Parents in Merrimack say new homework policy hurts students

MERRIMACK, N.H. — Merrimack school officials are trying out a new way to tackle homework, hoping they can use it to promote personal responsibility.

This year, the district announced it was getting rid of graded homework calling it “support learning.” Under the program, homework will be evaluated by teachers but will not count toward the student's grade.

“They're not teaching them responsibility. It's not helping them in the long run,” Lila York, a mother of two students, said.

Assistant superintendent Mark McLaughlin declined to go on camera, but provided Boston 25 News with a statement, reading in part "It is our hope and expectation that as we continue to engage in this practice homework will be used by students as an important tool in the development of their responsibility for their own education and as a tool to be used in the service of greater understanding."

McLaughlin says this new protocol emphasizes personal responsibility.

Cox Media Group