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Statement on the no-homework policy bills

PASIG CITY, August 28, 2019 – With its issuance of the “Guidelines on Giving Homework or Assignment to All Public Elementary School Pupils,” otherwise known as DepEd Memorandum No. 392, series 2010, the Department of Education (DepEd) reiterates its commitment to the holistic development of learners inside and outside the classroom.

The said issuance aims to enable learners to have more quality time with their parents, family, and friends by limiting the homework/assignment to a reasonable quantity on school days and by eliminating the same during weekends.

It is in this regard that the Department supports the no-homework policy proposed by legislators from the House of Representatives. By ensuring that they complete all assignments and projects in school, the no-homework policy enables our learners to find balance between their academic development and personal growth by having ample time for enjoyable activities with family.

The Department will further study the other provisions of the bills to determine the repercussions on the current teaching and learning process.

THE SUSPENSION OF HOMEWORK IN THE PHILIPPINES

• Temps de lecture : 16 min de lecture
• Auteur/autrice de la publication : education_south
• Publication publiée : 2 juin 2022
• Post category: Pédagogie
• Commentaires de la publication : 3 commentaires

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By Joreen Domingo Varly

To the 29 000+ Filipino readers/viewers over the past 3 months, Maraming Salamat po!

INTRODUCTION

Homework or homework assignment has been an inevitable part of a pupils’ academic journey. An academic task that includes a period of reading, writing that has to be completed, textbook exercises to answer, Mathematics problems to be solved, some information to review for the previous or next lesson, and some activities to practice skills.

The primary purpose of giving a homework is to reinforce and increase pupils’ knowledge and improve their learning abilities. This will encourage pupils to engage in active learning. This also promotes a pupil-parent communication and collaboration between pupils.

 But many schools are rethinking homework, some have cut down on the amount they give each week, and others no longer allow weekend assignments. Some have eliminated homework entirely.

Source : OECD (2014)

THE PHILIPPINES’ Suspension of Homework

In September 2010, a memorandum from the Department of education was circulated (and passed on to all the bureau directors, regional directors, school division/city superintendents and Heads of Public elementary school). The   Deped Memorandum No.392 S.2010 highlights the suspension of homework during the weekend. This is to address the concern of parents regarding the amount of time the pupils consume in accomplishing their homework, instead of having an enjoyable and quality time with their family. This memorandum also intends to ease the pupils’ burden about the thought of doing plenty of homework.

In August 2019, the 118 th Congress – Senate Bill No. 966 (authored by Senator Grace Poe) or the proposed “No Homework Law” has been filed. This is a senate bill banning teachers from giving homework to students from kinder to Grade 12 on weekends.

The bill stated that all primary and secondary schools in the country shall not allow teachers to give any network or assignments to students. Under the proposed measure, teachers may only assign homework to students on weekends provided that it be minimal and will not require more than four hours to be completed.  The policy will be applied on both public and private schools.

“Further, it looked at homework hours around the world and found that there wasn’t much of a connection between how much homework students of a particular country do and how well their students score on tests” , the bill read.

Citing a 2014 study from the OECD based on PISA data, the senator noted that additional time spent on homework has a negligible impact on the performance of students after around four hours of homework in a week.  In OECD countries, for example, advantaged students spend 5.7 hours per week doing homework, on average, while disadvantaged students spend an average of 4.1 hours per week.

No homework policy

The Department of Education (DepEd) expressed its support on this filed bill of “No homework policy” saying that it would help learners find balance between personal and academic growth. Since they had been advocating for an all-inclusive learning regime for Filipino students, to include out of the classroom schooling, a policy that will, in effect, restrict teachers from giving homework to students from kindergarten to Grade 12. In hopes that the concept will enable Filipino learners “to find balance between their academic development and personal growth by having ample time for enjoyable activities with family.”

Up to this date, the proposed bill is not yet approved. Apparently, there is need to be circumspect and judicious. The DepEd memorandum of 2010 is still the ruling guideline on giving homework to pupils.

Summary of pros and cons of homework

Let’s look into the summary of homework’s pros and cons:

Source : Joreen Domingo-Varly

NEWS : SEAMEO Secretariat and the Department of Education, Philippines commit to the next phase of SEA-PLM Programme

The SEAMEO Secretariat Director, Dr Ethel Agnes Pascua-Valenzuela, and the Secretary of Education, Philippines, H E Dr Leonor Magtolis Briones, signed the Memorandum of Understanding to spearhead the implementation of activities under the Southeast Asia Primary Learning Metrics (SEA-PLM) 5-Year Strategic Plan, including the SEA-PLM 2024 Survey. The MoU signing ceremony took place in the Office of the Secretary Building at the Department of Education in Manila on Monday, 02 May 2022.

