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Monday, May 04, 2009

Kill Worksheets; Save Our Children



The proliferation of worksheets is troubling. The idea that "homework equals worksheet" and a novel needs a "packet" is problematic on many levels. Start counting the worksheets your child brings home, and you will have a good idea of the quality of instruction s/he is receiving. Hint: less is better.

Worksheets
  1. kill creativity in favor of route memorization and the questing for the right answer.
  2. communicate a binary view of the world.
  3. reward consumption.
  4. encourage a busy work view of school.
  5. are passive.
  6. are irrelevant.
  7. dumb down.
  8. promote the glaze.
  9. normalize.
  10. are all about low expectations.
  11. are lazy.
Q: Why do worksheets persist?
A: Worksheets persist because parents were, for the most part, educated with worksheets.