QUESTION:
I understand that teachers using DISCIPLINE without STRESS refer to homework as “home tasks.” Why is this?

RESPONSE:
Effort for learning, and effort of any other kind–especially employment–need to be clearly differentiated. For example, in Dr. Marshall’s book, the word “homework” appears only in the index. Elsewhere in the book he uses the term, “home assignments” and has since switched to “home tasks.”

The differences between business and learning are so great that Dr. Marshall prefers not to use any term that joins the two. Although both require effort, he believes that using the term, “homework” misses the mark. Learning does require effort–but not the same kind of effort as employment–hence his preference for not using the term, “work” when referring to learning.

Certainly, both business/employment and learning require effort, accountability, and performance. Despite the fact that the two situations share other similarities as well, the objectives of each are quite different. Using one as a metaphor for the other, or even comparing the two is a mistake.

You might be interested in these related articles by Dr. Marshall:

Business: A Poor Model for Learning

Home Assignments

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Posted In: F. Improving Academics
posted On: April 6, 2007: 6:02 pm: By Kerry Weisner
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