Les notes et la notation : une difficulté complexe et souvent mal comprise

The teaching and learning of mathematics in ghana primary education, curricula analysis in francophone africa, cet article a 3 commentaires.

Félicitations à Joreen d’évoquer un problème en émergence dans les pays africains. Au Cameroun où je passe la majorité de mes observations, le problème de” saturation des activités intellectuelle” gagne du terrain, encouragé par cette frénésie de faire avancer les enfants sans respecter le rythme bio-physiologique des enfants. Tenez par exemple, les congés c’est à partir du 10 juin au primaire. Immédiatement, les “saturalistes” ont déjà programmé des cours de rattrapage pour le mois de juillet. Quand est-ce que le cerveau de ces enfants va se reposer? Commençons à mener des réflexions dans ce sens. Châpeau Joreen/

Thanks! Actually I’ve been looking if it has been approved or not yet, then I saw you blog. I know the Finnish almost 100% do not give homework. As a math teacher, in my class, I started not giving them homework (years before the pandemic) even though the bill has not been passed yet.

https://news.yahoo.com/theres-only-far-them-why-123134730.html

Leave a Reply Annuler la réponse.

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DepEd to issue guidelines regulating weekday homework of students

Ahead of the passage of a law, the Department of Education (DepEd) will issue a directive regulating the giving of homework to students during weekdays, Secretary Leonor Briones told GMA News Online.

Briones said the directive will contain guidelines including the number of homework that will be assigned, the subjects to be included and the students who will be covered by the policy.

The directive will also reiterate DepEd Memorandum No. 392 (series of 2010)  that prohibits homework or assignments during weekends “for pupils to enjoy their childhood and spend quality time with their parents without being burdened by the thought of doing lots of homework.”

Briones said the directive is being finalized for her signature.

“Right now, we are discouraging homework during weekends, but we need to issue a new directive, pending the approval of the bills, that will regulate or limit the homework given on weekdays,” she said.

“In principle, I am supportive of the pending bills in Congress because the final test of the pudding is not really on the homework, we cannot prove the effectiveness of our educational system through homework,” the Education chief added.

There are no guarantees that the kids themselves do the homework, Briones said.

“We know that in a number of cases it is the mother or father, lolo or lola, the tutors or even the yayas who accomplish these homework, so yung output na sina-submit sa school ay hindi output ng bata,” she said.

What should be encouraged within the classrooms is more time for discussions to hone the analytical thinking and assessment of students.

“Data changes, so we can’t always ask them to memorize information and figures.  What we should do is teach them discernment and analytical thinking,” Briones said.

Several bills seeking to implement a “no-homework” policy among kindergarten to Grade 12 students are up for deliberation at the Senate and the House of Representatives.

In House Bill 3611, Deputy Speaker and Sorsogon Representative Evelina Escudero also seeks to compel schools and teachers to implement a "more holistic and effective pedagogy" by conducting all lessons and activities in school.

Apart from a no-homework policy, House Bill 3611 also proposes that all kindergarden and Grade 6 students will deposit and leave their textbooks in school. No textbook will be brought home to "prevent the adverse effects" of carrying heavy bags to-and-from schools. —KBK, GMA News

House Bill No. 3611, 18th Congress of the Republic

Legislative history.

Note:  Legislative history and other information accessed from Congress Legis . Information as of April 20, 2022.

Lawmaker urges no homework policy for students | ABS-CBN News

Lawmaker urges no homework policy for students

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DepEd supports proposed no-homework policy

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This is AI generated summarization, which may have errors. For context, always refer to the full article.

MANILA, Philippines – The Department of Education (DepEd) has expressed its support for the no-homework policy bills proposed by lawmakers at the House of Representatives.  

DepEd, in a statement released on Wednesday, August 28, said the measures would “enable learners to have more quality time with their parents, family, and friends by limiting the homework [and] assignment to a reasonable quantity on school days and by eliminating the same during weekends.”  

It said the policy would allow students to “find balance between their academic development and personal growth by having ample time for enjoyable activities with family.”

House Deputy Speaker Evelina Escudero and Quezon City Representative Alfred Vargas filed separate bills  in August.  

Escudero filed House Bill (HB) No. 3611 , which seeks to remove homework as a requirement and have Kinder to Grade 12 students do academic activities solely within school premises.

“Homework assignments can deprive students and parents [of] precious quality time for rest, relaxation, and interaction after schools hours and even on weekend,” the bill’s explanatory note reads.

The bill also seeks to prohibit students from taking textbooks home in order to “lighten the physical burden of schoolchildren,” who, Escudero said, often have to carry heavy bags due to schoolwork that has to be done beyond the school. This will apply to Kinder to Grade 6 students.  

Vargas filed HB No. 3883 , which seeks to eliminate homework on weekends for all elementary and high school students.  

