Kindergarten Kids Should Not Get Homework

My daughter started kindergarten in Brunswick. For the most part it’s been a great experience. She is one of the youngest, if not the youngest, in her class. To help keep her on track in math and reading, they decided, with our consent, to put her into some programs to help accelerate her skills.

The problem is that the math portion of this program is assigning homework in the form of worksheets. To a five-year-old.

I explained it wasn’t mandatory, and she became distraught because if she doesn’t do it then she doesn’t put a marble in the jar. The marbles are collected from each student who completes an assignment until the jar is full. Then they all get to go “camping.” Even if she never puts a marble in the jar she will still be allowed on this “camping” adventure, however this is an exclusionary tactic. It will take longer to reach their goal if she’s not fully participating, potentially putting her in bad social standing with her peers.

A study titled “Is Kindergarten the New First Grade” points out that in 1998 only 30 percent of kindergarten teachers expected their students to be reading by the end of the year, compared to 2010 when 80 percent of teachers were expecting that to be the case. It was also found that more time was spent sitting in desks and working on paper as opposed to any kind of devotion to Music and Art — both of which are cognitively important to younger children.

Ten minutes of homework is never just 10 minutes. Low stress isn’t low stress if there’s a reward system. That sense of having to get the work done can be overwhelming for a small child who is still trying to figure out how to manage their emotions.

Kindergartners should never be assigned homework — it’s unfair to them and it’s unfair to their families who are often working, making dinner, and trying to connect.

Micah Brown,

Brunswick