A fourth grader returned home from Memorial Spaulding Elementary School on January 5 with surprising news: homework, at least as students had known it, was over.

The student’s parent was initially skeptical. However, an email from Principal Jamie Yadoff later that afternoon, just after the winter break, confirmed a radical change in academic policy at the school in Newton’s Oak Hill Village.

Yadoff’s message, titled “Shift in 4th and 5th grade homework,” announced that traditional daily homework would be replaced by independent reading and math practice as needed. The practical result of the new policy is that 4th and 5th grade teachers at Memorial Spaulding no longer assign homework.

Memorial Spaulding Elementary School. Photo by Richard B. Primack

While the administration frames the change as a data-driven move to reduce student anxiety and foster a love of reading, some parents fear that scrapping traditional daily homework assignments may not be the best learning strategy and leave their children unprepared for middle school.

The issue also points to the need for a broader review of Newton’s math and English curricula, which hasn’t been done for a quarter century. That would enable educators to make smarter decisions on homework and other policies.

The new policy: Independent reading 

According to the announcement, Memorial Spaulding’s new policy eliminates standard homework packets for 4th and 5th graders. Instead, expectations are refocused on 20 to 30 minutes of nightly independent reading for each child, supported by their family, to build vocabulary and background knowledge. 

Principal Yadoff stated the change was motivated by student feedback indicating that homework assignments had become a significant source of anxiety without yielding academic benefits during the school day that justify the stress.

The policy aligns with certain educational research suggesting that traditional homework in elementary school has a negligible impact on academic achievement. Yadoff points to other research studies showing independent reading is “one of the strongest contributors to literacy growth.”

Beyond academics, the policy is intended to allow time for crucial non-academic development while children are at home. Yadoff’s email encourages families to have their children use the freed-up time for outside play, creative activities, and household contributions, while explicitly urging parents to limit screen time.

Parental pushback: ‘Dumbing our kids down’

Despite the stated benefits, the abrupt and surprising change, implemented without community discussion, has unsettled some families. Prior to January, students typically received 15 to 30 minutes of English and math worksheets nightly.

“The new policy sends a message that practice is not necessary,” one parent stated. “It is the wrong message.” 

Interviews with several parents, who asked to remain anonymous, revealed a shared concern that the removal of regular structured homework makes it harder to reinforce classroom lessons, disconnects parents from the curriculum, and fails to build the “discipline” of study habits.

“I don’t think this policy is good for my child,” one parent said. “Homework helps kids develop healthy habits that they will need for middle school.”

Another parent expressed a stronger sentiment: “We are not holding our kids to a minimum standard. We are dumbing our kids down.”

Critics of the new policy point out that while academic gains from homework may be hard to measure in elementary years, the routine of sitting down to work is a skill in itself. Parents also noted that without the children preparing reading logs or reports for the teachers, there is no mechanism to ensure independent reading is actually happening and no way to connect it to what is being taught in the classroom. 

Some parents also questioned if the anxiety cited by the school was caused by homework in general, or specifically by an online math program, which has timed problems and was used by some teachers for math homework assignments. Several parents suggested that making that specific program optional or making homework optional for those students experiencing anxiety would have been better solutions.

A systemic issue

Inconsistency in homework policies across Newton has contributed to confusion about the policy change. 

Parents noted that students at the city’s 14 other elementary schools continue to receive standard homework. They wonder why Memorial Spaulding should have such a different policy. When asked to explain and address parental concerns, Newton Superintendent Anna Nolin said Yadoff would not be available to elaborate, citing a family health issue.

Nolin confirmed there is currently no citywide homework policy, so principals are allowed to set rules for their own schools. However, she also acknowledged a deeper systemic issue: the district has not conducted a thorough review of the math and English curricula in 25 years.

“I can’t impose a homework policy until there is a curriculum review,” Nolin said, emphasizing that such a review is necessary to ensure that elementary school homework is effective rather than just busy work. Given this situation, Newton parents may wonder if homework will be eliminated at other elementary schools or even at grades above 4th and 5th grade.

For now, families at Memorial Spaulding are adjusting to the new reality. While some children may enjoy the respite from the nightly homework grind, many parents remain concerned about the long-term educational impact.

“Kids need to be acquainted with the idea of homework,” one parent noted. “I feel strongly about this.”

Richard B. Primack is a lifelong resident of Newton and plant ecology professor at Boston University. He can be reached at: primack@bu.edu.