This is so that students can “enjoy their free time from the precisions of school during weekends and to be able to have a quality time with their family and friends.”    

Vargas, in his proposal, also cited a 2018 study that featured discussions on a similar policy in a public school in Western Cape province in South Africa. Vargas said scholars in South Africa had argued “that homework is a burden for children and parents,” has caused the decline of family time, and even undermines learning interest.  

HB 3883 seeks to “promote and protect the physical, moral, spiritual, intellectual, and social well-being of the youth.”

While DepEd welcomed the proposals, teachers groups have slammed the proposed measures.  

The Alliance of Concerned Teachers (ACT) in a statement told Congress to instead focus on reviewing the K to 12 curriculum.

“We are not issuing homework to burden our students. It is demanded of us by the K to 12 program, so much [so] that our performance evaluation system ensures its implementation,” said ACT national chairperson Joselyn Martinez.  

Teacher’s Dignity Coalition said: “Our teachers are trained educators. We know the value of homework. It’s about discipline, responsibility, and continuity of learning.” – Rappler.com

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Sen. Poe’s Version of “No-Homework Law” Based on Findings

Senator Grace Poe filed her version of No-Homework Law thru Senate Bill No. 966 -An Act Establishing A No-Homework Policy for All Primary and Secondary Schools in the Country. It was read on First Reading and Referred to the Committee on Basic Education, Arts and Culture last August 28, 2019. Legislative status: Pending in the Committee (8/28/2019).

According to her:

Not only that more homework does not translate to better student performance, It also gives additional stress to students, teachers and parents. More homework gives additional workload to our already overworked teachers and takes away valuable time that could have been spent with family and other activities. Hence, this bill aims to limit the homework given to students from Kinder to Grade 12 during weekdays and prohibit the same on weekends to safeguard and promote the welfare of teachers and school children, protect them from conditions that may adversely affect their health and their right to a balanced life, and uphold equality among students across different socio-economic backgrounds. This bill, when enacted into law, will institutionalize and expand the Department of Education (DepEd) Memorandum Circular No. 392, s. 2010 which advised teachers to limit the giving of homework to public elementary school pupils on weekdays and to refrain from giving homework on weekends.

EIGHTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE REPUBUC OF THE PHILIPPINES First Regular Session

SENATE S. No. 966

Introduced by Senator Grace Poe

AN ACT ESTABLISHING A NO-HOMEWORK POLICY FOR ALL PRIMARY AND SECONDARY SCHOOLS IN THE COUNTRY

Explanatory Note

According to Francesca Borgonovi, one of the authors of the study titled, “Does Homework Perpetuate the Inequities in Education?”, there is an advantage for putting extra hours in homework. She noted that when you look within countries at students who are learning in the same educational system and do more homework, those students do much better in school.1 However, data shows that there are diminishing marginal returns to homework after several hours of it.

The Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development’s Program for International Student Assessment (OECD PISA) found in 2009 that after around four hours of homework per week, the additional time invested in homework has a negligible impact on students’ performance. Further, it looked at homework hours around the world and found that there wasn’t much of a connection between how much homework students of a particular country do and how well their students score on tests. The best example of this is Finland. Finnish students do only about three (3) hours of homework per week yet in 2012 they scored sixth highest in the world in reading and 12thhighest in Math on the OECD’ international test, PISA.Finland is also known to rank high in the international rankings for education systems.

Not only that more homework does not translate to better student performance, It also gives additional stress to students, teachers and parents. More homework gives additional workload to our already overworked teachers and takes away valuable time that could have been spent with family and other activities.

Later on, OECD also found out that whatever benefit homework has Is relevant only for measuring student achievement within each country, and that It tends to reinforce the achievement gap between the rich and the poor.5 Specifically, in all 38 countries included in the OECD study, they discovered that homework hours vary by socio-economic status. According to the study, it is not Just poor kids are more likely to skip their homework or do not have a quiet place at home to complete it, schools serving the poor kids also do not assign as much homework as the schools for the rich. Often, poor students also have limited access to resources necessary to complete their homework.

Hence, this bill aims to limit the homework given to students from Kinder to Grade 12 during weekdays and prohibit the same on weekends to safeguard and promote the welfare of teachers and school children, protect them from conditions that may adversely affect their health and their right to a balanced life, and uphold equality among students across different socio-economic backgrounds.

This bill, when enacted into law, will institutionalize and expand the Department of Education (DepEd) Memorandum Circular No. 392, s. 2010 which advised teachers to limit the giving of homework to public elementary school pupils on weekdays and to refrain from giving homework on weekends.

In view of the foregoing, the Immediate passage of this measure is earnestly sought.

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the Philippines in Congress assembled:

SECTION 1. Short Title. – This Act shall be known as the “No Homework Law”.

