Parent/Teacher Survey Asks About Homework

As expected, parents and teachers last Friday received an online survey asking their opinion about the quantity and type of homework their students receive.

The survey is part of a study that the Board of Education in particular at the middle school and high school level, or grades 6 to 12.

The online survey, sent home to parents of students in the and in last week's "Friday Folder," delivered through emails, is due for completion by next Friday, Oct. 28, by 3:30 p.m., according to the message accompanying the survey. The same survey was issued to faculty.

"Our district is currently looking at the quality and quantity of homework assigned to students K to 12," said the message signed by Sean Siet, the school district's director of curriculum.

INFO ADDED: Parents can fill out a survey for each child they have in the middle school or high school, Siet said.

Some of the questions ask whether homework is essential; whether homework should be academic in nature; and whether the quantity is too much, too little or just right. Parents also were asked whether their students required tutoring, and where they received the extra help.

Over the next three weeks, students in grades 6-12 will also be surveyed during the school day as well as the staff, according to the message with the Friday Folder. "The results will be shared with the community as soon as they are collated," Siet's message said. "Our updated homework procedures will then be developed and shared a little later in the year," she said.

According to the Friday Folder message and remarks at a previous school board meeting by the school's superintendent, Valerie Goger, a second survey regarding student stress will be issued later during the school year.

Siet said the faculty began this school year with the staff viewing clips from the film and discussing "the many challenges students face as they navigate an ever competitive school environment." 

The movie, shown last school year, also is scheduled to be shown again at 7 p.m. on Nov. 3 at the Ridge High School Performing Arts Center, according to the school district website.

"The district is looking at ways to address the stress that many of our students are faced with as a result of the high expectations in our district and community while balancing that against the needs of a healthy social/emotional child," said the online message from Siet. "We are firmly committed to offering the highest quality educational experience for our students while still managing realistic classroom expectations for each child," the message said.

The district also is striving to design assignments which will help students learn the content in their courses, the message said. The goal is for a "meaningful and substantive" assignment which helps to reinforce the material presented in class.

"It is with that in mind that we are undertaking the process of surveying our teachers, students, and parents to gain valuable insights into the quality of homework assigned. We ask that you spend time taking the survey for each student in your family and reflect on your own experience with each of your children if applicable) on a nightly basis," the message said.

The information collected will greatly assist us in the refinement of the district's homework guidelines, which help direct teachers' expectations for homework assignments, the message said. District Homework Guidelines, which help to direct our teacher’s expectations for homework assignments.

In cooperation with the Municipal Alliance Against Substance Abuse, the district also will administer a student stressors survey in the spring. "We realize that stress can be caused by several factors, not just homework," the message said.