When Bunmi Laditan’s daughter, Maya, started getting so stressed about her school work that she was losing sleep, this concerned mum decided to step in and do something.
Writing an email to Maya’s teachers, she explained that her daughter who was keeping up in all her classes would not be doing anymore homework.
‘Doing 2-3 hours of homework after getting home at 4:30 is leaving little time for her to just be a child and enjoy family time and we’d like to avoid her sinking into a depression over this.’
The mum adds in her Facebook post about the email that ‘my kid is done with homework’.
‘We all want our children to grow up and succeed in the world. While I believe in education, I don’t believe for one second that academics should consume a child’s life,’ she explains.
‘I just want her to be intelligent, well-rounded, kind, inspired, charitable, spiritual and have balance in her life.
‘I want her to be mentally and emotionally healthy. I want her to know that work is not life, it’s part of life. Work will not fulfill you. It will not keep you warm ― family, friends, community, giving back, and being a good person do that.’
Not only has Laditan’s email likely impressed Maya, but among the comments are teachers and child psychologists who love her message.
'As a child psychologist, I'd like to say: THANK YOU for being brave in taking this stance, and standing up for what you know to be the right choice for your daughter! You're modeling so many positive values that go beyond academics here (assertiveness, focus on family time). Keep us posted on how the school responds!' wrote one.
Another commented: 'As a fourth grade teacher, I fully support this. In fact, I have not given my students the first night of homework this year, and their academic growth has been just as much or more as I've seen from other classes in the past. Not to mention the fact that they seem much less stressed and ready to learn when they walk into my classroom.'
Another person added that this kind of workaholic approach is damaging for kids and creates bad habits for later in life: 'I once saw a corporate executive (I believe a CEO of a VERY large company) speak about how he does not believe in taking work home with him. He said if you can't complete your job in a normal workday & have to work after hours, the job is too big for you and you need to take on less, say no more often or hire an assistant. Schools need to realize that they are creating another generation of workaholics. A generation of stressed out cardiac patients that barely see their families and live at the office, or bring the office home with them. How sad is it that these habits start in grade 4 or 5?'
Nice one, mum!