Sec. 2. Declaration of Policy. – It is hereby declared the policy of the State to safeguard and promote the welfare of teachers and school children, protect them from conditions that may adversely affect their health and their right to a balanced life, and uphold equality among students across different socio-economic backgrounds.

Sec. 3. Scope. – This Act shall apply to both public and private primary and secondary schools.

Sec. 4. No Homework on Weekends. – All primary and secondary schools in the country shall not allow teachers to give any homework or assignments to students from Kinder to Grade 12 on weekends. Assigning homework to students will only be allowed on weekdays; Provided, that such homework shall be minimal and will not require more than four (4) hours to be completed.

Sec. 5. Implementing Rules and Regulations. – Within ninety (90) days from the date of effectivity of this Act, the Department of Education (DepEd) shall formulate the rules and regulations to effectively implement the provisions of this Act.

Sec 6. Separability Clause. – If any portion or provision of this Act Is declared unconstitutional, the remainder of this Act or any provisions not affected thereby shall remain in force and effect

Sec. 7. Repealing Clause. – Any law, presidential decree or issuance, executive order, letter of instruction, rule or regulation Inconsistent with the provisions of this Act is hereby repealed or modified accordingly.

Sec 8. Effectivity. – This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days following Its complete publication In a newspaper of general circulation.

Copy of Senate Bill No. 966 An Act Establishing A No-Homework Policy for All Primary and Secondary Schools in the Country.

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Pinoy Parents React to No-Homework Policy: 'Zero Homework Breeds Lazy Childhood'

Last month, House Deputy Speaker    Evelina Escudero  filed    House Bill No. 3611 , which seeks to establish a no-homework policy   for Kinder to Grade 12 students in both public and private schools. The bill also proposes that children not be required to bring home textbooks “to prevent the adverse effects of carrying heavy bags to-and-from school."

While the bill has yet to become a law, the    Department of Education  (DepEd) has already expressed support for it. DepEd Secretary    Leonor Briones  agreed that kids should be able to spend time with their parents and rest. She also acknowledged that often, it’s the parents, tutor, or yaya who does the child’s homework.

Currently, DepEd has issued DepEd Memorandum No. 392 , which orders teachers not to give homework to elementary students on weekends. This is already being implemented in all public schools nationwide.

What other parents are reading

Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipisicing elit, sed do eiusmod, what pinoy parents think of the ‘no-homework policy’.

While there are benefits to having zero homework , parents and teachers had mixed reactions about the proposal. We ran a poll on our Smart Parenting Facebook page and out of the almost 2,000 votes, 80% believe that students still need homework, while 20% think children can do without it.

Here are some of the reasons why:

‘No-homework policy’ should only be applicable to Kindergarten up to Grade 3 students

“Madalas parents gumagawa pati project ni bagets. Pero need [pa rin] turuan si bagets para matuto naman lalo na ng basic.” — Levs Soriano

“Ang sumasagot sa homework parents. ‘Yung mga bata, maaga na nga gumigising tapos pagod buong araw, late pa makakatulog kasi may gagawin pang homework. Worst is ‘pag hinhinitay nila mga mama nila para sumagot sa homework. E ang mama pagod sa buong araw na trabaho, plus kailangan pa nilang maging ina at asawa sa bahay. Dadagdag pa mga homework na sasagutan.” — Aeimnr Ann

“May experience na kasi kami ng anak ko when he was five years old, tapos four subjects may assignment. Kahit kaya ng anak ko tapusin ‘yun, naaawa ako sa kanya. Mas gusto ko pang magbasa kami ng storybooks sa gabi kaysa magpuyat para gawin ang homework.” — Riza Magaru

No homework on weekends is fair enough

“Ok lang naman weekends walang homework. Just to [refresh] their minds and to have time for family [bonding]. Students also have a life outside the school. [No homework on weekends] to avoid na ma-burnout yung students. Hindi naman rin sa homework nakasalalay ang improvement ng estudyante. Sipag at tamang paggabay po.” — Lara Omangayon

Students need homework, but not too much of it

“Not too much to the point na isang buong chapter sa book e homework ng bata, parang college na. Kindergarteners need homework, kahit simpleng counting numbers, [identifying] colors and shapes, and basic reading para madevelop study habits and comprehension nila.” — Vikki Joyce

“Homework should only serve as follow-up for lessons. Not bulks and loads of homework for little, growing brains. Nakaka-stress.” — Kate Tolentino

“[Children] need homework as reinforcement of their learning and to develop good study habits. What I don’t like are lengthy assignments given especially to preschoolers and elementary students. Homework should only get at most 45 minutes of a student’s time [at home] so they can rest their minds, have time for family bonding and be ready for the next day. However, many times, assignments eat up the three hours that parents and kids have for bonding after parents’ work.” — Christine Altea

How about homework only for weekends?

