Naked Science Forum

On the Lighter Side => Famous Scientists, Doctors and Inventors => Topic started by: Arrual on 09/12/2014 03:20:57

Title: Who thought of the idea of homework/studying??
Post by: Arrual on 09/12/2014 03:20:57
I've pondered this for life and never had the time to research it deeply.
Title: Re: Who thought of the idea of homework/studying??
Post by: CliffordK on 21/01/2015 12:22:19
Everything points to Homework being a Russian Conspiracy against American School Kids 

There are several notes about the history of homework, at least with respect to American kids, and perhaps rural kids in general.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Homework#History_of_homework
http://www.sfgate.com/news/article/HISTORY-OF-HOMEWORK-3053660.php
http://www.ascd.org/publications/books/108071/chapters/The-Cult%28ure%29-of-Homework.aspx

Anyway, up until the mid 1900's, at least with the primary education, there was apparently a feeling of school for in school, and chores and other family stuff for the times kids were out of school. 

Then came the Russian launch of a tiny satellite that simply broadcast radio pulses.  And, everything changed.  American kids had to do homework to keep up with the Russians who could make a satellite that beeped.

Over the years, homework and homeschooling has been increasing, at least in many communities. 

College may be different with college students sitting in class for perhaps 15 hours a week, but expected to work as much as a full time job. 

Certainly for subjects like math, one needs lots of practice for it to be learned, and perhaps the more diverse problems, the more diverse applications.  Other fields may still consider reading to compliment the lectures.
Title: Re: Who thought of the idea of homework/studying??
Post by: alancalverd on 21/01/2015 13:01:47
It's a conspiracy to promulgate the monastic tradition, and to cover up the fact that teachers are very inefficient at transferring knowledge. Kids go to school so their parents can go to work to earn the school fees, then they do homework so they can learn a trade and become parents....
Title: Re: Who thought of the idea of homework/studying??
Post by: CliffordK on 21/01/2015 16:42:21
Practice and repetition is important for learning, although I am often amazed at how quickly young kids pick up things like new words.  It isn't that teachers are bad at what they do, but that the elements of practice and repetition can better be done by the student, and don't require a teacher to be standing over them.

Perhaps homework also reinforces lifelong individual learning, rather everything being fed to the child by a parent/teacher.

Title: Who thought of the idea of homework/studying
Post by: WarnerGet on 17/01/2019 18:31:08
The same person who invented Zubaz? DH was just going off about this earlier.
Title: Re: Who thought of the idea of homework/studying??
Post by: chris on 17/01/2019 18:58:24
What's Zubaz?
Title: Re: Who thought of the idea of homework/studying
Post by: Colin2B on 20/01/2019 08:57:43
The same person who invented Zubaz? DH was just going off about this earlier.
Weak attempt to spam us.
We have changed your website and signature links to our own and banned you.
Goodbye
Title: Re: Who thought of the idea of homework/studying??
Post by: Zer0 on 27/03/2024 17:19:12
I've pondered this for life and never had the time to research it deeply.

lol
Good question!