Is Homework Necessary?

Fabulous article from the BBC, May 25, 2005 (okay, I'm a little slow):

Schools Try Abolishing Homework

"...Malsis School, an independent prep school in North Yorkshire, adopted such a policy two years ago.

The government regards homework as essential
Its head teacher, Christopher Lush, said: "This is not a question of banning homework as deciding it was inappropriate.

"At the end of a long, busy school day it's not necessary that children should be forced to sit down and do homework or prep.

"Being an independent school, parents and children would vote with their feet if they believed their children were being short-changed academically. This is far from being the case."

Instead of homework, the school, which has a significant boarding community, uses evenings to offer children an array of clubs and activities." ...

Unfortunately not all British schools agree. Click the link above to read the whole article.