“Sa school ng prep ko, every weekend lang ang homework and we both love it. We can learn and bond with each other while teaching him to do his homework as one of our quality time. Hindi naman din kasi kadamihan, ‘di naman mauubos ang weekend naming kakagawa ng assignment.” — Boss Mommay Jane

Homework helps kids avoid screen time

“Kung walang homework totally, ano ba gagawin ng mga bata sa panahon ngayon? Online games? Tutok sa cellphone? Kung ganyan din gagawin ng anak ko, mas mabuting may assignment basta schooldays.” — Gelai Jmnz

“Mas ok pa rin para sa akin ang homework para hindi puro laro. Saka pati mga projects, back to basics, hindi puro kay Google at sa PC galling. Mag-e-effort din talaga ‘yung bata.” — Maye San Juan

Students don’t need homework

“A whole day at school is enough for learning. After school is time for family and a time to rest. They need a balanced life. Life isn’t about academic learning only.” — FL Reyes

Yes, students need homework

“Zero homework breeds lazy childhood. Balanced homework is the key.” — Sharmaine Maternal

“They need it as part of their discipline. In real life kasi walang madali. Perhaps they just need to monitor the load of assignments given per day para realistic na matapos ang assignment at the same time may time pa siya for fun and family. All work and no play makes a dull person kasi.” — Jaybhe Cat

“Yes to homework. It instills discipline and time management. ‘Di naman kailangan parents ang gumawa. Kaya lang naman parents ang gumagawa kasi gusto natin mataas ang marka lalo na kapag essay. Ang mga guro nagbibigay ng assignment base sa kakayahan ng bata. Sa pag-aaral, kailangan ng follow up sa bahay. Hindi kailangan magulang ang gumawa [dahil] tinuturuan natin sila [ang mga bata] na maging dependent. Ipagawa natin then i-check kung tama. Kung mali, ipaulit. Kung ‘di talaga makuha, dun tayo papasok para ipaintindi pa.” — Ma Lorence Lopez

“It’s ok for parents to help their children. Hindi naman ibig sabihan na tinuruan ng magulang e magulang na ang gumawa. Remember, we are our children’s first teacher. We should always be there every step of the way to guide them and teach them.” — Wena Medina

“Homework gives time for parents and kids to bond. This is memorable for kids, too. And most of all, this is one way of training our kids with time management, prioritizing what’s needed and urgent, reflecting and giving time to understand their lessons more with the help of their parents without the fear of rejection (sometimes kids are afraid of raising their hands to ask questions).” — Ferbie Manaloto

While the parents are divided over this proposed policy, most agree that students still need homework, however, the workload should be monitored. There are essential life skills that kids can learn by doing homework, and it will help them greatly when they step into adulthood.

On the other hand, out-of-the-box methods and a holistic approach to learning have also proven successful for other countries. Not only does it produce students who are academic achievers, but these students also feel healthier and more secure.

Whether or not the no homework policy is passed as law, one thing remains unchanged: it is the parent’s role to provide structure and guidance for their children, and they should work with their child’s teachers to ensure that their child thrives in school.

Do you think zero homework for kids? Click here for a parent’s account on how her children fared with less — or usually zero — homework.

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‘No homework on weekends’ bill filed at Senate

Sen. Grace Poe, chair of the Senate public services committee, presides over the hearing on Metro Manila traffic issues on Tuesday, Aug. 13, 2019. (Photo from an INQUIRER.net video)

MANILA, Philippines — Sen. Grace Poe has filed a bill that would prohibit teachers from giving pre-school to senior high school students homework on weekends.

Poe said Senate Bill No. 966 “aims to safeguard and protect the welfare of teachers and students.”

The bill, dated Aug. 27, 2019, “would protect them from conditions that may adversely affect their health and their right to a balanced life, and uphold equality among students across different socio-economic backgrounds.”

If enacted into law, teachers from all primary and secondary schools across the country would not be allowed to give any homework to students from Kinder to Grade 12 on weekends.

“Assigning homework or assignments to students will only be allowed on weekdays; provided, that such homework shall be minimal and will not require more than four hours to be completed,” Poe’s bill read.

The senator cited data 2009 Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development’s Program for International Student Assessment (OECD PISA) which showed that “after around four hours of homework per week, the additional time invested in homework has a negligible impact student’s performance.”

Poe further noted that “more homework does not translate to better student.”

She said more assignments would also give additional stress to students, teachers as well as parents.

“More homework gives additional workload to our already overworked teachers and takes away valuable time that could have been spent with family and other activities,” Poe added.

Similar bills have also been filed at the House of Representatives.

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DepEd drafting additional guidelines on homework policy

By Merlina Hernando-Malipot 

The Department of Education (DepEd) said it is currently drafting additional guidelines on students’ homework policy in the wake of proposal to pass a law on “no-homework” policy.

