Calls to ban primary school homework and let ‘kids be kids’

There is growing debate about the value of homework in primary schools, with some calling for its complete ban to allow children more time to play and spend with their families. 

On Newstalk Breakfast, Coleman pointed to Finland as an example, where primary school students aren’t given work to do at home, yet consistently perform at the top in subjects like maths and science.

“They believe kids should be kids,” he said. “Having dinner with your family, getting exercise, and having a good night’s sleep are all more important than doing homework.”

His comments come in the wake of a new study from Maynooth University, which suggests that homework in “shorter bursts” is more effective than longer assignments. 

The study found that 15-minute homework sessions were just as beneficial as longer tasks, particularly in maths and science. 

Extending homework to 30 minutes or more showed no added benefits, and this finding held true across different socioeconomic backgrounds, potentially easing concerns that homework disproportionately benefits children from wealthier families.

Coleman acknowledged that while homework might have value at the secondary level, primary school children should be free to enjoy their childhood without the added stress of homework. 

“Let kids be kids; let them go out and play,” he said. “When they get to secondary school, they’ll have plenty of time for study.”

Co-presenter Ciara Kelly, however, offered a different perspective, arguing that it plays an important role in a child’s education. 

“Practicing things like maths cements them in your brain,” she said. “Sometimes you have to step out of the classroom and work on things independently to really understand them.”

Kelly also highlighted the role that homework plays in fostering responsibility in children, but acknowledged the growing frustrations of parents, many of whom are balancing busy work schedules with the pressure of helping their children with work to do in the evenings. 

“Parents feel an absolute obligation to help their kids, and it becomes a stress point for many families,” she said. “But homework, when done right, is good for kids.”

She urged parents to take a step back and allow their children to tackle homework on their own, as was common in previous generations. “Just let them at it,” she said, suggesting that homework shouldn’t be scrapped just because parents find it challenging.

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