High School Puts Moratorium on Homework to Allow Children Enough Time to Play
A high school in Germany's North Rhine-Westphalia region has put in place a ban on homework in order to help relieve some of the pressure put on students following the extension of the school day by several hours.
Germany recently removed an entire year from its high school system, adding the study time to existing grades.
Students are now expected to stay as late as 6 PM, meaning they have less leisure time as a result.
The help ameliorate the situation, officials at Elsa-Brändström high school have banned teachers from assigning homework to students in grades five through nine. "No child would be having their free time dominated by doing school work," head teacher Brigitte Fontein is quoted as telling a local newspaper.
Students who require additional assistance, as well as older students, will not take part in the pilot program, which will run for the next two years.
"Children have a right to free time, to play games in the afternoon," said Cornelia Schiemanowski who heads the Education and Science Workers' Union, which has criticized the state for putting undue pressure on students with a 44-hour week.
