Teacher Surprises Everyone With Her New Homework Policy
“Start ’em young.” It’s a popular phrase for teaching kids just about anything. But if you think we tend to take that sentiment a bit too far, then you’re going to love what Brandy Young is doing. The second grade teacher in Texas started off the year with a brand new homework policy. And it’s a policy so surprising, it’s gone viral!
Credit: CBS News
Trying Something New
Brandy Young, a second grade teacher at Godley Elementary School in Texas shocked parents and students alike at "Meet the Teacher Night."
There, she passed out a letter informing the parents that her class would be trying out a new policy on homework this year.
“After much research this summer, I am trying something new. Homework will only consist of work that your student did not finish during the school day. There will be no formally assigned homework this year,” she announced in the letter.
It probably comes as no shock that the students were all in favor of this new approach. But Brandy’s reasoning behind the policy had the parents onboard, too.
“Research has been unable to prove that homework improves student performance,” she explains in the letter. “Rather, I ask that you spend your evenings doing things that are proven to correlate with student success. Eat dinner as a family, read together, play outside, and get your child to bed early.”
Going Viral
Samantha Gallagher’s 7-year-old daughter, Brooke, is one of the students in Brandy’s class. And the new policy pleased Samantha so much, she shared the letter on Facebook. And since then, it’s gone viral, with more than 70,000 shares!
"We're happy that at the end of a long school day she'll get to come home and unwind and be a kid… go outside to play, make new friends, spend more time as a family," Samantha said.
Having full support from the school administration and all of the parents from her class already thrilled Brandy. But the overwhelmingly positive reaction her letter has received online truly blew her away.
"[Students] work hard all day. When they go home they have other things they need to learn there," Brandy explained. "I'm trying to develop their whole person; it's not beneficial to go home and do pencil and paper work."
Brandy with her student, Brooke Credit: People Magazine
And, as a mom herself, Brandy is hoping her letter will help other teachers and schools take a closer look at their own policies.
“Any homework that’s given just needs to be meaningful. The kids are so busy and they work hard days, and when they go home, they don’t need busy work, let’s just make sure we’re not giving busy work,” she said.
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A Bigger Message
And Brandy’s message is important for all of us. We live in a world that constantly pushes us to do more and more — to always add more to our plates. But with all of that distraction, we can lose sight of the things that are truly important — like spending time with God. Even Jesus, with all He had to do, regularly made time to go be alone with God. Let’s be sure we’re doing the same!
"Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light." Matthew 11:28-30
What a student said in a letter had this teacher in tears!
h/t: CBS News