Students who hoped for an end to homework got their wish at Orchard Elementary School in South Burlington.
“It’s true,” confirmed principal Mark Trifilio. “We just went to being a homework-free school this year.”
Trifilio announced the no-homework policy in a newsletter to parents last Friday. The school enrolls almost 400 children in pre-kindergarten to fifth grade. South Burlington has three elementary schools, and so far Orchard is the only one to go homework-free.
Teachers voted to ban homework for the year at a training shortly before school opened, with Trifilio’s approval. The superintendent of schools also OK’d the change.
Homework does not help elementary school students learn, and instead robs them of time to play outside, pursue their passions and enjoy relaxed evenings with their families, Trifilio said.
“There is little or no research that supports any kind of academic achievement with homework,” Trifilio said. “If that’s true, what is the purpose of homework?”
So far, parents seem enthusiastic, Trifilio said. He’s received about a dozen emails, most of them with a thumbs-up. Many parents agree with the philosophy that children should not do a “second shift” of academic work at home after spending a full day in school. If there’s any concern, Trifilio said, it’s that the policy might weaken student preparation for middle school.
He will address that and other questions about the no-homework rule Thursday night during a curriculum session with parents.
Other schools are experimenting with the no-homework approach both in and outside Vermont. Last year, Bellows Free Academy Fairfax in Franklin County stopped assigning homework for middle school students. There are several books on the topic, including The Homework Myth: Why Our Kids Get Too Much of a Bad Thing by Alfie Kohn. Trifilio mentioned that title in his newsletter to parents.
Not everyone agrees that homework is pointless. A Duke University review of 60 research studies on homework concluded that homework helps spur student achievement. The benefits are more clear for students in grades seven through 12, and less so for younger students, according to the study.
Orchard will revisit the policy in six to eight weeks.
Students will still be asked to read at home.
One more assignment, directly from the principal: “We also are asking everybody to get outside and play.”
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I agree that kids need more time to play, develop their interests and have meaningful exchanges with their parents. I’d love to see that half hour or so being spent exercising, playing strategy games or learning a new hobby. It would also be time well spent with parents either reading to kids or talking about what’s going on in the world. I hope it’s not spent with video games or TV. It is also interesting that several studies indicate that having a student practice a short time (IE two problems of math) at home has as much benefit as practicing 20 problems at home.
This is Winooski’s second year without homework. I have two middle schoolers and a third grader. My 7th grader had homework all throughout elementary school and it still didn’t help with ‘middle school’ homework seeing y’all are so keen to say that it will get us in the end (meaning the parents who think it’s a great idea). These young children’s frontal lobe isn’t even delveloped enough to handle even more time working on packets at home. Sorry but I’ve seen the difference in my children’s learned and attitude towards school without a 10 page packet coming home for the week, and it’s def for the better. I’ve read the studies, I’ve done the research to make MY OWN opinion about this and oh I’m living it.
My only thing is why now that everyone else is following suit is this being written about?
AGAIN, VERMONT IS A LEADER! I have said this since my son was in graded school some 40 odd years ago! They need PLAY FOR PHYSICAL AND MENTAL DEVELOPMENT! Ok parents get those kids moving now! That is your parental assignment in the development of your child and I DO NOT MEAN COMPUTER GAMES-PHYSICAL. For their coordination in development of their minds and bodies! YEA FOR VERMONT!!! I grew up in Vermont and raised my son in Vermont. Proud of our background!
As a teacher for 30+ years in elementary education, this is an excellent development, and I hope it catches on. What does homework offer children? Befuddled parents, kids and parents fighting over “did you do your homework?”, control over children’s personal time and imaginative, creative play-life. What does time to play offer children? Healthy exercise, happiness, interactions to develop social skills with friends and siblings, time to reflect and create, imagine, real life learning about natural consequences, social interaction, introspection, rest and leisure to pursue personal interests. Time to play makes for creative, happy, healthy kids who grow up to be creative and flexible thinkers. Good for you, South Burlington!
Here’s the scenario: these kids eventually reach 6th grade, and in their first week of classes are overloaded with this crazy new concept called “homework”. They are befuddled. Others in the classroom seem to take it in stride, but these kids take weeks/months to develop a methodology for handling this strange new requirement. Their grades suffer, especially relative to other students with past experience with this “homework thing”.
No brainer – fire the Principal. End of story.
We love this policy! It’s less stress for students, parents and teachers. I have a 4th grader at Orchard and a 6th grader at Tuttle. Last night we had a family reading hour from 8-9 that was absolutely blissful. We all gathered in the living room, got comfy with personal books and devoured them. Thank you Mr. T for following the data and challenging the status quo.
Folks we are talking about elementary school. These kids are under 10. We have people worried they won’t get into a college (which, by the way, is as fiercely competitive as the amount of money you are willing to spend) and people blaming greedy teachers who are trying to shirk work. Making sure your kids run around so they don’t turn into little butterballs is just as important as anything else.
My young grandson has school all day, comes home, has assignments, school projects that absolutely require an adult’s help, and totals an extra 2 to 3 hours every evening. Is that necessary? Where does that leave time for family or just “down” time? Oh, and sports once a week. I agree with the no homework rule. I think the children get enough when they are at school with a good accountable teacher which puts the emphasis back on TEACHING…perhaps a reading project with a report or a research of a topic that sparks their interest should be in place every two weeks instead of 2+ hours of homework every night….Ridiculous!
Scotty B, I highly doubt that this decision was the result of teachers wishing to avoid grading elementary school level homework. You, like many other Americans, clearly have some kind of vendetta against teachers. Feel free to relocate to a nation without public education where your “hard earned tax dollars” will not line the pockets of those evil, greedy teachers.
This is a district, who not so long ago decided to go on a lengthy strike for more money and benefits instead of spending that time in the classroom teaching those kids. Now it sounds like they no longer want to grade homework with that pay raise your hard earned tax dollars are paying for. Just my opinion, but a reasonable amount of homework allows me to see what my child is learning during the day, and to see that my child is grasping the concepts that are taught. Learning doesn’t stop when they leave the school. Involved parents who help reinforce what is being learned at school, help develop the child as a whole. I feel team teaching with the teachers at school, and the parents at home is important. The homework is one way the parents stay involved in their children’s education. It reinforces what they learn. It helps develop a sense of responsibility, helping prepare the child for the future. Just my opinion.