29 September 2023

Published September 27, 2023 by rochellewisoff

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Genre: Fiction
Word Count: 100

SCHOOL DAYS

Alice chewed her pencil until it looked like it had been attacked by woodpeckers. She groaned. “I detest homework. Why do I have to do it.”

“To learn,” said Jacob. “To develop your brain.”

“My brain’s already worn out from school.” She jutted out her lower lip. “Whose bright idea was this anyway. Homework. Blecch.”

“You could blame the German philosopher, Johann Gottleib Fichte. Or more recently, American politician Horace Mann. After a visit to Prussia, so impressed with their educational system, he brought homework to America.”

“Whoa. How’d you learn all that?”

“Easy.” Jacob shrugged. “I did my homework.”

71 comments on “29 September 2023”

  • Isn’t it funny that most of us hated homework yet, spent inordinate amounts of time on Google, etc.? Isn’t that almost the same? Lol. Obviously, homework would have been so much more fun if we had it in our youth. Good story.

    Liked by 1 person

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    • Dear Anonymous Jan,

      I’m not sure why WordPress is cloaking some of my commentors.
      It does seem we enjoy homework these days, doesn’t it? I guess there’s a difference when it’s a thirst for knowledge rather than working for a grade. Thank you, m’luv.

      Like

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  • Funny how homework is going out of style in the school system now. My kids get almost none. Still, Sebastian’s teacher says it’s coming, hence the new desk set up!
    I love these two characters, there’s a nice gentle teasing between them, like siblings should be.
    A note – your story doesn’t seem to be on the link squares.

    Jen

    Liked by 1 person

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    • Dear Jen,

      Your kids are the lucky ones. Although as they get older, homework will probably increase. Brothers and sisters are always fun to write. I have but one brother and we’re still like this.
      As for my story in the link squares it’s been there since the beginning. Number One, I just didn’t put my name on it. I’ve edited. I post ahead so you can look for me each week in the first square. 😉

      Shalom,

      Rochelle

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  • Love that last remark”Did my homework.” As a retired English/history teacher, I did assign homework. I tried to keep it applicable and SHORT. I have horrible memories of “Do problems on pages 1-5, showing your work.”

    Liked by 1 person

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  • Hey Rochelle! It’s David. Great last line there. You definitely do your homework every week for these stories. I’ve learned so much from your stories. It seems that homework is getting out of hand these days, at least more than when I was in school. Hopefully they can slack off on it a bit.
    Have a great week!

    Liked by 1 person

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    • Dear David,

      No one detested homework more than I back in high school. Now I spend hours doing research, sometimes for a single paragraph. Crazy. I’m glad I’m not a student today. On the other hand, back in “my day”, our internet was a card catalogue and Encyclopedia Britannica. We’ve come a long way, Baby. (but have we?) Sorry about your comments ending up in my spam folder, however if I hadn’t said something I’d never have known.
      Thank you for your wonderful comment. 😀

      Shalom,

      Rochelle

      Liked by 1 person

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      • Research for your own projects can be a joy, or least a lot better since it’s for something you want. I had to do a ton of research for this last book I did since it was based on real things and you can go down some rabbit holes. But it’s definitely way easier these days than it was in the past.

        Liked by 1 person

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  • Ha! Well, I’m all for independent work, and for more of it as children grow into middle and high-school, but I am against homework … especially for children who have long school days. Kids need to have a life, too, and play ought to be part of a child’s daily diet. So, I’m with Alice. Brains need time to rest. And to create. And to have space for imagination. Homework all too often bites deeply into all of those. It does not make sense for children to only have time to play on weekends. Nope. No need for homework when by the time children in the US get home, it is almost dinnertime.

    Liked by 1 person

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    • Na’ama Y’karah,

      I’m in agreement with you. How well I remember those tense Sunday nights when I tried to do the homework I’d left until the last minute. I’m still a procrastinator. 😉
      I tutor a ten-year-old girl in Hebrew on Tuesday evenings. She’s working toward her bat mitzvah. I feel for her coming over after a long day of school. She often says, “My brain is tired.” Last Tuesday she stood up for most of the session because she was tired of sitting all day. I only hope she doesn’t feel pressured like her brother did. (Although she’s still saying she’s going to blow him out of the water.)

      Shalom,

      Rochelle

      Liked by 1 person

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      • Rochelle, I loved school and so did my younger son, but my older son despised it. It wasn’t that he *couldn’t* get good grades — I offered him $$ one semester for every “A” and he got straight “A”s — it’s that he saw no sense in learning all of that … You’re right, school is designed to teach so much more than the rote factoids that we continue to learn were/are a carefully constructed narrative to keep those in power in power. It’s amazing he got through also, and after all of these years, he’s back at it and now getting straight “A”s by choice. What a weird and wonderful world we live in.
        You’re very welcome ❤
        Shalom,
        Lisa

        Liked by 1 person

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  • So we can blame the Prussians for the bright idea.

    I’m sure homework is incredibly valuable – if it’s the right kind of homework. And kids definitely need to develop enquiring minds, a thirst for knowledge, an appreciation of the wonder of the world. Hmm. Aren’t we born with all of those qualities? Maybe we can blame homework for stifling them. 😉

    Jacob’s obviously managed to hold onto his love of knowledge – I have my fingers crossed for Alice. This is a great story Rochelle. Really got me thinking.

    Liked by 1 person

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    • Dear Margaret,

      Children are individuals and not everyone approaches learning in the same way. If only there was a way to make homework fun. Not sure any one person is to be given credit or blame for the practice. 😉

      Thank you for your wonderful comment and compliment.

      Shalom,

      Rochelle

      Liked by 1 person

      Reply ↓

    • Dear Laurie,

      Whether homework is good or not is in the eye of the student I suppose. I don’t remember ever enjoying it. Now I find myself researching everything. Perhaps things would’ve been different if we’d had the internet and its vast knowledge at our fingertips back in “my day.” I hated plodding through card catelogues and encyclopedias. 😉 Thank you.

      Shalom,

      Rochelle

      Liked by 1 person

      Reply ↓

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