November 12, 2014

Should Parents Help Their Children With Homework?

Introduction

Autumn Raubuck helped her sons with homework in their home in Long Beach, N.Y. Yana Paskova for The New York Times

Sociologists at the University of Texas at Austin and Duke University have found that parental involvement, including homework help, can have a negative effect on a child’s academic achievement.

As parents fret to give their children the tools to be successful in the future, are they doing more harm than good? Is parental involvement out of control?

Read the Discussion »

Debaters

Help With Forming Good Study Habits

Erika A. Patall, University of Texas

When kids feel like homework has value and doing it is their own choice, it will seem more interesting and lead to greater achievement.
The Homework Parent Trap

Alfie Kohn, author

I think “back off and let 'em fend for themselves” is poor advice. What's needed isn't less parenting but better parenting. But that's not an argument in favor of homework.
Not All Students Have Access to Help

H. Richard Milner IV, University of Pittsburgh

Questions about the uneven distribution of resources should be at the very heart of our philosophies and practices in deciding on homework assignments.
Autonomy Works Best for the Classroom

Jessica Lahey, Author, "The Gift of Failure"

The children of controlling parents, who intervene and manage every detail of their child’s performance, tend to give up when faced with challenge and frustration.
Be Supportive and Let Learning Happen

Martha Brockenbrough, former teacher, author

My daughters have handed in homework that’s less than perfect. And this might look like incompetence, but when I see it, I see learning in progress.
Don’t Bother, Homework Is Pointless

Sara Bennett, author, "The Case Against Homework"

Educators should realize that homework sets up a pattern of dependence that continues throughout the school years, rather than instilling responsibility and self-discipline as they claim.