The Baldwin Elementary and Primary Center schools have started regulating the “No Homework” policy for all students within those schools. This new policy has advantages and disadvantages.

“I think it is a policy that has its benefits,” fifth-grade teacher Ryan Cox said. “At the elementary level, these students need time to be kids and be out being active.  Having to worry about homework is not at the top of their priority list.”

The new policy was first administered during the 2016-17 school year. The Building Leadership Team surveyed the parents of BESPC and BESIC students to get their thoughts on the policy before administering it.

“Of those who responded to the survey, there were only a few that were not supportive of the idea,” BESIC principal Dan Wallsmith said. “Most of their concerns were related to the impact of elementary homework on the ability to handle it in the future.”

Many teachers provide the students with optional assignments that they can do at home if they feel the need. Many teachers don’t even do that. Some teachers give them a fun verbal thing to do over the weekend. For example, a fun activity outdoors or something with the child’s family.

“They still can learn and work on activities at home,” first-grade teacher Ashlea Troth said. “I encourage parents to do fun activities with their children, make sight words with play dough or write spelling words with chalk outside.”

Since the students at BESPC and BESIC are quite young, make teachers agree that they need time to be kids while they are still young. Giving children homework would decrease the amount of time they spend being kids.

“At the elementary level, these students need time to be kids and be out being active,” Cox said. “Having to worry about homework is not at the top of their priority list.”