Teacher Tim weighs in.

My buddy Tim Miller teaches and does it very well. I mentioned yesterday that he'd probably have a thing or two to say about the whole "How much is too much" homework thing. He did.
Check this perspective out from a very thoughtful teacher.

I know that homework is a necessary evil...
1) its preparation for life.
What kind of job do you not bring home on some level, either literally or in your brain.
2) there ain't enough hours in the day
No matter the subject, you can't always get everything covered.
3) self guided learning
You are never going to learn to think for yourself if the teacher always does the thinking (get a fish, you eat for a day...learn to fish, you eat for life)
4) lazy
Sometimes they goof off in class and its their own fault...I try give a fair amount of time to get a good chunk of work done during class time...like a real job...learn how to time manage now... waste it and its your own darn fault that you can't watch lost tonight because Mr Miller made you figure out the motivation for a character!
5) bad teacherrs
Yeah sure...there are a few out there that give too much time to "self guided" learning...they may not know how to teach that well...dunno
6) too much...too little time
...By cutting out Grade 13/OAC we have limited the amount of time that these kids get to learn
...add to that the fact that they have a reduced amount of choices...its important to balance your education with 'required' items and 'interest/passion' items...with a year less time to get your required courses, kids don't get that opportunity to balance and may miss out on directions they might peruse (Arts, Tech, Phys Ed...etc)
...as well, I think some are not quite mature enough (at 18) to head off to post-secondary places
7) we need to find a balance
Our society is WAY too stressed...some European countries start at 5 weeks off per-year when you begin a job...in North America you need to be in the system for a few years to get that...life needs to be a bit of work and a bit of play

Thanks Tim. He's the type of dude you hope your kids get in school