Leo: Kids do get too much homework
SYMPATHY FOR STUDENTS
TAOISEACH Leo Varadkar has stopped short of supporting calls for a ban on homework but admits some children get “too much.”
His comments come just weeks after President Michael D Higgins called for homework to be banned.
The Fine Gael leader told Newstalk’s Pat Kenny Show that he will now talk to Education Minister Norma Foley about the matter.
President Higgins said that he believed time at home should be spent doing more creative activities.
“The time in the school is an educational experience and it should get finished at the school and people should be able to use their time for other creative things,” the former Arts Minister said in an interview with RTE’s News2Day.
The Taoiseach has now weighed in on the homework debate, saying that he thinks children get too much homework.
Mr Varadkar said: “You could have a long day in class, get home in the early evening and then face, you know, three hours of homework. I remember that when I was a kid, staying up very late to do homework.
“I think there’s definitely a place for homework but we need to make sure that there isn’t too much of it.”
When asked if he minded President Higgins making public comments on homework, the Taoiseach noted that his contributions are “always welcome”.
Debate
In a recent survey, Irish Daily Star readers were also overwhelmingly in favour of banning homework, with 98 per cent of our readers in favour.
Minister Foley told The Star last week that it would “not be appropriate for a Government Minister to engage in public debate with the office of the President”.
She said: “Currently schools are free to have their own policy on homework and these policies are created in conjunction with senior management and staff, the boards of management, parents and the pupils.”