– I think it is very important with homework, because there are many who learn better from it, says Lykke Lise Aubert Prangerød. She is in seventh grade at Reier school in Moss. This spring will be the last with homework for primary school students here. But the 12-year-old is not convinced that it’s just a good idea. – Maybe we could have one or two homework a week, and the rest homework-free, she says. Moss has decided that no pupils at the municipalities’ 17 primary and lower secondary schools will have homework from the autumn of 2022. Homework researcher at Østfold University College, Kjersti Lien Holte, believes the decision is innovative. – As far as I know, this is the first municipality to adopt something like this. It shows a great deal of trust in the schools in Moss, she says. Across the fjord from Moss, Horten has also opted for a homework-free scheme from the autumn, but this only applies to the municipality’s primary schools. Teachers feel overlooked Since 2017, the political left in Moss has had an ambition to make the school homework-free. Last week, the decision finally came into place. Ada Gjermundsen is a shop steward at Reier School. She is in the final sprint before the summer holidays. Photo: LIVE MARIE HAGEN WOLD / NRK She is one of several teachers who think politicians have gone too fast. – We are not of the opinion that you should have homework anyway, in all subjects and all the time. But some things are important, like reading instruction. And it is important that the parents get to be part of that development, says Gjermundsen. Many challenges, short time The teachers believe that the changes will lead to challenges that must be solved. They must find room for the students to work independently at school. So far no one was able to send in the perfect solution, which is not strange. – Homework must now be included in the school day. We have to think differently about the contact with the home, how the parents should have an overview, says Gjermundsen. Tommy André Christensen is the leader of the Education Association in Moss. According to him, the union’s members have reacted with everything from surprise to shock to the politicians’ decision on homework leave from next autumn. – I now expect politicians to spend time involving teachers to a greater extent than they have done, and that they put the necessary resources on the table. For this will require more teachers in the classrooms, Christensen says. The mayor: – We are forward-thinking Mayor Hanne Tollerud (Labor Party) says she is happy that the municipality dares to act. – We want all students to have equal opportunities and then we believe that removing homework and focusing on what will happen in the classroom is the right way to go. Tollerud also promises that teachers will not have to use the summer holidays to facilitate the changes. – There is nothing terribly wrong with homework, but recent research shows that the learning benefits are not very great. Homework also slightly increases the difference between the students, says mayor Hanne Tollerud (Labor). Photo: Petter Larsson / NRK It will be resolved at planning days. – I am quite optimistic that this will be a good solution, but we will make evaluations along the way. If it turns out that we have to make changes along the way, we will of course do so, says the mayor. The teachers are excited before the new working day. – We will of course work as best we can, to make this as good as possible for the students. They are the ones that are important here, says Ada Gjermundsen.
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Moss municipality introduces homework-free school from August – NRK Oslo and Viken – Local news, TV and radio
