Hop Scotch For Homework

Eric is sitting at the kitchen counter looking at me with his angry eyes. “Do I have to do my home work?” He asks.

I sigh. “Yes.”

“Can't I just go outside and play?” He whines. “Why do I have to do home work anyway?”

I pause before answering. A number of responses run through my head. Most are likely to be a fifteen minute dissertation on my beliefs about education in our society.

Instead, I settle on “Because Mrs. G. (his teacher) says so.” Eric adores Mrs. G. and my answer satisfies him.

I have some controversial views about homework. In my mind, it’s unnecessary and a waste of time. I don’t let on to Eric that I believe this. He has a great teacher who we all love and goes to a wonderful school. I don’t want to upset the balance in the classroom, so I go along.

Don’t get me wrong when I say I don’t believe in homework. It doesn't mean that I don’t value education. I do value education. I should. I could have bought a three bedroom split level for what I spent on mine.

But as much as I believe in the importance of education, I don’t believe that all education, or even the best education, is found in books, in the classroom or in homework. To me, the best education is in living.

Eric is a good example. He’s seven and in the first grade. He receives daily instruction in math and reading. But he learns math and reading in things he does outside the classroom.

Last week Eric challenged me to a game of Monopoly. It’s become one of his favorite games. I like it because we get to make some great family memories. He likes it because he often wins.

But it's not just fun and games. Eric learns while we play. He adds and subtracts to keep track of his money. He counts as he moves his marker around the board. He reads the card telling him to “Go to Jail.” He learns and he loves doing it.

If you ask me, elementary schools should assign a game of Monopoly instead of math worksheets for homework. Or Scrabble. Or building with Legos. I'm flexible.

It’s more than board games. Activities like sports and music are also a great source of education.

Studies show that students who play sports have better grades, higher test scores, superior self-esteem and a firmer grasp on essential life skills. Simply put, kids who play are better students.

Whether its basketball or tennis, kids who play sports develop essential aptitudes and attitudes. They learn leadership. They tame time management. They tackle teamwork.

As a result, they are more likely to achieve success in the classroom and in the work force than their bookworm peers. And these same benefits can be found in non-sport play, like music, theater and art.

Eric plays soccer in the spring, baseball in the summer and hockey in the winter. From these activities he learns how to fall down and pick himself up. He learns to work with his team, to listen to the coach, and to make quick decisions to score a goal.

One really awesome baseball coach even taught Eric how to look someone in the eye when shaking hands. I'm happy to see that from sports, Eric learned real skills that will make him a better person.

That's why I think hopscotch for homework is more important than history.

When it comes down to it, I guess my views on education have a lot to do with my views on learning. Learning, I believe, isn't about how well you did on the SATs.

It’s not about class rank or grades. It's not about how many tests you take or how many books you read. It’s not about whether you can recite the essential causes of the War of 1812.

Learning is about doing.
Learning is about experiencing.
Learning is about loving.
Learning is about living.