Should schools be banning homework in primary
Some people suggest homework for primary school students is setting them up for success, while others think it's just an added pressure on an already competitive system.
Dr Jennifer Buckingham from The Centre for Independent Studies is of the belief that children under the age of 12 should be given 10-15 minutes of extra work a night - and that doesn't include colouring in title pages.
Speaking on the Today show, Dr Buckingham was adamant research supports the integration of maths, science and reading work outside of the classroom, and was an important part of the education system.
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Dr Jennifer Buckingham from The Centre for Independent Studies is of the belief children under the age of 12 should be given 10-15 minutes of extra work a night
'It's not so much about how much homework but the type of homework. So colouring in is not good homework... but it depends on the education objective and that it's not interfering too much with family life,' she said.
National figures from 2017 show that children aged seven and eight spend an average of 954 hours in the classroom - and that excludes time spent on homework.
Psychologist Judith Paphazy said she is seeing year five and six students doing an hour of homework each night, something that is damaging their 'mental and physical health,' the Sydney Morning Herald reported.
This differentiation between primary and high school aged children is imperative, with the Victorian government website stating it's up to the individual school to make an informed choice
Why shouldn't children start homework in primary school? Dr Coulson's response: Some parents have said to me 'They may as well get used to it in primary school... they have to do it in high school anyway.' My child's going to be driving at 16, should I put them behind the wheel now to 'get them used to it'? Of course not! This is a ridiculous way of thinking, we should let them be children. These kids have had a long six or seven hour shift and giving them homework after a big day is like saying 'Okay now let's do two hours of overtime.' It's unfair.
Evidently not everyone agrees that homework is beneficial for learning.
Last year, the principal at Allambie Heights Public School banned after school work for all primary school students and instead offered them a project to do each semester.
Surprisingly, almost 100 per cent of pupils complete the project of their own free will and it gives educators more time in the classroom to teach.
'You lost two hours a week setting and marking homework with the kids, that's my own experience,' Mrs Helsloot told the Canberra Times.
'Now you've got that time back in the classroom.'
Parenting expert Dr Justin Coulson, who has previously banned homework for his six daughters, argues there is merit in spending time away from the books.
'At this point there is not a shred of credible evidence to support giving primary school students homework, except for reading,' he explained on the Today show.
'High school is different. From about the ages of 13 or 14 an hour of homework a night is about right and when they reach the higher levels, two or three hours.'
Parenting expert Dr Justin Coulson (pictured), who has previously banned homework for his six daughters, argues there is merit in spending time away from the books
This differentiation between primary and high school aged children is imperative, with the Victorian government website stating it's up to the individual school to make an informed choice.
'The setting of homework needs to take into consideration the need for students to have a balanced lifestyle. This includes sufficient time for family, sport and recreation, cultural pursuits and employment where appropriate,' it suggests.