As a mama who recently wrapped up 20 years of homeschooling three kids from kindergarten through high school graduation, I just want to give you a huge hug for saying the most logical things EVER in this post. One of the biggest issues my oldest two encountered was the research paper. (Our youngest loves to write.) They were required as part of accreditation in the high school years, and I had no problem with that, but I had a hard time convincing my sons that they had to keep writing for a page count long after they said what needed to be said. It helped a little that I agreed with them that in the real world, nobody wants anything long-winded, and that high school and college were pretty much the only places that want a person to keep talking even if they’re simply repeating the same information in a different way.

Research papers are helpful in their own way, but I think they’re assigned way too often in subjects that simply don’t need them. Interestingly enough, both older sons are extremely creative and will talk someone’s ear off with a subject they’re interested in, and they’re able to write along those same lines. But when they’re done relaying information, they’re done, and no one’s ever bored.