Homework helps

I am a retired public school teacher and I am against the passage of a "No Homework Bill" that is now filed in Congress. Being a teacher I know the crucial importance of homework to the learning of a child. There are weak ones who need further coaching and this is supplied by the parents at home in order for them not to be left behind.

The argument is that night time is reserved for the bonding among family members, is there a greater bonding relationship than for a child to go to his or her mother or father for help in his or her lessons?

I do remember reading an article in the Reader’s Digest about an educational problem in the state of California in the USA. The state used to be in the top five in national achievement tests for grade school pupils. But with the passing of the years the state's achievement went down remarkably so the state's educators did some research on the cause. They found out that one of the reasons for the decline is because the teachers of their public school were no longer giving homework to their pupils. The other cause is the unbridled use of television during nighttime.

If those people in Congress cannot think of other sensible bills, I would rather appreciate if they would pass a bill necessitating homework in public schools but to pass a no homework bill is a blunder of the first magnitude.

By Jose G. Hortelano

Balamban, Cebu

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Why the ATM fees?

Foreigners with VISA card are charged 250 pesos for a withdrawal of 10,000 pesos. The only bank that allows a withdrawal of 20,000 pesos for the same charge in my experience is the Bank of the Philippine Islands.

Erich Wannemacher

Lapu-Lapu City