We don't have any ban on homework here in Finland! Stop spreading this nonsense! Though we don't sit at school 8 hours a day. So maybe that's the difference.

My eldest son left school in jine. My youngest is in year 8. I've never made them do homework at home. For the simple reason, I wouldn't work here, either. There is a homework club at school if they have some important stuff. Where there is a teacher to help answer tough questions. But home is a place to relax. It's a safe place. And they are only children for a blink of their lives. I have to make sure they enjoy it before it's gone and the responsibility begins.

When I was a kid (American living abroad) I had so much homework that I too had chest pains. My parents hauled me into the school where we met with my teacher and principal. They allowed me a space to voice my concerns, and then proceeded to teach me time management and content skimming skills - skills that helped me through college and throughout my careers. Perhaps the real conversation should be with the child, helping this young girl learn stress management, workload management etc. After all, the job world really doesn't care how stressed you are. They care about the end result.

Totally agree with and support the no homework sentiment. Modern American education is broken.

Thank you! Thank you, thank you! I am 13 and in 7th grade and one night I had math homework that took me 3+ hours and I didn't even finish it because- hey teachers, new's flash- I HAVE A LIFE!!!! And that wasn't even counting the other subjects. This is only my first year of high school and I am absolutely dreading the rest because of the homework. Overall, I enjoy school. The majority of the teachers are kind and funny but the homework is ridiculous. I am not trying to brag but i am a straight A student with 90+ averages in every subject and I have always wanted to go to college but I know that in college the work load is even more ridiculous so now I am questioning whether or not I should go.

I've never thought about this because that's "the just way things are", but it totally makes sense! I'm kinda shocked, that I've never questioned it...

I don't think grade school kids should have to do homework. Occasional projects at home, yes. Studying for tests and exams, yes. And if there is something that should have been finished in class that didn't get finished, yes. But the kind of homework my son brought home in grade 3 every day, for example, math assignments, etc. that takes 2-3 hours, no.

I couldn't agree more. Whilst I think a bit of revision is fine, they shouldn't be getting loads of written homework every night. I would love to know how the school has responded.

I agree with the mum. Homework for children isn't necessary. Even us adults can come home from work and forget about it [mostly anyway]. If you've been somewhere for 8 hours, your brain needs a reset a rest and some easy fun. I don't get it at all. It's almost as if too much time would lead to independent thoughts and we can't have that, can we?

I remember when I was in the 6th grade I was sent home with some math homework that I was struggling with. After supper I got to work on it. When the father got home and I was still at work, he flew into a rage. The next thing I knew I had a black eye because I didn't have the homework done fast enough to suit him. I guess what I'm trying to say is that for some kids, homework is stressful, not just because of school, but because of their home life as well. More homework= more stress on the child from both school and home and not in a positive way. Side note: no, nothing was done about the black eye, at my request. For my own safety.

I'm a teacher and homework is important for, i think, repetition of a simple task, that i can't do in school (i work 3/4 hours a week with my students so it's not enough ) but i always tell them that if it take them more than 10 minutes they should just let it go and they'll see the answers in class. Mostly i give them the exercices they didn't complete in classe, but not always. I also give "big" exercices wich are evaluated, mainly because i have to, it's a part of what i am supposed to do, but then again, no more than 10 minutes a day (if they plan it because i always give them at least a week (inclunding a week end) to do it).

Can this lady plz write to my school! I stay up till 8 doing Hw and i'm only in MIDDLE SCHOOL!!!

This is amazing to me. I'm 18, and freshly out of high school. I can speak from my own (recent) experience, that the amount of homework students get is unbelievable. I went to a very small school that focused solely on their reputation. It was known for students getting good grades, and as such that's all they cared about. Some of the teachers were nice, though a lot of them were cruel and uncaring. I even had one tell me to stop crying when I was around the same age as this girl is. I literally got in trouble because I couldn't stop the stress induced tears from flowing down my tired face. The amount of stress that place inflicted on everyone there was off the charts. I would go to school (keep in mind, I'm talking about Elementary School right now) from 7 in the morning to 3 in the evening, and then I would come home and do homework the rest of the night. I'm talking 6 hours of homework here, and I'm not over-exaggerating in the slightest. I had absolutely no time at all to just be a

Be grateful for living in America. 3 hours of homework is nothing comparing to the Chinese schools. In elementary schools of China, I have to do homework until 8-9pm EVERY DAY; in middle school, we have class from 7:30am - 6:30pm, and we do homework from 7:30pm-10:30pm, many students have to stay up until 1am or 2am to finish; in high school, the classes are shorter but there are MORE homework. People seldom complained because they know they are good for them in a long run; that's why Chinese are good at math and science: Their life is killed with practice problem. So I think 2-3 hours of homework is just the right amount, no need to complain about.

According to other parenting sites and forums, Finland’s kindergartners have more recess time than children anywhere. Their older students also have less homework than their peers in other countries. Finnish kids don’t start school until they are seven, and they have only one standardized test a year. Yet these students consistently score near the top in the Program for International Student Assessment for reading, mathematics, and science. Even though I don't have kids, but when it come to the child health I'm all for it.

I follow her on Facebook and fully agree.

I knew problems were brewing when I watched a news story about 10 years ago about grade school kids with back problems already due to their book laden backpacks.

......YET when I had panic attacks and stuff and had to be kept out of school for weeks at a time, the school board tried to have my aunt arrested {shes my adopted month} Jan Brewer of Arizona's is the woman that tried to sue my aunt for "keeping me out" she took my aunt to corast and tried to get her in person for it too, the reason I couldn't go was to cause odd bad declining heath, some issues with the other kids{ they would try to hurt me or "bully" me cause i was about 3 feet taller, i was albino and japanese, plus smart, but i had problems being near others and cant be social much} its been about 15 years ago {i finally just quit scool at 16, due to knowing more they they taught, cause if i knew the awnser they would get upset and somehow i was "stupid" for knowing like wtf, and my health} I finished up scooling a few years ago, im 29 now That Jan brewer tho...she had a hard on for my aunt... its hard to belive she would try to put a woman to jail for keeping her kid well......

I totally agree with this mother. Unfortunately, some schools administrations still believe that the more homework they do, the more it means that the school is doing a good job. It's the same theory that makes schools assign too many books for the poor students. I teach grown ups but I never give them homework because it's useless. They would just copy the answers 5 minutes before the class. The homework is an old fashioned thing. As for kids,

My kid just started kindergarten and has homework. It's not much right now, but I can't help but wonder when the workload will increase.

It is surprising that when I read comments on this I see a lot of peoples comments saying that its a good thing. its not a good thing to spend all day in a stressful environment just not being good enough, let alone making sure that everyone learns the same. well they don't. secondly I agree I want my child home spending time on family. it not only stresses the kids but it stresses the parents to have to sit down and do home work with there children that they don't understand, or cant figure out. hell to do math now days from my days is like trying to put out a fire with gasoline. its volatile. and stresses everyone involved. then I was watching people worrying about her trying to justify her motives when clearly its a stressful issue for her. and for her child, its not about anyone reading it getting defensive. but I do think teachers are the educators and parents are educators, but they are not the same. we don't have a learning platform we have to follow daily