«Help, we're having trouble with our son's teacher!»

If I am correctly informed, the curriculum provides for 10 minutes of homework per class level. However, if this is not corrected, it is of little use. The teacher owes you an answer to this question. Personally, however, I wouldn't go straight to the head teacher, but would first seek a conversation in private. This is always the best solution for everyone involved, especially your son. Perhaps the teacher was just unsettled at the parents' evening?

If the homework is not completed and there are no discussions and corrections, it has no learning effect whatsoever. The teacher probably felt put on the defensive at the parents' evening and didn't want the discussion to escalate. Such issues are easier to clarify in a one-to-one discussion: Describe your observations and concerns and ask the teacher for clarification and support. As a parent, you can also write in the contact booklet that your child has cancelled the homework after the allotted 30 minutes or was unable to complete the assignment because they did not understand it.

Yes, homework that is neither clear nor discussed and takes up an excessive amount of time is not a learning tool, but a pain in the arse. Not wanting to talk about it at the parents' evening: ditto. You should therefore write a friendly, unemotional email to the school management (with a cc to the teacher), give reasons for your criticism and at the same time make a concrete counter-proposal that seems sensible to you. Also ask your son what he thinks about the matter.

