Spaw, I can't speak to first graders, but I know that my junior-high-school stepdaughter is doing stuff that I never did in high school, even. Some of the assignments she's given are downright college level from my POV. And all the kids have so much homework they have no time for social lives except on the weekend. I seem to remember a lot of playing outside, board games when it was winter, etc. These kids are doing homework, homework, homework all the time.

(And no, they're not stupid, they're all honor students.)

Alex