Teacher cancels written homework in attempt to inspire children to get outside and get active

The sun is out, the evenings are getting longer, and children don’t want to be sitting for hours doing homework, so why not cancel it?

We all remember the anxious feeling rushing through our written maths and English/Irish homework so we could go out and play, and Jim Richardson, Principal of Markethill Primary School in Armagh, has decided to cancel written homework for his students in an attempt to inspire them.

County Armagh principal cancels written homework in the hope that children will go outside and enjoy themselves or discover a new hobby… ? pic.twitter.com/3SqJxOY6CD

— Johnny Caldwell (@Johnny_Caldwell) May 8, 2017

Mr Richardson issued a letter to parents towards the end of last month stating that the learning aspects of homework, such as spelling and times-tables, would remain, but that written homework, like written maths and literacy work, would not be set.

In the letter, Mr Richardson said: “Instead can we encourage you to inspire your child(ren) to get outside and to get active; to go for walks or cycles; to spend time reading or drawing or playing with friends; to spend quality time with family or to find and develop a new hobby.”

So what do you think? Should children be given a break from written homework in an attempt to inspire them?