Who is Doing Your Child’s Homework?
I was recently searching the Internet for some information. One of the top returned responses led me to a place called Yahoo Answers. Yahoo Answers is a forum where people can ask questions and get answers from other people. If you are not a member of Yahoo Answers, then you’ll need to sign up in order to ask questions, but non-members can see some of the site’s features.
On the Yahoo Answers home page there is a list of categories for questions and answers. I couldn’t help but go through some of the category matrix. Most categories came as no surprise to me: Beauty & Style; Cars & Transportation; Environment; Pets; News & Events. One subcategory, however, did get my attention. Under Education & Reference there is the subcategory “Homework Help.”
I spent a few minutes perusing the Homework Help subcategory. In it I found countless questions and answers. Allow me to share a few of the questions I found there. Mind you, these questions are presented exactly as they appeared on the site – no spelling or punctuation changes have been made.
Question #1:
There pretty easy, around 4 line answers needed.
1. What effect does: (i) the equator have on temp + wind, (ii) latitude have on climate, (iii) altitude have on temperature?
2. Explain the coridas effect?
3. What are prevailing winds?
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Question #2:
What are 3 main features that all triangular prism possess?
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Question #3:
Is it i have ran or i have run?
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Question #4:
What character in Great Expectations must contend with the past?
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Question #5:
Complete paralysis is usually due to:
atrophy
deterioration of the muscles
malfunction of the nervous system
muscular dystrophy
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Question #6:
On what interval are these series convergent? ?
be sure to include whether it’s inclusive or exclusive for each interval side.
((x-8)^k)/(k(-10)^k)
((-6x)^k)/(sqrt(k)+4)
((k+1)((9x)^k))/((k+5)
END OF QUESTIONS
I must admit that I suffered a moment of jealousy (or is it envy). I was educated during the era of visiting the library to locate information not found in our textbooks. Many times I’ve been researching something on the Internet and dreamed of having such a potent tool to use during my schooling. I would have saved countless hours on dictionary and thesaurus time alone. The Internet is a great learning tool – for sure.
I never forget my amazement at learning that I was not the first old person to wonder about today’s youth. Here’s a quote credited to Socrates (aka the father of western philosophy) – circa 469 – 399 BC:
“The children now love luxury; they have bad manners, contempt for authority; they show disrespect for elders and love chatter in place of exercise. Children are now tyrants, not the servants of their households. They no longer rise when elders enter the room. They contradict their parents, chatter before company, gobble up dainties at the table, cross their legs, and tyrannize their teachers.”
From this quote I realized that things constantly move forward, customs and cultures shift and evolve, and kids will be kids. I no longer look down my nose at rap music, heavy metal or nose and lip piercings. It’s just what kids do today.
I had to request permission to use our family telephone. Today kids – even ten year olds and younger – most often have their own cell phones. That’s fine.
With all that said, I think maybe this homework thing might be a bit much. I’m not blaming Yahoo Answers, mind you. The forum could be a very good place for kids to discuss things in ways that would broaden their perspectives and enhance their knowledge pool. It could even be a good place to get explanations for things not understood. But to just get answers for school homework – that I have to question.
TOTAL DISCLOSURE:
I pulled the quote from Socrates off the Internet…
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