Education Secretary Leonor Briones said that additional guidelines “will soon be issued” by the DepEd to have a “clearer understanding” of its existing policy.

Briones said the additional guidelines will be more precise on whatever homework teachers might impose during weekdays and on what subjects.

“The existing policy is no homework on weekends,” said Briones in a recent press conference. However, homework is still allowed on weekdays.

Despite this policy, she said DepEd is “also encouraging our teachers to limit the homework during weekdays, especially on particular subjects.”

Under current guidelines, as stated in DepEd Memo No. 392 s. of 2010 issued by former Secretary Bro. Armin Luistro, “no homework/assignments shall be given on weekends for pupils to enjoy their childhood, and spend quality time with their parents without being burdened by the thought of doing lots of homework.” It the same memo, teachers were also “advised to limit the giving of homework/assignments to a reasonable quantity to give their pupils ample time to rest and relax at home for the rest of the day.”

The DepEd has already expressed support to the “no-homework” bills proposed by legislators. “By ensuring that they complete all assignments and projects in school, the no-homework policy enables our learners to find balance between their academic development and personal growth by having ample time for enjoyable activities with family,” DepEd said.

But Briones said there are also other issues to be considered when it comes to the “no-homework” policy. “We have to look at the Philippine practice of homework and have a clear idea of the homework practice in both public and private schools,” she said.

Citing various research works, DepEd Undersecretary for Curriculum and Instruction Diosdado San Antonio said younger pupils “should have lesser homework” compared to older students.

“The literature is saying that younger kids should have less and the kids in the higher grades like senior high school may be given more homework,” he added. This will be included in the guidelines the agency will release, he said.

Helpline PH

The impact of no homework policy: a comprehensive analysis.

Table of Contents

Introduction

The No Homework Policy, a revolutionary concept in the education sector, has been a subject of intense debate among educators, parents, and students alike. This policy, which aims to eliminate or significantly reduce homework, has been met with both applause and criticism. This article delves into the impact of the No Homework Policy, drawing from personal experiences of teachers and students who have been significantly affected by it.

The Traditional Role of Homework

Historically, homework has been viewed as an essential tool for reinforcing what students learn during the school day, preparing for upcoming lessons, and providing parents with a window into their children’s academic progress. However, critics argue that homework often leads to stress and burnout, infringes on students’ personal time, and exacerbates social inequalities.

The Student Perspective

From a student’s perspective, the No Homework Policy has had a profound impact. Many students have reported feeling less stressed and more able to balance their academic responsibilities with extracurricular activities and family time. However, some students feel that the policy has made it more difficult for them to retain information and fully understand the material taught in class.

The Teacher Perspective

Teachers, too, have had mixed reactions to the No Homework Policy. Some teachers feel that the policy allows them to focus more on in-class instruction and less on grading homework. However, others worry that without homework, students may not be getting enough practice with new concepts.

The Impact on Learning

Research has shown that homework can play a significant role in reinforcing the concepts taught in class. However, excessive homework can lead to burnout and stress, negatively impacting a student’s ability to learn and retain information. The No Homework Policy aims to strike a balance, reducing the burden of homework while ensuring that students still have opportunities to practice and reinforce what they’ve learned.

The Impact on Family Time

One of the significant benefits of the No Homework Policy is the potential for increased family time. With less homework to complete, students have more time to spend with their families, engage in hobbies, and simply relax and recharge. This can lead to improved mental health and overall well-being for students.

Effects on Educators

Educators have also experienced a variety of reactions to the No Homework Policy. For some, the policy has allowed them to shift their focus towards more in-depth in-class instruction, reducing the time spent on grading homework. However, there are concerns among others that the absence of homework may limit students’ opportunities to practice new concepts.

Influence on the Educational Landscape

The No Homework Policy has also left its mark on the broader educational landscape. It has challenged conventional norms and prompted educators to reconsider their teaching methodologies. While some educational institutions have welcomed the policy, others have shown resistance, resulting in a diverse array of practices across different schools and districts.

The Impact on Parent-Teacher Relationships

The No Homework Policy has also affected the relationships between parents and teachers. With less homework to monitor, parents may feel less involved in their child’s education. On the other hand, some parents have welcomed the policy, appreciating the reduced stress and increased family time it provides.

Implications for Student Success

The debate around the No Homework Policy’s influence on student success is ongoing. Some studies indicate that homework can boost academic outcomes, particularly for older students. Conversely, other research highlights that an overabundance of homework can lead to student burnout and disengagement, potentially negatively affecting academic success in the long term.

Final Thoughts

In wrapping up, the No Homework Policy is a complex issue with a broad range of implications. It’s evident that this policy has instigated significant changes in the experiences of both educators and learners. As we continue to navigate this conversation, it’s crucial to consider these personal experiences and aim for a balanced approach that encourages learning while also prioritizing the wellbeing of students and teachers.

