If students and their parents feel homework is excessive, says Utah PTA president JoAnn Neilson, they need to approach teachers on an individual basis.

"Sometimes, what is too much homework for one student is not too much for another," she says. "Children are just so different."

Even some school districts steer clear of issuing any policy or guidelines on homework.

Salt Lake City District spokesman Jason Olsen said schools in his district govern themselves on the subject of homework. His own personal philosophy? "If it's just busy work, then don't assign it."

So, it comes down to the teacher.

Elaine Tzourtzouklis, a former teacher and now president of the Salt Lake Teachers Association, says she used to adjust homework amounts to individual student ability and that teachers commonly practice that approach today. "They're looking to do what's best for the kid."

---

E-MAIL: sspeckman@desnews.com