More homework, please!
There was a notification for teacher staffs recently, asking for the teachers to give 5-questions homework per meeting. Apparently, there was some talk from parents that their children look too-relaxed, said they don't have homework and no tests.
While I agree on the spirit of endorsing children to learn, I myself don't find giving homework is pleasing. Here's my case. On weekly basis, I give my students some homework, which don't have to be submitted (unless occasionally, in random, I would ask to). And still on weekly basis, I give quiz, which is based on the questions in the homework I have given.
There will be an advantage for those who work on their homework well. They would recognize which part they haven't acquire a complete knowledge on and ask me their questions. While the others who just like to copy the previous ones, will be in benefit of not having to really think about how to do it yet it's done. And naturally, these latter students can't give good answer later even if the questions in the quiz are exactly the same (which they are) as in the homework.
Aside from weekly quiz, I give them test each for every chapter. Simply put, my students don't really have that kind of leisure of saying "I don't have homework nor test". Because they do. Trust me, if they said that to you, it should be either it's a holiday week or I was absent. Therefore I am rest assured that the soft-pat about homework endorsement is not pointing at me.
And you know what? Also on weekly basis, I have lots of paperwork! Giving out lots of homework and ask the students to submit them will backfire on me to an obligation of having to examine and return them right away. Enough with weekly quiz and end-of-chapter test, thank you. So when I'm lacking of giving homework, I actually am drilling them due to more quizzes. I hope my taking another route is forgiven 
On the student's side of the story of homework
I learn that, being a student long time ago (sheessh… I feel old!), I used to buy myself some leisure time by delaying to do homework (if not drop it all the way, sorry, it's just natural). Thus if my parent asked, I chose to give a true answer yet not revealing the whole truth, "I won't have test tomorrow".
But oh my lovely mom… I can't remember if she even asked the question! Being a bookworm, I always dwell in books. And drawing comics. Or other books. I always looked busy that mom often said, "Don't you have holiday? You always go to school or somewhere."
So… without any harsh intention on pointing at some people and said they are liars, but students may and can lie, too. Yes, to the parents also. Come on, don't you wish to have some easy night in bed and just letting those chemistry and math books lie abandoned on the table?
I'm not saying that I'm endorsing students to lie. I'm just saying to an extend, we -the elders- are the one to give some slack. At home. Mostly if at school they already have to deal with my weekly homework and quiz -then EoC test- and we're just talking about one teacher only! [And if any student by chance reading this writing, that doesn't mean I will lessen the tone at school, yo! I stick with my pace.]
I enjoyed my days of no homework, giving me some time of having me-time and making the most of my life (yea… lurking in bookstores, going out with friends, not too much hype actually, but still was fun). I found that enough time to breath will let myself to be more forgiving and creative.
Parents, please. When in some -maybe rare- days you see your child(ren) are enjoying their afternoon with friends, going out for a movie, or just sacking themselves in bed, let them be. 6.30 a.m. – 3.30 p.m. school hour is a long time, mate!
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