POLOKWANE – A day in a child’s life today is definitely not the same as it was 20 years ago.
In the past children went to to school, played some sport afterwards and were usually at home by around 15:00 to do their homework. These days many learners do not get to their homework until after 18:00.
Review speaks to learners from various schools, as well as a teacher and a parent to hear what they think of having an extra hour at school during which learners can do their homework.
Tshego Rampedi is a gr. 11 learner and gets home at around 17:30. He feels that an hour extra is necessary to get learners to study. “I have a busy sports schedule so it would be nice to have an hour extra for study.”
His friend, Kutello Mogale (gr. 11) also feel that an hour extra is a good idea, although he feels it would not be necessary to have it every day. “Some days we do not have any homework. It depends on the day, but I usually get home at 17:00 after sport.”
Masingita Maswanganyi (gr. 11) also likes the idea of an extra hour but says he sometimes has little work to do. “We also need teachers to supervise us and not prefects so that if we do not understand something we can ask.” After participating in sport he gets home between 17:00 and 17:20.
Jaydee van Wyk is a gr. 7 learner who does not participate in extra-mural activities at school. She gets home at 14:00 and her father helps her with homework. “I feel the extra activities take up time that I could use on my homework,” she says.
Caylin Duncan is in gr.8. Except for Wednesdays she gets home at 14:30. On Wednesdays she has art club and gets home later. “An extra hour would not work. It would clash with the sports times.”
Diba Shahrokh is in gr. 10 and feels that if there are teachers around to help with homework, an extra hour would be a good thing. “The teachers should help you, especially with subjects like maths and Afrikaans.” She also gets home at around 17:00.
William Li (gr. 8) thinks an extra hour will be a good thing as then they will not have any excuse not to do their homework. “Some people mess around and do not take time seriously.”
For Johan de Klerk, a teacher, an extra hour would be a good idea. “It would force a child to actually do his homework. The teachers should supervise the learners.”
Leon de Villiers is a parent. He says his children do not need an extra hour as they get home early enough and his wife, a former teacher, helps them with their homework. “We try to let them finish their homework in the afternoon so we can spend quality time together in the evening.”
