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# My homework ate my family
- URL: https://www.smdp.com/my-homework-ate-my-family/
- Published: 2006-11-06T16:00:00.000Z
- Updated: 2026-10-25T01:14:05.000Z
- Author: Kevin Herrera
- Tags: Education, Santa Monica, #archive-import

*Despite groans, study shows homework hasn’t amped up*

SMMUSD HDQTRS — Usually, it’s students who complain about being assigned too much homework, but recently, parents of middle schoolers have expressed concern about their children’s hefty workload.

Over the last week and a half, parents have been debating on the Internet whether or not the amount of work students are taking home is causing their children’s brains to burn out, leaving little time for extracurricular activities or f a m i l y bonding. “ D o n’ t all students have a right to have the freedom to have a life outside of homework, after spending seven hours in school each day?” asked Laura Mitchell, a self-described “burned-out mom of a seventh-grader.” time to pursue our interests?” Mitchell added. “As adults, we often have far too much to do. This helter-skelter society should not be starting in elementary and junior high school. If Sacramento is to blame, then as parents and educators — isn’t it our job — our most important job on this earth, and in fact, our duty to be strong and audible voices for our children? Can I get an ‘Amen’ from the congregation?

> “BURNED-OUT MOM OF A SEVENTH-GRADER.” — LAURA MITCHELL SELF-DESCRIBED

“In my humble opinion, too much homework — and not too much television — is the downfall for a close knit family that sits down to dinner and plays board games in the evening.”

Mitchell is not alone. Several other posts on the Internet messaging board have expressed similar concerns.

They have been matched by an equal amount of postings in support of the current workload being handed out by teachers, who have discretion over the length and difficulty of lessons assigned each day.

Those in support said teachers are merely challenging students to think critically, preparing them for high school when they will be expected to juggle not only class work, but football practice, theater rehearsals and academic decathlons.

“To all of you concerned about the seventh grade homework load, now is the time for your kids to strengthen their independence and organization, because seventh grade gets them ready for eighth, and eighth ready for ninth... etc.,,” wrote Liz Haft, a parent of students in the 12th, ninth and seventh grades.

“It does not get easier,” Haft added.“It gets more difficult because sports, theater, music, community service and other activities are very important too. For those of you that seem over-burdened with the whole situation, I suggest you work with your child to develop these helpful skills and support all of their efforts. Try to make it a positive daily endeavor and not such a negative one. Good luck …”

The debate over the amount of homework students receive is not new. District officials said they receive complaints from parents annually. It’s usually a 50-50 split between those who believe teachers are assigning too many assignments and those who believe students are not getting nearly enough to keep them competitive in the global economy.

“Everyone has an idea of what amount of homework should or shouldn’t be assigned. It’s all over the map,” said Maureen Bradford, director of educational services for the Santa Monica-Malibu Unified School District. “The general rule of thumb is ten minutes (of homework) per grade level, so by the seventh grade we are looking at an hour, an hour and a half approximately of homework each night.”

> “Don’t all students have a right to have the freedom to have a life outside of homework after spending seven hours in school each day?”

Bradford said teachers are allowed the freedom to assign the amount of homework they see fit, which varies depending on the lessons taught that day and whether or not a teacher assigns work every day or puts together a packet at the beginning of the week that is due Friday.

For students who are struggling, Bradford said the district offers a wide range of opportunities for students to get the extra help they need, from staying after school and working with their teachers to accessing other tutoring programs. Bradford said students can also access help online or through non-profits such as the Police Activities League or at the Teen Center in Virginia Avenue Park.

If a child is having trouble, Bradford said parents should not hesitate in contacting their child’s teacher and letting them know of the problem.

“If my child had seemingly too much homework to do in the amount of time given to do it, I would draw a line at the page where he or she left off and leave a note for a teacher saying my son or daughter worked until 9:30 (p.m.) or whenever their bedtime is and this is how far they have gotten,” said Bradford, a former teacher and principal at Will Rogers Elementary School, who had three children attend the district.

“Teachers want to know if kids are spending an exorbitant amount of time on homework,” Bradford added. “It is important to have that communication between parents and teachers. Don’t let the situation go on too long without letting a teacher know.”

While there may be a perception that the level of homework has increased for all grade levels, what with the added pressure on students to perform well on standardized tests, the reality is that the amount of homework has remained pretty much the same since the 1980s, according to a study by The Brown Center on Education at The Brookings Institution.

The study, released in 2003, found that the typical student, even in high school, does not spend more than an hour per day on homework and the students whose homework has increased are those who previously had virtually no homework at all. The study also found that most parents feel the homework load is about right, and of those who would like to change it, more parents would rather see more than less.

If parents are concerned, the best thing they can do is work with their child, assess where he or she needs help and then talk with the teacher and principal at their child’s school to make sure they are aware of the problem. Parents may also want to look into outside help from a professional tutor, district officials said.

“The reality is, homework is important because it is an extension of what a child has learned during the day,” said Superintendent Dianne Talarico.“I don’t think it needs to be 100 additional problems, but maybe five to 10 to check for understanding. It’s not about quantity, but about the quality of assignments. We need to get kids engaged and be stretched beyond what they learn during the school day.

“I want them to struggle a little bit, but at home, the lessons need to be something we’ve taught.”

Talarico said homework is important to prepare students for high school and college, when they will have more responsibility, and therefore, be required to better manage their time.

“Students have to be taught how to discipline themselves and be better managers of their time,” Talarico said. “This is not just about adding or subtracting, it’s about preparing students for life.”

*Originally published in the Santa Monica Daily Press print edition on November 6, 2006.* [Read the original PDF.](https://s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com/smdp%5Fbackissues/110606.pdf?ref=smdp.com)