Pedro Scooby, a 33-year-old surfer, questioned the use of homework for children in the education system after spending hours at school. In a conversation with another participant on the reality show where he is currently confined, the athlete mentioned how difficult it is for him to help his three children.

Scooby is the father of Dom Piovani and the twins Bem and Liz, whom he had with his ex-wife Luana Piovani. Even before joining the reality show, he had spoken out against the homework assigned to his children. In his view, the educational system in Brazil needs to be overhauled.

"Schools have to change; they have to prepare children for a world that is different from what it was 20, 30, or 50 years ago. There are other things that are just as important as studying—things that children need to explore as well, such as art, sports, and many others," he said.

A report on the TV Cultura website interviewed educators to determine whether the surfer’s claim has any basis in fact. Educator Adriana Martinelli, who has more than 25 years of experience in the field of education, believes that the initiative comes from each individual teacher. Some schools, however, evaluate institutional management, which is linked to the institution’s pedagogical approach. Martinelli is also involved in developing innovative strategies for teaching methodologies that utilize information and communication technologies.

For Adriana, homework is meant to reinforce what children learn in school. “It helps children reconnect with what they’ve learned—sometimes by doing the same thing again—to reinforce their understanding and aid memorization,” she explains.

Regarding Pedro Scooby’s statement, she considers the possibility of questioning the purpose of homework. “I interpret this statement [by Pedro Scooby] as a call to rethink the function and true purpose of homework and perhaps question its necessity,” says the educator.

"He probably had a traumatic experience during his school years—perhaps related to homework—which is why he holds this opinion. However, it also reflects a broader issue among educators. There’s one camp that’s critical and another that thinks it’s essential, so we don’t have any guidelines on this," adds Adriana.

Martinelli believes that the “homework” process is truly effective only if the child is engaged and willing to do it in order to learn. It should not be seen as a burden. “Today, due to the pandemic, learning can take place both at school and at home—not in the form of homework, but as a continuation of learning,” he concludes.

Taís and Roberta Bento, founders of SOSEducação and columnists for the magazine "Pais e Filhos," explained that the practice of using homework as punishment spread to several countries after an Italian teacher began requiring it of his students following incidents of misbehavior.

"There is a legend about an Italian teacher who decided to require his students to do homework whenever there were discipline problems during class. To this day, no one has been able to confirm whether this actually happened or whether this Italian teacher even exists. There are records showing that homework has been part of the teaching-and-learning process since ancient Rome, when philosophers asked their disciples to practice public speaking between meetings," he says.

The expert advocates for homework as a powerful ally in children’s learning. “We can say that children who do their homework are better prepared not only to perform well in school but also to face life’s challenges. The family’s role is essential in ensuring that students do not view homework as something harmful and that they can rise to the challenge of dedicating the time that the learning process requires,” she points out

 

 

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