Homework unfondly remembered.

But "homework" seemed bereft of any conceivable value, short of robbing kids of playtime fun with friends after school. The sheer agony of wasting an hour or more having to rehash what was learned earlier in the day assuredly held no redeeming value. In fact, thinking about the lost fun playing stickball or street hockey with the gang provided convincing evidence that "homework" was actually immoral and should have been banned.

Mother insisted that it had to be completed before engaging in any other activity; it was indeed an ironclad ritual aimed at "making something out of yourself." Looking back now, however, I'm not at all sure that that happened, for me anyway. Still. Mothers rule, and mine was no exception.

I once thought it might be a good idea to log my hours spent doing "homework." Such a record could be delivered to the teacher to gain Brownie points. But, then, if she acknowleded my efforts in front of the class, I knew the hell I'd endure from fellow students so, the whole idea was scotched.

Kids today seem not to have changed their opinion about doing "homework." Yet, their approach makes the whole process a lot easier than it used to be. Computers and the Internet offer quick solutions to the most complex math, science, sociology and history questions.

Besides, modern kids spend little time with physical exercises like hockey or stickball, preferring to stay right on those same computers visiting Twitter or Facebook or text messaging friends they've only seen scant hours ago.

All of which brings the question: Is "homework," as I used to know it, dead...or just hiding from parents?

John R. Falk, aka setterman29, is the author of three books on dogs and writes about K9s on his website http://www.dogs4ever.com. Gun dogs are his primary interest, but he loves any kind of dog, mixed breeds included.