Ah the wonderful world of diversity. My brother's daughter, age 10, 5th grade, is the type who is usually asking the teacher for MORE Homework because she craves learning. She wants books, atlases, maps and globes for Christmas, not (more) toys

Mike, I get the impression that you concur with these parents. If this family can't enjoy family or community life because of homework then someone besides the kids has a huge time management and priority problem (i.e. the parents). Homework including reinforcing lessons from class, demonstrating ability to learn and perform independently and creating a nominal discipline to sit and work other than closely monitored in the classroom are not only traditions but an essential part of education. My kids always managed to get their homework done, participate in sports and extracurricular activities while "Mom and Dad" also enjoyed time with them, in the community and we all had an active social life. This pair of attorneys are basically, in my view, kooks. Would they have had the education and ability to succeed at law school and be admitted at the bar without homework?