The eradication of homework is something the joint Oireachtas Committee on public petitions discussed earlier this year.

Banning homework for primary schoolchildren is also a hot topic across the water at the moment, with celebrities such as soccer pundit Gary Lineker and UK-based American actor Rob Delaney calling for it to be made redundant.

Let’s face it, I don’t think I have ever met a person who enjoyed homework. I get a knot in my stomach now when I think of it. Yes I am sure there are plenty of studies to prove its worth in terms of discipline and self development.

Finland

That said, in Finland there is no homework given to primary school children and yet it’s a country like others in Scandinavia held up as a bastion of all that is pure and wise.

Wouldn’t the time be better spent exercising or reading a book? Wouldn’t there be less stress on parents trying to coax their children to do their homework the way they must coax cranky toddlers into eating their dinner? And wouldn’t it take pressure off children who find learning difficult and need teacher support for all things academic?

Broadcaster and muck-stirrer in chief, Piers Morgan responded to Lineker and Delaney by suggesting that it was only “lazy parents” who wanted homework to be banned. May I suggest that that’s a lazy assumption.

Sport

There are many very bright children with bright parents who probably find the whole chore of squeezing in homework on top of a busy day of other sporting activities counter-productive. I would rather see my children involved in playing sport, learning music or putting together a topical project rather than slaving over homework if that was the choice.

The point is, it isn’t a choice and active and bright children must bolt the homework onto these other healthy activities at the end of a long day.

Maybe that could be the compromise, if a child is playing sport or involved in some other comparable activity it could be offset against homework. Wouldn’t this be a neat way to get children active?

There are many very bright children with bright parents who probably find the whole chore of squeezing in homework on top of a busy day of other sporting activities counter-productive

I don’t think eradicating homework completely would achieve a whole pile without something in return.

Substituting homework time with sport, cooking, baking, music, drama, reading or even art at least twice a week for children in primary school makes sense to me. Good for the mind and body.

Children who are driven and studious will always do that bit extra anyway in the same way they do when it comes to the Leaving Cert. I bet that even if you had an “opt in” choice for doing homework, in other words where there would be no sanction for not completing the assigned homework, we would be surprised how many pupils would still complete the work. I think in this day and age, it is a debate worth having.

Rest in peace

I was very saddened to hear of the passing of Philip McCabe last weekend. Philip was best known to radio listeners as an expert on everything to do with apiculture. But he was a wise voice on a range of topics as a Citizens Information director.

His advice was always commanding and reassuring. Whenever he was part of a radio panel discussion he always had something interesting and insightful to say.

He was such a pleasant, warm and engaging man to deal with and anytime I interviewed him, it was a great pleasure. He once dressed me up in a beekeepers outfit before taking me to his apiary for a most educating interview about beekeeping.

To his family, my deepest sympathy. May he rest in peace.