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Ninth-grade teacher Damion Frye is giving homework to his students' parents:
So far, Mr. Frye, an English teacher at Montclair High School, has asked the parents to read and comment on a Franz Kafka story, Section 1 of Walt Whitman’s “Song of Myself” and a speech given by Robert F. Kennedy in 1968. Their newest assignment is a poem by Saul Williams, a poet, musician and rapper who lives in Los Angeles. The ninth graders complete their assignments during class; the parents are supposed to write their responses on a blog Mr. Frye started online.
If the parents do not comply, Mr. Frye tells them, their child’s grade may suffer — a threat on which he has made good only once in the three years he has been making such assignments.
The point, he said, is to keep parents involved in their children’s ’ education well into high school. Studies have shown that parental involvement improves the quality of the education a student receives, but teenagers seldom invite that involvement. So, Mr. Frye said, he decided to help out.
The blogosphere is divided: Is this scheme asinine or brilliant?
Blogger Betty, a recently retired teacher, had this to say about Frye's assignments:
This sort of boggles my mind as I remember my own life as a working mother and teacher. It was hard enough to keep up with grading papers and helping my own kids with their homework. If I had had actual homework assignments, I probably would be in a fruit basket by now. My husband traveled a great deal, so I was the one that made sure we all were prepared and ready for the next school day. Wait a minute. I have to catch my breath just thinking about it.
Ashley Meeks of Adequate Yearly Chenille Sticks writes, "Apart from uproarious, cat-scaring laughter, I know what my response would be if my kid came home telling me I couldn't watch "America's Next Top Model" until I did my homework."
In her post "Is Damion Frye A Brilliant Teacher or an Arrogant Twit?" Liz at I Speak of Dreams wonders if Frye has made some misguided and classist assumptions about his students' parents:
1. They have internet access
2. They read English at a high-school level
3. They are comfortable using "new media" such as blogs
4. They have sufficient time and energy left over after work and caring for the kids and/or elderly parents to sit down, read complex works, and compose a reply.
Personally, I'm voting for, at the very least, culturally insensitive.
Over at Momformation, Beth Hering shares her reactions:
My first reaction: How much you want to bet Mr. Frye isn’t a parent himself? (My second reaction: I bet some husbands and wives have had some pretty good arguments over who would be the one stuck doing this homework. My third reaction: Oh, man. What if every teacher did that and I ended up suffering through calculus again?)
Margo/Mom was more supportive in a comment left on Elizabeth Rich's post on Frye's homework:
This is interesting. My initial reaction though was to the assumed need to coerce parents into cooperation. I read the article and I am still not entirely clear what this looks like (are parents blogging with students?)--however I admire that this teacher is clearly thinking outside the box and integrating technology into the classroom. He also appears to be willing to accommodate (receiving private emails from a parent with limited English skills who did not want to post to the blog).
Over at Baristanet, commenters are divided, but a few support Frye's efforts. ROC comments, "It's a fine idea, but it should be voluntary. Mr. Frye no matter how good a teacher he is should not be empowered to "direct" the educational environment at home. His authority ends at the classroom door." ROC adds, "p.s. but I'd love to do it." Bruce adds, "My son had Mr. Frye two years ago and we both found his dedication to his craft and his students refreshing. I never viewed my invitation to participate in my son's classwork as 'homework' and found the exercises enjoyable. As did my son. Mr. Frye is not only a terrific young man and teacher, but a tribute to MHS as a graduate of the program."
I have mixed feelings about Frye's assignments. As a pedagogue, I can see that it might better engage parents with their students' learning, and perhaps in the process improve the students' understanding
