How much homework is enough???

To make a long story short.....My 10 yr old DD is in 5th grade. Our small town has a wonderful school system that tests way over even the bigger schools. But.....here is the problem.

When we found out last summer whom her teacher was going to be we heard the rumors of lots and lots of homework. For the first time my DD did not want to go to school. It was really heartbreaking. She has always loved school and is a wonderful student. I told her not to judge the teacher until she gets into the class and to at least give the teacher a chance. I explained it to my DD as how would she feel if a new student came to school and automatically didn't like her because of what others had said about her. My DD has tried to go into this with a possitive attitude.

The rumors were true. We are talking about at least 3 hours of homework a night. Last night we didn't even get done until 9:30. Her bedtime is 8:30. By 9:15 I was basically giving her the answers just so she could get to bed. Besides....what 10 yr old child comprehends anything that late at night?

Then today my DD comes home with 3 late assignments because she "forgot" to do a whole subject of homework. So it comes down to even though we worked from 4:30 to 9:30 on homework breaking only for supper she still wasn't done. Now I am not defending my DD about the late assgnments because she should have got them done and she knew better but what am I suppose to do?

My DD also said that the teacher yelled at them today because there were 24 late assignments today. She said, (and this was backed up by other parents) "It is my right to give you homework and if you think I am going to stop giving you all this homework because you are all turning in late assignments then think again. You will still get just as much homework if not worse!"

I decided to call a few parents tonight and ask them if they are going through the same thing. All of them are. They are all stuggling with getting homework done and are up just as late as we are. I told them I was going to be speaking to the teacher at confences next week about it and one of the parents told me that her oldest son had her 2 years ago and 6 sets of parents all went to the principle at one time and it didn't do any good.

It has got my DD so upset at night. She says she hates school, her nerves and stomach are a mess, and she doesn't have anytime to do anything else. When are we suppose to have family time, time for her to practice her piano and flute, go to 4H and book club, etc? We have already had to have her start taking her showers in the morning because there isn't time at night. We also have cut out her chores. When is she just suppose to be a kid?????? I am so frustrated beyond belief right now!

Now my question is how much homework do your kids have and how do you handle it?

 

Quote:I honestly would think about homeschooling but I have to work. I also think my DD would hate it. She loves seeing her friends everyday and the social aspect but this year she hates the school part and at this point I can't blame her.

 

Quote:Our school hours are 8:35 - 3:25. When she was riding the school bus, after school to home, she wasn't getting home until 4:45. She was the last one dropped off. It was causing her to be up until 10:00 doing homework so I made arrangements at work so I could pick her up and she could start her homework right away and it is still 9:30. It is just getting worse as the school year goes on.

I am so stressed out about it and can't even imagine what it is doing to her.