Looking Forward

As we cast our gaze towards the future of education, it’s important to continually assess the effects of the No Homework Policy. As an increasing number of schools adopt this policy, we’ll gain a more comprehensive understanding of its impact on students, teachers, and the educational landscape as a whole. It’s also key to explore other strategies that can offer the benefits of homework, such as practice and reinforcement of learning, without leading to undue stress and burnout.

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What Minnesota Voters Think of Tim Walz

The governor succeeded in projecting an avuncular image. But not all voters are convinced that he rose above partisanship or united the state.

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Harris and Walz Hold First Campaign Rally Together

Vice president kamala harris and her newly announced running mate, gov. tim walz of minnesota, went on the attack against the trump-vance republican ticket during a raucous rally in philadelphia..

“To his former high school students, he was Mr. Walz. And to his former high school football players, he was Coach. And in 91 days, the nation will know Coach Walz by another name: Vice President of the United States.” “Thank you, Madam Vice President, for the trust you put in me, but maybe more so, thank you for bringing back the joy. Now, Donald Trump sees the world a little differently than us. First of all, he doesn’t know the first thing about service. He doesn’t have time for it because he’s too busy serving himself. Like all regular people I grew up with in the heartland, JD [Vance] studied at Yale, had his career funded by Silicon Valley billionaires, and then wrote a best seller trashing that community. Come on. That’s not what middle America is. And I got to tell you, I can’t wait to debate the guy.”

By Robb Murray Christina Capecchi Dan Simmons Jeff Ernst and Richard Fausset

Robb Murray, Christina Capecchi, Dan Simmons and Jeff Ernst reported from throughout Minnesota. Richard Fausset contributed from Atlanta.

If Gov. Tim Walz has achieved anything after 18 years in public office, it has been to convince many of his fellow Minnesotans that he is decidedly not weird.

On Tuesday, Annakeiko Reichel-Frink, a teacher from Mankato, Minn., called Mr. Walz “a very normal human being.” Maria Bevacqua, a college professor from the same small city, where Mr. Walz once taught at the high school, described him as “somebody you would bump into at the grocery store.” Adam Lueth, a college student who is leaning toward the Republican ticket, said that Mr. Walz, a Democrat, comes across as “a genuine guy.”

Mr. Walz was thrust into the national spotlight on Tuesday when Kamala Harris, the Democratic presidential nominee, announced that he would be her running mate. The second-term governor seemed to rocket to the top of the list after he used one word quite effectively against Donald Trump, the Republican candidate: He was simply being “weird.”

Mr. Walz has succeeded in projecting an avuncular, affable, relentlessly normcore image to Minnesotans. But on Tuesday, in interviews across the state, voters also seemed less than convinced that Governor Walz had succeeded in rising above partisanship, or in uniting the state as “One Minnesota,” as his 2018 campaign slogan put it.

That perceived lack of unity may partially be the result of Mr. Walz’s political formula, which has tended to serve up dollops of Minnesota nice over an ambitious progressive policy agenda, one that has its roots in Minnesota politicians like Hubert Humphrey or Walter Mondale.

But it may also be the case that a nice-guy candidate — even one whom voters could imagine having a beer with — has limited power to charm nowadays, when hot tempers and invective seem to be the rule.

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Illegal organ trafficking is big business, and vulnerable people are at risk. Could an ethical organ trade solve this?

In the 1990s, there was a terrifying urban myth about a person going to a party, being drugged and waking up to find their kidneys have been snatched and traded.

At the time, organ donor programs were horrified about the false story. 

But in recent years, international organisations have become increasingly concerned about the "hidden" crime of the commercial trade in human organs. Many experts believe this is big business in some countries.

Vulnerable people, mostly in developing nations, sell their kidneys to patients, many of whom travel from more affluent countries such as Australia.

Reliable figures on the illegal trade are hard to track down but, in 2008, the World Health Organization (WHO) estimated 5 per cent of all transplants performed worldwide were illegal . And living kidneys — the organ most commonly in demand — are the most highly reported traded organ.

While it's commonly believed the illegal organ trade is underground, experts argue the opposite is actually happening.

"The trade is quite deeply embedded within the medical sector and other legal industries," Frederike Ambagtsheer, an organ trafficking researcher, criminologist and assistant professor at the Erasmus University Medical Centre in Rotterdam (one of the largest kidney transplant centres in Europe), tells ABC RN's Law Report .

"One cannot perform an illegal transplant without the involvement of highly specialised medical staff, infrastructure and equipment," Professor Ambagtsheer says.

Illegal trafficking rings

In March 2023, Nigerian senator Ike Ekweremadu and his wife were convicted in a high-profile case of organ trafficking when they attempted to purchase a kidney for their daughter.

