Children's homework becomes the bane of parents' lives

[Photo: from VCG]

Many parents are lamenting on their life as they needed to do their own homework when they were children — but now have to do their children's after-school work.

"I was dreaming of the life my parents were living when I was doing homework when I was a child," said one father in a post on WeChat. "They could take a walk, watch TV, visit friends and chat after supper."

"I thought I would live the same life as theirs when I grew up. But I found it is totally different. I am still doing homework, for my children."

Indeed, homework is no longer the bane of just students. It has also become a daily grind for their parents as well.

The netizen's online post drew sympathetic response from many who read it. Some web users said the whole neighborhood could no doubt hear them shout when they were helping their kids with homework. Others said they were frustrated by the stupidity or carelessness of their children. Some even confessed to losing their patience and spanking their children.

One parent reported a heart attack attributed to the stress of helping children with homework.

So why are parents getting so involved with homework? Many blame the education system. Many blame parents overanxious to see their children succeed at school and get good grades.

Parents are required to sign their names to attest that they have helped with each assignment.

The involvement – often reluctant – of parents in homework is also increasing the stress levels of students.

In feedback gathered by the East China Normal University Press on the subject of parent involvement in homework, many Shanghai students said they were scared of their parents, who had become homework tyrants at home. 

[The audio clip is from Studio+, produced by CRI.]