A note from a Fort Worth, TX second-grade teacher informing parents that their children will not have formal homework assignments this year this year has gone viral after being shared by one of the parents on Facebook. The note, signed by Godley Elementary School teacher Mrs. Brandy Young, explained that the no homework policy was based on research she had conducted over the summer:
*NEW Homework Policy*
Dear Parents,
After much research this summer, I am trying something new. Homework will only consist of work that your student did not finish during the school day. There will be no formally assigned homework this year.
Research has been unable to prove that homework improves student performance. Rather, Iask that you spend your evenings doing things that are proven to correlate with student success. Eat dinner as a family, read together, play outside, and get your child to bed early.
Thanks,
Mrs. Brandy Young
The social media response has been overwhelmingly positive, with many parents agreeing that homework now takes up too much of their children's time and energy. "Wish my kids had this teacher," one Facebook user commented. "Sounds reasonable to me," wrote another. "I strongly believe this should be the standard!" enthused a third. Other commenters expressed worry that the lack of homework would leave students unprepared for higher education. "I don't agree with this," said one. "This isn't going to prep them for college." A recent study found that some elementary school students were taking home three times more homework on a regular basis than is recommended by education experts.
Snopes.com reached out via email to Mrs. Young, who confirmed that she sent the note home with parents on a recent Meet the Teacher night. "I do believe meaningful, engaging, and authentic homework has a place," she told us. "However, I wanted the parents of my students to know that they would not have a weekly, standard, homework packet to look forward to this year."