Group 1

ACABAL, Alyzza Kara

CORTEZ, Jerome
BERSABAL, Angelie Mae
BONIAO, Cristine
CUARES, Kresilda
CALAPRI, Marlon

DepEd Memorandum No.-392, 2010 orders teachers to avoid giving assignments to students on
Friday, citing parents complaints about the heavy weekend study load of their children.

A. Does the DepEd Memo contradict the lessons you learned in this chapter in homework? Ex-
plain your answer.

No. The DepEd Memo does not contradict with the lessons weve learned in homework.
According to the reporter, homework or assignments are meant to teach the students self-learn-
ing, self-discipline and time management - skills that teach the students to be more responsible
individuals. The Department of Education equally shares this view on the essence of homework
as pointed out in the many statements issued by then DepEd Secretary Armin Luistro. It should
also be noted that DepEd did not ban homework at all but simply encouraged educators to reduce
the number of homework during weekends to give time for other learning activities that are not
considered academic. We think that Secretary Luistro, in applying the principles of progressiv-
ism, existentialism, and promoting the shift from a teacher-centered education to a learner-cen-
tered one, understands the importance of learning outside the classroom. Not everything that a
student learns can be learned in class, thus we, as educators, should also value those kinds of
learning opportunities for our learners whether it was facilitated by us or not.
In addition, as we reviewed the language of the law as well as the comments and official
statements issued by then DepEd Secretary Luistro, the Memo simply serves as a reminder and
not as a sanction. It is clear that no penalty shall be given for the violating such memorandum or-
der. It does not, in any way, curtail the academic freedom of educators that was assured by the
Constitution because the memorandum simply acts vis-a-vis the supervisory authority of the De-
partment of Education. Whether they follow it or not is up to the teachers unless a law shall be
passed by Congress and approved by the President reinforcing such.

B. Do you agree with the DepEd Memo?

We should qualify our answer. While we agree with the salient points of the DepEd Mem-
orandum, there are some parts of the order that we think DepEd shoud reconsider. But first, let us
look at the facts.

Here's what the research says:

In a research conducted by Duke University in 1989, 120 studies found a weak link be-
tween achievement and homework at the elementary school and only a moderate benefit at
 the middle school level. In a similar review of 60 studies, Duke University found that
homework was beneficial, but assigning excessive amounts of homework was counterpro-
ductive.
In general, homework has substantial benefits at the high school level, with decreased ben-
efits for middle school students and little benefit for elementary students (Cooper, 1989;
Cooper et al., 2006).
While assigning homework may have academic benefits, it can also cut into important per-
sonal and family time (Cooper et al., 2006).
Assigning too much homework can result in poor performance (Fernndez-Alonso et al.,
2015).
A students ability to complete homework may depend on factors that are outside their con-
trol (Cooper et al., 2006; OECD, 2014; Eren & Henderson, 2011).
The goal shouldnt be to eliminate homework, but to make it authentic, meaningful, and
engaging (Darling-Hammond & Ifill-Lynch, 2006).

It is clear that all the research findings all share the essence of homework as a tool for
self-learning and self-discipline, however, it also guarantees that excessive homework may
not be as beneficial. Thus, we can say that the decision of the Department of Education was
not a done in a whim, but was carefully studied, assessed and proven.
On the other hand, the study of Cooper 1989 and 2006, wherein it mentions that the effect
has a decrease in benefit from highschool to elementary school, the Department of Education
should not altogether ban homework for all levels. Since it was stated that homework was ac-
tually beneficial for highschool, as this would prepare them for the future, the Department of
Education should have qualified their memorandum and issued Implementing Rules, Regula-
tions and other considerable guidelines that would adjust their approach in the homework ban
during weekends. After all, every learner is different. While having assignments on weekends
may be counterproductive for elementary students making the memorandum order beneficial,
it may be a necessity for highschool students in which the memorandum could be hindering
instead of helping.