"[Their daughter] was on dialysis in the UK, she was living there, she needed a kidney and they tried to traffic a prospective young kidney seller to the UK in order to harvest his kidney and have that be donated to their daughter," Professor Ambagtsheer explains. 

The case came to light when a Nigerian man from Lagos went to police saying he had been trafficked to the UK in order for his kidney to be harvested.

Senator Ekweremadu was sentenced under Britain's modern slavery act to more than nine years in jail. The senator's wife and doctor were also jailed.

While this case demonstrates the illegality of the organ trade, Dominique Martin, professor of health ethics and professionalism at Deakin University, says the majority of the trade is embedded within legitimate transplant programs.

"Each case is supposedly reviewed by a transplant ethics committee and approved as being legitimate and free of commerce," Professor Martin explains.

However, she explains, in most cases it's only when the individual selling the kidney goes to police that "it's revealed that there's been a trafficking ring taking place".

In recent years, Professor Martin says there have been several organ trafficking rings busted throughout India and the Philippines.

She says it's only occasionally that there are reports of more underground operations.

"There was a horrific report in Pakistan where there was a surgeon who was operating in private hotel rooms and houses, the person administering the quasi-anaesthetic to the patients was in fact a mechanic … but that kind of real backwoods stuff is the exception," she says.

What is being done to curb the trade?

Commercial trade in human organs is currently illegal in all countries except Iran .

However, there are no restrictions on Australians travelling overseas to receive an organ transplant.

"We don't currently have what they call extra-territorial jurisdiction covering the laws that in Australia prohibit trade in organs," Professor Martin explains.

For example, if an Australian was to illegally purchase an organ in the Philippines, they could be prosecuted there but not under Australian law.

Last year, a private members' bill focusing on Australians who travel abroad to buy organs was put before federal parliament .

"So the essence of the bill is that there would be a declaration that passengers coming into Australia would be required to make, attesting to whether they had received an organ transplant while they were overseas … in the past five years," Professor Martin says. 

The rationale behind this is that individuals would disclose if they had received a transplant overseas, which would prompt further investigation.

Professor Martin is sceptical of this approach.

"The first stumbling block [is] what would be the motivation for someone to disclose that information and how confident could we be that the majority were disclosing?" she asks.

An all-party parliamentary committee recommended the bill not be passed, instead calling on the federal government to deliver more public awareness campaigns.

Professor Martin believes a more effective approach would be to create a mandatory reporting system for doctors, which would focus on collecting data rather than information that identifies patients. 

This is an approach supported by both the WHO and the United Nations.

A 2019 study, led by the University of Adelaide, surveyed transplant professionals working in Australia. It asked them specifically about providing care to patients who had received transplants overseas.

More than half of the doctors surveyed had treated patients who had returned from overseas after having had a transplant.

Professor Martin points out the majority of patients who travel for transplants have done so legitimately. For example, they could be returning to their home country to receive a transplant and be cared for by family.

"Not all cases of travel for transplant actually involve organ trafficking," she says.

An ethical organ trade

Professor Ambagtsheer is focused on researching the most effective incentives to increase both deceased and living organ donations, specifically kidney donations.

"It might help to reduce the black market abuses within the organ trade but also help us increase the supply, so that there is less incentive on the black market for people to trade and sell," she says.

Professor Ambagtsheer also advocates for the exploration of an ethical organ trade. The main stipulation would be that "you never allow patients to pay".

She says the model would require anonymous donation and full government oversight.

"The government would be the institution that gives an incentive to kidney donors, so there is no transaction between donors and recipients …. I think that would be an ethical way of incentivising organ donations," Professor Ambagtsheer says.

She says the incentive would not necessarily be cash, but could instead be something like free health insurance.

However, Professor Martin is fundamentally opposed to the suggestion "on both ethical grounds and also practical grounds".

She says countries like Spain, a world leader in donation and transplantation rates, can provide better solutions.

"They've done that, not by relaxing the ethics or taking ethical shortcuts or exploiting people; [instead] they've had a government that's really invested in the donation program," Professor Martin says.

"They've had a really concerted effort to engage the community and they're doing a lot of interesting things in terms of optimising the recovery of organs from as many potential donors as they can."

Both Professors Martin and Ambagtsheer remain concerned for the welfare of those who sell their kidneys or other organs.

"They don't receive appropriate after care, they're very often cheated in terms of the money that they were promised and they experience all kinds of financial, physical and psychological distress because of the deception that we see inside these black markets," Professor Ambagtsheer says.

She says a criminal justice approach to reducing the illegal organ trade often results in the prosecution of the kidney seller as there is a reluctance to prosecute "the medical elite".

"I don't think that the system that we have in place is really serving those we are aiming to protect," she says.

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