> take-home essay assignments

Typically there's not a whole lot of homework prior to Grade 7 anyways.

Homework levels between elementary school and start of junior might look something like this:

    Division I / early elementary - no formal assignments should be made, though 5–10 minutes of systematic study or reading was recommended.

    Division II / upper elementary - formal homework could be assigned at the teacher’s discretion, but generally should be reading or study-type work and not exceed about 20 minutes.

    Starting from junior high - students are expected to study one-half to one hour per school night.