Letters: Sep. 25, 2006

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Claudia Wallis' essay "The Myth About Homework" [Sept. 4] cited studies that say homework makes kids hate learning. As a mother of four, I feel that homework not only dampens the flame of curiosity but is also the most aggressive foe of quality family time. Back in junior high school, I had a teacher who didn't assign homework. One day I asked him why. He said, "If I am doing the work I was hired to do, then my students shouldn't have homework." I agreed with him then, and I still do. We should be able to enjoy our children's company without the infringement of work that should be left in the classroom at the end of the school day.

MARIA O. PERRY Elizabethton, Tenn.

I hope my 10-year-old son doesn't read the article by Wallis. He'd think substituting 30 minutes of practice with 30 minutes of play would be less damaging to his interest in learning to play the piano. Of course, what he wouldn't understand is that it would also prevent him from learning to play the piano.

ROY JOHNSON Ortonville, Mich.

Pure Play

It was good to read Michelle Cottle's "This Essay Will Help Your Kid Get Ahead" [Sept. 4] on the baby-genius racket. As a day-care educator, I am required to explain the educational benefits of the activities that I make available to the children. For those of you who feel better about your child's toys when they come with extravagant developmental claims on the box, here's all you will ever need to know: children learn through play. Parents should stop focusing on making their kids into overachievers and just play with them.

LINDA MERCIER St. Bruno, Que. Pluto Farewell

Being a big fan of lighthearted commentary, I took great pleasure in reading Jeffrey Kluger's Essay "Get Pluto out of Here!" [Aug. 28]. It has been quite a while since something as serious as the size of our solar system brought a smile to my face. His Essay was a wonderfully simple explanation of the problem surrounding Pluto's definition as the ninth planet, as well as a warning of the dangers of overthinking that and other, less important issues.

ALBERT AUKEMA Pretoria, South Africa

Islam in America

Re Peter Skerry's viewpoint on why most U.S. Muslims aren't jihadists [Aug. 21]: While the U.S. has a history of being a land of immigrants, Europe does not. Americans have a strong sense of patriotism and commitment to faith, attributes most Europeans gave up after World War II. The U.S. has a justice system with very clear guidelines; Europe tries to be tolerant but perhaps ends up being ignorant. The different systems attract different sorts of immigrants and influence their role in society. But the biggest problem is that Europe is trying to "explain" and "understand" Muslim terrorism, while the U.S. just fights it.

CHRIS SCHAARDEN Amsterdam

Skerry overlooked the recent alleged homegrown terrorist attacks in Toronto. Canadian Muslims are well educated, with many living in the suburbs of a country with religious freedom. The Canadian experience in Toronto has great relevance to the U.S., not to cause widespread panic but to be at least considered in theories about how Muslims adapt to North American communities.

MATT NELSON Toronto