HOMEWORK AT SCHOOL

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXIV, Issue 22901, 2 December 1937, Page 16

HOMEWORK AT SCHOOL

EXTRA SESSION PROVIDED SOUTH AFRICAN EXPERIMENT [from our own correspondent] DURBAN. Oct. 27 Children of Newcastle, Natal, now do their "homework" at school. This is in the nature of an experiment and is proving very popular with the children. The school session is lengthened by an extra period in the afternoons, which is devoted to a properly supervised "homework" session. The duration of this extra session varies according to the standard of the pupil, and it enables all written work at the pupil's home to be abolished. It is generally agreed that the experiment is a stop in the right direction.' Summed up, the arguments of the local school advisory committeo in favour of a daytime homework session in school are:-^ Homework would be performed under properly supervised conditions, which would bo immeasurably superior iu most cases to those existing in the homes of pupils, where various distractions, such as radio, conversation, and other interruptions exist. The burden of homework to be performed at night is taken from the shoulders of the pupil; he would have every evening free at least from written work. The leisure hours at night provided bv relief from homework could be well employed in the adoption of hobbies of various kinds, and study of the arts. The absence of the burden of homework would be a factor making for stimulation of the growth of originality and individuality, if it is seen to that the leisure time is not eutirelv frittered awav, but reasonably directed into useful channels. The main arguments against are:— The absence of homework would break a very valuable" link between home and school; homework during the summer would be done at school during the hottest part of the day; and there would be a loss of initiative, which homework to be done at home gives I to the pupil by reason of his being set to do a job-entirely on his own.