ILOILO – Aside from banning homework, House Bill 3611 of Deputy Speaker and Sorsogon representative Evelina Escudero also disallows the bringing home of school textbooks by pupils from kindergarten to Grade 6 because of their heavy weight.
Parents interviewed by this paper were supportive of the proposal. Government employee Cindy Lim said it would literally unburden her Grade 1 child.
Every day, said Lim, her child uses a trolley bag to lift heavy textbooks and notebooks.
According to Congresswoman Escudero, carrying heavy school bags to and from schools may lead to fatigue, spinal column diseases and other related afflictions.
“Schoolchildren carry heavy bags as they feel compelled to bring home all their books and activity kits because of the daily homework given by their respective subject teachers,” Escudero stated in the explanatory note of her bill.
Lim said she takes to school her child every day to free the kid from having to carrying the heavy bag, and that many parents do this, too, for the sake of their children.
“Ang parents pagbuhi ginakuha nila ang mga bags sang ila kabaaan kay bug-at gid,” said Lim.
Congresswoman Escudero proposed that all kindergarten and Grade 6 students deposit their textbooks in lockers that their schools must provide.
According to Lim, children should only be bringing home textbooks of subjects where they have assignments.
Vincent Gefes, also a parent and government employee, welcomed Escudero’s proposal, too. He has a Grade 4 child.
Notebooks alone are heavy enough, he said, so having textbooks to take home are indeed an added burden.
His child, he said, brings to school 14 notebooks each day.
According to Escudero, her proposal will not only “lighten the physical burden of schoolchildren” and promote quality family interaction “but will also compel schools and teachers to come up with a more holistic and effective pedagogy.”
“Homework assignments can deprive students and parents precious quality time for rest, relaxation and interaction after school hours and even on weekends,” Escudero said.
There’s another bill similar to Escudero’s – House Bill 388 of Cong. Alfred Vargas of Quezon City. It prohibits elementary and high school teachers from giving their students weekend homework or assignments.
According to Vargas, homework is a burden for children and parents./PN
