Soapbox Derby

The pictures tell most of the story. Our town's second annual Soapbox Derby. We modified that car from last year a bit, so that it was not so top heavy. We also put a governor on it to prevent over-steering.

No crashes by us this year. Very fun. And we even jumped in to race. Love this simple, old fashion stuff.

Homework, Homework, Homework.....UUUGGGHHH!

We are in full blown school mode now. You know how I know this? Well, I am already looking forward to vacation. The kids are coming home with homework, projects, field trip forms, classroom wish lists, conference requests, holiday party requirements, etc., etc., etc.. I once heard a talk by a person named, John P. ("Jack") Blessington. He is a business person turned educator with specific experience in Montessori education. His speech was about how children learn and how society needs to continually review the way we teach our children given the changing demands on parents, communities, society, the nation and the world. The process of education is something that cannot be static. What worked in the 50's or 60's may not work in the 70'. What worked in the 80's may not work in this decade.

He also spoke of his experience with homework and the lack of empirical statistical evidence, that homework helps to improve the intellect, knowledge and academic experience of a child. Now, at first I raised an eyebrow, having been educated by nuns who poured it on as if our after school time was endless; purgatory prep, I always thought. Anyway, I listened.

At the time, I think that I had 2 or 3 kids who were in their preschool years. So homework was not on my radar. Even so, something he said really resonated with me. Although a bit radical to pitch, he explained that when kids are in school the environment, expectations, resources, and overall support is pretty much the the same for each kid. When kids leave school, all that changes. Whether the after school environment is some sort of after school care or at home, things are different for each child. To have the same homework deliverable, expected for each child is not realistic and can in fact create low self esteem and anxiety. Children become acutely aware of how their homework is "different" than their peers. As an extreme example, imagine an only child with a stay-at-home parent able to give 90 to 100% attention to their child for his homework. Now imagine another child who comes home to a single working parent with 3 children who all need help. In each circumstance, each child's environment and resources are different. How can we expect the same "homework" performance for each?

Now he went on to explain that some "homework" is of course necessary: math facts, independent reading, etc.; those that do not need much, if any assistance.

Last year my two third graders had teachers who went out on a limb and did an experiment the last 3 months of school. No homework. They still had to practice math facts and read for half an hour. WOW, the results. They would come home, do their family contributions (chores), get outside to burn off energy, play imaginative games, interact with each other and neighborhood kids, be ready for dinner, then bed to read and be sufficiently tired to sleep well. No begging and pleading for them to do their homework. No anxiety over getting it done. No tears because they don't get it and are actually just plain old spent. They talked about what they learned, shared things at the dinner table, and were excited to get to school the next morning.

So, were are headed off to a camping weekend in New Hampshire. Tonight, I would rather be checking the gear with the kids, thinking about what we need to bring for food, supplies, safety and fun. Planning is a process that is so valuable to learn. This is also something I would like my kids to remember and to have a vested interest. Not that they just jumped in the van and it was loaded, ready to go. Remember that they helped, thought through things, weighed the pro's and con's, laughed and had fun doing it.

Instead, homework, homework, homework, little time outside, rushed through dinner, hurry, hurry, hurry. UUUGGGHHH!