is going on in school and in the lives of children.

While this approach is novel, I wonder if this type of interaction is commonplace? Email and voicemail have outpaced traditional letter writing ten fold. I am not versed in the literature on this, but informal conversations with my friends, colleagues and strangers indicates that parent interaction and/or initiative in their students’ progress is wanting. Parents are called when there is a problem in school. Parents call the schools when there is a problem. What about an email “just because” the teacher and/or student wanted to give a snapshot of what was happening in class?

Sometimes parents do not know what to ask, where to begin or how to help their child or the teacher. I believe there is an assumption that everyone is doing their job (teachers teaching and students learning) until the progress report or report card indicates otherwise.

I have lost count on the number of times a friend, colleague or stranger has expressed absolute shock and dismay over the poor performance of their child. The poor performance does not make itself known until report card time. Philosophically, I cannot begin to understand this revelation. Students should be bringing homework home, exams, and projects on a regular basis. From the work product, parents should have a ballpark idea of the type of work and performance their child is completing. Parents/relatives should know which classes, friends, and teachers are their child is most popular and least favorite. Sometimes knowing these facts will also indicate which subjects are more difficult for the student.

From as early as third grade, students are learning literacy skills in both reading and computers. A great way to combine the two would be students sending emails on their progress to their parents email. Better yet, send emails to all family members with email addresses. Work on how to construct letters through this interchange. Advanced classes could use spreadsheets like Excel to chart and graph performance in all classes. This assignment combines math with computer literacy. Blogging can take on a completely new context in creative writing classes.

I recognize that these suggestions will work well in school districts that have access to computers as well as parents who have access. The sticky bits come out when you are dealing with districts and family from lower socio economic backgrounds. That’s the next homework assignment!