Good luck, kids. (Photo: Ian Burt/CC BY 2.0)
By Cara Giaimo, originally published in Atlas Obscura
Three weeks into fall and already sick of homework? Spain may have a tactical answer. CEAPA, a kind of mega-PTA representing the parents of schoolkids across the country, has recommended that fed-up students go on a homework strike.
Under the terms of the strike, participating parents "will formally ask schools not to set homework over November weekends," explained a statement from CEAPA, a collection of parent associations from across Spain. If the schools assign homework anyway, children won't do it, and their parents will send them to school on Monday with notes explaining their disobedience.
These measures are being taken in response to a recent CEAPA survey, which revealed that 41 percent of parents think their children receive too much homework. Many of the kids agreed, saying they didn't get enough rest or have time for extracurriculars. "The general perception is that more and more homework is being set as time goes on," José Luis Pazos, president of the El Pais chapter of CEAPA, told the Local.
Thus far, it's unclear how many families plan to participate in the strike. It's also unclear what will happen if the children end up breaking it by deciding to do their homework anyway -- perhaps their dogs will get involved.