Parents Opinions on Homework in the II Stage of Primary School (Estonian Example)

Abstract

Students daily study experience is dependent on both schoolwork and homework. Various studies conclude that students have heavy workload and a lot of homework and show a lack of interest and even aversion towards school. To compare and analyze parents assessment on the scale and amount of homework, the time spent on homework and its productivity. Within the education field homework is usually understood as an assignment given by the teacher to the students, which is to be done outside the lesson (Kidwell, 2004). Homework has a lot of functions 1) it helps to practice, use and confirm the lesson subject matter (Kidwell, 2004); 2) cultivates independent study habits which build discipline and willpower; 3) increases interest in the subject; 4) increases students level of knowledge (Painter, 2003). The study is handled as a case study (Yin, 2009), which compares the data collected on two different stages: 2005 and 2013. Data collection method was a form which data result analysis objective was to describe the homework loads, the amount of homework done with the help of parents and its level of difficulty. The aim is to compare the changes that have taken place within the timeframe. Sample consists of 6th grade students parents from 12 Estonian schools: 2005 N=205 and 2013 N=201. Conducted benchmarking results allow us to conclude that the situation has changed to a certain degree:•In 2005 parents stated that they mostly helped their children to study written materials, in 2013 it was oral material studies;•2013 study showed students required parental help in the same subjects as 8 years ago (2005): languages, mathematics and natural sciences;•parental attitude towards homework was continuesly positive.In 2013 the number of parents who believed that the homework amount was to large had increased Homework helps to practice, learn how to use and confirm the study material, develops independent study habits and increase willpower and discipline. The comparative material confirms that a lot of students require parental help with homework and that some parents believe to the homework amount to be too large. A large amount of parents help their children with their homework which shows that the students are unable to conduct independent study.The study showed that parents help their children mostly with mathematics and Russian and that some parents believed that the homework load was to large.