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SAN FRANCISCO (KTVU) - A San Francisco elementary school is "just saying no" to homework.
The subject has touched off an interesting debate amongst parents nationwide from those who are fed up with the headaches that homework creates to those who say homework is critical to competing in a global economy.
Fairmount Elementary, located in the city's Glen Park neighborhood, adopted the new no-homework policy this year. School officials sent a flyer home with students Monday which says studies show "there are little or no positive academic benefits of elementary school aged kids doing homework."
Fairmount's Principal Luis Rodriguez says so far the response has been positive; one parent even offered him congratulations on this way to school this morning.
"The kids were just getting drilled on manual things," Rodriguez said, "on rote memorization things instead of enhancing or expanding their learning."
Instead of practicing multiplication tables or flash cards, Rodriguez wants parents to spend more quality time with their kids, using teachable moments by counting money at the cash register, measuring ingredients in cooking, and trips to the museum or park.
"Real life experiences," he emphasized, "so the children keep learning without being tied down to a chair, pencil and a piece of paper."
Marco Refuerzo mother Maritza couldn't be happier about the new policy because she said she felt like a drill sergeant trying to get Marco to complete all of his homework.
"Homework was fun but it was just this under-pressure thing," she said. "You know, scrambling to get it done especially on the weekend because he has a lot of activities after school."
Now Refuerzo she will have more time to relax with her second grader. She said she looks forward to having simple conversations, reading together and even just drawing pictures. Last school year, on homework days, Refuerzo said felt rushed to do those things.
Some teachers and parents at other schools nationwide where homework is banned have said that they felt that kids needed the extra practice that homework affords, especially to be able to make the grade in junior high and high school where studies have shown homework *is* beneficial. Other parents have argued that homework keeps them connected to what's happening inside the classroom so that they can monitor their child's progression better.
The San Francisco Unified School District issued this statement, "[Homework is] up to each school and teacher. If schools choose to establish schoolwide or grade level norms or practices in this area, they may. Otherwise it's a teacher by teacher decision."
So far, Principal Rodriguez says the new policy has been with a lot of positivity. It will be discussed at this evening's Back-To-School night in case parents have any questions.