What I really like about this story is the way the principal reacted to a situation where many students were failing because of zeros from incomplete assignments. Instead of mandating after school make up sessions or instituting a "Zeros aren't Permitted" policy, or blaming the students for their incomplete work, the principal eliminated homework assignments. Now, the students will complete all of their work in class.
This solution gives the teachers the opportunity to provide immediate feedback to the students for their work done in class. This "no homework" policy also takes the pressure off the parents to feel like they must "help" their children with homework. Often when parents help their children too much with homework the children establish a pattern of learned helplessness because they feel they can't complete their work without outside help.
I'm not suggesting that parents remain totally hands off in their children's learning. But I am suggesting that instead of doing homework with or for your child, a parent should simply ask their child what he or she is learning in school and have a discussion about it. Read over some of their writing samples, talk to them about their different subjects, and ask them how they feel about what it is they are doing in school. If they ask you for help, give it, but don't do their work for them.
And if your school electronically posts grades and homework assignments, resist the temptation to look at your child's grades on a daily basis and resist the urge to question them about every homework assignment, quiz or test. Let them take ownership of their learning. And relax about their grades, instead put the focus on what they are learning, not on what kind of performance they are giving their teachers. We need to see our children for who they are, not for what they do, or don't do.
