Homework, in Italy twice as many as in other European countries: is it right to assign them?

The issue of homework during the school year and during the summer holidays is a controversy that periodically returns to Italy. And not only. In Germany there is discussion about whether to abolish them. The leader of the Linke, a left-wing group, Janine Wisslerhe said: “Lo daily stress from homework at home it poisons family life, produces conflicts, pressures, tears, fuels aggressions». On the other hand, the Minister of Culture Michael Piazolo of Bavaria: «I admit: I too have not always been happy having to sit at my desk in the afternoon to do my math homework or learn vocabulary. But I also realized that homework helps in learning». Heinz-Peter Meidinger, representative of the teachers’ association, is also in favour. The main argument against homework is social as well as scholastic: homework is unfair because it does not take into account differences between families and economic availability.

To bring the controversy back to Italy, as well as the viral Tik Tok of a Palermo mother, also the head of the education department of the League, Mario Pittoni, for whom homework should be carried out as much as possible in the classroom, so that those who are not disadvantaged cannot be followed at home. But how many tasks come? AND Republic to do the accounts. The international investigation TIMSS 2019 (Trends in International Mathematics and Science Study) monitors educational effectiveness in Math and Science for fourth graders and eighth graders in different countries around the world.

Fourth grade homework in Italy they are 3.3 times higher than those given to French peers and 50% higher when compared with Spain and Finland. Only German children have a similar amount. The speech is similar in eighth grade.

Over the years many opinions have also been collected from Vanity Fair. Dario Ianes, full professor of Pedagogy and Special Education at the University of Bolzano and co-founder of the Erickson Study Center in Trento: «I am convinced that the most important part of learning should be done at school. Outside, pupils can develop their culture by reading, exploring the world around them, maturing as citizens who use the knowledge learned at school: if I learn to read in class I can choose a book, if I learn the history of art I go to the museum . In short, I grow as a citizen».

The theme was proposed above all for the summer holidays so many recommend only reading. Obviously with reading you don’t review mathematics and physics, but here the secret is the measure. Not too much is the solution. For foreign languages ​​we go back to reading, even magazines. Daniela, a high school English teacher, among the 50 finalists of the Global Teacher Prizehe said a few years ago to Vanity Fair: «Holidays are above all a time to reflect on one’s expectations and to assess one’s skills. I ask the kids to read a book or magazine in the original language. I prefer not to overdo it.” A separate discussion must be made for those who have to recover, but this is where the courses that the schools organize come into play. Here the times are set. For the others they have to be organised.

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