What's happening in Olson's school in Barrie is part of a global movement re-examining the usefulness of homework.
Equity for less affluent students is a big part of it. But, as Olson and his staff found, increasing research says homework does not improve achievement in elementary school.
Some believe homework helps students perform better and learn organization and time management. Certainly for older students, there is a connection between homework, studying for tests and achievement, although research has shown more than a couple of hours a night is counterproductive.
But in the elementary years, the link isn't as clear, and it has led some U.S. jurisdictions to abolish homework for primary pupils, save for reading or unfinished in-class work, as the Barrie school has done.
In the U.K., teachers have asked for a ban on homework for primary students and limits for older ones, saying it makes children stressed and unhappy, and is especially frustrating for lower-income students.
Closer to home, a study by Toronto professors Lee Bartel and Linda Cameron found homework caused trouble for Canadian children and their parents, including marital stress.
