It's a new school year, and with that comes the thing that most parents and students have a love/hate relationship with: homework. Homework is a touchy subject for families and schools. Many parents and students disagree with the amount of homework given to children after a full day at school, and for teachers and administrators, homework is an equalizer and a necessity.
A mom on TikTok decided that she was going to challenge her kindergartner's homework rules by choosing to opt out of doing homework for the school year. Her video is sparking an age-old conversation about homework and its significance.
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She shared that homework was already becoming a stressor in her child's life.
In the video, user @cayleyxox explained that her son was given a homework packet for the month of August. She explained it was about 15 to 20 pages of double-sided worksheets, but the amount of work was causing her kiddo "stress, mental, physical anxiety." So she sent the teacher a "cutesy" email saying that they were opting out of homework.
The mom believes that asking young students to do homework is sending a bad message.
She claimed that getting her kid to do homework was making her feel "guilty," recalling having to force him to sit in "radio silence" to get his homework done before school. The whole homework experience is making her kindergartner have strong feelings about school.
"For the last two weeks, he's told me he doesn't even like school and doesn't want to be there anymore," she said, confessing it "hurts her mama heart."
"What are we teaching kids?" she asked.
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Many people took the mom's side, but reactions were still mixed.
Many of the comments on the video were in agreement that kindergarten is much too young to have homework, with many people saying homework should be eliminated altogether. But still, a lot of people have mixed feelings about homework.
"I totally understand the load is overwhelming," one comment reads. "But the standards are crazy and if things are not reinforced at home they can fall behind. Teachers don’t love it either, trust me!"
"I’m anti homework but also pro homework at the same time," another person wrote. "Like a page a night is acceptable. These kids [nowadays] need the extra help."
"As a former kindergarten teacher and current 2nd grade teacher, I use homework as practice as some students need it and also a way for parents to know what their child is learning in class," someone else shared.
She did share an update about her conversation with the teacher.
"I need to know what the teachers response is, especially knowing he’s in kinder?!! WTH," one person commented, and the mom shared a video response to the question detailing her conversation with the teacher.
"I've never had a parent email me something like that or complain," the teacher said, adding that she didn't feel like it was "that much" homework. They mutually agreed to have the child do a reading log instead of worksheets.
The mom explained that the teacher stressed the importance of learning "sight words" due to state testing rules. She also went on to call public school an "indoctrination camp" in her rant.
Again, reactions were mixed.
"Homework is actually really beneficial you can see where your child is yourself and work on it," one person wrote. "I dont understand parents complaining about homework."
"As a teacher, we need to do away with homework and allow for play and family time," another commenter shared.
Another wrote: "I’m a HS teacher and was totally in your camp until my own kids hit kindergarten. Then I realized that one-on-one is SO much more valuable than a teacher with 20 kids."
"It sounds like she worked with you and met you where you are," someone else commented. "That is great! I know you're against 'hw' but it might be fun to look at the packets and learn together now and then. I know I do!"
