Homework, Play and the Case For More Meaningful Learning with Dr. Colman Noctor and Robbie O'Connell

In this episode, we're going to talk about homework.

So both of you are bringing a lot to the table and a lot of great insights.

Colman, what are your views on homework in primary school?

Yeah, I'm going to preface this by probably suggesting that I probably see a lot of people who are struggling and suffering as a result of homework.

Again, what I might see might be the thin end of the wedge in terms of young people who are struggling with maybe some learning difficulties or difficulties in school in general.

But for me, and I hear the arguments, like it's habit building, you know, it's good for me to see how my child is doing.

and I was only writing about this recently, that oftentimes that is said from the parent of a child who's doing fine.

And homework in one house could be a worksheet that's done within 15 minutes and it's back in the bag.

And I could understand why people would say, this is grand, look, this is fine.

And all those positive things, the reasonable arguments that I've just made I don't think we think about the parent who's sitting there for two and a half hours with a screaming, crying child who's filling out a worksheet that they have already done in school, which feels much of the time like just doing it for the sake of it.

And I see those children and I have my own children here and I have three different children.

I have one who is the first kid who has it done in five minutes and homework is no issue.

I have another who is crying and finding it difficult and It was interesting, Robbie said there about, you know, well-being.

I remember one time looking at my daughter and she was very upset doing homework.

And she was like, I said, what's upsetting you? And I can't do it.

And she was doing her well-being homework.

And she was saying, like, I don't know what makes me happy, Dad.

Just think of anything.

Like she was trying to fill out this sheet.

And I just thought for a girl who... has been struggling and concentrating all day to come home and do this work she seems utterly unfair, of very little value.

And, you know, my advocacy around non-homework is to consider those children too.

And, you know, your own perception of education is coloured completely by your own journey through it.

And sometimes I think as parents, we can be quite short-sighted around, you know, well, it's okay for my child, so everyone needs to do it.

And I just think I would urge us to have the compassion towards the same child sitting in the same classroom is having a very difficult and different education experience to maybe your child.

Because school fits some children, it doesn't fit others.