Homework relief for city school students?

(New York -WABC, , 2007) (WABC) -- Do students have too much homework? A New York City councilman who is also a father of two public school students thinks they do.

And now he's leading a campaign to limit the amount of homework teachers assign students. Will that ever fly? Should it?

Kids and their parents with the homework blues now have a sympathetic ear at City Hall.

Queens Councilman Peter Vallone Jr. says he does not get to spend quality time with his two kids.

Vallone says he has heard similar complaints from many other parents whose kids are up to their necks in homework, every day.

He says they don't get to do afterschool activities, spend family time or get exercise.

Vallone is proposing a non-binding council resolution that would suggest the Department of Education limit homework for kids in 8th grade and under, to 2-and-a-half hours per night, with one free night with "no" homework.

But there are critics of Mr. Vallone's proposal. Merryl Tisch is a member of the State Board of Regents. She says it's silly for Vallone to propose legislation.

The council does not have the power to mandate limits on homework through legislation, and there is a school of thought that even 2-and-a-half hours is too much homework.

Nancy Kalish co-authored a book, with Sara Bennett, called "The Case Against Homework."

Kalish says some education authorities feel kids should only be assigned 10 minutes per grade level.

Meanwhile, Vallone will present his ideas to the council soon, and he hopes it will lead to a resolution calling on the DOE to take a look at its homework policy.

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