HOMEWORK

Whenthebellringsaround1:40p.m.thousandsofstudentsspillintostreets.Notebooksandtextbooksremainstoredinlockersforthenextday.Becauseofadesades-longpracticeofpromotingfailingstudents,someteensknowtheywilladvancetothenextgradeeveniftheydon’tdothehomework.

Meanwhile,teacherssaytheyarefacedwiththedailydilemmaofwhethertomoveaheadinalessonwhenoftenonlyfiveortenstudentsoutofaround30havedonethehomeworkassignment.Veryfewkidsdohomework,andthosewhodoit,cheat.SaidaninthEnglishteacher,Itishardtobasealessononhomeworkiftheworkisn’tbeingdone.