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Comment by lachyg | Hacker News Reader

Am I reading this right? This girl is 10... This isn't a stab at the author. It's great that he is getting good study habits for his daughter at an early age. It's more at the education system. I really don't think 10 year old's should have to do this type of study each night. They are 10!

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Considering how little the average parent in America helps their grade school age children with their classes, I'd say that making your 10 year old study like this every night is far from the worst thing you could do to them.

One thing I've noticed is that here reluctance/enthusiasm to study is directly tied to how efficient she feels the studying will be. If she knows she'll get an A because she does effort Y, she will do effort Y. My problem with the school system is that studying is too disconnected from results, and so kids end up feeling like their test results are random. That's a killer.

I hate to break it to you, but by 4th grade, the homework burden is around an hour each night, minimum. My 1st grader is in for 30 minutes each night. And that does not count the 15-45 minutes of reading they might do.

Lots to learn in 4th grade. You can debate the need, or the value, etc., but the fact is she has to pass the state and fed assessments, and that is how the system is setup. Railing against might eventually change it, but my girls are in it right now, so you have to play the game.

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