Homework

* Re “Too Much of a Good Thing,” April 21: Parents United for Sane Homework has recently formed to advocate for flexible homework policies in elementary schools (https://www.sanehomework.com). Some of our tenets are that the primary “job” of children is play; that homework should be minimized and ideally assigned on an individual, as-needed basis; and that parents and children have too little time together to spend it fighting over homework.

We believe there are far more valuable uses for children’s free time, focusing on subjects that elementary schools should be teaching, but for the most part are not: music, art, drama, handwork, foreign languages, character development and community service. Time freed from homework should not be spent on television, which we suggest be off-limits during the week.

The most important thing families can do in their time together is connect. This will ultimately produce smarter and happier children than piling academic drudgery and stress onto children at younger and younger ages.

DARIA DOERING

Founder of PUSH

San Diego