ESSEX, Mass. — Students in Essex are looking forward to what some would say will be the best school year ever after an elementary school announced a no homework program.
Manchester Essex Regional School District Superintendent Pam Beaudoin said the pilot program came about after teachers began researching the impact of homework.
"I would certainly never use the 'ban' word. I think what we're trying to do is find the just-right fit that fits our broader mission and goals," she told FOX25.
A growing group of educators now says homework doesn't help the learning process, and in some cases hinders it.
"When you talk about the 'whole student' you're talking about the drive to have high test scores, but also balance other elements of learning: time management, interpersonal skills, and the desire for kids to have a balanced life. Just like adults would strive to have a balanced life," Beaudoin said,
This summer an Elementary school in Holyoke announced a similar pilot program for this year.
Educators say there's more than just reading, writing, and arithmetic that goes into the education.
"Between sports, activities, homework, school, personal lives of the families-we're just trying to find ways look differently at work that we've done in the past, or policies that we've had for a long time," Beaudoin said.
Students may still be assigned projects to work on at home, but that would only be occasional as the guidelines get developed.