Anonymity might be a good thing if you’re a replacement referee in the NFL, but on most other occasions, it’s just a bother. I ran across an instance when I visited my school mailbox the other day.
I retrieved a small manila envelope from my receptacle and found an article inside a family magazine detailing the horrors of too much homework. There was no note with it so that I could thank whoever sent me this article how vital this is to my teaching. In fact, the most important parts of the article were underlined for me so I wouldn’t have to search for them.
As I mentioned in a previous article, I don’t mind some constructive criticism. I’ve listened to parents in the past and changed some things I do as a result. However, those were all parents who sent me a thought-provoking email, called me, or visited to discuss something in a logical way.
Not having the courage to back up your ideas with a name? Eh, that doesn’t fly. I know Jim occasionally gets letters at the paper without a name attached. While our country is great in that you can voice your opinion without repercussion, you also have to say who you are to get people to listen.
This is not the first anonymous note I’ve gotten over the years. Between teaching and coaching, I’ve had my share of people who don’t like the way I work. Some of them have visited with me about a problem. I realize my 5’ 10”, 175-pound frame can be physically intimidating, but those people managed without a scratch. So why not sign a name?
Here’s what I know about homework. I take every assignment I hand out very seriously. You won’t just find the same old busywork handed out in my room. Everything has meaning and relates to making my students better communicators. (I even pay attention to the state standards, though that’s an article for another time.) With input from other staff members, as well as parents, I have scaled back some on what I expect and have readjusted my due date expectations.
Many assignments I give are not due the next day. Things are spaced out so students can begin to learn organization skills. Just like in most of our jobs, we have a number of things due over a period of time, and we have to manage our time to get these items done as needed.
What amazes me is the amount of time students waste in class. With 5-10 minutes remaining in class, many are closing up shop. You can accomplish a lot in 5-10 minutes, and that’s 5-10 minutes you’d have later to do other things. Plus, the teacher is available to help with questions. Of course, then they won’t have a chance to complain about all the homework if they don’t have any.
As a kid, I used every moment in class that I had to get work done. I had sports and a job; I even wanted to watch some TV every now and then or hang out with my friends.
Do I give too much homework? Hey, I’m willing to look at the issue, but I’ll need a name if we’re going to have a quality discussion.
Word of the Week: Tali has given me a couple more words to use. These are all from the movie Love Happens, which automatically sounds like a movie I wouldn’t watch. This week’s word is quidnunc. Quidnunc means someone who is eager to know the latest news or gossip, as in, “The town quidnunc appeared at all the coffee shops to gather the latest gossip.”