Homework on weekends could soon be a thing of the past in Galloway Township, New Jersey if the school board approves the plan.
Kids growing up these days already have so much going on during weekends and there’s a belief that homework which competes with everything else isn’t necessarily good for learning.
That’s why administrators in the Galloway Township school district want to make homework not only meaningful, but also manageable.
"I have dance at my church," says sixth-grader Cynthia Exantos.
"People have sports," says another sixth grader, Nicole Gruber.
Their weekends are jam-packed and that’s before you factor homework into the equation.
"If you’re too busy worrying about finishing your project and stuff, it just minuses the whole weekend idea," says Exantos.
So, Galloway Township public schools have drawn up a proposal which would ban homework from being assigned Friday that’s due on Monday morning, or over holiday periods.
"We really believe that when kids get to be kids, that benefits their academic performance in school," says Superintendent Dr. Annette Giaquinto.
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Administrators believe the quality of weekend homework can suffer because many kids are already busy with activities and their families.
"I would be all for not having homework on weekends. Monday through Friday is a good time and weekends should be spent with your family," says Jennifer Arrom, a parent.
"I think that’d be a good idea and if there were tests on Monday, we could study for it and have a lot more time for it," says Gruber.
The plan has to be approved by the school board before it’s made policy.
"The whole thing is to focus the best energies at the time on the best assignments," explains Giaquinto.
But at least one kid doesn’t want to see an end to weekend homework.
"I really don’t think that’s a good idea because usually kids, weekends, they get lazy and do things and that could affect the way they do on school days," says Thomas Bekete, a sixth grader.
The school system in Upper Pittsgrove Township, Salem County already has a similar ban on weekend homework. If board members here approve the plan this summer, it would go into effect by the time school resumes in September.
