Homework

     Hated it. Kids don't need it. Make them go outside and play or allow them to figure out what play is themselves inside. Both are better than the second shift of work we sometimes saddle young children with when they ought to be learning to decide what is important for themselves. This is not an edict for them to do anything they want, only a suggestion that they read what interests them and play in ways they themselves have made up.

     I remember when my 6th grade math teacher, Mr. Ricci, assigned us the next two weeks of homework on a Friday afternoon and many of us mistakenly believed it was all due Monday. The look of surprise on his face on the following Monday when a dozen of us explained that we had done all the assignments: priceless!

    All I know is my parents were surprised by the rigor of Mr Ricci's assignment I showed them on that long ago Sunday afternoon. They knew Gene Ricci well and didn't question his judgement. Instead, they spent seven hours learning the concepts along with me. We were all worn out by the end of that day and Monday could not come soon enough.

     We all had a good laugh on that Monday evening when I told them the homework we had worked so hard to complete was not due for two more weeks.
You might have even made the argument to them at that moment that homework might best be done in some amounts.